Back in the trenches

I always laugh and say

when my oldest was born we stayed home a month
#2 we stayed home 2 weeks
#3 well school started jsut about a week after we got home


And 4,5 well we did give them some more time which was great

BUT #6 - lets jsut hit our knees and thank GOD this baby is a smiley little trooper.

We flew into Denver on Saturday night,
Back to Denver Monday afternoon to drop of Grandma
and then

YEP back to DENVER today!

While I was in China daddy facetimed that he couldn't get Cav's legs on.

We finally came to the solution to try the shrinkers from after his surgery AND a pair (ok I don't have a single pair but you get the geist LOL) of knee hi pantihose -

Now mind you we put a "sock" on Cav's leg, then the liner (molded for his leg) and then another sock or several (1 leg had a total of 4 sock widths before I left) and then the prosthetic.

So we thought a knee hi would replace sock #1 and then remove all the other socks.  Finally he was able to get Cav's leg on YEAH!

I also told my husband to change the appt with beloved Mr Terry (the prothetist) to today.

Of course I forgot that an 11 am appt in Denver meant none of the littles got to go to school today and so I packed up my entourage and off we drove.

Mr Terry, heehee, said "I never have seen this happen so quickly. "

I told Mr Terry that I think every single one of our appts he has told us "he has never seen this before!"

Anyhow, God was good and we were able to find some of the thinnest prosthetic socks in his supply closet and determined we will need new legs in 4-6 weeks.  Yep encase you are counting that means we got them 9/12 replaced the metal part 6 weeks later cuz he had busted the knee and then replaced the sockets about 2 months after that! (mind you if you are adopting a child who will need prosthetics this is not the norm by any means, so don't freak!)

PRAISE cuz this gets us through Christmas!

My guess what has happened is that Cav's system has finally healed form the malnutrition and Giardia (yes 11 months later) and he can finally absorb nutrients from his food.  Well that, and God has a sense of humor.  SO although he is our second youngest and is surrounded by 3 dwarves, this boy of ours will be HUGE!!

Mr Terry had to take a picture for his wife (we love this man!)

And poor Griffen, I got no idea what this kid is thinking of his new homeland. . . 

when he walks into a room with legs stacked in the corner LOL!

More Cav while we wait

I know I have other children LOL!

And we are waiting on our TA - which makes me want to sit and check the computer non-stop instead of the 1,000 things I need to do LOL!

We are yellow (this is the chart on chinaadopttalk under forums)

BUT this little - um big guy keeps us hopping!

This is how our day on Tues went

Leave the house at 7:30
8:15 - OT appt all the way down south
forgot the dang handicap sticker so run carrying his slow self to be remotely on time
call hubby to bring the sticker on his way to work.
Hubby arrives while OT is making splints for Cav's hands to help with the suspected carpal tunnel

9 am - leave OT an race back up north for our 10 am appt with prosthetist in Denver wishing we had a helicopter LOL!

10:15 - arrive - wishing I had, had time to stop for a coffee

10:15-11 - Mr Terry builds Cav's new legs, giving him a better knee and making him 1 3/4 in taller!

11-12 - Mr Terry teaches Cav how to use his new knee.  Shows me how to work it

Mr Terry - LOVES Cav and we LOVE him!!

His new KNEE!!  Gotta love the tool fabric on this leg LOL!

This knee is much beefier and he should have a more normal looking gait.  By touching his toe it bends then swings through.  He has a bad habit already of swinging his leg out to the side.  Also this leg set up will allow for him to run - we already seeing him much faster!!

12 - leave the prosthetist and promptly get lost on our way to Denver Children's for 1pm appt

1:05 - finally arrive, use Valet, see Mr Terry walking into Denver CHildren's and again run to our appt.

1:15 - Meet the hand surgeon recommended by the amputation Dr.  Well, first we met the fellow and medical student.  Show them Cav's funky hands, tell them he needs working thumbs to get his prosthetics legs on and off.

1:45 - Meet the actual hand surgeon and he takes about 2 minutes asking Cav - can you do this, how about this.  Light bulbs start flashing over everyones head as we see him try to lift his thumb away from his palm without using his fingers.

1:50 - Diagnosed with mild Radial Longitudinal Deficiency - if you think of the arm as a leg, the radius is the same as the tibia.  Basically, jsut like his longer leg and foot didn't develop right, the same happened in his arms but even more mild.  THe radial bones are a tad short but we will watch that for now.  But it caused his thumbs to become hypoplastic, and he is missing some ligaments.  This is why his thumbs have no strength and look like they dislocate when he moves them.  Heehee as I was writing stuff down on my phone - he kept saying if you google it you will see so, and so.  I finally told him that if our amputee Dr trusted him then so do we.  I jsut needed to write down the words for my husband LOL!

So Cav is between the B and C pictures

So, we are looking at tendon transfer surgery on both hands.  I also showed him Griffen's extra thumbs (cuz you so know God has a sense of humor LOL!)  We can do both boys on the same day.  The big question is should we do both of Cav's hands and be done or one at a time.  He has to do OT after they heal and this is where our insurance is lacking.

2:00 - Throw out the new splints

2:15 - Move a few halls down to see the amputee team.  I love the clinics but man it is overwhelming.  I am sure there were no less than 12 Dr's, therapists and prosthetists.  I lvoe this group - they rejoice with us at how far this boy of ours has come.  We got a few hints, they were amazed he had the knee for only 3 hours and was walking on his own, and were discussing at what age he can join the Children's ski team LOL!

