Hop-Hop-Hoppity-Hop-Not!

Today is Easter Sunday and I went to my first Easter party. I was super happy this morning, having so much fun, but once I got to the party, I clammed up. It was a bit overwhelming with all the kids and grown-ups. I decided to put on my game face and lay low. Even so, it was a beautiful, sunny day here.

At the party, I got to pick out an Easter basket, find eggs (which mommy helped me do) and sit in the sun. Here are a couple of pics for you to see.

Well, I am getting ready to eat my dinner now. So I hope you had a happy Easter. Just think, next year, I will be able to find the eggs all by myself!

I am not so sure about this whole Easter thing.

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Today I got to do one of my most favorite things! I got to ride in the big stroller at school! Miss Katie, our teacher loaded four us up in it and took us for a ride around the grounds. Grandma Kathy was there to take pictures because, it's quite a site, if I do say so myself. I hope you like seeing the photos as much as I liked riding in the stroller.

Bye bye!

I am ready-freddy!

I get the best seat in the house - front row joe!

What's going on back there?

An Overview of Vital Stimulation Therapy

I told mommy that people visiting my blog may not know what vital stimulation therapy is. So I asked her to provide an overview. This information was taken from www.spot-rehab.com

What is Vital Stim Therapy?
Vital Stim Therapy is a new medical break through used in the treatment of swallowing disorders. It is an active rehabilitation program, combining the benefits of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and volitional therapeutic programming. This new therapy incorporates a specialized neuromuscular electrical stimulation system and uniquely designed service electrodes to stimulate inactive swallowing musculature commonly found in patients with dysphasia. Using this procedure allows the therapist to implement an active therapy to create or relearn functional muscle use patterns necessary to initiate or re-establish swallowing.

Who is a candidate for this type of therapy?
Whether or not an individual is a candidate for using Vital Stim therapy is dependent upon the results of a swallow video. Before an individual can begin the regime of vital stim therapy, the individual must first have a swallow video completed. The swallow video then is used as a tool to establish correct placement of electrodes on an individual's throat. The main goal of vital stim therapy is to strengthen weak muscles and to help him in the recovery of motor-control. This procedure is can be used both on pediatrics and adults. Course of treatment consists of two to five sessions per week at two to three weeks at a time and these sessions last 60 minutes each.

How does electrical stim work?
For adults, four electrodes are placed on the front portion of their neck. For children, two electrodes are used due to the size of the muscles in the neck. The electrodes are connected to an FDA approved electrical stimulation device. The therapist then proceeds with swallow treatment which may consist of using compensatory safe swallow strategies such as chin tuck, small sips, small bites, and alternating food and liquids. This can also include progression of swallow progressing from pureed up to regular type food. Average number of treatment sessions per cycle of treatment is 10 to 14 sessions.

What is the process for using Vital Stim to treat dysphasia? [This is my diagnosis and it means problems in swallowing food or liquid, usually caused by blockage or injury to the esophagus.]
Physician's referral for a swallow evaluation is required prior to Vital Stim. Swallow evaluation includes: review of patient history; completed functional assessment of swallowing; a modified barium study performed before starting electrical stimulation; development of a treatment plan, which may include Vital Stim.

Who can administer Vital Stimulation?
Specialty Certification is required for Speech-Language Pathologists or Registered Occupational Therapists to administer Vital Stim.

That's a pretty basic overview. It's a more agressive approach than traditional feeding therapy which I did from October through February. Since none of the doctors have been able to find anything structurally or mechanically wrong with me, they feel that Vital Stim may be the course of treatment that will yield the greatest opportunity for improvement. Wow, that was a mouthful of words I really don't even know! I am so tired now.

Nightie-night everyone!

Emerson - (conked) - Out!

The Road to Wellville

I think we had some good news today. I had a follow up with Dr. G, my pulmonologist. He, mommy and daddy talked about my situation, my progress and what other steps pulmonology may want to take. I screamed through the whole appointment because it took place during my nap time. I was a real crab.

