Working hard

The weather has been beautiful and cool, so we've been taking Alan to a park or playground every day this week - 5 days, 5 different playgrounds. He's been having so much fun running, jumping, climbing and most significantly, playing with other children. This is the work that kids his age are supposed to be doing, and work that he has had precious little opportunity to do in the last 18 months.

When his PT came to see him on Thursday, he was a little resistant to some of the exercises he usually does without protest. When we told her about all the time Alan had been spending playing, she was very happy. While she was a little concerned at first that the tumor might be impacting his abilities, she was encouraged to hear how hard he had been working on the playground. It was more likely his muscles were tired and sore from the unfamiliar vigorous play, and compared to that, his PT exercises were rather boring. Besides, functional activity like romping all over a playground was much better for him than any sit-ups or stair work.

It has been so wonderful to see him so happy. The last two summers he's been somewhat isolated, and I almost cried to see him so excited to run around with other children.


Climbing up and down while Mommy and Miss Becky have breakfast

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It's fun to run around!
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Look at that big grin!


Alan just had to abandon the playground and climb the rock when these big boys arrived.


It's a long way down!


Not content merely to climb the rock with the big boys, Alan insisted on following them on their walk too!


Alan was a little hesitant about crossing this bridge until he saw a big boy do it. Monkey see, monkey do!