Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Titus - Eyes, Knees, Hips

Titus has been having a good few weeks, but there are a couple of items that are concern for prayer that we want to put out there.

First of all, Titus still has a huge chalizion in his right eye. He actually has two - one on his upper lid and one on his bottom lid. It's about the size of a small pea on his upper lid and although the medicine he has been on has reduced some of the swelling and redness, his eye is still quite swollen. He is to go on a new medication today if the pharmacy can get the medicine. And he has an appointment with the opthmalogist on Thursday. They can sedate him and clean out his eye, but that would require him going under anesthesia and we would like to avoid that if possible since we know how he struggles with that.

The second concern is around his knees, hips, legs. There is some concern that there maybe some injury to his knees, but they are not sure, so we are taking a few precautions over the next few days and increasing some therapy in that area. Titus has been working in a gate trainer - which is like a walker. His therapist (Ren - who is an angel on earth) will trigger the muscle in his legs and he will pick up his leg and move it forward. I went to therapy with Titus last week and watched Ren with him - and they have the sweetest relationship. She would trigger the muscles in his legs, he would take a step, then he would lean back and look for her and smile real big at her. Since Titus recently got new leg braces and his shoes are now larger to keep up with the braces, he's dragging his feet more and struggling a bit more in the gate trainer than he has in the past. That is understable, but his knees seemed to be popping today and they want to assure no injury has occured. They are also coming to adjust his stander at home this week - but since Titus has grown, the stander needs to be adjusted to his new height - and his knees have not been as supported as they should have been over the last few weeks. Last of all, his hips still flop out - Titus doesn't straighten his legs out - and that can also cause some issues with his muscles.

Please pray that the new medicine will work on his eyes so that they will clear up. Titus has so very little vision and we want to do what we can to keep that for him. These chalazions (think of extra large styes) are painful for him. And pray for his knees, hips and legs that no injury has occured and the new path of stretching/therapy will be made known so he can continue to strengthen those muscles.

Even with all of that - Titus has been quite a hoot lately. Last night, He was on Becky's lap while she was reading to Tucker and Cade. And Titus (like most 2 year olds) couldn't keep his hands off the book/pages. He kept wanting to turn the page. And then he came to sit in my lap, and just wanted to play. He has become quite the wiggler - and wiggled his way off my lap and onto the floor. I put him on his belly, and he was working to get his knees and hands underneath him - or keep his hands out in front of him reaching (and not to his sides). He then rolled himself over, ripped off his oxgen canula, and laughed at me. My son, my son . . . you have a way of making me laugh.

Speaking of laughter, the rest of the boys got so tickled during dinner last night. Becky has been reading them rules of etiquette - and read one that stated "gentlemen should help a lady put on her coat or sweater" to which I replied - only a button up sweater, not a pullover. Well, apparrently this tickled them so that they could not stop laughing. But knowing that a few of my boys take everything very literally, I wanted to make sure they weren't trying to force a pullover sweater over anyone's head. So be warned - if Tucker or Cade come after you to help you with sweater, let him know that you can handle it yourself. But the joy of listening to four boys laugh uncontrollably made my day - everyone needs laughter like that in their daily life.

So, enjoy your day - and find something to laugh about.

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