New AFO's

It had been really hard to get back to our normal routine but I know that it's important for Asher and it has also been a welcome distraction.  I took Asher to get his new afo's on Wednesday and they are super cute.  The skull and crossbones ended up being a great choice, even the orthotist was impressed by how nice they turned out.  Asher also got fitted for his derotation straps which were made while we waited.  Both the afo's and derotation straps have really been helping.  The afo's are a great fit and the derotation straps have corrected the problem of his left leg turning in at the hip.  He was so cute walking up and down the hall of the orthotist's office in his walker.  He looked great.  I even had him walk through the waiting area and out the front door.  I didn't think we would ever get out of the office.  Every few steps he would turn his head and say bye-bye to the receptionists at the front desk.  They would laugh and tell him how cute he was and he just kept on hamming it up.  He is going to be quite the little flirt.


new afos and shoes



derotation straps

Both times I have gone to the orthotist to get Asher's braces they have also provided a pair of shoes that will accomodate his braces.  The last shoes he got were black and reminded me a little of shape-ups but they look like designer kicks compared to the pair I got on Wednesday.  Mark and I had a good laugh but we can't understand why shoe makers can't understand that these kids already have enough things that make them feel different, their shoes don't need to be one of them. 

  

We were supposed to go in for Botox on Tuesday but I postponed the appointment until next week.  Asher had a cold which turned into a double ear infection so I thought it would be a good idea to get over all of that first.  I have to say that Asher has been such a little trooper since his surgery and that whole thing went very smoothly.  I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that he won't need it repeated later on.

Asher & his friend Savannah



Gait Trainers

So let me just say that this whole process of picking a gait trainer is driving me crazy!  To make the whole thing even more confusing Asher's physical therapist dropped off a posterior roller walker yesterday for me to try as well.  We're trying to decide between the walker, the rifton pacer and the snugseat gator.  The problem is that they each have features I like and features I don't like.  We really want to make the right decision because once you are approved for a piece of equipment like this it's hard to get another one approved by insurance for up to five years. 

Now that Asher is up and walking we are also noticing that his left leg is turning inward at the hip.  His therapist has tried taping his leg with kineseo tape to see if it will encourage him to keep it facing out but so far it isn't working.  We may need to look into derotation straps or a dmo down the road.  Both of these will help to keep the leg in the correct position. 

The much bigger issue I'm dealing with is trying to get Asher interested in actually using the equipment.  Almost as soon as I have him strapped in he's signing "all done" to me.  He is able to get around so much more quickly by crawling that walking just seems like a hassle to him at this point.  I try to put him in a gait trainer at least twice a day but I don't want to make it a negative experience and turn him off to the whole thing.  I try to encourage him with snacks, toys, whatever it takes at this point.  It's so exciting to see him up and walking.  I can't wait until the day he can do it all by himself but I know we have quite a ways to go.  I'm so proud of him.  The things that come naturally to a lot of kids are such enormous milestones for kids who have cp.  I feel so blessed that he's doing so well.