Team Orion Update: Texas Chapter

(Hat tip and "ILY" sign to DC/Maryland!)

We had an ECI (early childhood intervention, another name for infants-toddlers program) IFSP Evaluation Meeting at our apartment. A handful of new faces for Team Orion- speech/language, vision, AI (Auditory Instruction? Texas's version of D/HH) teacher, physical therapy, occupational therapy and O&M (orientation & mobility) and the usual interpreters.

It was productive and I felt a lot of information was shared and learned regarding Orion's current performance and some of his history.  He was having so much fun!  What was remarkable was that he was so happy exploring a small carpet square, staying focused on it and smiling, perhaps delightfully amused by it.  Orion did a good job demonstrating he can lift his head and hold it steady for several seconds, roll over, grasp objects, sit in his floor seat for a long time.  What took the cake was him doing his usual spontaneous crying and signing "MILK" for some of the service providers to see for themselves. Yes!

[Edit: I forgot to add that Orion also wore his processors and was vocalizing.  It was noticeable, like always, that when he wasn't wearing them, he was quiet; when we put it on, he switches on vocalizing.]

I'm happy that the appropriate service providers are coming into the picture, just like in Maryland.  What's new to us is that here in Austin, Team Orion has expanded to appropriately include a vision consultant who has a impressive knowledge of Deafblind children and an O&M teacher.  And that is not including the consulting by a DB specialist from Texas DeafBlind Outreach and one from the Texas DARS Blind Children's Program.  There are a lot of loose ends to tie up, in the forms of papers signed by doctors confirming diagnosis, whatever other signature-hungry form is out there and applying for certain programs outside of ECI to supplement what Orion needs.

Orion's D/HH teacher has been getting to know him very well.  I can see that Orion is comfortable with her and responded positively to her presence.  It helps that he's seen by her 4 times a week.  We have been coming over to TSD's PIP house for short visits to get used to the environment and experience the PIP schedule. This will help us figure out Orion's schedule and frequency.  The kids there are so sweet and clever.  One little 2 year old girl is very compassionate and touched Orion with her little hands. He accepted that and did not push her away.  He's more likely to push away big hands!

Yesterday, we went to PIP and the whole class went to the wading section of the pool on campus.  Orion splashed and splashed the water pretty hard the whole time he was sitting in the water, resting his back on my legs.  His splashes were pretty big for a little guy, I think.

Anyway, to wrap up the Team Orion Update, I look forward to a well-oiled, loaded hot rod of an IFSP for Orion.  We'll get there!

The last pieces of today's news is that Thomas, Falkor and our newsed van is finally here. They got here tonight!  It has been way too long.  What's left is our sainted kitty Katra Jaminn being cared for by our friends Bill, Carol and their two feline furbabies.

Coming soon: Hi-ho, hi-ho, off to DB family 'camping' weekend we go!  

The Laundry Back-Up: Orion

Time does help you realize things.  Just when I think it sucks our apartment does not have a washer/dryer in our unit, it's a blessing.  If it's actually in an apartment, it is just a washer and a dryer.  The laundromat I was forced to go to... what, the whole place? Pick any 2 or 3 to use at a time? Candy store effect!  I am usually in and out, regardless the number of loads and completely dry, just over an hour.  (Wash: 26 minutes, dry: 36 minutes.)

With Thomas on the road driving our 'newsed' Odyssey with Falkor from Maryland, I had to take Orion with me to the laundromat today.  Thomas was going to fly home on Monday but when he was able to trade in our sorry old van last Friday for a new one, it was an opportunity we couldn't ignore.  Especially when it will allow us to bring Falkor home sooner than planned.

Anyway, back to the laundromat.  I usually try to go alone on errands, it's faster that way or so I thought.  Orion and I left the laundromat a little later today than I'd usually take. Why? We were having FUN!!!

I put Orion in the laundry cart and proceeded to add warm, dry clothes.  I started to play peek-a-boo with him.  Pillowcase over his head, off his head.  On his head again, off.  Orion smiled and giggled.  He pulled some clothes to his face. Sniff-sniff. A grin spread across his face.  So cute, happy and educational!  I will take him to the laundromat again next week.  Happily.

At least the laundry I'm airing on the Internet is clean!

Orion's New Ride

August 19, 2012: Orion is 2 years, 1 month old.  A week of waiting for Austin FreeCycle Network moderators to approve my request to join passed by.  I love contributing and finding things in FreeCycle so it's disappointing to me they are not following through here!  I finally succumbed to visiting the local ToysRUs.  I've been wanting to get Orion a "foot-to-floor" ride on toy ever since Orion did fabulously on a ride on toy my parents had in Washington state.

I love that he is interested in sitting up on it and he explores the ridiculous, unrealistic features on it.  So, I got one here for Orion.  The cool part is that there's a ring around the top of it so Orion can hold onto it to stabilize himself.  He will not need that forever.  It has buttons, things that pop open, a turn key, all of them make noises when pressed. When he was wearing his CI processor, he laughed at the noises but I don't think he realized where it was coming from.  It's a good, fun start for him.

