Trampoline Thursday On A Friday...Again.

I know. I know. I'm late again. I've been busy.

Now there's a surprise.

The first week in June The Teenager had a 1/2 pound weight gain due to bloat so I didn't get around to posting. I was pretty impressed, however, since the average weight gain during menstrual cycles ranges from 1 to 4 lbs. I think the pediatric nutritionist told me the average weight gain for The Teenager's age group was approximately 2lbs but I can't remember exactly as my short term memory is shot thanks to the 60's and my days as a "flower child."

Had I known about the long term side effects of picking flowers in the 60's I would have picked more. That way I would be totally senile now and not just partially senile. There is something quite disturbing about being partially senile and having that vague recognition that your brain cells are only flying at half mast.

The second week I don't think we weighed in as we were at the hospital all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with The Boy for his Pamidronate infusion. Eleven years of infusing. Eleven looooong years. I had a sitter for the girls on Wednesday but on Thursday and Friday I had to bring the entire brood and sit for 5 hours in a hospital room. Pure hell on earth.

As we were leaving on Friday one of the nurses pulled me aside and informed me that she was "so impressed" yada yada yada with how well I handled the three little maniacs angels. I was truly speechless. Was the woman deaf?

"That's it! I've had it! I'm ready for the psyche ward and some I.V Valium and a Morphine pump! If you three don't stop these behaviors I'm calling in the flying monkeys...NOW!"

Anyway, we finally made it to Publix for the big weigh in today.

Beginning weight on April 17, 2011... 138 1/2 lbs

Today's weight...132 1/2 lbs. Wowza!

We drove right to Cracker Barrel to celebrate with pancakes, syrup and fried catfish.

Why the Trampoline?

In researching forms of exercise that The Teenager could actually successfully navigate with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, patella alta...oh I could go on and on....one of the many reasons I chose the mini trampoline was for the actual jumping itself. Tooling along the autism spectrum disorder highway, The Teenager can be a sensory seeker who often needs proprioceptive feedback in order to calm down and re-equilibriate. Too often these kids gravitate towards less socially acceptable self stimulatory behavior so it is a challenge to guide them towards more appropriate outlets. Thus, the mini trampoline and jump, jump, jumping.

Some changes have occurred in recent weeks since The Teenager has been jumping before meals.

1.) She enjoys jumping now. I haven't heard peep one of heart, liver or respiratory failure complaints in 2 weeks.

2.) Her stamina has increased from a very painful 5 minutes to a smiley 8 minutes.

3.) Her appetite has decreased. She is pushing away from the table without asking for those 2nd or 3rd helpings.

4.) Her cholesterol has fallen by 20 points and her HGB A1C has dropped to 5.5 from 6.9. That's right. She is no longer "pre-diabetic." Interestingly, her thyroid levels have also returned to normal. Go figure.

Go, Teenager, go! Mama is so proud!