Scoot, Scoot

In front of his toy case, in his new room, is the first place I sat Gus the day we came home from the hospital. Gus looks up and asks me "Hey, hey, that!" Before long we had every toy and book off the shelf and spread across the floor. Getting reacquainted with all of his toys is how Gus spent his first few days at home. His train set needed new batteries and all of his tractors and cars had been pretend fixed several times. If you want your children to be excited with all their toys again, just hide them for a couple of months. 

I attend to his playing needs as he beetles over to his Thomas Train set. Scooting on his butt, with his right leg leading, is his preferred method of travel. Scoot, scoot across the room to mega Lego blocks that catch his eye. Scoot, scoot to his wooden puzzles. Scoot, scoot to his sound and flap-up books. Scoot, scoot to rest on the mattress that lay on the floor. All along, he quietly says the words to a self-written theme song, "Scoot, scoot..... scoot, scoot." Rhythm is steady as his foot and knee are set inches ahead, then his butt pulls forward to meet his heel. His loose sock turns around his foot several times, like a pedometer counting his pace.

During our hospital stay we participated in occupational therapy.  This type of therapy helps patients relearn tasks and skills that can assist them in their everyday lives. For older children, this could be going to school or writing and reading. For two-year-old Gus, this means playing! Gus's resume is strong in creative pretending and puttering experience. A goal Gus set in occupational therapy, was to be able to get from one point in the room to another. After a lot of work and practice, Gus started scooting across the mats to play with cars. Being able to play like a little boy is a very big deal for Gus and he is self-motivated to make improvements. He likes feeling more independent at home as he plays in the living room or in his bedroom. 

We thank our occupational therapists at Primary Children's for helping Gus learn how to use his body to play and interact with everything he loves.  

Being home with Augustus is better than the best piece of prime rib I have ever tasted. I really can not think of any greater thing than prime rib, so it's a big deal. The best blessing was being together as a family in our new house. We made it feel like home by arranging the furniture to accompany physical therapy practice. Gus's agenda included going in the tractor with his Dad to feed cows, and  eating his favorite chicken alfredo dinner. I soon realized how much has changed in the world during my hospital daze. First of all, the season changed to winter. No wait, Christmas! Morgan has two new stop signs, or I was running them before. Also, the government is no longer in a shut down.  Huh, that was worth it. I know Curt really misses streaking across the quad and through the gymnasium at the 'U', but he is very glad to be home too. He is going to be so embarrassed when he finds out I put that on Gus's blog for everyone to read.