Feeling Much Better

Today was full of breakthroughs.  Em became a lot more expressive today.  The poorly shot video is of her happily making some noise.  Her ability to focus and track objects improved.  She PLAYED today.  She knocked over blocks, played with balls and danced to the spanish alphabet.  Amazing to see her engaged and playing again, a huge relief.  She seemed pretty pleased about it to.  She cracked a lot of smiles today.  She wasn't messing around with stuff she didn't want to do either, she was good about communicating her interests.  She would let us know when she wanted to get down and walk, which she did a ton.  Barefoot seems to be her preference.  She was cruising around holding our hands while she mainly stared down at her little toes.  She cruised around a table on her own today too.  I guess all that laying around doesn't suit her anymore, it wasn't suiting us either.

This video is a bit older but it shows off some PT trickery that helped her remember what walking was all about.  

This afternoon, we went outside in the stroller and enjoyed the warmish weather and lovely grounds here.  We walked a nice stretch alongside some tall prairie grass and enjoyed the Fall scene.  Looking at Emerson, all snuggled up in blankets with her Life is Good dog as a head rest, she seemed content and carefree - the old Emerson awaken.

We are hoping that this coming week of intensive speech therapy including a swallow study will improve Emerson's ability to consume calories and make strides towards speaking again.  Also, intensive PT and OT are needed to help get her strength back.  We are waiting to hear what support we will continue to receive from her insurance.  The team here would like her to stay at least two more weeks before starting an out patient plan.  I take some videos of her walking tomorrow and post them for you.  Her stride is a bit on the sumo side, like a beginner, but she is getting there.