GOODBYE CAST! and pins... hello brace

In recovery- woke up so pleasantly- smiling and polite.

We think the hardest part (maybe most painful part) will be weening from the video games... Here also shows Mario in his split cast (they split the sides so it can be take off- but saved if w.e wanted it)

Aidan and Mario cast free!!

Little doggie present from the doctors... Mario and his cast shell.

Phew... getting to ride in the car seat! Hooray for safety!




Aidan in his brace- I'll get a better one later where you can see the whole thing- but it's not bad. (They made the straps red because that's Aidan's favorite color).

The pins that came out of the little guys hip!! Ow!

The irony of insurance...

Aidan had his surgery today... and happy news, it went exceptionally well. We are cast and pin free!! We have the pins to prove what was in his hip- gosh- looking at the size of them, I am surprised they weren't sticking out the front and back of him (they are very long) but apparently held him together very well. Turns out, Mario's surgery was a success as well... we found that the doctors removed his cast too... our doctor is so great!! I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Aidan's surgery started at 3... his doctor was out at 4:30 to tell us it went well and that when Aidan was going home when he got out of recovery. YAY!!

Then... we were escorted to recovery when Aidan was waking up and we found the resident, the orthopedic assistant, and two nurses standing around Aidan. They were puzzled...I was relieved to find out that the puzzled looks had nothing to do with Aidan's condition... but that they did not have the appropriate brace in stock- need to order it and it won't be in until tomorrow. They said that in order for insurance to pay for said brace... we would have to be admitted overnight.

Now, I'm far from a mathematician.... but it seems to me that a night in the hospital will cost FAR more than a brace will. If I were "insurance" I think I would opt to pay for a brace, hey, even spring for a night in a hotel for us so we can come in for an outpatient visit tomorrow rather than pay the thousands of dollars that it costs for us to be in the hospital overnight. But, hey- Aidan is happy to be out of his cast- the surgery worked- I really can't complain. It does help to explain the high insurance costs though... doesn't it?

David is at a hotel- so at least one of us can get sleep tonight. (Since Aidan is in the hospital- they won't take his IV thing in his hand out even though he is not getting anything through it, remember... they were totally prepared to discharge him- and he tends to try to pull that out every ten minutes her so- even in his sleep... so he has to be monitored pretty closely).

So, Aidan and I are hanging out. He is saying he just needs to get his "second cast" of now (he has a brace on that they were trying to make work- but they want one with more support). He will have to wear the brace 24 hours a day for the next month or so (but can take it off for baths and to get home). Then the doctor said he will probably back it off at that point to nights and naps.

I have some cute pictures of the little man who continues to be a superstar patient. Like I said before... I will post them tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the continued thoughts and prayers!

Cousins, coloring, and gaming

We've had a fun couple of days while Aidan has been housebound when the cousins came over for a visit. Here's Aidan with his boy cousin contemplating what of art they are going to create.


More creating...

Hey! What happened to my hair? (We haven't gotten Aidan's hair cut since he has been in a cast because we don't want the little hairs to get stuck down in his cast- so it has gotten a little out of control!)

Here's girl cousin being artsy...

And spending a little time for some video games of course!

Going for a stroll

The weather is finally nice enough to get out and enjoy it! Hooray!! Here's Aidan and daddy outside enjoying some fresh air.


Laid back... His eyes seem especially sensitive to the sun since he has been inside for so long. He pulled off his shades and soaked in the sun.

Another thank you to Karen (same one from "some people are so inventive") who got a hold of this chair for us to use for Aidan. Since he can't use it right now (we think it might be helpful when he gets out of his cast and he can't walk) it has helped Owen to feel not so left out from the wheelchair experience.

Outside wore the little man out. Using the ball (that he got from our awesome neighbors in an Easter basket) as a pillow, he almost fell asleep right there on our stairs in his coat and hat.

Aidan was directing daddy, "Daddy go faster... Daddy over there!" Daddy was pretty obedient...

Here's Owen checking out Aidan's ride...

This was taken before we brought the little cart out that Owen was shown in above. He was saying, "Owen sit in dat!... Owen's turn?"

Happy spring everyone!!

Egg coloring and beyond

We did our egg coloring this year on the floor of our kitchen so that Aidan can partake in the activities. We had considered skipping this activity this year- seeing that the kids don't really know the tradition yet- not wanting to rock the boat with Aidan... but we are really glad that we didn't- the kids really enjoyed it. And, even though I said they enjoyed it, I really didn't capture that. Here's Owen looking particularly sullen...

And Aidan looking pretty bored...

And both- looking like they are wondering when in the world this weird tradition will be over (coloring eggs?? What?)

But, here is Aidan when we finished coloring eggs. He cried, really cried for a good five minutes- lamenting the end of the activity. He has asked us many times if we can color eggs again.

"I'll do it myself!!"

Owen is not the only one who is insists on independence. Starting about a week or week and a half after surgery- Aidan has insisted on doing whatever he can do on his own. He can roll over and pull himself along with his arms. We have a toddler mattress in the living room for him to lie on/play on/eat on (he can't sit up) and he gets on and off that by himself. We also have a VERY large bean bag chair- well, actually it is a memory foam chair, for Aidan that he pulled himself up on by himself today. He refused to let me help- "I'll do it by myself!!" Can you see that twinkle in his eyes?

Still spunky!!

Getting up on his hands and knee.

Some perspective...

The other day, Aidan and I were watching tv. A commercial came on that showed kids swimming in a lake. I asked Aidan, "Aidan, are you excited about this summer when we can go swimming?" Aidan responded immediately with, "Mama, I can't swim with my cast on!"
Poor little guy, he thought the cast was forever! It just reminds me again at how amazing he has been- especially considering this was his lot in life from here on out... wow. What a cool kid! We have made sure to tell him now that the cast is helping him to heal and as soon as he is all better- the doctor will take the cast off. He is scheduled for surgery again to get his pins out on April 22nd. Hopefully, Aidan will be healed enough at that point so that they won't re-cast him!!