Monday, May 19, 2008

He's Walking!!!

Nephi is having a fabulous time walking everywhere!! He can get up all on his own in the middle of the room and loves to carry his blanket down the hall. Ya know, I never tire of watching a kid take their first steps. David and I were talking about this the other day. Just because we have a bunch of kids, it still is miraculous to us and facinating when our youngest takes their first steps. Nephi is a cute little boy who loves to smile and laugh!! We are so glad he came to our family!!!

He's Free!!

Today we went to the orthopedic and Hyrum had his cast removed. We were sent to get x-rays and then return for a new cast, one below the elbow. We did the x-rays and then had an hour to kill before his actual appointment. Hyrum was thrilled that he got to eat in the hospital cafeteria. He ate a turkey sandwich - which consisted of buttermilk bread with two slices of turkey - and some chocolate milk. Personally I thought it was a pretty boring, normal lunch...but he was so thrilled. The first thing he told his sisters later was that he got to eat lunch in the hospital cafeteria. I'm so glad that it doesn't take much to make my kids day!! Okay, so back to the doctor visit. After our fantastic lunch in the cafeteria, we went back to orthopedics and the doc looked at Hyrum's x-rays. He said that his arm is healed and he doesn't need a cast anymore - to which Hyrum responded, "What!!! no cast?!?!? Please can't I have one?" I think that Hyrum was the first patient this not so young doc ever had that asked for a cast. Hyrum was/is very concerned that it is not really healed all the way. We finally came up with a reasonable solution. Hyrum got a brace to wear for as long as he thinks that he needs it. Hyrum was much more willing to leave after he got his brace.

The biggest thing for me is that his arm still looks wrong. I don't really know how to explain it and Hyrum is refusing to take any pictures of it. I asked the doc and he said that it will take 6 months to one year to straighten out back to its normal appearance. We go back in 6 months for a recheck! Hopefully this doc really knows his stuff and Hyrum's arm will return to normal!!

Tomorrow I send Hyrum off on a 3 day - 2 night fieldtrip to Calaveras Big Trees and Mercer Caverns. It is a couple of hours east of Sacramento. He is so excited and I hope that he has a fabulous time. Because of finals David and I are not going to be able to go at all, so we are trusting that the other kids and their parents will help look out for him.