Update - 10/31/06
Thank you for your patience! I've had a very busy couple of months and then connecting my schedule with the Kurz family's schedule has made it difficult to get an update. But it's worth the wait because I have good news.
In the past week and a half, Matthew has made tremendous improvement. His speech therapist is thrilled with his progress. Matthew can now puff out his cheeks and blow and he is consistently able to move his mouth the form the shape necessary for consonants and vowels (but his voice has not turned on yet). He can also blow bubbles with a straw in a cup. He's still working on sucking liquid up through the straw. He gets halfway and can't keep it up. He can't hold large amounts of liquid in his mouth, but he is able to hold small amounts of liquid for a short period of time. He's doing several new things every day!
Last week Andrew was "goofing around" with Matthew and made Matthew laugh for the first time (more like a chuckle). It was music to the family's ears! Matthew's personality continues to show through more and more (the sly jokester).
Previously I mentioned that Matthew was pulling his self up. He is now doing it on a consistent basis and he's helping the person dressing him. He's also doing a better job of holding his balance (up to four minutes) and when he feels himself leaning, he will use his left hand to grab onto the side of the bed and correct his position.
Matthew is starting to help with his personal care. He will hold his toothbrush (with the person caring for him - but sometimes will do it unassisted). He usually needs guidance on completing the job and doing it correctly, but the good news is that he is DOING it. Before he wouldn't have anything to do with brushing his teeth.
Matthew's ability to communicate in response to questions has improved. He will now nod his head yes when asked a question - most of the time. He's getting more consistent in communication. Matthew will also mimic facial expressions. His brothers love to make faces at him and have him mimic the faces back at them.
Sunday Matthew was able to go to church for Reformation Day service. This was his 2nd visit to church. The first time he was not comfortable, but this time he was very calm. His mother watched his eye movements during the service and singing from the hymnal and she noticed that he was following along in the hymnal as she moved her finger across the page and he would look at the appropriate place on the page.
Yesterday was another day for a visit to Matthew's main doctor at Rusk in Columbia. He continues to be pleased with Matthew's progress and even decreased some more of Matthew's medications.
The Kurz family will soon be in a home of their own and grandma can have her house back! After November 8, the whole family will be in their new home in Sedalia, MO which is the town just north of Cole Camp (not far from the parishes that Pastor Kurz serves). Their new address will be:
4130 Bluegrass Dr.
Sedalia, MO 65301
(They will continue to use their cell phones instead of land lines for the time being.)
The Lord be with you this day!
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother
In the past week and a half, Matthew has made tremendous improvement. His speech therapist is thrilled with his progress. Matthew can now puff out his cheeks and blow and he is consistently able to move his mouth the form the shape necessary for consonants and vowels (but his voice has not turned on yet). He can also blow bubbles with a straw in a cup. He's still working on sucking liquid up through the straw. He gets halfway and can't keep it up. He can't hold large amounts of liquid in his mouth, but he is able to hold small amounts of liquid for a short period of time. He's doing several new things every day!
Last week Andrew was "goofing around" with Matthew and made Matthew laugh for the first time (more like a chuckle). It was music to the family's ears! Matthew's personality continues to show through more and more (the sly jokester).
Previously I mentioned that Matthew was pulling his self up. He is now doing it on a consistent basis and he's helping the person dressing him. He's also doing a better job of holding his balance (up to four minutes) and when he feels himself leaning, he will use his left hand to grab onto the side of the bed and correct his position.
Matthew is starting to help with his personal care. He will hold his toothbrush (with the person caring for him - but sometimes will do it unassisted). He usually needs guidance on completing the job and doing it correctly, but the good news is that he is DOING it. Before he wouldn't have anything to do with brushing his teeth.
Matthew's ability to communicate in response to questions has improved. He will now nod his head yes when asked a question - most of the time. He's getting more consistent in communication. Matthew will also mimic facial expressions. His brothers love to make faces at him and have him mimic the faces back at them.
Sunday Matthew was able to go to church for Reformation Day service. This was his 2nd visit to church. The first time he was not comfortable, but this time he was very calm. His mother watched his eye movements during the service and singing from the hymnal and she noticed that he was following along in the hymnal as she moved her finger across the page and he would look at the appropriate place on the page.
Yesterday was another day for a visit to Matthew's main doctor at Rusk in Columbia. He continues to be pleased with Matthew's progress and even decreased some more of Matthew's medications.
The Kurz family will soon be in a home of their own and grandma can have her house back! After November 8, the whole family will be in their new home in Sedalia, MO which is the town just north of Cole Camp (not far from the parishes that Pastor Kurz serves). Their new address will be:
4130 Bluegrass Dr.
Sedalia, MO 65301
(They will continue to use their cell phones instead of land lines for the time being.)
The Lord be with you this day!
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother
posted by Randy Asburry @ 6:42 AM
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