Easton's Journey: club feet

Well, Mr. Easton, I think I wrote on your previous post that when you were born it appeared something was different about your feet and legs....well the doctors and nurses quickly could tell you had club feet. Now, when they told me this I had no idea what it was, but they were very reassuring that it is common and very treatable...so, I chose not to think about it right away and just relish in the beauty of my new baby. 

I did finally pull google out the evening after you were born to do a little research....which then progressed into a week of research. Which I think was good, because when we went to your first children's mercy appointment on Wednesday, October 2nd, I wasn't totally on information overload and overwhelmed. I was prepared.

So, club feet. You young sir, are 1 in every 1000 babies to be affected with this. It is more commonly found in boys as well, and it can be genetic. But, we did get research from the dr that said if one parent had club feet there is a three to four percent chance the offspring will get it; if both parents were affected there is a fifteen percent chance the offspring will get it....so the percent for it being passed genetically isn't even that high. 

Anyways, when you are diagnosed with club feet it means your feet are turned inward and we can not manipulate them to go normal. Your doctor said, sometimes a child will be diagnosed with club foot, but really they don't have it, because you can manipulate the foot outward. Yours, Mr. Easton, could not be manipulated. In fact, we were instructed NOT to stretch or pull on your feet.

Here is a picture of your feet. 

This is how you were most comfortable...you would curl you legs up and get into the smallest ball to snuggle and sleep.

I like this photo too, because it shows you are able to stretch out your legs.

So, October 2nd we took the hour plus drive to children's mercy. I think I was a little nervous because I literally talked the entire way about anything and everything! If your daddy was nervous he didn't show it. 

As we were sitting in the waiting room all these other kids were being called back, and the people coming to get them were so blah....they would just say, "last name Smith" the people would go and that was that....I thought, man these people are tired or boring....and then you were called back. Nurse Ron came out and booms. "Miiisterrrr Easton!" :) it made me smile. The guy checked he had the right patient by checking your birth date, then he introduced himself as one of your first athletic trainers :) 

He weighed you, you were 5.5 kilograms, or 11.2 pounds! You had gained two pounds since Friday!!! You did not feel that heavy...and when we left he used a different scale and you were 4.4 kilograms ( which obviously is impossible since we had added casts....but 4.4 kilograms is 10 pounds....so we will see at your next appointment what you weigh).

After that we met your nurse, nurse D. Of course you were hungry....so she inspected your feet as you ate :) nurse D was very nice. Then we met your dr, Dr. Jarka (parka with a j). She was SO knowledgable :) she was calm, quiet, and informative. After our informational session, she checked you out. You fussed a little during this. She said your feet looked like a normal case....not a severe case. We had heard this from other doctors, and my concern was we would get a dr who wasn't as invested in you because your case was simple, and this is treatable. But, Dr, J took time to asses you and inform us, and I felt as if she genuinely cares about you and wants the best outcome for you!

Luckily, I had read on another blog that they were surprised that their kiddo got their casts at their first appointment. So, I was prepared for that possibility. But, the way they were talking, it almost seemed this would just be an informational meeting. So, I asked when you would get your first casts. Nurse D and Dr. J looked at each other, and then turned to me and said, in about five minutes. I said, oh, okay! They were surprised at how well I took that. And I told them, I was a little prepared for it. 

So, we headed over to the casting room. This was the only time mommy got a little emotional...but I held it together. I just knew your life was about to change....and I didn't know how you were going to take it. So, we go into the casting room, and they wrap your top half in a WARM blanket. Then they cast you. While casting we dipped your pacifier in sugar water and moved a rain stick to soothe you. For the first cast you were a perfect baby! Dr. J kept commenting on how wonderful you were! So, Dr. J, nurse D, and LeLand, the other nurse, all worked to cast your leg. While doing this we all just chatted. Talked about what your daddy and I do, and they made lots of jokes. It was a very calm atmosphere, and they are very easy going people. It was exactly what I had prayed for!

