"Cast is....."

OFF!!!!!!!!!   We traveled to Birmingham last week for Elijah Brooks to get his cast off for good. He was alittle anxious about getting it cut off again (he was afraid of the saw when he got his long cast cut down), but he was a champ. There were a few tears, but not nearly as many as last time. He was very fearful to walk out of the hospital, so Jay carried him. His doctor told us that his fear was very normal and to expect it to last for several days. He told us to just let Elijah Brooks take things at his own pace and not to push him - but that he would try to walk when he felt comfortable.  So, that's what we did. It took him about 1 day before he was ready to try to take his first steps. He was very unsteady on his legs, but continued to take baby steps. His muscles are very weak, but hopefully it won't take too long for him to regain his strength. His foot also turns out now since that was how his foot was in the cast. His doctor said that is also to be expected for quite some time until his leg/foot get the hang of walking/running again. They said that physical therapy would not be needed, but to just let him be a 3 year old little boy and let his body naturally get the hang of walking again. It's been a week now, and his foot is still turning out to the side and he had a very noticeable limp.  I called his doctor just to make sure this was normal and they said that it was.  So, I guess it's just going to take some time. I had no idea how difficult it would be to have a leg cast on a 3 year old, and then for him to have to literally re-learn how to walk again.  I just assumed he would be up and walking normally, but it's not turning out to be that way.  So, we'll just watch him and keep trying to help him. I remind him to try to turn his foot straight when he walks, and when I remind him, he can straighten it. But then after a few steps, it goes right back out. I have been trying to help loosen up his ankle - I have a feeling the tendons/ligaments are very tight from being in the cast. I hope we will start to notice big improvement in the weeks to come.

At any rate, here are some pictures of our boy with no cast....., and hopefully no cast ever again!!!  (Jay tells me not to get my hopes up about that one)!  I am so thankful that this trial is behind us and has been overcome. 

Right Leg.  His skin is very irritated from being in the cast and his muscles have atrophied.

The long blue cast and the short green cast "sleep together" in his room - just like he wanted. Go figure.

Just being silly - had just gotten home from Birmingham

This is the face of a little boy who is so happy to have his cast off - and who was just told he would be getting to go on a mini-vacation to celebrate the cast coming off!!  Lord knows we ALL needed a vacation after the past 6 months of our lives.