Hello Mini Gait Trainer... or "Go Go Gadget"

It all started with a random email to Emma's physical therapist:

04/06/2012 08:20:40 PM
I found a new Facebook page that has a couple references to medical supplies for kids and saw the following:
http://www.rifton.com/products/mobility/pacergaittrainers/
Do you think Emma will need something like the above (gait trainer) as she gets closer to walking?

Only a month later and Emma has a two week trial to try out the mini pacer gait trainer. Last week Emma's physical therapist brought one to her session, but it didn't have all the needed bells and whistles that Emma needs for trunk support. This week, she brought it back with the added attachments. She stands in the stander (which is a bright pink Leckey Squiggles), the jumper (Johnny Jumper because it has the highest maximum weight capacity of 28 and all the others have 24-25 pounds), saucer, and you can she can stand if you hold on to her sides. You can make her move her legs but you have to hold her sides and use your feet to literally move her feet.

This morning Emma was in the gait trainer and we were all so happy with her willingness to use it, and she even picked up her feet a few times. Last week when we first tried it Emma was actually getting upset because (we think) she wanted to try it out. She was getting fussy as PT was making the adjustments to get it to fit her size. In general, PT did have to literally move her feet to imitate steps. But we were all so excited that for even those few times she picked up those feet like she knew what she was doing. She was pointing at things so PT brought her over to objects to check out things. I think PT was surprised at how well she did in it. To be honest, so was I. She is usually apprehensive about new equipment, especially for the first few trials, so this was just great. I could tell PT was pleased with how well it was working for Emma, and that made me even more excited. The stander has really helped get her to this point and so I can't wait to have her use it.

Tonight Catie and I took a video of Emma in the "go go gadget". That is what we call it. PT was saying that it was to "go go" and daycare was calling it a "gadget" so it is unofficially called the "go go gadget". Catie was so cute the way she was trying to help Emma. She was taking the video while I stood behind Emma and helped her move. "You have to stand up straight, Emma" and "Pick your foot up, Emma. You have to pick your feet up to walk." she would say. It was so cute. She would even talk to her in the tone that an adult talks to a young child. She is most certainly my big helper!

Now, we must figure out where to put it amongst all her other stuff!