journeys with jax and oliver

Monday, August 13, 2012

Mehta Cast #5, The Removal

This morning Jackson's 5th Mehta cast was removed at our local orthopedic office. I don't mean to be cynical ... but how many times are these people going to ask us the same annoying questions? "Are you going back to Philadelphia?" ... "How long is this process going to be?"

Don't we wish we knew!?!

Emotions placed aside, I'm certain they are just trying to show concern. However, it gets old being asked the same exact questions every 8-10 weeks ... it makes it feel like they aren't listening to our answers.

We took our usual Daddy-Jackson picture.

Checking out Mehta Cast #5 for the last time.

A little anxiety but no tears during the cast removal with Mr. Saw.

Checking out that infamous belly button!

Skinny-Mini.

Farewell, Cast #5!

You might be able to tell from my pen-voice that I'm a little "down in the dumps." As I wrote back in June, we are at a crossroads in Jackson's Mehta casting process. When we go back to Shriner's on Wednesday of this week, we will be told that morning whether Jackson gets molded for a removable brace or casted a 6th time based upon his X-ray measurements. We don't really know what to expect, but both Justin and I were a little concerned when Mehta Cast #5 was removed. Jackson's spine doesn't look as straight as we expected it to look. Then again, we also keep second guessing ourselves. Sometimes, it looks great ... other times, we can still see his scoliosis curve. It all depends on Jackson's position when we are looking at his back. We really won't know anything until his X-rays are read on Wednesday morning. However, I suppose we were hoping for bracing more than either of us realized. We are just very tired of the long trips to Philadelphia, watching Jackson miss out on water activities, and just dealing with Shriner's Hospital in general. This process has been very trying on everyone in our family, and we are desperately hoping it ends soon. Nevertheless, we ultimately want what is best for Jackson's healing ... and if that means another Mehta cast, we will certainly choose to cast him a 6th time this week.

Your continued prayers are much needed and greatly appreciated.

Here's Jackson's Mehta casting progress thus far:

Prior to Cast #1: (September 2011)

Prior to Cast #2: (November 2011)

Prior to Cast #3: (January 2012)

Prior to Cast #4: (March 2012)

Prior to Cast #5: (June 2012)

Prior to Cast #6: (today)

Okay ... now that I do that comparison ... maybe it does look better?

Lord, it's in Your hands!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Free For All

Summer in our area is pretty much a free-for-all for fair-goers. That is, we have a carnival in each surrounding county almost every week in August, back to back. This week, it's the Warren County Fair ... and we've already been!

It was too dark to take a picture, but it merits mention that Jackson rode the ADULT SCRAMBLER with me!!! And ... he LOVED it! He laughed hysterically to the point he had trouble catching his breath. Looks like we've got another little dare devil in the family! Hooray!

The End.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Once In A Blue Moon

Last night, underneath a rare "blue moon," Mom and I took Jax and Oliver to the Frederick County Fair.

Jackson went to several fairs last summer, but he was really too young to enjoy anything back then. This year, much to my wallet's dismay, he quite enjoyed himself! And, honestly, so did Mommy.

Jackson rode a few kiddie rides ALL BY HIMSELF this year, too. To NeNe's soundtrack of "I can't believe you're going to let him do that .... He's way too young .... That is way too dangerous .... Are you sure? .... I can't watch!"

After about 30 seconds, NeNe ate her words. Jackson got VERY serious on his rides ... but he would giggle and clap when they stopped and want to ride again. Fear = zero!

His absolute favorite ride was the 4-wheelers!

Which he rode again, and again, and again!

Little Oliver was a sport about the whole thing. His favorite ride was the stroller!

Jax also enjoyed the train.

And the roller coaster ... OH WAIT ... he didn't enjoy the roller coaster at all!

NeNe and Jax were planning on enjoying the roller coaster ...

When it started up the lift hill ... then rolled backwards down again ...

Then ... things REALLY got interesting when the ride operator attempted to push the coaster back up the track manually.

And the coaster went up ... and back down again ... to which my mom and the other adult passengers started yelling "I WANT OFF!!! I WANT OFF RIGHT NOW!!! STOP THE RIDE!!! I WANT OFF!!!"

Thankfully, NeNe and Jax got off the roller coaster without loss of life or limb.

And we went on to enjoy an evening of fascinating chickens ...

and a gorgeous setting sun.

And it all happened ... once in a blue moon.

Unscathed

We thought we were going to go through Jackson's entire Mehta casting process unscathed by the "dreaded poop blow out."

... but we were wrong ...

It happened tonight ... at Red Lobster, nonetheless, ... yet ... we still managed to come out rather unscathed in the end!

But, what an adventure the last few hours have been!

There was pretty much no possible way that Jackson could have spent the next couple of weeks in Mehta cast #5 in the state he found himself in tonight. That is, unless everyone was okay with a swarm of flies following the poor guy around. So, come hell or high water, I was going to remove his UNremovable undershirt. I had watched multiple YouTube videos posted by other casting families about how to do this, so it was time to put my education to good use! Thankfully, cast #5 is one of the looser casts Jackson has worn ... and, surprisingly, it really wan't that difficult to remove his undershirt by threading it from section to section of his cast.

Ta-Da!

That, my friends, is a bare belly under that cast!

Then, I had to remove the yucky yucky mole skin from around the cast borders and replace it with new mole skin and fresh duck tape. As always, Jackson was an absolute trooper and just laid there and let me do so.

Removal.

Raw edges.

Brand new.

Then, while Jackson's undershirt was being washed and dried ... little man enjoyed a VERY late night of belly button observation ... both his own and NeNe's!

When a two-year-old never sees his belly button, it becomes a pretty fascinating thing!

Next, I threaded his undershirt back through the cast. That part ... that I dreaded the most ... proved to be the easiest ... only taking 2-3 minutes.