Monday, March 16, 2009

SuperMax strikes again



Thanks for all the well wishes over the weekend. As you read this, Max is either preparing to get Botox, getting the injections or recovering from them.

On Saturday, Max's school "Progress Report" arrived in the mail. It's a rather dense document that lists the goals set up for him, whether he achieved them or not, and how his progress compares to his last report (which was in November). I typically read these thoroughly but try not to take them to heart, as I know that even when something is listed as "Status Unchanged" or "Limited Progress" that could quickly change in the near future.

This time, Max had a bunch of "A's" (for Achieved). Allow me to boast:

Objective:
Max will recognize printed words with moderate cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will recognize numbers 0-10 with 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will sort up to three groups of objects with 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will use his communication device to describe current weather conditions when given a choice of three with minimal cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will learn about the changes that occur during various seasons and will answer questions such as "In the winter, does it snow or is it hot?" with moderate cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will drink from his sippy cup with moderate physical cues during snack and lunch time. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will use total communication to request, respond to simple question, greet, turn take and participate in three of four opportunities, given moderate cues. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will pull down the zipper on his jacket, take it off and hang it up with moderate-minimal physical assistance and verbal cues 75% of the time. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will transtion from the middle of the floor to standing using a half-kneel strategy without upper extremity support or physical assistance. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will throw a lightweight ball with two hands to a partner three feet away. ACHIEVED!!!

Objective:
Max will continue to demonstrate extreme cuteness, good cheer, a great sense of humor, determination and prove all of those pessimistic doctors in the NICU wrong. ACHIEVED!!!

OK, that one wasn't on there.

He got a "Good Progress" in every single other objective.

Funny, just this week I was telling a friend that progress comes much more slowly now, but I'm OK with that and nowhere near as anxious as I was about it when Max was little. (Someone calls these little achievements "inchstones"—is it you, Melanie?) Back then, it took a long time for Max to reach milestones, and the wait could be excruciating. Especially because we weren't sure he would achieve them. Remember, we'd been told the worst when he was born. When Max did reach milestones, they were miraculous-seeming—Max crawling, Max walking, Max walking up stairs, Max saying words, Max feeding himself, Max going potty, Max riding a bike.

Progress may come in smaller, more subtle increments now, but it is just as miraculous-seeming.

14 comments:

  1. First: Max's smile is infectious. He made me smile *before* my first cup of coffee, which is nothing short of miraculous. Thanks, Max!

    Second: I hope Max's progress report included as many exclamation points as your post did.

    Good luck at the hospital. Thinking about you guys today.

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  2. Congratulations-- what a fantastic progress report! Sounds like Max is really stepping up to the plate!

    I hope that his Botox goes well today-- we'll be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers.

    ~Jess

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  3. I am so proud of Max. He has been through so much with all the different therapy given to him since he was a baby, but still has great determination. Ellen's description of him is perfect, except that "extreme cuteness" is an understatement.

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  4. First and foremost, Max, I'm so proud of you! Surely he deserves a big box of marshmallow Peeps for getting so many A's, right Mom?
    I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers right now - I hope everything went well with the injections!

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  5. Ellen, you need to BASK AWAY in all that glory! What a wonderful report! It makes the botox drill a bit easier to take, I'm guessing.

    I know the feeling of having your guard up, it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop--when you get surprised with good news, it's twice as sweet! Congratulations to Max and to his tiger of a momma whose perseverence plays a continuing role in the progress that Max is making!

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  6. woo hoo! Yes, I do think that all the people who say that he "can't" or "won't" can suck it. Go, Max, go!

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  7. Way to go Max!!!! What a wonderful report for all of you - kids never cease to amaze and thrill us. What a guy - and what a cutie!!

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  8. Way to go, Max!!!!! Sounds like a lot of progress in this last year!!

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  9. Ellen,
    I'm late reading this post. It moved me greatly. I'm so happy for you - for Max - for your whole family! I didn't *know you when*...but it's clear that Max has defied all odds. What HE has achieved is what MY dream is for Gavin. Simple things...crawling, walking, zipping up his jacket...things that people take for granted. I know what you mean when you say that those things seem miraculous - I believe that they are. I can't wait to share Gavin's progress report someday...and you WILL be able to say you knew him when. :-)

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  10. way to go max! that is awesome!

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  11. That's so fantastic!!!

    And just what the doctor ordered for you this weekend when you had other things on your mind.

    I love the specificness of the reporting system too. It sounds like he's at a GREAT school that really knows what it is doing.

    Excellent going Max ;-).

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  12. Arriving late to this party, Ellen, but congrats to Max and to you and everything you put into your family every day!

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  13. Great job Max, keep up the good work...

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  14. how wonderful it must be to see all of those "achieved!" WTG on proving them wrong Max!

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Thanks for sharing!



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