Here you are in between getting your casts, cast one is complete. I love this photo of you and your daddy. then came the second cast, and you were done cooperating. You kicked and screamed and showed them your lungs....which, just FYI, when you're getting a cast it's best to be still ;) so, half way through the cast they set it and then had you eat so they could finish. You still weren't the happiest during the second part, but you were better. After that...we headed home. 

Here you are with your casts. They make you look really long! And they make you look like you have skinny legs in this picture! But, they really are cute on you! :) at one point I looked back to check on you in the car seat and I thought you had blue jeans on :) 

Your shirt says "God's little masterpiece" this may turn in to your Wednesday shirt ;) until casting is done :) thanks aunt Jami for sharing the perfect shirt with us :)

Sweet baby, you were exhausted from your morning....you slept ALL afternoon and evening, except to eat. You also were quite uncomfortable...I literally sat holding you for three hours in the evening. We found one comfortable position for you on my chest and then we didn't move you. That is still your favorite snuggle position is upright on mommy's chest. So, we actually started looking for a comfortable recliner so I can sleep upright holding you. 

Because, Wednesday night was a LONG night. Normally you sleep in your bassinet at least part of the night....Wednesday night there was no way..,and then from four to six there was just nothing I could do to soothe you....we finally ended up in the living room rocking, and then on the couch to sleep. Before Wednesday you were a very easy going guy....I could lay you anywhere and you would sleep for a couple hours! I could never do that with your sister! But now, you have been nearly held for over 24 hours...you just can't get comfy. But, tonight (Thursday) has been better. You have slept...and you slept two hours in your bassinet. So, hopefully you're starting to adjust. (Since writing that last sentence at 3 am you slept in your bassinet another hour!)

So, future treatment. 

Step 1: We have six weeks worth of appointments already scheduled. So, every Wednesday until November 6 we will go and get your cast changed. They will slowly manipulate your foot and move it every week. They do this until they over correct it, because that way when you're done with treatment you have room for regression, which will then land you in the perfect feet. 

Hopefully, you will just need six weeks or less of casting...but it depends on how much they can move your feet each time. 

Step 2: possible surgery. The dr said fifty percent of kids need to have their Achilles' tendon snipped, because it didn't grow long enough due to the curvature of the feet. If you need the surgery you will then be in another cast for three weeks. I'm praying hard you don't need the surgery, just because it would be one more thing for you to endure!

Step 3: you will be fitted for boots and a bar. These are special shoes attached to a bar between your feet, this will keep your feet in place. You will wear this for 20 hours a day for three months. Luckily, in researching there are two types of bars...the ponsetti bar, that does not move, and the dobbs bar, that moves in the middle. While reading it seemed as if kids tolerate the dobbs bar better because they can move each leg individually....and I was hoping our dr would use this bar, and she has just decided to switch full time to it!

Step 4: you will wear the shoes and bar at nap time and bedtime until you are four years old

Step 5: we pray like crazy that you do not have any regression and our treatments can be over!

So, it's a long road of treatments but I think we can handle it,

Prayer requests:

1. That you do not have to have surgery

2. That you continue to adjust to your casts and we see glimpses of our sweet, happy, content boy again 

3. That your daddy and I continue to have patience....it's been rough not being able to set you down, and knowing you're uncomfortable with nothing we can do. (But lots of parents go through this with colicky babies....so I know we aren't the only ones going through this)

4. For your sister...she has been such a great big sister and loving in you! I pray she continues....and I pray she refigures out potty training! :)

Little man, you sure are special...and I know God blessed us with you and as hard as the road ahead may be, you're going to rock it!

I love you!

Mommy

**weight update, you went for a check up at dr. Nichols office and his scale said you were 9 pounds, 13 ounces...and that's with your casts....so apparently children's mercy's scale was incorrect. Dr. Nichols was guessing you are about your birth weight without the casts. So, good job little man! :)