Message from Melinda

Apologies!! There is absolutely no internet access at the Bruckers biofeedback center. As soon as Melinda, and Ivy find a service, they will be posting pictures and info.

Brucker's Landing

We made it! Miami Florida, Brucker's Biofeedback Center. The facility is very secure, professional , and people friendly. Ivy's evaluation on Monday went super. the doctor said ivy has exceptional body strength, however she also has tension over her left side which is restricting her mobility. Once this tension is removed her control , balance and coordination will improve. An example is like walking a scaffold plank to clear a puddle. not a problem . now put yourself on a scaffold plank thirty feet above ground. things get a little to a lot tense . you may even stiffen up so you can not even move. As a carpenter, I remember the first time up on top of a 2x4 wall two stories up. I froze up. This method of biofeedback uses a monitor with a blue, and a yellow bar graph , Ivy than makes movements as directed and the graph reflects how much of the action is controlled and how much tension is involved.With this visual , Ivy is able to concentrate on controlling the movement and eliminating the tension. As this is going on the doctor and assistant are coaching Ivy on . Ivy was awesome! The Dr. said Ivy has everything we need to work with . We can help you. With the use of the bar graph, Ivy is able to monitor and reeducate the brain to sent the correct signal for controlled movement. I am back home now , and any information I get I will post.

BRUCKER.......LOOK OUT HERE I COME!!!!!!

Thanks to the benefit and everyone's "good thoughts", we are able to go to the Brucker Biofeedback Center in Miami, Florida (bruckerbiofeedback.com).Therapy will begin on March 7 and continue for the next three weeks. It will be A LOT of hard work but I expect to make tremendous strides! We shall post to the blog to keep everyone up to date. Wish me luck!

Big, Huge, Massive Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported, cooked, donated, volunteered, pitched in, and danced at Ivy's big event on Saturday! The intense positive energy rendered even a crusty ol' skeptic like myself into a quivery, sobbing lump on the floor. Thanks also to Unfinished Business for getting the ball rolling and keeping the dance floor moving! I'm sure Ivy will get around to "thank yous" once bounces back. She went right back to therapy on Monday, but she's still very tired. We'll also try to coordinated all the pictures people took and share.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Ivy,
I had so much fun with you, mom, dad, Grandma, Greg, Casey, and of course YOUR band :) on Saturday! As always you were all so amazing and the love that you all have is a truly beautiful thing. The day after was also pretty darn great too. We were all so tuckered out and things were pretty funny. I love you soooooo much and I will always remember how special this weekend was. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it all. Love you always, -elle :)

Ivy's Benefit

come and party:)
a week from today!!!

I met Ivy when she was probably about six years old. There were a few times we had gone to visit and it seems I would end up hanging out with Ivy doing whatever she was doing that day. It seems to me she has always had a gift of being able to connect with people whether old, young, or meeting them for the first time. I can't say I've been a person that has been a big part of her life, but through the years, I've listened to Frank talk proudly of Ivy's many accomplishments, her surprising observations and clever remarks. She's got a spark that has always been unique to her and I feel very fortunate to know Ivy and her family.

Ivy, it is magnificent to see how much progress you've made! There are not many people that could have accomplished what you have this past year or so. I know it can't be easy at times, but I know you'll keep amazing us! Sherman and I look forward to seeing you and having fun this next Saturday! Love you!

Happy 2010!

I had an amazing time celebrating the new year with Unfinished Business, and the Alvarados! And I look forward to repeating such regalement on January 30th!

Randy and Tina, two of Ivy's superb nurses from French Hospital took part in the dancin' and fun!

crutch walking

I am walking!!!!! Some Doc 's said it couldn't be done BUT LOOK AT ME!!! Sorry I'm just super excited!!

casey watch

self explanatory videos

JULIE THIS IS FOR YOU!!

My pelvis didn't move at all and
that's a piece of what you need to walk.
Thanks Julie for helping me!! I still really miss you and Ashton!

SAVE THE DATE

Unfinished Business is organizing a dinner-dance fund raiser for me on Jan. 30, 2010, at the South County Regional Center in Arroyo Grande.....more info to follow.

Come and dance your socks off with me
to the sounds of the best 60's R & R band on the centra coast!

walking lonesome

haha i love how im rocking out to the beatles

where did your hand go?

wooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! i'm walking all by lonesome! heck yes! i could scream!!





now let me remind you, you learned to crawl first so this is really exciting!!!!

lefty working

i look like im sleeping...hahaha i am actually reallly relaxed and im really focused on my arm and moving it that's my left arm. i am trying to hit sheri with lefty hahaha just joshing
i

ready ....roll over beethoven

I have been wanting to lay on my tummy for over a year without screaming because it hurt so bad.

First walking

sorry for the side view..this is from nov 8ish

okay so those are my easy walkers... not so "easy"
marketing *roll my eyes*




my first walking and up the stairs

my left arm

And recently I have been thinking I'm going to be a hospice nurse!!!!!!!!!!! I am really excited about it.

MY WEEK AT A GLANCE

I have a very busy schedule.
Everyday I wake up and if my mom isn't sleeping right next to me I call out for her. We walk down the hall. Then I get in my easy stander and eat breakfast. the easy stand is helping to make my legs perfectly straight.

I have OT( occupational therapy) 3 hours a week.

I have PT ( physical therapy) 4 hours a week.

I have school 5 hours a week.

I have myofascial massage twice a week from this really great lady, named Cynthia.

I also have acupuncture every 10 days.

AAAAAAAAAAnd I exercise at a gym once a week for a hour.

After Thanksgiving I'll start speech therapy 1 hour a week.

We leave around 9:30 and get home sometimes about 4 and other times about 5:30.
I know it will pay off.

Take today for example. I had to leave my house by 9:00 to get to the gym by 9 :30. I exercised and left at 10:30 to get to OT at 11:00. Just to leave and go to Los Osos at 12:30 for a massage then go back to SLO for school which is about an hour to go to school, then go home. Yay the end of the week!

TRIKE RIDE PART TWO

Okay so I have been working super hard 6 days a week. i get one day off.... for my own sake:) i have 5 days with therapy (OT and PT) and just this past week...I amazed myself with the bike, these few little short clips that my mom took proves it. these are from this week...

Compare this to my ride on October 27, 2008....
A LOT HAS CHANGED!

the end

we bought a recumbent stationary bike last weekend. i am riding everyday 10-20 minutes