How much should you push your hypotonic child? And Strawberry Shortcake Cake!

I haven't written in a while because I feel like I have nothing new to write and my daughter has been sick, of course...  I feel more like talking about the amazing Strawberry Shortcake Cake that I made last week than my daughter's hypotonia.  So I will start with the cake.  I got the recipe from Pioneer Woman's website.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/strawberry-shortcakecake/

It was easy to make and tasted just like Strawberry Shortcake.  No it was not low in sugar or fat but I have a very bad sweet tooth and this satisfied it with one small piece.  I should also mention that I didn't have the correct size pan so I used an angel food pan with a hole in the center.  Worked perfectly and I was able to put whole strawberries in the center.  This recipe is a must for spring!  I think I will make it again today!

So back to Hypotonia.  I came across a website last week that talked about treating Hypotonia.  It had some great advice but one piece of advice was to push these kids to help build their stamina.  This always troubles me.  I always wonder how much to push my daughter.  I mean if I were to train for a race (I don't run so this is highly improvable) I would push myself every time I ran to build my speed or distance.  This seems logical to build endurance.  But is it logical for a child with Hypotonia?  I don't know.  I think part of the challenge is you are dealing with children.  If they would just tell you what hurts or what is on their mind in a logical way parents lives would be much easier.  The reality is they don't.

The other day my daughter said she did not want to go to ballet class.  She had fallen when she left school and said her knee hurt.  She was dancing around the living room so I was pretty sure this time this was not true.  She then said she didn't want to take ballet anymore.  Okay, this might be the real reason but  wondered if she was just tired.  I had just spent $150 on tickets and a costume for her recital so in 5 weeks she can throw the ballet slippers away but until then she is going to ballet (the class isn't all that physically challenging)!  My point is I can never tell if she is really tired and hurting or she has some other motivation for not wanting to do something.  Do I send her to ballet even though she might be tired?  Will this help her endurance or hurt her more.  I decided to send her to ballet and she had a good time but I really questioned my decision.  After the fact I think it was a good one.

Last month I had her evaluated by the school district again.... When the school district had finally wasted enough time and was under the gun to complete the evaluation it turned out to be on either side of a trip we had planned.  She had her educational piece just before the trip and the PT piece just after.  We went to a water park which was physically exhausting.  After the PT evaluation she was exhausted.  She was tired before this but it really set her over the edge.  She then of course got sick.  Sick for almost 4 weeks.  This round really set her back.  I found my daughter who was really coming out of her shell at school was being very quiet and reserved again.  It also took a big toll on her stamina.  To make matters worse she didn't qualify for services b/c our school district has impossible standards.  That is a topic for another post!

I think this last case was extreme and I didn't have a ton of choices but I do find when she is pushed too hard she gets worse not better.  Everything seems to fall apart. Finding that sweet spot is really tricky.  If anyone has some secrets I would love to hear them!