2 Weeks of Crazy!

Life around here got a little hectic again! The past two weeks Addie had both of her legs casted and her right arm. Her feet lost some of their range of motion during the casting for her hip because she couldn't wear her braces to keep them stretched. We casted for 2 weeks to get back the range of motion before fitting her for new day braces. Her right arm was also casted for the past two weeks because we did CIMT therapy again. CIMT therapy is where you restrain or cast the good arm in order to force her to use the bad arm. We do OT 3x a week during CIMT which lasts for 3 weeks, 2 with the cast and 1 without. Tomorrow we start our last week and the arm cast comes off. Once again she handled all the casting really well as long as we took it off her arm so she could feed herself! That is one step of independence she was not willing to give up! It was a long two weeks but it is over!
We have also been dealing with some therapy with Stephen over the past few weeks because he has been walking on his toes. He had a therapy evaluation and will probably have a few therapy sessions. We also got fitted for some shoe inserts that should help limit his ablility to walk on his feet. He also has really flat feet so it will give him an arch.
Michael has been healthy and helpful lately. He is always trying to get Addie to laugh or help do something with her. Before the casts he had started picking her up and spinning her in circles, made me so nervous, but she loved it and would want to do it over and over again! We are also homeschooling this year which has been a challenge with all the therapy and hip surgery, but it is coming along well. He goes to a co-op once a week where he takes Spanish, Art, & Science.
Addie is doing well overall. She has made great strides and probably has close to 50 words she is using or starting to use. She loves to eat! I think she has hit a growth spurt because she is eating all the time and so much food! She has finally weaned which was a good step. She is able to eat most food now if we puree it. Her PT will go back to 2x a week this week to continue working on strengthening and stepping. She loves trying to walk!
God has been good to us. His grace and peace have carried us through and we continue to see progress. We follow up with the Ear, Nose & Throat doctor this week. Then in March we head back to St. Louis to check up on her hip. In May we travel to Cincinnati for a check up on her arm. Then in June we head to a special clinic in Seattle that deals specifically with arthrogryposis. Arthogryposis is a condition of stiff joints which impacts all of Addie's struggles the feet, hip, jaw, arm, and fingers. At this clinic she will see 8 different people with experience with arthogryposis. I am wanting to go to make sure that we are treating her appropriately and that we have not missed any issues that could come from the arthogryposis. I am excited and nervous at the same time about this trip.
It will be a busy Spring but as always God is walking with us and we can feel His presence daily. Thank you for all your prayers and care. Sorry I have been so long in updating!

Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you
    and keep you; 
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you; 
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”