Acquire: Week 2

After a couple days off, Maddy and Reggi (and her assistant Cory) were back at it Monday morning, bright and early. They continue to work on bearing weight through Maddy's hand.


And working on her grip in lots of ways, like zipping a zipper.


This week Reggi brought her own six-year-old's bike for Maddy to practice on. Biking in a cast is challenging! Biking in general is very challenging for Maddy. Balance, gripping the handle with her weak hand, pushing the pedals with her weaker leg, keeping her right foot on the pedal....the list of challenges goes on and on. But Maddy is always game to try!


On Tuesday morning, they eased into their morning with a book and some stickers. Maddy did a great job turning the pages.


Connect Four was a big hit later on that day. Maddy loves any kind of competition. With every game they play, Reggi finds a way to make it more challenging. Like sticking the chips into Play Doh to make them harder to pull out.


Shoe tying continues to be a big part of every day. With the cast on, Reggi acts as Maddy's "left hand" and Maddy has to tell her all the steps to take. Cross it over, pull it under two times, make a loop, through the tunnel....I'm trying to take notes because it will be my job soon to keep this up!


To help with balance (and therefore the bike riding) Maddy spends a lot of time on the balance board, like playing a whole game of "Peanut Butter Sandwich" on there. Sometimes it's hard to watch how hard they push her. Her stamina is amazing.


I don't even thinks she realizes how hard she's working.


On Wednesday she hit another milestone, holding her own juice pouch! She's very happy about this one. Maddy really doesn't like being dependent on others for help eating and drinking.


Thursday they played a lot of UNO. Cory was Maddy's "left hand" holding the cards. But Maddy had to select the cards with her right hand, then push them to Reggi along a "road" (made out of a piece of tape, her middle finger has to stay on the tape) that Reggi made on the table. This exercise is meant to strengthen Maddy's wrist by forcing her to keep her hand straight and control it as she pushes the card.


Even with all that secret therapy going on, all Maddy cares about is getting to throw down a "Draw Four" on Reggi!


By Thursday, all that hard work on the bike was clearly paying off!


Friday was another break from the cast to check Maddy's skin and a shower. A break from the cast means a chance to learn to dress herself independently, making sure that both hands have a chance to help. She did a great job pulling her socks on.


And tying her own shoes, doing all the work herself. It's still really hard, but we'll keep practicing...and she's so proud of herself!


Doing a zipper independently is another of Maddy's goals. It's very challenging, but we're hoping by the end of the month she'll get the hang of it.


For a treat she got to make some chocolate chip cookies.


And they closed out the day with a contraption (Maddy's new favorite) they are calling "the Stomper". Right hand loads the rockets on, and right foot stomps it so that it takes off and crashes into the ceiling. Thank goodness we don't have any upstairs neighbors!


Two weeks down, two weeks to go!