Shane's Birthday

Waaaay back in March Shane had a birthday. We celebrated with grandma and grandpa westby and ate burgers and yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  It was a good day but I wanted to put up this picture of the Westby's.

Lincoln wasn't having the worst time of his life...I promise.  And Calder...I don't even know.

 

Serial Casting

 

Calder had his first serial casting.  He will probably do this every few years for...well, probably forever.  He did great.  He did not complain at all.  Serial casting involved going to Children's Hospital every Monday and Thursday for three weeks.  At each appointment his old cast would be taken off, his Achilles would be stretched and a new cast would be put on.  Everyone signed his cast and drew pictures every time which was fun.  You can see how his little toes are curled a little in the picture above...every night we would stretch those toes to try to get them to loosen up a little.  Overall, he gained some range of motion with the casting.  The biggest change we see is that in the morning he is more "loose" before he would be up on his toe first thing in the morning until he was stretched out again.  The reason we are doing serial casting is to, hopefully, put of Achilles lengthening surgery for as long as possible and the more his Achilles is stretched the less it will be shortening.   I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Children's Hospital is a great place.  By our second appointment the front desk people recognized us and were ready with all of our badges, wrist bands, etc (security is pretty tight).  Sometimes, Calder complains about wearing his AFO but he is a trooper.  A lot of kids with CP will just refuse to wear their braces (tear them off) which causes all sorts of problems. 

 A lot of ferry riding for this kid during the procedures.

Lincoln is Two

Lincoln turned two back on April third.  We had a little party.  We sang and ate donuts and played.
This kid is a cute two year old.

Lincoln,
 You have started talking more and more.  Your talking is much different from your older siblings.  You think about every word and then push each word out of your little body with such force that it is comical.  You are big on hugs and kisses.  Giving not getting.  You throw your arms around my neck squeeze tight and then plants a big kiss on my lips...but if I try to do the same to you-no way.  You want to play tag as soon as Dad is home from school, "Play. Tag. Dad.?"  Lincoln, you watch your brother like a hawk and copy every single thing he does.  If he says something you repeat it.  This has caused some arguments between the two of you.  You ask about T all of the time.  Where is T?  T in her room mom?  T outside mom?  And then you hide your face and play shy.  It is adorable. You are afraid of Chocolate.  Her tail is just face height and you have been accidentally whipped in the face one too many times.  When I pick you up you say, "Hair Move Mom"  You hate to rest your head on my hair.  You sleep in a big boy bed now.  You moved out of a crib just a few months after Calder.  You were about 18 months old...and would not stop climbing out in the middle of the night.  It was ridiculous.  You climb everything.  Shelves, book cases, ladders, trees...  We love you so much.  Even though we might not act like it when you come ambling out of bed at 4:45 in the morning with a giant grin on your face.  We love you. 
Mom and Dad