Since that title worked for my friend in getting my attention this week, I decided to try it out on you! I’ll get right to the point and then backtrack with the details.
Know what these pictures are???? It’s Ty taking steps!!!! On Friday, September 19th, 2005 – Ty Jordan Brinkman took 5 to 6 steps consistently!!!!!!!! We were at Zandi’s second birthday party and Hanna (a cousin) was having Ty take steps towards Jamie. When everyone started squeeling I look over and Ty was WALKING!!! He has been taking 1 to 2 steps between furniture for over a month now but had never taken so many steps and certainely not with repeated attempts. It was like he was so proud of himself he couldn’t wait to try it again.
Last week I was going to write out a long sob story on this issue. There were several contributing factors. First, I had seen two of Ty’s NICU buddies and both were much farther on their gross motor skills than Ty. Second, I finally got Ty into an OT (share about that in a bit) and she suspected Ty’s walking issue was a “brain thing” and possibly a gravitational sensory issue (which I agree may very well be the case). Third, I watched my little Graham (11 months) take his first steps and go from a sitting position to a balanced stand on his own in the middle of the room. Before I could stop the tears they were just streaming down my face. It wasn’t because I didn’t want Graham to stand or walk – it was because in that moment I was staring in the face of the reality that Ty was way behind in his motor skills and I was loosing hope of him catching up anytime soon. I emailed Heidi the next morning and asked her to pray for me because I had been feeling very emotional about the whole issue. Heidi wrote back and asked me when God ever did anything in MY time and asked why was I surprised by this delay. I had a good laugh about that. Good medicine and completely true.
When I watched Ty walking over and over between Hanna and I though I was truly overwhelmed. MY former 25 weeker, the child with the bilateral brain hemorrages and pulmonary hemorrage and PDA and esotropia, and hernia’s and sensory issues, and feeding issues and periventricular leukamalacia, and reflux and severe apnea and on and on and on….is beating the odds…BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I know that so many of you have been praying for Ty for the last 19 months and I am sure this news will bless your heart too. If you have high speed internet, take a minute to watch the miracle of it HERE – amazing that I can cry watching a one minute video! I love the way he has to put his hands high in the air to keep his balance – so precious.
Monkey Business
In addition to the big news above, Ty also managed to climb on the couch this week and my bed which by the way is very high (31 inches tall). He was darn close to escaping from the playpen as well. What am I going to do????? Jim and I are most concerned about the couch. We can close the bedroom door to keep him off the bed but we can’t block him from the couch. Falling off the couch would be bad enough but the bigger problem is that I have an open wall behind the couch and if he can climb up the couch he can climp up and sit on the wall. If he fell from the wall (which is probably about 3 and a half feet tall) onto the wood laminate floor – he could be badly injured (obviously). Ty has a very high pain tolerance and will throw himself off anything backwards without a second thought. We have been discussing putting up a trellis with vines just to block the wall opening for awhile. I think I am going to be saying “THAT KID!!!” for quite some time 🙂 !
Occupational Therapy
I finally found an OT and Ty was evaluated a week ago. He did very well on the eval but it is still apparent that he could use some fine motor help. We discussed the possibility of Ty having sensory issues (very common for micros) and I think I see at least mild sensory issues in the following areas:
(a) Very sensitive to sound – the slightest sound out of norm will distract him from a task
(b) Sensitive to food textures – he hates eggs because of this and he is very skeptical each time he tries a new food – not over taste but over texture. He also prefers cold to hot.
(c) Aversion to animated characters. Remember the glo-worm? Well we have been noticining that Ty doesn’t like anything that is animated with lights and music if it has a face. He has a talking Elmo that he does not like and when we go down the toy isle in stores he averts his head away from the talking dolls/animals if we start playing them. The worst incident happened last week. If you think the glo-worm fear was tragic, be glad you didn’t see this one! Tanner has a remote T-Rex and it has been boxed for awhile. Recently Tanner decided to play with this toy. The T-Rex walks, makes mean scary dino sounds, and his eyes light up. Ty saw this and went into hysterics. He was so upset I thought he was hurt. When Jodi and I went in to check on him he was burying his face into the carpet and wouldn’t look up. Surely he can’t be this upset over Tanner’s T-Rex? So of course I had to test it. Sure enough – each time that T-Rex was turned on Ty flipped out screaming. The globaby seemed to make Ty sad but the T-Rex made him very very scared. In fact, as long as that T-Rex was in the room (even turned off), Ty would crawl by the playroom door and avert his head. He would not even LOOK in the room much less go in there until we boxed the T-Rex back up. Maybe this is just a strange kid thing but due to other sensory related things, I am wondering if this could be something of that nature….? Hmmmm…..
