Day 2
Therapy in Santiago

Well, day started off good. We were on time for therapy. First therapy session of the day....not so good. Ramon said that the difference between Austin from last time (Montreal) to this time is that he is MUCH stronger. I know, there is nothing wrong with that, that is actually a good thing. However, Austin is making bad decisions, the decision to sit more while Ramon is trying to do his exercises with him. When Austin decides to do that he pushes force against what Ramon is doing and makes the exercise ten times harder. Austin is not that light anymore. With that said, it is posing more of a challenge for Ramon. A challenge that he is DETERMINED to figure out and how he can get through to Austin and that smart brain of his. The afternoon went better. Austin was able to complete more exercises but still wanted the easy way out and tried to sit in some. Ramon's last words to us besides Adios, was "I will figure this out and what I need to do to get through to him." It was a great reasurrance of why we come all he way to Santiago, Chile, because I know he will.

Day 1
Therapy in Santiago

Well the morning was a little off. We got up early. Got ourselves ready for therapy, then woke Austin up and started to get him ready when the phone rang. We thought it might be Claudia (Ramon's daughter) reminding us of our therapy time or maybe even changing it. Well, it was Claudia, but she was asking us where we were, we were supposed to be there fifteen minutes ago. Oh crap, our clocks were one hour behind, thanks to technology and the lack of keeping up with the time change. Needless to say, we got our jog in for the day. First therapy session was a reaquainting session with Ramon and Austin. It was okay, but definately room to improve. Our second session of the day was a little more productive, but proved that Austin definately has a mind of his own and he can make decisions. He made plenty of decisions tonight to purposely to sit and relax, hoping the exercise would be done and he could go home. Not with Ramon. Perseverance is the key to his teaching and that is what he did. Austin tolerated very well. In his own words and sounds definately let us know how he felt about it. But no crying. Yeah, Austin. We are off to a good start.

When I was searching for Austin's blog today, I googled it and up came an award, for an award winning blog of someone with a rare conditions. Maybe we are getting somewhere in help to figure out Austin!!! I hope this opens up a new beginning in finding out what the heck is going on with Austin and someone is searching for a challenge.

MedicalAssistantDegree.com

Where has the time gone. 2011 already. What a great year it is going to be for Austin. He ended last year with his new found freedom of the ability to walk on his own. He loves it and explores our house all the time. His teachers and therapists say at school that he is all over the place. His new found freedom has earned him plenty of 1 minute time outs in the classroom since he won't sit still and finish a project through. Secretly though, I think his teachers and therapists are very proud of him, since he has come a long way. Austin's goals for now are working on his stability and balance, weaning off the GTube and getting it taken out, (which means Austin will have to take everything by mounth), and communication. Austin has begun to use more sounds and better eye contact, but not using his words. We hope that will come with time. We are looking forward to his trip to Santiago, Chile in March to see Ramon. It seems like everytime we go Austin gets stronger and stronger and somehow it opens up new abilities for him. That therapy is a wonder for his brain and his body. We are so fortunate to have found it.