NOW WE....WAIT

Oliver is cast free!

After only two weeks we said good-bye to his casts on Wednesday and decided to wait and see what happens with his feet over the next six weeks until we go back for a follow up visit on Jan 3. 

Although his feet are now back in their normal position there is always the possibility they could turn back in. If they do that will mean he does have club feet vs metatarsus adductus and another round of casting and maintenance with the brace bar and special shoes will be required. 

We felt we owed it to ourselves and Oliver to see what happens over the coming weeks instead of immediately proceeding to the brace bar and shoes for 23 hours a day for 12 weeks...and then 12 hours a day until he out grows the bar likely in five months. 

It has been amazing having his legs back - I can only imagine what he must think of it! He loved his full bath on Wednesday and has been enjoying kicking his legs freely. I love holding him and feeling his little legs in my arms vs the bulky ones. He also feels lighter and "small" again - which I love. I know there is still some uncertainty where his feet are concerned but for now we're enjoying having them back in position and hope they will stay that way for a very long time....only time will tell. 

Oliver's feet - November 6, 2012
one day before our appointment at Sick Kids

Double cast removal - November 21, 2012

Oliver's "new" special feet 

OLIVER'S CLUB FOOT JOURNEY....TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE!

I'm a little late in posting this update about Oliver's second visit to the Club Foot Clinic at Sick Kids but I wanted to make sure I logged it into the blog so....better late than never...right?! 

Oliver survived week one with his cast and is so far holding his own on week two. We visited the clinic last Wednesday and will be visiting again this Wednesday. 

So far things are progressing well. His left foot is basically back in the position that it should be in after only one week in casting! Oliver's heel was still a little stiff so Barb worked it into the correct position and re-casted the left foot / leg. She also decided his right foot and leg would benefit from one cast so he is now sporting two casts instead of one. With his casts on Oliver weighs 11 pounds but without the casts he weighs 9 lbs 4 oz - thankfully he gets weighed without the casts during his visits to Sick Kids! 

Barb continues to believe that he does not have a true "club foot" but something called metatarsus adductus http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002568/. Our understanding is that when we return to the clinic on Wednesday as long as his feet are back in the normal position Oliver will be finished with casting. During our visit this week we have a big decision to make - especially if this is the last round of casting. We must decide whether we wait six weeks (the option the orthopedic surgeon suggested) to see if Oliver's feet turn in again or whether we move into the brace bar / special shoe phase of the treatment. If we wait the six weeks and his feet don't turn back we will know that it wasn't a true "club foot" and if we decide to do the brace bar / special shoe routine Oliver will need to wear it 23 hours a day for 12 weeks and then wean down to 12 hours a day until he outgrows it - likely in five months. We're currently leaning towards waiting six weeks to see what happens - that way we'll know more concretely whether it was a club foot or not and whether we do need to be more aggressive with his treatment. All will depend on what his feet look like when the casts are removed this week. 

It has been an interesting journey so far. Not only have we heard conflicting recommendations on whether to bar or not bar, but we've also had to get used to changing diapers with two bulky legs and not getting the casts wet during his nightly sponge baths! It will be nice to get Oliver's legs back and hopefully we will do just that in two sleeps!

Left leg cast - week one

Two casts - week two  

Not the most flattering picture - but here is Oliver sporting two casts

Week two visit - left leg cast is removed and the process of re-casting starts again

The swaddle keeps his arms and hands from interfering in the process ;)

It was feeding time so he ate while they worked! 

More casting work

Almost done with cast two...

PHOTO SHOOT WITH LINDSIE GREY

Last week we spent some time with Lindsie Grey, a great photographer that took pictures of Charlotte and Jacob when they were just over three months old. We welcomed her back into our home to capture some "newborn" shots of Oliver and get some updated shots of Charlotte and Jacob. We also hoped we would get one or two good pics of the three kids together. 

Well....we lucked out (again)....Lindsie captured some sweet pictures of Oliver by himself and got some great shots of Charlotte and Jacob too. 

Thanks Lindsie for your great work...we can't wait to do it again soon.