I can't believe it's been more than a months since I've taken the time to celebrate Tatum's progress!
On November 23rd, Tatum sat up on her own for the very first time. There had been times where she had sat for 5, maybe 10 seconds but this was different. Her body felt very strong that day and very integrated. When I placed her in sitting position, I could tell that something was different this time. She sat, with perfect posture for minutes on end and even sat on the couch with her sisters to watch a movie that night! Over the past few weeks, we have seen further improvements in Tatum's ability to sit for longer periods of time. Her balance is improving every day and she is more and more able to correct herself out of a wobble. She was so proud of herself the first night she sat up on her own and she continues to see how proud we are of her with each attempt to do it again.
Tatum's fine motor skills have improved yet again over the past month. She is starting to put her 'pointer' finger and thumb together to explore her toys and attempt to turn pages of her books (which she loves!). She is interested in all sorts of toys these days which is totally new and very exciting for all of us. She loves rubbing stuffed animals, picking up and dumping plates of toy foods, shaking and banging toys that rattle and squeak.
When we read to Tatum, she listens so intently and slaps her hands on the pages with joy.
One of Tatum's favorite things to do is to rub her own tummy. Josette, one of our wonderful patterning volunteers, noticed this and made Tatum a T-shirt with a furry heart shaped patch right on her tummy.
I can't help but cry with happiness over all of the love and support our sweet Tatum gets every day.
On the incline plane, we are seeing Tatum's upper body strength improve. She is using her arms, shoulders and hands more and more to move herself down and off her ramp. Tatum is beginning to demonstrate the success of our patterning program as well! We have seen her move herself down the ramp in a complete cross pattern movement a couple of times... so amazingly awesome!
Tatum is also beginning to lower her toes to the incline plane surface and is occasionally using her toes to push her way down. These are all greats signs of ongoing progress and improvement.
When we put Tatum in standing position she is now interested in and able to bear weight on her feet and legs and sustain it with very little support from us.
Our program hasn't changed much in the last couple of months, mostly it has just increased in intensity. We have added a 'balance' component to the program that requires us to spin and twirl Tatum around in 20 different exercises that we are supposed to do for 20 minutes daily. I say 'supposed to do' daily because I haven't been able to do more than 5 minutes of the 20 required minutes... the spinning makes me so sick, I can't stand to do the work!!! Tatum loves it but I swear it's going to kill me! :)
Our reading program is still going strong. Tatum has been taught over 1200 words and she loves that we have introduced 3 and 4 word phrases to our daily reading program. She is now ready for 'books'. Her first books will be home-made, large print, simple books. I hope to be able to show Tatum 3 new home-made books each week starting January. The objective is to present her with 15 new home-made books each month. I do not think I'll be able to create the books on my own with the time that I have available right now. If anyone is interested in helping me put together a book or two a week, I'd love to share your handiwork with Tatum.
Tatum's appetite and health have been flourishing over the past month and a half. She is loving her food, growing like crazy and is super healthy. She has made it through several family colds/coughs, flus and gastro-intestinal infections without much more than a runny nose. Her immune system is so strong. Tatum's hair is growing so much that it needs to be trimmed every month or so to even it out. Some parts of her hair are growing much slower but it is finally growing everywhere. Tatum has also popped 4 new teeth since the end of October. More good signs of progress!
We began fundraising this past month through the generosity of my friends Sylvia and Victoria. By hosting an Arbonne party for my friends, we were able to raise approximately $500. Sylvia Walker is an Arbonne sales manager and agreed to donate all of her commission from the party to go towards our next trip to Philladelphia in April.
We are just starting to think of a couple of other fundraising initiatives between Janaury and April. We hope to host a fundraising event at the end of March that will potentially include a silent auction, band, drinks and fun! If you are interested in being part of the planning committee, please let me know.
The final idea is a fundraising site that will allow those who just want to give money, to give money! With any luck, we'll be able to get enough money together to continue with the Institutes program through 2013.
Thanks again to our amazing team of volunteers. We would be lost, lonely and unable to make the progress we are making without you and your help.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!!!
Included are a few pictures of Tatum in action.