Anyway, it looks like Dr. G would like to do another bronchoscopy. The big question is when? Mommy and daddy told Dr. G. that we were looking into Vital Stimulation therapy for my swallowing problem. Dr. G. said that we would want to do the bronch after Vital Stim assuming we could get me in for that course of treatment sooner than later. Dr. G thought my lungs sounded good. I must have cleared them out with all that screaming I did during the appointment! ;)

Well after my appointment, while mommy took me back to school, daddy went down and talked to Radiology. As it turns out, they have an opening in mid-May. This is very good news considering the other Therapist we were referred to was not covered by insurance. So, all we have to do apparently, is have a referral from my pediatrican and a copy of the insurance card. The good news is that Aetna has already told us that the hospital staff is covered. Mommy is going to get the referral from Dr. P on Monday so we should be good to go.

If progress on the Vital Stim takes longer than necessary, Dr. G. may try to do the bronch sooner. It's really just a wait and see game right now.

In other news, I am able to stand - hands free - for about 5 seconds before tumbling to the ground. My teachers say I am making great progress! Mommy and daddy are so proud of me.

That's all for now - Emerson-Out!

Not So Lost in Translation

Mommy says my vocabulary is growing every day. The funny thing is it sounds like we are talking different languages. Like this morning, for instance. Mommy fed me some thick cereal; and I did pretty good with it. But I got all messy. So messy, that mommy decided I needed a bath.

I got in the tub and mommy put all of my plastic fishies and my net in the tub with me. I was telling such stories while she scrubbed! "Maaaaa-maaaaa-nananana-da-da-da-da-ssssssss-sta-sta-sta," I squealed. I was so happy to be in the tub! Mommy told stories too...all about the fishies. So, it seems we are talking about the same things but we use different words to do it. I had a great time in the tub.

Bye for now!

Love,
Emerson

Me and mommy at my first picnic. Get the recap below!

My first picnic!

Today, I went to a picnic out at Anthem. Mommy's college friend Tracey, her husband and two kids are in town from Texas. Their parents live at Anthem and they decided to throw a reunion/party picnic. I had a lot of fun. It was beautiful out today - sunny and in the 80s. I got to meet some other kiddos too! Garret (6 yrs) and Anya Marie (8 mos.) belong to Tracey and Dan. Cody (11 weeks) belongs to Tina and Dave.

Despite being a bit shy at first, I relaxed and kicked back a bit. I didn't even cry when mommy had to go to the car to get my change of clothes because my tube leaked all over the place. All in all, it was a fun time. The rest of the day was spent laughing and being extremely rambunctious! I've had so much fun, I am probably going to conk out early tonight.

Have a great week!

Love,

Emerson

Ear Update

Mommy took me to Dr. P today for another check on my ears. I have been having ear problems off and on since September 2004. Then in January, I got a double whammy and it's been somewhat present ever since.

Bad news:
I still have some infection in both ears.

Good news:
Dr. P wants to do one (maybe two) more rounds of antibiotics over the next month before sending me to a specialty (ENT) doc. Whew! So, I start my new medicine tonight. Please keep your fingers crossed.

I also got to get on the scale. I weigh 25 pounds and 10 ounces. I am growing to be a very big boy!

I hope everybody has a nice weekend. I am sure mommy will post some updates over the weekend.

Picture me almost being able to wave bye-bye!

Hi everyone! I had a great day today! At daycare everyone in Pod C got to go for a ride in the jumbo stroller. I just squealed and giggled. It was so much fun. Tonight, I played with my new wiffle ball. You can see it in the photo below. Tomorrow, 3/11, I go in for a final ear check. Please keep your fingers crossed - I don't want tubes in my ears. One in my nose is enough!

Check me out with my new wiffle ball. Mommy and I played catch tonight. It was a lot of fun!

The Life of Emerson!

Welcome to Emerson's Very Own Blog!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to my blog. My mommy made this for me so you can stay up-to-date on all things Emerson. Sometimes mommy will post pictures here. Other times there will just be updates. I sure hope you will visit often!

See you later!

Love,

Emerson