(d) Ty likes his baby swing but he doens’t like any other swing. The OT tried 2 different swings and his PT and I tried swinging him in a blanket and he hated all 3 things. Makes us wonder if he is gravitationally sensitive. If that is the case, that would explain why he will probably walk before he stands. He can stand supported but he still cannot stand for more than 5 to 6 seconds on his own (and even that has only happened a handful of times). I have heard of other micros that struggled with balance issues so I am starting to suspect this.
We have to travel about 30 minutes one way to his OT but it is a nice drive (north to city of Cavecreek). He should start this therapy once a week within the next couple of weeks. This brings us too……
Speech Therapy
I am debating when I want to start this. For right now I am doing baby sign with Ty. My friend Laura really encouraged me to get more consistent with my training. She made great progress with Ty in one hour one day and I realized that he was far more likely to sign than talk right now. This week he learned the sign for “more” and “please” and can use them appropriately. I am going to work on a sign for “drink” next. I don’t want to teach the sign for “thank you” right now because he likes to blow kisses and it is a similar sign and I don’t want to add confusion at the moment. He is getting to that point where he is very frustrated when you don’t understand what he wants. He understands language very very well so we are trying to give him better tools to communicate back with us. This week he has starting saying “Ya Ya Ya” when you do what he wants though:).
Mommy Bond
It has begun…the “I just want my mommy (or daddy)” stage. Ty used to go to everyone but he is now deciding to be more cautious and he prefers mom and dad. At church this morning I noticed him turning away from several people giving the non verbal communication of “please don’t try to hold me”. All very normal and part of the growing up process just seems funny to me that both my kids started this at 18 months instead of the typical younger ages. Tanner never did grow out of it but he is more shy and reserved by nature. I suspect this stage will be short for Ty.
All in all…a VERY good week 🙂
11 responses to “BIG NEWS and Monkey Business”
Way to go Ty-Man! You are a shining star! Love, Jennifer
Hey stranger! More me, than you this time!
I am in the same boat with Brayden. He knows EXACTLY what he wants and I am having the worst time trying to figure out what he wants. He really trys to repeat things now, it is so cute to see how he trys so hard to pronounce things. I find myself wishing he could talk, but I know as soon as he can I will be wanting the opposite. No win situation.
Brayden is also going though a mommy phase. He will eventually warm up to other people, but it takes a while. I suspect that could be because he thinks that I am going to leave him. I finally have a job, so he is back at day care. I am hoping this is a short lived phase.
Brayden is quite stubborn and has a pretty good temper. He also trys to throw himself backwords, but mostly in anger or frustration. He is also going through a hitting phase. It used to be when you were too close to him, he quickly let you know you were in his space, but now he does it more when he is mad or you are not giving him what he wants.
He has been walking since April, but is still real clumsy and trips over nothing a lot. I am really surprised that I have not been in the ER yet. So many bumps and bruises.
Teeth. Brayden has 4 teeth. Yes, I typed it right… 4 teeth. Poor kid. He literally looks kinda like a beaver when he eats, he moves the food to the front so he can chew it. He has been VERY grumpy, so I have a feeling he is trying to get 6 at one time. Figures!
I better end now before I end up taking over Ty’s update! I just wanted you to remember that in a lot of things he is not that far from his May Birthday Buddies and in some cases he is way ahead!
Things are going well here. Busy, busy!
You are never far from my thoughts and always in my prayers!
Sarah
i’m so proud of ty AND his mommy! God is so thoughtful to comfort your heart with these tidbits of hope isn’t he?
seth learned a few signs too. i didn’t go all out with it but he got the few words he needed to really illustrate his point at the time (particulary eat/drink/please/more). by the time he was really really using the signs a lot he was trying the words too though. i’m so glad there has been education on the subject to help parents give their kids tools. ty will avoid a lot of frustration (and in turn so with the whole family!) now that he can communicate his wants and needs a little better. i’m proud of you for going for this! it will be fun to hear about his new vocabulary from this training!
i just feel so thankful with you because i know how your heart has hurt for your boy so many days. i’ve cried and laughed with you along the way… i praised with you even when it was difficult – but now i praise and rejoice because there have been happy gifts in the journey. it’s just enough to help you catch your breath, isn’t it?
i love you sister.
