Routine

Routine has been a big part of the plan when going to the Shriner's with Will. His first appt. was when he was a little over 2 years old. Since then, we do the same things every time we go. We always stay at a hotel. We always eat at Red Robin. where he order spaghetti and cantaloupe, He used to get cry during his x-rays so we would role play what would happen before our trips. I was amazed that he remembered small details like getting stickers from the drawer after the x-ray, seeing the Cat in the Hat outside the room, looking at the waterfall in the lobby,etc. Having the routine and talking about it has really helped the past 2+ years of going there. I used to think that the routine of everything was for Will. I've realized, however, that the routine has been good for me as well.
I like things to stay the same and have become accustomed to the routine of our Shriner's visit.
Every time its the same thing and when I think about our visits, I go through a little checklist of what's going to happen. Our last trip in August went something like this....

• I go to Starbucks for coffee and get an extra shot. CHECK
• After having to look carefully for the correct entrance, Will gets another Beanie Baby to add to his collection upon check in. CHECK
• The nurse will come in and ask me a list of questions. She asks me if he has a tendency to fall down, I tell her is is a 4 year old boy - of course he does. We giggle about that and other things. CHECK!
• A social worker comes in and asks me if I have any needs they can help me with. CHECK
• The PA comes in and tells me what the measurements are, reviews with me the variations of measurements between doctors, will probably mention one of the many case studies involving measuring curves and how they look for patterns over time b/c of the difficulty in getting an accurate measurement. CHECK
• Dr. Pete comes in, asks Will to take his shirt off and bend over to touch his toes. He tells me the angle measurements he got, says that Will looks good, but adds that "we really never quit worrying about these fellas like him" b/c things can change so quick. CHECK
• He asks me how far away I live when determining whether it will be 3 or 4 months until our next appt. I tell him that distance does not matter b/c I'm thankful for and confident in the care we are receiving. CHECK
• We make our next appt. and I call Mike, Lois, Mama, and church to give them the updates. CHECK

This all changed at our last appointment. After telling me that Will's curve is progressing, Dr. Pete said its time to do something about the scoliosis and we would need to come back to be fitted for a brace.

Wait a minute!!! That was NOT on my checklist and I didn't want to check it off! I wanted the same routine. I wanted to leave and breathe a sigh of relief for a few months until we begin this process again. But....that was not the plan. Our new routine will involve a brace. We will still do all of the things we normally do - but I feel like now Will is becoming a "real" patient there.

Will's next appt. is November 2nd and he will go to the casting room to be fitted for his brace. We will return a few weeks after that for an overnight stay so they can adjust the brace as needed and Mike & I can learn how to put on the brace, clean the brace, look for problems with the brace, etc. etc.

I know that it will be ok. I'm still confident in the care my son is receiving and so very thankful for the Shriner's Hospital in Greenville. Please pray for Will. While I want our old routine back, I know that this is in the Lord's hands.

And...just so I have a record of his progression, his back measurements the last 4 visits -

August 2010 8 and 14 (degrees)

April 2010 7.65 and 9.39

December 2009 6.21 and 7.14

September 2009 7.39 and 12.7

Multiple personalities

Sometimes I think Ral has multiple personalities. (Not REALLY, but its fun to say.)

The other morning Will lost his toothbrush and had a complete meltdown. While he was crying and pitching a fit, Ral coddled him. He had his extra sweet voice going on and told him, "Its ok Will, we can find it after we get home. We don't have to brush our teeth until nighttime, so we'll have lots of time to look for it." He found Will a different toothbrush, hugged him, and coddled some more.

After school instead of looking for the toothbrush they played Legos together. Ral was getting quite aggraveted with him and told him, "Will - you're getting on my last nerve!!" When Will got close to look at something he said, "Can you move away Will? I think I'm allergic to you." There was some huffing and voice raising during their confrontations as well.

Before bedtime Will found a certificate of authenticity from his Toy Story bucket of soldiers and wanted me to read it to him. I said something about Will being the biggest friend of TS and all of the soldiers loved him. Ral then wanted to read the certificate.
UH-OH!!!
I tried to wink at Ral when I told him what the paper said. He just kept insisting to see it so he could read it. I expected him to REALLY read it and then proudly tell his brother that it didn't say the neat things I told him it did.
Instead, Ral "read"' something about the soldiers and all of the toys from TS3 wanting to be a part of the club that Will made b/c he is their biggest fan. He even added that the toys love Will and the certificate would be a ticket into the club. He never missed a beat while he was reading it and I had to really read the certificate to see if it said something about a club.
I asked Ral the next day why he "read" those things to his brother.
He told me, "I just wanted to make him feel good, Mom." :)
This from the kid who was allergic to his brother a few hours earlier....

PROUD MAMA

Yesterday the boys and I went to BackYard Burgers before Cub Scouts. There were 3 servicemen there in uniform. Raleigh went up to each one of them, on his own, and said, "Thank you for your service, sir."

I am so proud that Raleigh is learning pride and appreciation for those who serve.
Thank you Lord for this precious son.

Sleepy!

Will and I went to Johnson City today. I asked him earlier if we should go and he said, "Yes, because that's what I have planned on my schedule." After shopping, playing games at Chuck E Cheese, and dinner together (he kept saying we were on a date!), the poor kid is tired out.