Check Up

Our last appointment we had was last week Friday. Another busy buzzing clinic! We got there 2 minutes late from our 10:00 oclock appointment to find out that it would be a long wait since Dr. Alvaraz was in the OR doing surgery. There were alot of annoyed families that came from far trying to patiently wait. We were bumped to the very last. Two hours later we finally went in to see the Dr. and give us a run down on what to do next and how Joelles AFO was fitting. I was having troubles the last week to keep her heel fitting properly in her AFO. I called Shannon to see what I could do to make it fit right. So we did some massaging on her foot and calf muscle before we put it on trying to get the muscles to relax and get her heel all the way back in her foot brace. We are slowly getting better at it. Shannon made an extra foam support to fit into her brace to help the heel stay down. The first few weeks they assured me are the toughest trying to get it to fit right, once the muscles get used to be stretched that way they have told me it gets easier to put on. Phew! I threw her AFO a few times so frustrated and fighting to get it on her. Some tears were shed and some chocolate was needed! Hopefully it will get easier....
Our next visit she'll need an x-ray again and an ultrasound on her hips.

As far as Joelle's hip brace (rhino cruiser)...well initially they told us 6 weeks, which was up...now it'll be till Sept-our next visit. This was crappy news for me. Its hot and annoying to hold her with it on but the Dr. said if we don't have it on consistently and for longer she'll need surgery. So... that was our ultimatum. Bummer yes, for the best: definitely. I have to find her more pants since she can't have bare legs wearing it in case of rashes and such. Time to put a few more air conditioners in the house for her.

A few people have asked me how the hip brace helps so I thought I'd add this bit of info :)

What is a Rhino Cruiser?

A Rhino Cruiser is a rigid brace. It is another way to non surgically treat Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH). The brace is made of plastic and foam and is fit to hold the hip joint in the correct position. It keeps the legs out to the sides (in abduction) and allows the knees to bend freely. In this position the hip sockets can be encouraged to develop properly. The Rhino Cruiser is used for hips that are shallow. It is worn to avoid hip pain, arthritis, early hip replacement/reconstruction.

Joelle's foot prints. Her 2 toes are joined and make a little heart.

In the Rhino Cruiser.

A simple example of Joelle's hips. She is loose/shallow.

Getting tired of waiting so patiently.

Eaton Lake Overnight Hike

All geared up and excited to go! Camron carried his clothes and a sleeping bag.

 Geoff has always been talking about taking Camron on an over night hike. For Camron's 7th birthday Geoff bought him a nice hiking backpack and they began the planning. Geoff wanted something fairly easy for his first over nighter so he chose Eaton Lake. It was a toss up hoping it was going to be an easy (ish) hike but it turned out alot harder than he had thought. They had a great time though!

Tree hugger!

The trail mostly followed a creek and waterfalls the whole way up.

This bridge and bench marked the halfway point.

Brother Mike came along too for the fun. It was nice to have him along for the evenings and someone else to talk to.

I love this photo! Eaton Lake in the background.

Sleeping quarters. The log on the right became a great spot to prepare food.

The waters there were crystal clear.

Time to make a fire to cook supper. 

Geoff was worried his pack would weigh too much with "fancy" food so he packed nice and light and just case Camron couldn't handle his. Mike was nice and brought up lots of yummy food including smokies!

Sun rising over the mountains

They enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate in the morning, can you tell?

Celebrating a successful over night hike!

On the way down Camron was quite tired, they didn't fall asleep till 11 pm and woke up at 5:30 since it was light out so soon. The trip went very well except for the way day, Camron's legs kept giving out and was really wanting to go home. When they came home they unpacked, showered and got the laundry going then crawled into bed and had a good long nap. Great way to end a fun adventure!

AFO Fitting

This past Tuesday we went to get Joelle's new rigid AFO fitted (ankle foot orthosis).

