Preschool Eval - Frustrated

So..... we had Tanner's preschool evaluation today to see what he qualifies for as far as "extra services". They tried to tell me that he wasn't going to qualify for anything!! I about died! He has orthopedic/gross motor delays like none other!
Then the OT that was there was like "Why doesn't he have arm rests and a tray on his wheelchair?" I had the hardest time not flipping out over that one! We specifically didn't order either of these on his chair because we don't want him in his chair all the time at school! She was saying that these were needed because "how is he going to carry stuff otherwise?" GRRRRR!!! I explained that he had a backpack for the chair that can be added. And for lunch and such.... we will require an aid or helper. She looked at me like I was nuts! Am I wrong to think that?
And then she tells us that he needs wheelchair brake extensions. He can already work the brakes he has now. Yes, he has to bend down to reach them....but he can still do it. At this point I'm just frustrated......not sure what to think or what to do.
I went in expecting the meeting to go smoother or better I guess. It just threw me for a loop how shallow the OT was, especially after telling me that she has a brother that has Spina Bifida. It was maddening! You would think she above all others would understand!

First Shiner

Tonight Tanner hit right above his left eye on the filing cabinet at home.  He was trying to slide down my lap and took a nose dive instead.  Poor guy cried for almost an hour.  It swelled up pretty big, but went down some after applying an ice pack for about 20 minutes.  I feel like such a bad Mommy!  Wish I could have stopped it from happening!

The worst part is that he had to hit the corner of the cabinet!

I'm sure he got such a headache.  We gave him children's Advil to help out with that!

Daddy applying the ice pack.  Tanner hated the ice pack!  It was a struggle to keep it on for as long as we did.

This happened right before bedtime.... so needless to say... Tanner was pooped, and promptly went to sleep. It's so hard for me not to worry due to the fact that he has a shunt.  But the bump is on the opposite side of his head than where the shunt is located.  

But -  He's still cute no matter what. 

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 for Tanner was a busy busy busy weekend!  So many things going on! 

We started out by going to a toddler/preschool Halloween party on Friday 10/28.  Lots of goodies, and 

trick or treating in the house!  It was so cute to see him with the other kids!

Next we had the Spina Bifida Walk N Roll on Saturday 10/29.  I tried and tried to get a good picture of Tanner, but he really wouldn't hold still long enough for me to get one.  The 2 pictures below are the best I could get!  He wouldn't wear his cowboy hat so we put it on the back of his chair.  He had to wear his pepsi hat...... goofball.

So he was Woody with a baseball cap on for Halloween.  Definitely original!

Tanner is a member of a foundation here in Phoenix, called the Starlight Foundation.  The Starlight Foundation is an organization that "Helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities". Saturday night we were able to go to a Coyotes hockey game through the foundation.  The awesome part about these activities is that they are absolutely free to the families!  We just started taking Tanner to these in September and love them!

The game was Tanner's first ever Hockey Game!  He even got a certificate!

The night was also filled with trick-o-treating within the arena.  Tanner received a huge pillowcase to collect his candy in!  He loved it!

On Monday we also took him to a Halloween party that included a hay ride which he loved!  Didn't get any photos of that unfortunately! (camera was left in car!)

All in all it was a fun packed weekend that wore us all out!

Pumpkin Pic

This is the best pumpkin picture I've been able to capture of Tanner.  He "colored" one pumpkin, and put Halloween stickers on the other one!  

He's going to be Woody from Toy Story this year!

The joys of a BOX

Tanner loves to play in boxes.... if there is one around... he is in it, around it, or putting stuff in it!

Silly Boy!

Tanner's New Wheels!

Tanner got his 1st new wheelchair this week, and so far he loves it!  It called a Quickie Zippie Zone, and the color is Toxic Green!  Tanner picked the color and I think it totally suits him!  The day we got it, I took him to Target and let him loose!  He loved the freedom to go WHERE he wanted, WHEN he wanted!  This has been a long time coming.  The smile on his face and the excitement in his eyes were priceless!  

We plan to continue working on walking, and to use the wheelchair for outings and adventures that require a lot of walking.  He is getting closer to being about to use his walker... he's just not quite there yet!

I'm so excited for him to have this new freedom!  He's very independent and this is just going to help boost that independence and I'm hoping his confidence too!

Baby Belly 34 weeks

I'm not too big on taking pictures of myself while pregnant.... but thought I would give you a glimpse of how big my belly really is!  This time around I feel way bigger than I did when I was pregnant with Tanner! Picture taken in the doctors office bathroom.  (I'm not tall enough to get my whole belly in the mirrors I have at home)  :)

Tanner still doesn't completely understand that there is a baby inside his Mommy.  When asked if there is a baby there, he says "No way, just a lot of food"  Cracks me up!  Boy will he be surprised in a month!