180... or 360?

Noah had THE BEST day in therapy on Friday... the best he's EVER done.  So far, he has cried every session basically the whole time.  He cooperates, but he cries....makes for a very loooong 3 hours.  Friday he didn't cry ONE SINGLE TIME!  Me and Peggy (his therapist) both admitted that we had prayed and prayed the night before, that he wouldn't cry and would have a good day.  Well, God answered those prayers quickly.  :)  Mid-way through the session, me and the other therapists were discussing how great Noah was doing and they said, "it's like he's done a 360"... but then Peggy pointed out that a 360 would put us back in the same point, so we determined he did a 180...regardless of the degree of the angle, we were all THRILLED with the new Noah! :)  He walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes, while in the spider suit (basically, he's in a harness and has bungee cables attached to walls around the treadmill.) It allows him to stand without falling down, but gives him to sensation of walking by himself, it just assists with his balance.  He walked in a gait trainer ALL around the room, for probably 30 minutes.  He used a walker (it's like an old person's walker, where he holds onto rails on each side of him so he doesn't lose his balance, but there is nothing assisting him in holding his weight up) and he walked 135 yards (which was one of the goals she had for him to accomplish by the end of next week).  One thing that happened while we were there, is that an organization called Hand in Paw made a visit.  They are a non-profit organization that consists of dog owners that have put their pets through a training program that allows them to be volunteers to work with these kids (and other kids at Children's Hospital, locals schools, etc).  This couple came in with their dog, Godiva, who was a beautiful chocolate Cocker Spaniel.  Noah and the other little girl that was getting therapy LOVED Godiva.  They incorporated Godiva into the therapy session.  So, for example, Noah was working on standing on his own, while tossing a ball to Godiva and Godiva would catch it and bring it back to Noah.  Noah was having so much fun and laughing the WHOLE time at Godiva, but still working on standing.  Then Godiva would walk down the hall and Noah would follow him in his walker... as Noah would get close to to Godiva, Godiva would scoot back and entice Noah to walk further.  I thought it was such a neat program and so giving and self-less of these people to volunteer their time by allowing their pet to brighten these kids' day!  What amazing people there are out there!