AFOs!!

Today was the big day when Krassi got fitted for his ankle-foot orthotics (AFOs). His orthotist (who Reuben's Brian (PT) referred to two weeks ago as "the Michelangelo of orthotics") had scheduled a 3-hour time slot for the fitting. I was so proud of Krassi - this time we didn't get any of "the lip" and Bob (the orthotist) commented on how much Krassi has changed in the three weeks since he saw him last. He noted in particular how much more animated and interactive he seemed to be. We've seen this, too, but don't notice it as clearly as someone who isn't with him every hour of every day.

The fitting also went much more quickly than Bob had planned for. I think this is in large part due to the fact that he made sure he got good castings three weeks ago and also that he does apparently really know what he's doing. The fact that Krassi has loosened up in a number of ways probably also made today go better! We tried them on, waited a bit to see how they settled in, checked for pressure points, and he took it back and made a minor adjustment on the left side (Krassi's worse side), then he had me put them back on Krassi again for a while, checked once more, and decided to make a similar adjustment on the right, and then we were set to go! And it was less than two hours since we had gotten there. Not bad!

After supper Krassi and I did a show and tell run (both because everyone back home was excited to see what he'd gotten and so I would get another chance to put them on while I still remembered the tricks Bob had shown me for getting those little feet to sit properly!)

First you put on the knee-high socks. Owen was a little bothered that we had to buy these from the girls' department at Target, but, as I reasoned with him, they are at least navy blue and not purple ruffle, and they'll be mostly hidden when he wears his AFOs! Nice to have a big/younger brother looking out for you. ;)

First one on - mom says, "This one you don't need to tighten too much." Interested sisters watch from the sidelines.

Baby is helping me hold Krassi's feet. ;) If I ever wonder why this little one inside of me is always kicking all the time (and hard! for someone who's only just past half-way to being born!) someone can remind me that much of what he or she experiences of the outside world is one of her two smaller older brothers feet!! Between dressing and diaper changes and now AFOs, I spend a lot of time with either Reuben or Krassi's feet near that Baby!

And lastly, Krassi showing off how he can support some of his weight when leaning on something. What I love even more about this picture than the fantastically solid stance that his AFOs give him is the fact that he can stand there with his legs spread apart that far and not in his automatic "scissors" position that he still prefers. But we're working on that. Probably the best thing about this photo is what you can't see - the great big grin that is on Krassi's face every time he does something like "big boys" do - getting up to sitting by himself, standing, cruising (so far only with help from Lori at PT - I haven't figured out how to help him yet!), or simply just pulling himself over to a toy he had his eye on. He is so motivated by our praise, and also self-motivated as he can tell on his own when he's accomplished something worth taking pride in.