Wednesday Mid-Morning-Rachel

Pick up Melissa.... just in time to give her a little bit of crap for forgetting what time we are firing up today! Yes!!!! We are instantly arch enemies for the morning, but it is well worth it! We get to therapy about 30 minutes early today because Gage and I are heading to his first skating lesson today!!! Yay!!!! I help Melissa bring the kids inside, and then leave them all to fend for themselves!

Gage and I then headed off for his ice lessons! I was so excited that I found someone to teach him, that I forgot to ask which rink we were supposed to go to! So we went to the big hockey rink uptown. We grab all of Gage's gear and roll in the doors cautiously. I see no one, except a man in his 50's walking around the bleachers. Gage and I stand and wait for him to come around, and when he does I ask about the skating lessons. He is pretty sure they are being held at the Ram Center, and I thank him. Before we go rushing out however, Gage see's this as an opportunity to show the gentleman his beloved hockey sweatshirt (yellow Old Navy sweatshirt with a hockey puck on it). The nice man compliments Gage on his shirt and offers him one of the game pucks he has been picking up out of the bleachers. Gage (almost hyperventilating) graciously takes the puck, thanks the man, and basically floats to the van on a cloud. He asks if we get to go see Miss Brienne at the store to get a stick, and I tell him that if his first couple of lessons go well, as a reward we will go get a new hockey stick from her.

We get to the Ram Center a couple of minutes later, and at this point our grace and poise is gone. We basically roll in like a couple of tumbleweeds, and waiting for us is Miss Heidi, Gage's new skating instructor. She is cute as a button, and Gage instantly gets his "game face" on. She starts with the absolute basics, such as showing me how to correctly put on skates and tie them :) She has Gage's full attention and he is watching her like a hawk the entire time. He has been waiting for this a long time! The two of them begin doing exercises on the mats with their skates on. The whole time, she and I are noticing that Gage's left foot is struggling. At first I just sort of thought that maybe it was because he has been struggling so much with his SPD, and figured I would mention it to his Occupational Therapist.

They get on the ice and all went pretty much as expected. I posted lots of pics and videos, so you will be able to sort of see it as for yourself. Remember, this Gage's first time on the ice ever.

As we are going, Miss Heidi and I are chatting about how he did, and about some of Gage's history. I tell her about when he was a baby, and how they though he had Cerebral Palsy because the left side of his body was so hypertoned. For those of you who don't remember or did not know us at that point, Gage's fist and arm was like a little lobster claw and his foot was basically a tight club foot. Then it sort of "ding" at us both at the same time.... his left foot is the one he is struggling to skate with. Well!!!! So we chat a little longer about all the different sort of skating she teaches, and I decide right then and there, that Cote and Bo will start lessons next year! I am insanely impressed with her attitude and demeanor, and I know that they will take to her just as well as Gage did. I will probably have to get a special walker for the ice, or maybe use the gait trainer, but that's fine with me!

We get Gage back in his shoes and start shuffling him to the door with all her gear. I am happy I got to meet her, and have a feeling she will be a permanent part of our lives.

Gage has OT to head to next, so we say our good-byes and get loaded. He is starting to vibrate a bit, so I imagine the next stop should be interesting.