Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Picture tells a Thousand words!Devin is not so excited about these new things (KAFO's...Knee, Ankle, Foot Orthotics) as they allow him quite a bit less mobility. Once he uses the proper muscles and figures out how to walk using them, the hope is that he will not need these any more. In the mean time we are to strap them onto him and try to help him get used to them a couple times a day. They seem rather bulky at the moment but as the months go forward and he overcomes these obstacles they too will just be part of a routine.
Devin has been very busy talking. He has begun saying "bye" to others and also uses the words "hi", "hey", "this", "that", "more","ba bye", "Dad", "Aaaaa" (Allie) and even repeated the name of a show today "Word World". "Mom" is a universal word that he uses for many different purposes directed at Mom. There are others that come and go. Last time we visited with Grandma and Dar, he really liked calling for Dar like everyone else does!
He babbles stories and points as he does. He has definite opinions about lots of things.
Today as the PT left our house after coming to give us some instruction for the KAFO's he said "Bye" for the first time before they actually got out the door. It was almost a directive, like he wanted them to leave because he was so disgusted with the KAFOs.
He also stood at the window and waved and smiled to Dad & Cooper (just like Allie) as Dad left for work (and Cooper for school) this morning.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Devin has continued to make progress in his ability to stand. As I had mentioned in the previous post Devin's Orthopedic doctor did order him to get KAFOs (Knee, Ankle, Foot Orthoti
cs). She says we should alternate between the AFOs and the KAFOs but I am betting that Devin will figure out how to do everything in the KAFOs with some assistance and will be off walking in no time. The hope is to go back to just AFOs once he is walking well and develops the muscle strength to have his feet in proper alignment. The PT gave us a walker to start getting him used to that and he has stood at that several times today. Eventually we will actually be using it facing the opposite direction as he is in this photo. As you can see in the video, getting to things Cooper and Allie have is his main motivation!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Matt WDN article
Matt's engineering class at WSHS was featured in a Winona Daily News article on Dec. 24th.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Year end Up-date!
Devin is doing very well. As you can see from the following pictures, the Orthopedic has kept Devin restrained in some way throughout his first year of life. We were given the O.K. to have Devin wear the ILFELD Splint only at night shortly after Devin’s 1st Birthday and he continues to do so. He has been crawling around the house at Mack speed ever since. In addition to the crawling, he goes up on his knees to reach for things and is doing more standing on his own.
We go in to see the Orthopedic at the beginning of January. It is likely that they will replace his Ankle Foot Orthotics with something that includes the knee as his feet stay turned inward as he stands. He corrects the right one better than the left and we attempt to put them into correct position if possible.
We have gotten to know quite a few families who have children with Spina Bifida and many of them have gone through surgeries and broken bones after 1 year of age in an attempt to correct hip problems. All of a sudden these devices do not look so bad. The only 2 surgeries that Devin has gone through so far are the initial 2, one to close up his back and one to put a shunt in for the Hydrocephalus. We have been blessed and hope that Devin’s health continues with the successes we have seen so far!
Devin continues to be our little “Smilie Guy”. Peek-a-boo is one of his favorite things to do and we often catch him playing it with strangers. He loves to cuddle and be close to others. As long as Cooper and Allie are around, he finds things to explore and keep himself busy. He uses some words and some sign language to communicate his immediate needs. I have been trying to post something monthly, but it is getting harder and less eventful (which is a good thing!).
We go in to see the Orthopedic at the beginning of January. It is likely that they will replace his Ankle Foot Orthotics with something that includes the knee as his feet stay turned inward as he stands. He corrects the right one better than the left and we attempt to put them into correct position if possible.We have gotten to know quite a few families who have children with Spina Bifida and many of them have gone through surgeries and broken bones after 1 year of age in an attempt to correct hip problems. All of a sudden these devices do not look so bad. The only 2 surgeries that Devin has gone through so far are the initial 2, one to close up his back and one to put a shunt in for the Hydrocephalus. We have been blessed and hope that Devin’s health continues with the successes we have seen so far!
Devin continues to be our little “Smilie Guy”. Peek-a-boo is one of his favorite things to do and we often catch him playing it with strangers. He loves to cuddle and be close to others. As long as Cooper and Allie are around, he finds things to explore and keep himself busy. He uses some words and some sign language to communicate his immediate needs. I have been trying to post something monthly, but it is getting harder and less eventful (which is a good thing!).
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