Skyler admires Orion on his shiny new ride. Austin, 8/20/2012.

Orion checks out the one from Grandma and Grandpa's toy lot. Bothell, WA. 7/16/2012.

Our New Time Zone

Thomas and the kids

It's been a BUSY summer, no real time to relax and then to blog. It's been really fun, tho!

Among the last few blog posts a few months ago, I'd shared that we were planning on moving to Austin, Texas.

*whirrring, whoooooooossssh, clank!*  We're now in Austin!  Central Standard Time!

Thomas drove here from Maryland earlier this month.  The kids and I flew here nonstop last Thursday (Aug. 9th) after 5 pleasant-weathered weeks in the Seattle, Washington area with family.

The kids with Grandpa Dan and Grandma Hildy in Bothell, WA.
Can you read the braille on Skyler's shirt? (Photo by Grandpa Dan.)

As we were approaching Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, I looked out on the geography.  Not the geography of Washington or Maryland.  I thought to myself, "This is home."

We're not visiting this time around.  This is it.  This year we're going to learn a lot about the system here and a lot more about each one of our kids.  We are looking forward to meeting their new friends, families, teachers, support service providers, consultants, etc. Like an old Girl Scout song (yeah, I was a Brownie and Junior), we'll remember the support and friendship from the places where we've been...

Make new friends,
But keep the old,
One is silver 
and the other's gold.

A peaceful moment in the air.

It's been a mellow hanging-out-in-air-conditioned-spaces-watching-the-Olympics week as we're getting ourselves set up the best we still can for a family not yet in their official place of residence.  Later today, I will head over to Anastasia's new school to get her registered.

Thankfully we were allowed a dip in our apartment-to-be's swimming pool last night.  The water was just right.  I tossed Skyler up the best I still could, Tasia practiced blowing out of her nose underwater, Orion was glided through the water and the three of them splashed with their hands.  It was cute.  Then at night Orion was physically busy anyone could be while laying down.  Something tells me that plenty of pool time's going to do wonders for Orion's physical progress as well as Skyler and Anastasia's swimming skills after we move in the apartment on the 28th.

Until next time, stay cool!

Orion is 2!

July 19th: 
At 8:47 p.m. (EST) 2 years ago, our son, Orion Theodore was born into this world. Happy birthday, little man!

Orion and Mom.

I am very curious what Orion was thinking at this moment.

What is this?! Whatever, I like it!

Hee hee hee... only if you knew what I'm thinking...

One of a million from Mom.

Orion has developed a love for standing while holding on. He is 36" and 27 lbs. Yes, 36"... I am 5'10" and he's already near my hips in this pose!

Our Earth Angel, 2 years old today. 7/19/2012.

Orion on his 1st birthday, July 19, 2011.

Orion, just under a day old, July 20, 2010. 8 lbs, 1.7 oz; 21" long.

Update on Orion's 2nd CI: Surgery Day

CI surgery went well this morning, got home 12:45 p.m.-ish. Not before some callous security officer wouldn't let me park in a nearly vacant, very wide road in front of the Johns Hopkins ER entrance for me/Orion with obviously bandaged head/ear to run up to the main floor to pick up Rx that was waiting for me. I'd already paid $11 for daily max parking when I realized I forgot his medicine. He told me to go park again. What? For another 4 dollars? After two phone calls from home, it turns out he should've let me do what needed to be done. I hope they reassign the guy somewhere else, nothing more.

Orion is doing fine, swinging quickly between being happy on meds (that I picked up at our local Rx) and fussing.

The interpreter saw him do the sign for "MILK" in the recovery room.  I'm still not sure if he was asking for MILK or WANTED milk.  He slowly but truly finished off a whole bottle of apple juice.  I've seen incredible amounts of output in his diapers today!

More "MORE", Please!

June 10, 2012: Orion Theodore Withrow, in his own way, signed "MORE" for more cinnamon bread sticks, again and again, piece after piece.  We all saw it!  It was an incredible feeling!  For each "MORE" he signed, I signed "MORE" in response directly on his chest and gave him a piece.  (He doesn't really put his hands on ours when we sign.  That will come sooner or later.) This sign was 100% Orion-powered!  I raised my arms in victory.  The kids were excited, too!

I am not fond of Pizza Hut.  Last night we were all pooped from having a huge yard sale, it was hot, the boxes strewn around our home were annoying so we caved in and called Pizza Hut for our fine meal.  Cinnamon bread sticks were ordered, too.  Obviously Orion liked them so much he signed "MORE" after he finished each cut piece. OK, Pizza Hut, you have helped create history here for us.

I would describe his "MORE" as hands coming together almost as if to pray, getting some t-shirt in between.  The key here was to wait for him to sign it, than predicting what he wanted and giving it to him.  It's not always like this.  We need to make sure he has plenty of opportunities to try to say something.

He has from time to time signed what looked like "MILK", I would say is his first sign but it's vague.   Did he WANT milk or did he want MILK? Nothing definite like a learned movement like the sign "MORE".