New Update

Hi everyone -

We have a few things coming up that we want to let everyone know about. My mom and I will be touring Perkins School for the Blind on Thursday to take a look at their early learning program (preschool). They have very small class sizes and the specialize in vision and multiple disabilities. The other thing that we are looking forward to is the Hasbro Radio-athon.. I have been asked to speak about our experiences with Hasbro and how much they have done for us. It will be this Friday (March 26) at 1:00. I will send the link to the website - I am not sure which radio station I will be on! Brandon's picture is on the station websites that will be hosting this event - http://www.92profm.com/article.asp?id=1739077 .

Today we started music group. Brandon loved it! He was wide awake and smiling and banging his hands on his legs. He loves to listen to other kids and noises around him. He is also getting better at grasping and holding things. Yesterday he picked up his tambourine with two hands, held it in the air and flipped it over. It was so cool!

We have a lot of new pictures to post that will show everyone some of the things that we are working on with Brandons vision. My brother John made stands so we could hang things for Brandon to look at. We got this idea off a friends website (they made one for their son). Enjoy!

And thank you to my wonderful family for taking such good care of Brandon when I was sick last week! xoxoxox

Here's Brandon and his cousin Anthony having a sleepover!

Brandon is playing his bells and singing with his music therapist.

Here he is looking at his beads while working with his physical therapist.

This is one of the new setups we have for getting Brandon to use his vision.

Mommy even makes me use my eyes while were taking walks!

Here is another new set up.
B is doing well with blue lights.

Pittsburgh Trip

Hi everyone!

We just got back from Pittsburgh late last night. It was a good trip - a little too short though! We got some very good feedback from Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy. She told us that we need to get Brandon to a place where he is locked in visually. It's basically as is he's waiting or figured out that he can still get what he wants without using his vision. (he is satisfied where he is) He needs to see that if he looks he can get what he wants (such as a bottle or a toy). A lot of the things that I have been working on with him have been reinforced with sounds, instead I need change to more intrinsically visual things. I also need to bombard him with things to look at where ever he is. (while laying in crib put lava lamp near him, shiny mylar on his highchair, shiny balls in bathtub, etc) I am also going to try different color objects for him to look at such as blue or gold (instead of the red we have been using). He responded when she used a blue flashing light with him. We have a lot of work to do! She kept saying "I know it's in there!" She is such a wonderful teacher! She spent the whole appointment with him on the floor taking different toys and objects out of her suitcase and trying different ways to get him to glance at them.

We had fun being in Pittsburgh as well. It's such a beautiful city. We got lost on the way to and from the airport so we were able to see lots of different places lol! Next time we go we are going to spend more time there and maybe go see Dr Roman two days in a row for shorter appointments so she can see him at different times. This time he was a little sleepy since he was up late the night before (my little night owl). He did so well on the plane both times, he was awake and didn't cry at all - he such an awesome traveler. Time to go finish unpacking!

I am still trying to figure out this blog, I am not sure if it notifies people when I put up a new post like caringbridge did. I will send out an email to everyone when I post new comments. If you would like to be on this list send me an email with your address. My email is janderson924@gmail.com. Also, you can leave comments on this page if you click on the comment button at the very bottom of the post!

Love to all! xoxox

This is Brandon on his wingbo. It helps him keep his shoulders in while getting his neck and upper back stronger. He found his thumb in this picture!

Auntie Katie taught Brandon how to use a straw! He did an awesome job with it! We are going to try to use straws instead of sippy cups.

This was a cool statue on the side of the road in Pittsburgh. We were on top of a cliff overlooking the city (lost).
Trying to find the airport - B was such a good boy. He loved to dance to the music, especially when the Black Eyed Peas came on!

Mommy and B on the airplane.
B also got to sit with his Uncle John and Auntie Laura.

New Page!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Brandon's new page! I am excited to be able to add lots more pictures with each post. I will try to include pictures of things that Brandon is working on with his therapists as well as some cute pics of him!

Some quick updates:

We leave for Pittsburgh on Monday to go back and see Dr. Roman-Lantzy (the cortical vision impairment specialist). Were looking forward to it - my mom, sister Laura and brother John are coming with us also!

We are going to be starting speech therapy through Early Intervention next week. Our Occupational Therapist is going to be the one doing it. She will come twice a week now - one day for fine motor skills and the other will be for oral motor and feeding. She is going to order lots of cool things to go along with the feeding.

Brandon is doing so well standing, especially with his AFO's (leg braces) on. We are so proud of him. He is also getting better at sitting up tall! He works so hard!

Here are some pictures of Brandon working with his physical therapist on the big orange ball and his music therapist! Enjoy!