Nicole, how is Jacob doing?

[jojo2324]

Did you find anything when you went to the specialist? Has it cleared up on its own? I always think about this but then forget to ask!

[twins r fun]

Thanks for asking! I think he's doing okay-we're seeing some progress towards walking and are feeling much better about the issue.

The specialist was useless, useless, useless. He looked at us like we were crazy people who just freaked out when our son did not walk at 12 months. We explained that a physical therapist had told us to come and that we were concerned that he couldn't move his leg and foot properly, not that he couldn't walk yet. He still thought we were crazy. He moved Jacob's foot around, told us he had moderate tightness in the scarred leg and that if he wasn't walking by 2 or 2 1/2 we should bring him back. No further evaluation, no stretching exercises, nothing. So much for preventative medicine! Luckily, we have this physical therapist assigned from the county (because the boys were preemies) and she has given us exercises to do. She seems to think the exercises are working and I do, too. He's able to walk holding onto one hand now and took his first solo steps(3) this weekend! He still drags the one foot a little, but it is much better. His brother is walking now and I've seen Jacob really watching him a few times so I think that might help, too. He's 14 months now and I figure if I still think he needs help in 2 months, I'll try a different specialist-hopefully they will pay more attention when he's a little older. I think he might be walking by then and hopefully without a limp!

Thanks again for asking.

Nicole

[jojo2324]

That's such a pity about the specialist...Why bother to be in the field AS A SPECIALIST if you really don't seem to care too much, especially with an infant!? But I'm glad to hear that it seems that progress is being made. I'm sure within two months time you'll be wishing that your boys were crawling again, just for a reprieve! :P Keep us posted!

[SASM]

Hi Nicole!

I am so sorry to hear about the specialist. Good luck with Jacob :-) I am sure that his brother will be quite an influence!

Can I just vent? Yesterday I went to our hospital for a L&D tour :-( So sad. Nothing like HCGH. I miss Columbia!! Enjoy the snow :-)

Sharyn
EDD #1 01.21.03

[twins r fun]

Thought I'd update this. As of yesterday Jacob is officially walking. He passed my "let him out of the stroller in the courtyard of the mall and see how much I have to chase him" test which is how you get certified as walking in my book. He still looks really clumsy like he's not doing something quite right, but then again I have the feeling he's kind of the clumsy type! Incidentally, he also waved bye bye for the first time yesterday (also at the mall)! It was his big day!

Nicole

[jojo2324]

Congratulations! Time to get a leash...or two...;)

[newbelly2002]

Congrats, Nicole!

Yikes. Two mobile at the same time. I can barely keep track of one who is--as of yet--only using his stomach to slide across the floor. It's amazing how much ground he can cover, I've considered trying it myself. . .

Paula

[atlbaby]

Hooray!! And bye-bye too, a banner day for Jacob!! :)

I got a real big kick out of your 'certification' test for walking ...you know how Arielle does on that sort of thing at the mall :)
I cannot imagine how it will be to chase 2 around the courtyard! But fun too...

Congratulations!
-Rachel
Mom to Arielle Jill, 10/30/01

[twins r fun]

It IS pretty crazy chasing them both now. People look at me like I'm nuts for letting them out of the stroller-including my husband! But I feel bad keeping them in the stroller too long and they are SO happy when they get out. I must say that to onlookers it probably appears that I'm going to loose one (I get lots of people offering to help me put them back in the stroller :)) But in reality it's all about timing it right, anticipating their moves, and grabbing the one who looks the most likely to make a break for it. I can still scoop them both up and get one on each hip when I need to so there's no real danger yet. I don't think I'll be letting them do this on a busy weekend, though!

And Joanne, I think you're right about the leashes, but I'm getting the feeling Caleb is not the "leashable" type. I think as soon as I try and gently guide him one way he's going to throw himself down on the floor and refuse to move! Jacob on the other hand will probably walk whereever I want with a big smile on his face. They are so different!

Nicole

[atlbaby]

I feel bad too keeping Arielle cooped up in the stroller too long...she positively glows when she can run around! So if the mall is not too crowded I will let her out, but it is rather frightening to have her running all around, no direction whatsoever--just as long as it's away from her stroller! :)

A lot of people give me these looks that say 'how come your child isn't sitting nicely in her stroller like mine is?' but she just never was that child! She'll lean out over the edge of it (looking at the wheels?) and I'm always afraid her head will bash into something as I walk along!

Now she sits nicely in the shopping cart though, a day I thought would never ever come!

-Rachel
Mom to Arielle Jill, 10/30/01