I LOOOOVE how Ty falls into you – like he’s so proud and happy and a big hug is the best ending his accomplishment! And of course the video was perfectly done – so moving and beautiful..
teary-eyed me…
Wow!!! I can’t believe it what an awesome milestone. As for the nicu buddy, we are still working everyday but it looks like Ty has jumped ahead of Landen. I am so happy for Ty and really it gives me hope to know that after all Ty has been through he still is proving that he is not letting anything hold him back. Way to go.
Wow!! I am always very touched by all you say and do, but this video really made my tears flow! How wonderful, Ty! Thanks for sharing this precious moment so beautifully! Can only imagine how you must have felt at that moment, Doni. You are right, God IS Good, ALL the Time! Love you!
Way to go Ty!!! And Doni cause we all know that you have been the one that has encouraged him and helped him each and every STEP of the way. All of Tys therapists need to have a great big smile also and realize this is why they work with such beautiful children daily. Your clip is just perfect touched my heart in so many ways….I’ve been in your footsteps as my little Kenslie didn’t walk untill 18 months 11 days and this was after extensive Pt for 13 months. Wow it is such a weight lifted from your heart to know your little one will cross this battle I can just imagine your smile was as big as they come and the tears were a flowin’ I am so proud of you Doni to be such an awesome mommy and to keep working with Ty….therapy(by a therapist or by what mommy has learned from them) is soooo important and gives kids such a better chance at overcoming battles.
Ok I now have a question…I have never had to worry(thankfully) about when should my little one start talking and now I am starting to wonder a little. Kourtney is now 18 1/2 months (adjusted age is 16 1/2 m.) she says the few little words…mama..dada..tyty(tyler)..nana(nightnight) but she jabbers costantly with not one word and nothing makes even the slightest bit of sense. She will be pointing during all of this and appearing to try and tell us something??? So my question here should be how many words on average would be in the norm range for her to be saying? Nice….I have how many kids and can’t even remember when they should be talking. You have me a little worried when you are working with Ty on this and starting signing I dont have a clue how to sign. Thanx for letting me take over your journal here I just figure since your so far behind on e-mail maybe this would be a better route to reach ya ha ha!!! You are doing an awesome job!!!
shayla – i don’t love EVERYTHING about every baby site – but it IS nice to have a few resources to turn to for some of the basics like average ages for certain development/behavioral issues… that said, let me answer for Doni briefly 🙂 and say http://www.babycenter.com – it is a good place to go to for stages of development. in fact, i got their newsletter all during pregnancy and still get email updates with information relevant to the stage of my child’s life. of course, disclaimer, i don’t agree with EVERYTHING i receive from them and consider the information/advice i receive to be general and only an average – not a tell all for where all children should be EXACTLY. it’s simpy a starting point to reference from… that said, i would also say that they do have a lot of good articles, interesting topics to ponder, news groups & chatrooms for those interested… you might find it interesting for reference too! all the while remembering that every child is different – some move a little quicker into certain stages, some take their time…
so nice to read notes of ladies loving my sister like you do. 🙂
Heidi-
Thank you for responding to my question. I should have thought about looking for answers on the web DUH! It didn’t cross my mind that Kourtney was maybe behind untill I read this entry and I responded straight from that. I have found a little out since then from Kenslies teacher who is our special needs teacher….Kourtney is runnin behind but with sooo much comprehension she said just to give her a little more time she’ll catch up soon…hopefully. She said my older kids are probaly at fault for she doesn’t need to talk they all do it for her…makes perfect sense. I’ll look that site up though to follow up on the rest of her development. THANX again sweet girl for takin the time to respond to me.
Prayers are much needed….we have 11 family members in Louisiana that we have not heard from in 39 hrs. they are 2 miles from Lake Ponchatrain….so we are pretty sure they are trapped in their house in all the flooding considering 80% of the state is under water, for they tried to ride the storm out together. We all just keep hoping and praying that they were able to get into the attic or on the roof and will be rescued. The age range is 88 yr. old grandma with a walker and 20 month old Parker. Waiting to hear from them is torcher. Waiting to hear from them is torcher with 6 cell phones they are unreachable it is all so heart breaking. And keep in mind this is just one story involving only one family…millions more are out there….prayer for all of them and the ones rescuing.
With Love~Shayla
With Love ~Shayla
OPPS!! Dont know why some lines were doubled on that…weird??
I am just catching up since I have been running around the states for a month now. Anyhow congratz on the walking, I knew he would do it soon. That is sad about the animals lights and sounds. But you can use it, that might keep him off the couch…lol I know thats just mean. Well I am glad to see that all is going well with everyone!
Jere’