Devoted to Dominic: Ready for Spring

We have been busy in the Dunlap household! Since the last blog post Dominic has been officially walking everywhere! He is also talking up a storm and able to communicate very well. He seems to have had quite a growth spurt in language and gross motor skills and we couldn't be more thrilled! Here are a couple videos of him walking and reciting the alphabet (ignore the fact that you see his butt in the bath and Mike's loud yelling at the end :o)

A couple weeks ago I went to Florida with my mom for four days which was AMAZING! It was great to spend some quality time with her and enjoy some time sipping coffee and watching the waves. It was unseasonably chilly, but still gorgeous and there was no snow! I think it was some good quality time for Mike and the boys too. He just told me I'm never allowed to leave again :o) They are busy boys!

Dominic started up with PT again a few weeks ago since Robin noticed he has a wicked limp and his hip/right foot turn out. She's working on straightening it out through Myofascial release (soft tissue massage and stretching) and taping his leg with Kinesio Tape; along with some work on the Total Gym doing leg presses :o) Just three weeks ago he was only taking a few steps at at time, now he's walking everywhere. He still stumbles and trips since he's a little off balance, but he's figuring it out.

Working on walking over steps at PT

He's continuing his work in OT as well. We finally got his DMO brace (Dynamic Movement Orthosis) a couple weeks ago and he seems to be doing well with it. The day we got it his Orthotist and I tried to put it on him together and it took 40 minutes! He got it through Mary Free Bed and it is the only place in GR that provides them. They get them from Boston Brace out East and they are completely custom made. So, of course, since he's only the second patient to receive this orthotic at Mary Free Bed, 9 other orthotists were in the room watching. I walked out with sweat dripping down my neck and back; I was so nervous with all those eyes watching me. But since then, I have become a pro. I can get that glove on him in under five minutes every morning. Nailed it!

His DMO glove (ignore the dried yogurt :o)

Sometimes he looks like Spiderman with his glove on

Dominic is also still seeing his Early On OT and we are preparing to write his IEP (Individual Education Plan) for next year because my sweet little Dominic is going to preschool!!! He will be attending Ken-O-Sha, which is one of the Grand Rapids Public Schools that has a huge Special Ed program. He will have a small class with emphasis on OT and speech. The campus he is attending is for kids who are intending to attend mainstream school eventually. We were actually there this week for a play group, so I got to see the classrooms and where he'll go. They'll even have the mini school bus come pick him up at our house. I'm really happy for him and think it will be great but I can't believe he's going to school in the fall!

Additionally, Dominic is still seeing Miss Denise, his speech therapist. She comes every other week and we are working our way through the Hanen Program. Dominic seems to respond well to everything we're learning and has been much more communicative. Lots of homework for me though! Dominic and I are also doing a Music & Me class at the Kroc. I was hoping this would be some good time for me and him together and get him to engage more with others and an instructor. Plus he loves music.

We had a few appointments this month and all looks good with his kidney stones. Our 48-hour EEG is scheduled for April 8-10 at DeVos. If all goes well and looks normal, Dominic will be taken off Keppra and be done with seizure meds! Amazing. We still can't believe how far he's come and what a miracle he is. I am thankful to God EVERY SINGLE DAY for his faithfulness. We are truly beyond blessed. It has been so long since we were in that dark time of our lives that sometimes I forget how awful it was. God has shown us incredible grace and love; I don't know what I've done to deserve this incredible life. But I am so grateful for it.

Successful ultrasound - no tears this time

Spending the day at DeVos

In other news, I decided that I'm not busy enough and that I should get a job (I'm kidding of course - about being busy, not the job). It sort of fell into my lap and after praying about it, I feel like it's something I want to do. My freelance work has slowed down and I'm kind of over it. It's getting harder to get work done when the boys are awake because they're so busy. So that leaves evenings and I just don't want to stay up till midnight working every night. So, I feel like God tossed this into my lap. I will be working at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, which is the gym we go to. I'm there almost every day and in passing said I should work there since I'm there so much. The fitness manager said I should work there and if I was interested to submit my resume. So, here I am! I start my training Monday! When I talked to Mike about it, the one thing we decided is that I didn't want it to interfere with our daily life and I didn't want to worry about childcare. So, I am working one weeknight and one or two days of the weekends. I'm just working on the fitness floor, so it's not super high stress and no work to take home. I'm really looking forward to it because of my passion for health and fitness and look forward to encouraging others. Plus, I love being there! It's a fantastic facility with positive and amazing people. I'm super excited to be a part of it!

So, that's what's been going on with us! We keep busy! We are ready for Spring in this house and sick of the snow! We're done with sickness and being stuck inside. Mom is sick of snow days (we've had 5 I think). Mike said once it's March he refuses to shovel the driveway anymore, so fingers crossed we don't get another huge storm. We have kept busy with play dates, Family Nights at the Kroc, and swim lessons. Mitchell has been counting down the days until our trip to Grammy's beach house in June. We are having a big family reunion with my Mom's family and it should be a blast. Next weekend Mitchell and I have a Mother/Son date night at the Kroc and then Mike and I are also going to a Laughfest event to see Joel McHale - who we love! This was our Valentine's Day gift to each other and we're looking forward to a fun night together. Hurry up Spring!!!!!