We chose a purple one with butterflies on it for her first one. It looks quite cute, kinda like a little boot for her all custom made. When we arrived Jarrod took Geoff and I too the room and showed us the molding he made from the cast he took at the hospital. He used a white crayon (the kind used for sewing actually that unravel to sharpen) to mark down to fit her chubby leg better. 

  After Jarrod made markings on the AFO he went to the back to work on it. Putting velcro and padding on it. Geoff chose the purple marble padding to go inside. While it was being worked on we waited patiently joking around and hanging out with Joelle. She loved talking to herself with big stories in the mirror.

 About an hour and a half later Jarrod was done working on the piece after a few adjustments. He fitted it on a few times for us to watch and to make sure it was going to do the job. Joelle loved all the attention and didn't mind getting it fitted on. Shannon (not pictured) came to say hi to us and we will be seeing her next visit in 10 days at BC Children's Hospital to see how things are progressing.

I think this is such an adorable picture of her! She looks proud :)

AFO: $1082 

Pharmacare Portion: $261.53

Patient Portion: $820.47

One on one time with Joelle...priceless!

Reflections

I had a person a while back ask me why I thought Joelle was born with fibular hemimelia. I wasn't sure how to respond to that question. It seemed that they wanted to pin point what went wrong and if there was a way of preventing it. I know nothing happens by chance. We have a great God, the physician and healer. I knew when Joelle was born that no matter what, He was teaching me to trust Him. He has us in His hands so why would I worry. After Joelle was born via csection and the pediatrician came to my side and told me there was something wrong with our new baby my heart sank. I wasn't sure if I wanted to see her, what if she was really deformed, I felt alone. In my head I started to pray, I choked back a few tears and began reciting Psalms in my mind while the doctors continued to sew me shut again. Breath in breathe out. What was God teaching us, what was God trying to teach me. 

My faith has grown in trusting God in the last year while pregnant with Joelle. She was a big surprise when I found out I was pregnant. We were trying to space our next baby a bit bigger. I wanted to choose when we could get pregnant again but God had another plan for us in mind and gifted to us another beautiful girl. 

A few months prior to Joelle's birth our evangelism committee put on a program called "Two Ways To Live". It was about learning the fundamental basics of explaining the gospel to an unbeliever. It went back to the basics of what it means to be a Christian. I really enjoyed the program but felt a little unsure of myself as far as spreading this good news to others. When we started out we needed to put a name in the front of our book of someone we knew that didn't know about Christ. Mine stayed blank. I felt a little guilty and came to realize maybe I am to sheltered in our "reformed" group of friends. Maybe I should get out more. But my battle to shew that away in my mind was "I'm a busy full time mom at home, I don't need to add this to my plate". I justified not having anyone on my line. I did pray about it, for God to put someone on my path so I could put my new teaching skills to work but it never happened.

This past week I told you about the family we met at the hospital that has the same condition as Joelle. When we talked to them it was great to get to know them. To talk about the dynamics as a mom going through this with our babies. What this all means for the future. We had a great talk and really clicked with them. But I was still uneasy. I had these thoughts in my head that kept telling me to talk to them about the gospel. Ever had that nagging feeling that you should put Christ in the center of your conversation and be open to others about your love for Christ. I wanted to comfort this other mom because she felt so unsure about it. She was saying how she was trying so hard to think back on what she might have done to deserved this. I wanted to speak to her about the gospel of

 John 9.

1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

After we left our visit with the doctors and this family we went back down to our van in the underground parking lot. I told Geoff I wasn't happy with how that visit went. He felt it went very well, and it did, but....then it hit me... we need to go through this journey with Joelle with Christ always at the center. I need to put God in full glory of what will come our way. Joelle was given this and us as her parents as a way for God to be glorified. That is the purpose of this, that is our goal. No doubt, there will be difficult days for her and for us as her parents but there will be those shining days where "God might be displayed in her". It was not by coincidence that we took this course with friends in the church, it was not by chance, this was all planned by God. God was preparing us for the future He has for us. 

Psalm 139

 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful,I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.17 How precious to me are your thoughts,^a God! How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them,they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.