May 2, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {one of those days}

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Up at 5:30. Off to Boston at 8:00, as soon as the big kiddos got on the bus. It was clubfoot re-check for the three littlest at Boston Children's today. Just a few problems with that, though. I absolutely detest driving in big cities. And I really didn't want to be away from home today, since our LOAs were to be delivered. And well, I suspected the day might look something like this. And I was right. Although it might not look like it, the day did go well, though. For the most part. Re-checks complete, the kiddos feet look great. And … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, Shepherd, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne
March 7, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {these three}

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These three.They have so many things they share.One of the biggest? They were all born with bilateral clubfoot.So, on our way out to the door today, I made them all sit down to let me snap a picture of them together.To remember these days. The days when their twice-yearly visit to Boston Children's rolls around - for a re-check of their now corrected clubfoot.To see these three go, you'd never even suspect they were born with clubfoot.Lightening, I tell ya. Even Vivienne can bust a move.And now, based on their x-rays, our orthopedic doc says he can't even tell the … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, Shepherd, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne
August 23, 2010

a red letter day

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Today was another trip to Boston Children's.This time for all three of our littlest.It was just a re-check for Jude, Shepherd and Vivienne... since they all have corrected clubfoot. They are followed by a great orthopedic surgeon at Boston Children's, and we expected today to be a regular check-up.But it wasn't.Jude was officially released from his night-time boots and bar. He's been wearing these bad boys (not the exact same boots, forgoodnesssakes, but you know what I mean), every night since his feet were corrected way back in the summer of 2007.Jude will go to … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude
March 2, 2010

news from Boston

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Vivi had to be woken from a sweet slumber in order to get to Boston Children's on time.By the time we got in the car, she barely had her eyes open.Thankfully, she had an hour and half ride in which to wake up.As soon as we were checked in and ushered to a room, the kids were weighed, measured and evaluated.As expected, Jude's and Shepherd's feet are fully corrected and doing wonderfully. No changes to their routine of boots and bars at bedtime. Good news!Then it was turn for Vivienne, which required a much more thorough evaluation.Her feet have been well corrected, so … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, real life, special needs adoption, Vivienne
October 20, 2009

thankful

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Watching Jude run fills my heart with joy. Like just about any mama, watching her child.But it also fills me with indebtedness, gratitude and thankfulness.Jude couldn't even stand on his own when we met him in China as a 16 month old with uncorrected bilateral clubfoot.His ankles were bruised from his attempts to try and stand, and after just a few minutes of effort, he'd have to give up, exhausted.But that has all changed, thanks to one extremely special man.Dr. Ponseti, the man who developed the Ponseti Method of clubfoot casting, revolutionized the way clubfoot is … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, special needs adoption
June 3, 2009

quick trip

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I'm back! Figuratively and literally... we just got home last night from a quick trip to Iowa City. It was recheck time for Jude and Shepherd at University of Iowa, and even though it is 3 pit stops, 4 videos, painful, an 8 hour drive, it is always worth the effort to get there.In fact, the kids really surprised us this time and the candy bribes and video offerings I brought along seemed adequate to soothe the savage beasts. There was barely an argument or tear shed the entire trip.The word on the boys' feet: perfect! We are forever grateful to Dr. Morcuende and his … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, Shepherd
November 20, 2008

My Chinese son

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I have 5 sons and 3 daughters. When we started for Isabelle in 2004, we had 3 sons and 1 daughter. So it was a logical conclusion that we would be going to China for a girl. I guess I never put much thought into it, a daughter it was to be from the start. Sophie, who came home next, captured my heart when I saw her precious face on a special needs list, so we never even spent any time debating the "boy or girl" issue. But then came Jude. When we initially thought about going back for our third child from China, in my heart I was thinking it would be a girl. … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: adoption, clubfoot, Jude, special needs adoption