2003 Journal Links

Archie's early intervention therapist (E. I.), Christy, visited Monday morning. Kim, the E. I. Archie will begin working with next week, also visited. Christy and Kim put Archie on a purple exercise ball for tummy time. The little man didn't like the ball too much, but he held his head up nicely anyway, probably so he could look in my direction and scream, which he did very well.

When his screaming wore Christy and Kim down, the girls transferred Archie to a mat with a water pocket, shaped like an octopus. Archie really liked the mat, and held his head up for a long time, looking at the octopus's face. Christy showed Archie how the water in the mat splashed when she touched the water pocket. He tried to make the water splash himself, but his touch was too light. Just the same, he touched his hand to the mat several times, seemingly baffled as to why he wasn't able to make the water splash around. This frustrated him, too, so he soon scrunched up his eyes and tossed his head, voicing his frustration with a jagged, "Ahh, ahh!"

Christy also worked with Archie, encouraging him to reach for rattles and shakers. Archie really liked a moraca with a green palm tree on it. He grasped the toys, especially the moraca, several times and pulled the items toward his mouth.

This Friday Archie's physical therapist (P. T.) Victor is scheduled to visit. Last Friday Victor worked on Archie's head control, as well as rolling over and sitting. Victor is very gentle and kind, and the little man seems to like him very much. In fact, Archie clicked his tongue at Victor once or twice. Although Archie does smile occasionally, a click of his tongue seems to be a more accurate indication of whether or not he's fond of someone. Archie stared at Victor thoughtfully, cocking his head to the side, and clicked his tongue as the P. T. achored Archie's hip to the floor before he maneuvered the baby into a sitting position . "That means he likes you," I told Victor. Archie worked so hard during his session with Victor last Friday that he was sweating at the end of the hour.