1st Round done

So we got to take off the first round of the serial casting and give him a bath the night before he gets his second round of casting done by the physical therapist. She will put on another set for another week and hopefully that is the end of his serial casting this time. If not up to 4 weeks I guess is what they might do. Dad was a great cast taker offer and he was sooooo happy!.

And Hayden was soooo happy to have them taken off! He really did good with them though but they were a little clumpy.


He had forgotten what his legs and feet looked and felt like so he had to check them out!
And at last a very happy cast-free kid (for the night). Oh, and if you noticed that he has not had a haircut for a while that is because we forgot to go get it cut for a while and like the curls. I must say he looks so different but we like it. And he doesn't have to worry about mom cuts for a while!

Something that is so exciting is happening with all of this. He uses his walker to get places in the house and turns it on his own. He is realizing that he is more stable and tries to balance and he has TAKEN MORE STEPS!!!!! He just has to learn how to hold himself upright with his trunk muscles, use his legs more for power and he will probably be off. I guess he is week without the casts and so when he gets them off it might take a little time to do what he is doing now with them but he loves being up!

Serial Casts

So here they are. They really aren't so bad. Except we have had to go to a few places and people look at me like "what did she do to that poor child! I guess I would wonder too if I saw a child with two casts on. Anyway, he is anoyed by them but seems to tolerate them pretty well. And this is only for 2 weeks. Can you imagine if he really had something broken?!



They are a little flexible at the top but by the feet they are pretty hard. He is walking with his walker a lot more now and he is already so much more stable, partly the Botox and partly the casts. The first day and a half he kept hyperextending at his knees and hips depending on what was so tight but now his is up straighter and balancing better. This is way cool. I don't think that he knows yet that he could balance much better. I had him walking while I held onto his hips and when he kept up straight I would let go and he TOOK 2 STEPS!!!! Without any assistance! That is so great! Anyway I am sure that when he figures out what is happening he will take off. He is using his walker to go from room to room sometimes and turning it as well. He still runs in it and it is hard with the clompy casts but he still does it.



This is his I am watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse happy face. He really loves it. Even with casts on. I really expected him to cry the whole time but he has played and had fun and we only had one little scare that resolved in 10 minutes of having his legs up. Thank goodness mom waited to panic until she tried all the suggestions in the paperwork they sent home. And for those of you who know that side of me, well I tend to panic before something has happened just in case. I am not sure when that started. The Lord does seem to help me out with Hayden though. So we will see if getting casts on while unconscious vs conscious is about the same. The Physical Therapist will do them on Wednesday so lets hope that Mickey will work for us then!

Guess What?!

So no pic's with this one but we are excited. So the last couple of Physical Therapy visits for Hayden have been hard. He is so tight through his gastrocs and hamstrings that the one therapist who comes to our house says lets use this time to work on his speech. She really didn't expect to progress and his other therapist that we go see is waiting almost till the Botox to see him.

Well, he is mastering climbing up stairs, amazing since we really don't have stairs here and he is going up the stairs on his slide and, he can climb onto his push toy train and get his leg over and sit on it. We are still working on the dismount but the fact that he is figuring out how to do this despite the drawbacks with his body is so awesome!

Also he is trying to say a few more words and kind of copies us still. We are trying to do what is advised by the therapist and try to get him to do animal sounds but for now he laughs at mom and just wants to look at the pics of the elephants. Funny, he loved dogs and the pics of dogs but now the elephant wins everytime. I really can't do an elephant noise of course.

Anyway that is our excitement. We are preparing him with practicing positions and stretches so that when he gets the botox this week he will know what to do, well and I guess when the casts come off as well. But we are hoping that they will help keep those little heels down and he can balance and maybe take a step or two.

He still is the funny man and will do anything for a laugh. He loves playing rough with dad. Still loves to cuddle with mom and gives good hugs and great kisses (those are his favorite).

Amazing what he can and will do. He is very motivated to move and to be on his own. This week he used his walker correctly and if he would only use it more I amsure that he would feel more independent. He loves to be standing and walking but mom can't try to have him use the walker, it has to be his idea. And he will use it the way he wants to. He did get in the right way and leaned back and the wheels slid backwards and he was walking backwards and it was so funny. So, of course he kept doing it. What a pill!

Tag I am (copy from a friends blog)

Tag I am

I am: a mom, wife, friend, Pharmacy Tech.,a little crazy but lots of fun, my sons entertainment.

I think: Way too much for my own good.

I know: That I really don't know everything

I want: To have our house built soon and for Hayden to be happy and walking

I have: A good family and the funniest son ever!

I dislike: When people lie to me (especially at work, it happens too much)

I fear: The unknown and our next adventure, serial casting.

I hear: Hayden's Pooh train (he loves it)

I smell:Vanilla

I cry: at night when no one is watching

I usually: am cleaning or picking up Hayden's toys. He does help sometimes!

I wonder: What the future will bring for Hayden and how I can make it great and open for all possibilities.

I regret: All that Hayden has to go through to do normal every day kid things.

I care: About my family

I always:try to do Hayden's therapy everyday and have some fun play time and learning time with him. We are trying out new signs (ASL)

I worry: About everything, I think that it is shortening my life! DON'T WORRY!

I am not: Sympathetic after 9:00 (at work) My sympathy turns off at 9:00 especially when patients come in after closing for a refill because they have been out for days and they really need their vitamins or whatever. If it is a worthy cause I am sypmathetic.

I remember: Neat experiences with my Grandpa who died when I was five and I remember my Grandma a lot lately. I sure miss them.

I believe:In the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I sing: All the time. Around Hayden it is mostly Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh and Little Einsteins and of course Primary songs. Especilly now that I am the chorister for Primary and our Program is coming up!

I don't always:Clean off my makeup at night

I argue: Becuase I think I am right.

I write: a lot less than I used to. I was looking at some poems and I started this one when Hayden was born and I still haven't finished it!

I listen: and try to put myself in that persons place. I feel that you can understand more when you know what they are going through and where they are coming from. I think that My mission really taught me that.

I don't understand: Computer like I would want to. It seems that they keep advancing and I keep regressing.

I can usually be found:Driving to or from a Dr's appointment

I am scared: Of being robbed at work.

I need: My family always and forever

I forget:Way too much. So I ususally have to write it down and hope that I remember to look at what I've written. I usually forget to put gas in the car or Jared's Zyrtec-D

I am happy:When my family is safe, healthy and happy.

2 Year Pics

So these are some of our favorite pics of Hayden this year. He was a pill for the photographer then when it was all done he was so funny and friendly and just totally fabulous. I thought, of course when we were done. I had to do a little bribery with coco puffs and such but she got some good shots! So this is our 2 year old little bubba! I think that he is the cutest kid ever, of course, I'm his mom.