Porter's Cast

It's January 14th!

It was an early morning getting there at 8am, but we all made it.  

And, after just two tries, my cast was finally set!

This was the first try - and only mess up.  Thank goodness!  

I got woken up for THIS?!

All the wrapping made me feel like a 'mummy'.  

No wonder I was so frustrated!  I want to be a 'daddy!'

Mommy was there to help keep me in line.  

And the girls, they helped keep me distracted, too.

But, it wasn't always so easy. 

(The picture looks worse that it really was.  They let me keep my thumb.)

Life is definitely going to be different for the next few weeks.

Send lots of love.  I'm going to need it.

---Porter

Family Traditions

Every year since Debany was born, we have carried on a holiday tradition.  Jenn bought a Christmas tree skirt and some gold paint and went to town on everyone's hands and feet.  Now, we can see how our family and each of their hands and feet have grown since 2003.  That's 5 years and three kids later!

P.S. It's never too late to start.  If you want to know how, send me an email or visit familyfun.com! 

Family DDR

Dance, Dance Revolutions is BIG in our family.

Jenn is hooked and the girls follow her example - 'cause it surely isn't the arrows on the screen so much.  Porter, he just likes to get under someone's feet and get those feet a kickin'.  

Here's a preview to Entertainment Tonight at the Gilson Home:

 

Northwest Orthotics...

Friday, January 9th...

Today, we went in for Porter's night splint fittings.  The PT has put an order in for Porter to have a splint on his right hand and foot at night when he sleeps so that they will stretch in his sleep to the position it needs to be in.  Here's how that went...

So, Porter's hand splint is going to be a neoprene brace that will be velcro-ed in place. One will be for the day, another for the night, even though there won't be much difference.  

The foot brace for the nighttime will have black straps with flames!  We, well Dane, got to choose the design after an even vote and three games of rock, paper, scissors in the doctor's office - him standing right there watching.  (We are so juvenile sometimes - *grinning*!)  We were debating between camou or the flames.  He's going to be one cool kid needless to say.  Porter, that is. 

"I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure." - unknown

For measuring Porter's foot brace, the doctor (of orthotics) made a cast right there in the office.  It dried rather quickly, after a couple of minutes (and lots of action songs to keep Porter distracted).  The doctor cut the cast off right there!  It was so cool!  But the girls were a little nervous for Porter.  Luckily, the doctor explained before the procedure that he wouldn't hurt Porter.

Crazy me, I forgot to bring the camera.  So I can't show you how cool it was unless you were here, and then I could show you on my 'high-tech' (just kidding) cell phone camera.  (warning: it's no ipod touch.)

Worst part of today was the news that it's going to take three weeks to get the braces.  I was kind of hoping for sooner.  I really think that these will help Porter in his abilities.  It's definitely not that I'm looking forward to the fussing, crying, and fighting we'll be dealing with!

On January 14th...

January 14th is going to be a big day. 

 

It's the day that we pick up our family pictures, but that's not until 3:30pm.  

No, our day is going to start early.  After my 5:30am water aerobics class class, I come home and get Porter up for his 8 AM appointment with the Occupational Therapist.  The PT will be there as well, for TWO HOURS.  

They are going to be casting Porter's left arm.  Yes, that's his good arm.  BUT, he just won't use his right unless he CAN'T use his left.  

So, needless to say, we are prepping for some hard times for the little guy.  I think I'll need to go and get some bubble bath so that I can take nice long baths after he goes to bed and relax while reading a good book.  (Just finished reading 'The Hollow Kingdom'.  It's AWESOME.)

Some of his future challenges...

communication - he signs with his left hand.

scooting - he leans into his left hand while scooting.

comfort - The cast will be at a 90 degree angle.  There might be enough of his thumb to suck on (for comfort; he's a thumb-sucker).  But he might not be able to get it to his mouth.  This might make for long nights.

eating - limited dexterity of his right hand.

toys - his toys are up on the ledge and he uses his left arm to pull up to the ledge to play with them

The OT - Occupational Therapist

Sensitivity:

To be poked an prodded... hmmm.  The OT tried to determine hot/cold sensitivity, but it wasn't clear. So he took a golf tee and poked the different areas on the bottom of Porter's foot.  We found that he's not as sensitive on the ball and heel of his right foot.  BUT, in the center, it's quite sensitive there. (*rubbing my ears*)

Day hand splint/brace:  

Porter was measured for a hand brace for during the day.  He didn't like the fitting.  I can hardly wait until he actually has to wear it all day!  (*Checking ear plug supply.*)  It's a soft brace that will keep his right hand's thumb out and give the rest of his hand some needed sensory stimulus.

Stretching right hand & arm:

We are needing to stretch Porter's hand and arm.  He carries his right arm back for stabilization and forgets he even has his right hand to help out.  Because of this, his scapula pops out all the way.  

Stretch #1:  wrist extension, elbow rotation, arm elevation, and scapula depression - all at the same time!  (He doesn't like it so much.)

Stretch #2:  Palm pressed down on raquetball to stimulate hand and extend wrist.

(That's liquid vitamin on his face.)

The Toys Go UP!

After our last appointment with the Physical Therapist, we learned that we need to motivate Porter to 'WANT' to be standing.  I told the PT that it's really hard because he gets around so well with his scooting.  "Any ideas?!" I asked.

Porter's been pulling himself up to his knees at the couch and in his crib.  He just has a hard time with going the rest of the way up.  So, to motivate him more, the TOYS go UP!  They are now on the fireplace ledge and the couches.  (No one needs to sit on the couches anyway, right!?) He'll pull himself up to his knees and we help him the rest of the way. 

Last night was the first trial of this idea... he did GREAT!  He got real tired after a while and needed to take a break, but he stood at the ledge on his own (with us close by) for a good long time.

Magic foods and Magic words...

The girls have taken to 'making their food and drinks disappear.'  It's really cute actually.  And effective.  

The best part of the trick was when we asked them to make it reappear.  Thankfully they said that they couldn't do it!  I'll give that maybe another year...  (visions of 'see food' enter my mind.)  

"Ooooh... Maybe they'll make it come out their nose!"  (... thank you, Dane.)  

*Jenn shakes her head.*

Icicle Heaven...

December 24th: 5 ft. 10 in.

Unfortunately, our 'slick' friend couldn't make it to her destination. Our faithful landlords were caring for our safety when they knocked poor 'Talula' off course. Our last official measurement was 5ft. 10 in. long. Although, the night before the tragedy, we noticed another 4 inches. So, in memory of Talula, our 6 ft. 2 in. long friend... "You've still surpassed us all in height. We'll never forget you."