Our next stop was the Child Development Center (CDC) where a team of people who came up from Vancouver to fit about 16 kidlets over two days with various contraptions to help them sit, stand, and mobilize better. K this was the humbling part! Look at all those people ALL working together to make the PERFECT fit. You wouldn't believe how much they focus on the details. Move this an couple millimeters here and that a few there....Just amazing. The neat part to is this is the stander which which will hold Alistair into position so that he gets the sensation of standing through his bones and joints which also helps immensely with development. I'm sure the more I understand it the more I'll share with you. Anyhow to my utter surprise after a good melt down session to start with I think Alistair ended up playing with some toys on his little stander table for about 15-20min. The last time we did this with Alistair I think we made 5 min!
But look at the contraption hey. Its like something out of the movie Matrix or I Robot! Anyhow it was just beautiful to see my little man stand and actually get to a point of enjoyment as I have been wondering if he has pain with standing as he just doesn't put his feet down and has been super teary about the whole process.
This is pretty cool too. Unfortunately I can't remember the mans name but this fella built this whole blue chair with the straps right there as we waited. When we arrived all the chair was was some plywood and foam thats it! Amazing hey! AND Alistair loves this too. Plus I can put it right into our stroller So he can sit up nice and straight and see the world go by. Prior to this he had to lay right down due to his floppy torso!
Ya i love this picture too...Look at these people. So dedicated to these little helpless people that wouldn't go nearly as far without their fantastic abilitities to create such wonderful support. YAAAAA Seating Clinic People! LOL
ANYHOW...after this it was back to the audiology clinic for a new ear mold for his air conducting hearing aid and then to the Ministry of Children and Families to meet up with our Social Worker. Unfortunately there was miss communication as she was away on holiday when I came for our appointment but still they are there to support. So why do we have a social worker? Well from what I gather Alistair was assessed to be a part of the "At Home Program" which is followed by the MCFD. Basically (and I'm sure I'll write more about this as I get to understand it more ) they are going to pay for the equipment Alistair needs as above as some of these contraptions ie the green one I was told was around $4000.00. So ya another phenomenol service for little munchkins like Alistair. Again without it we'd struggle LOTS financially but he'd have the equipment and this way we don't struggle. We can continue to live in our normal lives! Yahoo At Home Program!SO thats why I think I'm a bit of an emotional basket case today. Ya FINALLY I get to stay home for the first time in 10 days. So brain break time for Julie. I'm a little bit on the overload side of things: new job (caotic but friendly staff), not playing soccer (crazy late schedules 930 and 10pm games) which is unfortunate as it was so good for my mental health!, house renos that I can't help the poor hubby with BUT its coming and looking so sweet!, physio, speech therapy, courses as I'm new to the hosptial and blah blah blah blah. SO I'm trying to get the good ol ZEN back and get things D-cluttered at home and perhaps get the man to bring me home a bottle of Shiraz! Mmmm K peps thanks for listening! : D J