X-rays to check alignment

**Cav wears his legs from the time he gets up (and momma remembers to get his socks) until bed.  They said they have never seen a bilateral amputee take to his prosthetics as well as Cav has.  I truly believe that this is because he was different without his legs in the orphanage.  And if I know anything, I know that my Chinese kids don't like to be singled out**

3:40 - finally, in the car and realize we jsut might have enough time to race back to the Springs, and see Tristan's wrestling match.

4:45 - walking into where the match is at and my phone starts dinging!  Yep, all the mom's and my hubby texting me to say he jsut won - dang!  We still went in, congratulated him in the hall and Cav got to show off his new knee to the biggest fan club!

Since daddy was home early we all went out to eat and really had a fun night.  

Cav's legs - 1 month

Yeah, I am a few days late but I wanted to share our miracle called Cav.

Since he is our son, I often forget how much of a miracle he is . . . and how much he influences those around us.  His amazing accomplishments really seem to hit people in a visceral way.  He is truly a testiment to God's amazing healing power.


SO a little look at our life and how his legs have changed his/ our lives.

He loves being upright especially at school!

  Being able to participate WITH his friends in a whole new way.

These are his cute little feet and piggies.  Our kids were so excited that he has a slit between his big toe and second toe so he can wear flip flops.

Of course we had to have an emergency visit with Mr Terry.

Cav's stumpies shrunk some from walking so much and we didn't realize we needed to watch for this and then add more socks throughout the day.

Luckily, our PT noticed and we got an appt.

Do you see that silver piece - yeah he busted his knee LOL

Luckily, we were still in Denver and so back to Mr. Terry

Roller chair races but I was to tired to stop them.  Besides he needs to learn to push with his leg.

We still are working on throwing and other things but look at that boy stand and balance!

AND CLIMB!!

Let me remind you he has NO feet, he can not feel with his feet where his is on the cargo net, he can't balance with his toes.  He has only had these legs for 1 month and still he amazes us!

Sunday Snapshot - {For I know the plans..}

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

In the craziness of our week, month, and current life,

I totally missed it.

Until today ~

As our Pastor came and asked if Cav could walk up the aisle with him,

and the congregation gave our son a standing ovation (and God of course.)

I looked at the praise card and it hit me

There was the plan, and I almost missed it.

Our boy received his legs on the 12th!

Hello, the 12th. . . how could I have missed it.

Exactly,

9 months

TO

THE

DAY

He became our son 12/12, 

he received his legs 9/12!

Only God could have written this plan,

Only his timing!

And my little man, who cheers his brother 

eventhough it is hard to share the limelight!

Cav walks!

OK you know my post jsut about an hour ago LOL!

Well, scratch that.

With a little help bribery (cuz who are we kidding) from the chocolate chips he decided to let go!

My biggest boy in the background was 16 mos and we had to bribe him with M&M's LOL!  who says they aren't related LOL!!

Again please forgive my annoying voice and messy kitchen - this was so unexpected . . . and well we all know how much I hat the stupid walker LOL!

Cav update

THanks for all of the emails checking in.  We have (as in I) a bit of a learning curve but all in all Cav is doing great!

I compare it to when your baby is jsut getting ready to walk and you know they can BUT they don't have the confidence to let go.

He has this stupid walker which he will lift up and move while standing on his legs LOL!

I haven't gotten very many pics of him, mainly because I am usually standing next to him making sure he doesn't fall.

Everything he has to relearn (or learn) from how to get in and out of a shopping cart to how to seat.  He is a fast learner and this has more to do with me having to rethink through everything.

Truthfully, this part I was't prepared for.  But then again it's Cav.  He somehow got himself UP the stairs when it was naptime and I was trying to beat dinner into submission the crockpot.  BTW that dinner will be on the table tomorrow LOL!  Naptime is jsut not enough time to make pulled pork LOL!

EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE cheers for him - way cool!

We went to the park yesterday and he loved being on the swings.

Note to other parents, um holding your child upside down when he has prosthetics doesn't really work. Yep, pop off one came and I luckily caught him LOL!

I'll get better pics of his legs but they are super cool.  The longer (more metal) is tools on wood and the other one is screws (although it looks like cheetah from far away.)  

Makes a great conversation piece for new friends.  

Dawn

a year of paperwork,

9 months of becoming a family,

2 surgeries,

9 weeks,

an ebay wheelchair,

and now a walker,

9 casts,

and tomorrow morning this boys life will change forever.

his dream will come true.

Thank you for your prayers,
your love, and your support ~ 

there were days I didn't think I could do it,
days I wanted to hide under my covers,
but then I would receive a word of encouragement,
a simple note and I took one more step forward,
and now I stand in awe of His grace.

Sunday Snapshot - {First Steps}

It has been a very busy week but although we have celebrated many firsts and birthdays - Cav's new legs and his very first steps EVER has been the highlight!

Very photo heavy but it was a pretty incredible day!

I think I love this photo the best -

The pure innocence as

 Cav checks out his new leg, 

& first pair of shoes EVER!

Daddy got light up shoes - we thought he MIGHT need an incentive - we were wrong LOL!

Another favorite - waiting!

I can do it!

Momma, you see!

See Momma!

Other side

SO excited he is up!

Stand up straight big guy!

AS you saw in the videos in my last post, I quickly realized the camera needed to be put away and the video used instead - our boy waited his whole life for this, and he was off!

We had to go over to Children's after to x-ray and see our favorite Dr.  Just a slight adjustment needed

BUT Cav was tall enough to play with the busy beads and he was so thrilled with himself!

We still have to learn how to sit and get up!

Canon 5D - 50 mm lens since all their rooms are dark interior rooms.