He's just beaming

Zack has yet again managed to have a busier social life than myself. 


Wednesday morning meant an early get up for a spot of light Hydrotherapy. The sessions have been introduced by the wonderful ladies in the vision team (you know the ones that also run the play group for children with visual impairments.) Honestly they go beyond what they are meant to be doing and if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have these much valued groups.


The hydrotherapy session was taking place at a special needs school in Warrington. They have a small pool there which children can use to get some extra therapy in very warm water. By the way it isn't just the water that's warm the whole blinking place is set to tropical heat weather. 


Zack and I arrived all bundled up having faced the windy, rainy weather outside to get changed in a changing room that was so hot I thought I was going to explode. One of the teachers took him to the pool and at first they laid him on a floaty mat. I knew he wouldn't like that as Zack likes to be upright in the water so he feels safe and secure. Sure enough grabby hands appeared, I suggested we put him in his swimming seat ring. Just a normal baby swim seat but Zack loves it. Once he was sat in his throne he could have quite happily floated around the pool for hours. Unfortunately a child can only stay in for twenty minutes due to the heat so having enjoyed his relaxing water therapy out we got, dressed and thrust once more into the great british autumn weather.  For once I was glad of the cold, Zack and I looked like beacons in that school.


This week Zack got fitted for some Piedro boots. These are to boots made to help support his ankles and feet when in his standing frame. Amazingly they also arrived this week so having been measured, fitted and tried on we are now the proud owner of some funky little shoes. Picture below.

On a secondary note to our visit for the shoe fitting. We had to go to the hospital for these appointments and normally it is an absolute bugger to find a parking spot. Well hold on, Zack now has his own special blue badge, therefore, when his chauffeur is driving (that's me), we can park in a disabled parking spot. Hallelujah. First appointment we parked right outside the door, second appointment, again, right outside the door. Wow, this badge thingy makes life really simple.




And to finish the week off on Saturday we took Zack to the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust It's a charity that specialises in providing donkey riding therapy for children with disabilities. They have a few centres across the UK and one in Manchester, which is where we found ourselves on Saturday morning. 


Dan took Zack in to the arena to meet his new friend, whose name I can't quite remember. Zack was the smallest child, youngest child and had the smallest donkey. At first his little legs couldn't fit over the saddle so he rode bare back, check out cowboy Zack.  The staff also gave him a supportive vest to wear to steady his posture, Zack that is not the Donkey, I mean it's not like the Pants is a hefty weight. 


I have never seen a child look so bewildered, he knew something was going on but he couldn't figure it out. Part way through the little session they took the vest off and he seemed to relax more. He had to ride his donkey around the arena and collect different colour rings then place the rings on a pole.


Then they ran a little with the donkeys. Zack loved this, his face lit up and even the teacher who was with him was saying, look at him, he's just beaming. He did nearly end up on the donkeys neck though but she didn't seem to mind. After it had all finished the lady leading the donkey said it was an excellent first ride, he had done brilliantly. 


What a fantastic charity, you can see how much all the children that take part gain from it and to think it's only down the road from us, we shall definitely go back again. But Zack nor his daddy will not be having a donkey of their own. No way, no donkeys in my back garden. They don't half make a noise.

I wonder if she' ll give me a sticker next time.

Have been continuing with the torture routine and Zack is now getting used to it which means less screaming and carrying on.  He is doing well but I still can't help but think that when I am doing his stretches he is deliberately not allowing me to move part of his arm or leg just to show he's the boss. 


Managed to get back to doing his Advance therapy which has been hindered due to his reflux. In fact have managed to do quite a bit thanks to having some home appointments rather than outside visits. 


We had the physio round this week and she has put in the recommendation for Zack to have some Piedro boots fitted to give him some more stability in his legs. She mentioned that he might be better having leg splints to keep his feet and legs in-line as they are turning out slightly. I am not so sure about them, not because it's more "extra" special needs equipment but I not sure I like the thought of his legs being held in a position all day by splints. However having spoken to other people whose children have splints it seems that they are a good thing and some wearers aren't bothered by them at all and actually stand better in them. For now I think we are going to try the boots and see how we get on.


Zack's new car seat has arrived. The Mini Carro. I sat him in it in the house as a trial run and he was very happy. I took him out in it in the car and he HATES it. Oh my lord I thought he was going to explode or have a heart attack. Still, he was a little better on the ride home and as usual I will persevere as it has to get better. His mood improved when I started singing to him, but how many renditions of the Wheels on the bloody Bus do I need to go through to stop him having a fit of rage in his expensive car seat. 


In defence of this seat I have to say it is much better than our other one, more supportive and comfortable for his highness.  Maybe he just hates cars. I think it's the one time I wish he could talk and tell me what the problem is, I am not giving up though, he will get better. Fingers crossed. Either that or I'll just have to use public transport. Oh the thought of it.


We had gone to the dentist in the new car seat. Dentist likes to see the children early so they get used to them (early in their lives that is, not early in the day). She was very gentle and had a little look in his mouth and feel of his gums. His teeth, all three and a bit of them, are fine. She told me to brush them twice a day and that she can feel the other bottom four coming through. And that was it, see her again in six months.  Don't know about getting him used to it but I think by the time we finish visiting I'll have gotten over my fear of dentists. I wonder if she' ll give me a sticker next time. They had a nice selection.