Mommy's Helper

On Monday, Lainey went back in for new casts.  They took the casts off but the doctor was running late so we had time to hang out in the room and I took this picture. She has legs! :)

The doctor is pleased with her range of motion, but is concerned that her heel is not coming down and surgery now sounds like a possibility.  The new casts (yellow!) will stay on for 2 weeks and then we'll get another set of xrays and re-assess.

She continues to be a happy girl and likes to help me around the house. :)

Lainey's Dr appointments

Lainey has had 2 Dr appointments this week, and it's only Wed!  On Monday we went back to the ortho doc who took off the red casts and did a set of xrays.  He is pleased with the progress she is making and wants to continue with casting (no surgery for now - yea!).  

To celebrate Lainey turning 19 months old (not really, it just happened that way) we finger painted yesterday! Very fun activity, although Greg was home so he joined us for this craft, as did our neighbor girl, and I was struck by the difference between Greg and the girls.  Greg instantly swirled all his colors together for an ugly brown, then got it all over everything and 5 seconds later announced he was done. I told him this is why I don't do a lot of crafts with him. :)

And since it is a little cooler out these days Lainey has enjoyed playing outside.  She really likes this car. Note her new light blue casts.

And this morning we took Lainey to the opthamologist.  The International Adoption specialist referred her here for a comprehensive check-up.  Lainey is near-sighted so will definitely need glasses.  The doctor felt like we could hold off for 6 months and re-assess then to see if she is walking and if her vision has gotten worse.  Bless her heart.  Good thing we're good friends with an eye doctor. :) But everything else looks healthy.

And just in case you were wondering if Lainey can get around, here is a picture of her heading up the stairs.  Please ignore the boxes of legos that are waiting for "someone" to take upstairs....

Red Casts!

Last week was a big one for us.  Doug had his first full week of second grade, and seems to really be enjoying it.  Greg started kindergarten and loves it.  He seems most excited about riding the bus, gym and recess. (Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure those are Doug's favorites too).  Lainey went in for her new casts and we picked red in order to match our favorite college and high school teams! The red casts will stay on until next Monday, at which time the doctor will get some xrays of her feet and determine our next course of action.  If he is happy with the progress (especially in the heel area) then we will do another series of casts.  I'm not sure how long that would be, but I'm guessing 6 weeks.  If he does not think casting is going to be enough, then he will schedule her for surgery and then more casts. The casts still do not seem to bother her, and she figured out how to climb stairs with them this week.  I think the casts bother me more than her.  And not because everyone stares at us, but because she wants to climb on us or she accidentally kicks us, and that hurts! But we will hang in there.  It will all be worth it when she can walk!