What now?

We are done. Sam finished his sessions. Bravo to him. And me. And Ben. And Tom. And all our friends who have been so supportive and caring throughout the past few months. We made it. It was a huge commitment and now I'm trying to remember what used to go on in our lives before it took over.

What does Brain Balance say we should be doing now?  Sam has two two-hour appointments scheduled for his re-evaluation. They’re scheduled for tomorrow and two weeks from now. He’ll be doing the same tests that he did during the initial evaluation so we can see how he’s improved. Till then, he is supposed to continue doing the exercises and listening to his music.

Sticking with the exercises has been harder than expected. Sam was very willing in the beginning. We would do them three times a day. Now we are lucky if we get to them once a day. It shouldn’t be so difficult. They take about ten minutes.  But somehow motivating him to get on the floor to do those lizards and sit-ups is torture for us both. And I am so bored of being the nag – “Sammy, time for your exercises.”  Even I’m sick of me.

Not surprisingly, they've been the cause of a few spats between Tom and me. Even though Brain Balance is my thing and the kids are mostly my job, it would be heavenly if Tom initiated the work more. Once or twice each weekend he does the exercises. But it’s always at my suggestion. And then they BOTH growl at me. Because neither wants to be interrupted. I get it but they have to be done. As with everything, Tom and I recover but I cannot wait to stop being the annoying one who breaks up all the fun.

Getting Sam to listen to the music is much easier. He’s beyond tolerant as I stick the earphone into his left ear. I know he lies sometimes and tells me he’s listened to all the songs before he really has. And I suspect that occasionally he switches to Kanye West.  But he’s been a really good sport and deserves some control over this whole situation; so I let him get away with it.

What are we going to do to fill up all the hours we have back? On Wednesday, Sam will have his first session with Delon. He’s a fitness trainer in town who offers Kickboxing and Conditioning Camps for adults and kids.  Recently, I started going to his classes and we talked about Sam. They will work on getting him stronger and figuring out how to control his body more - so he can get it to move the way he wants it to. These classes seem like a good extension of the work Sam started at Brain Balance.

A few weeks ago, Sam began piano lessons. Over the past year or two, I have suggested a few times that he learn how to play an instrument and he always resisted. Then out of the blue (courtesy of Brain Balance I believe), he asked to start piano lessons. He’s had three. So far so good and he has mastered Mary Had a Little Lamb and Happy Birthday.

And on Fridays, he’ll be going back to OT. Sam's first session is this week and I cannot wait to hear what she thinks. Jerzie has always been his cheerleader. Hopefully she will see the Sam I see.  The same one she’s known and loved for six years – focused, connected and even more loveable than before.