Raclette dinner

Sat. night we had a relaxing evening eating raclette, (a swiss cheese melted on potatoes) and hanging out together. We are going to have to plan another time together soon. Thanks again for coming and we are glad you made it on the blog:)

I like to read

Luca got a train book from Great Grandma Bev and he sure loves to read. He was taking a little break from his AFO's and had foot-in pajamas on for the first time. I think they look pretty cute:)

Quality time with the Godfather

Nothing to add to that, the pictures speak for themselves.

Luca couldn't be happier!

I have never seen Luca smile so much in one weekend. He was so happy to have Jeremy and Kristin in town.

Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving, we headed over to Andy and Jamie's house for some wonderful food and fellowship. The pictures from top to bottom- Luca getting his Thanksgiving meal with Aunt Kristin, the wonderful grams Nancy Witt with Luca- he sure loves her, the beautiful table arrangement, and John, Kristin and Jeremy having a great time!

Thanksgiving with the Jones

We have been having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with Jeremy and Kristin Jones. Don't worry the pictures are coming soon. Hope every one is having a wonderful weekend. Jeremy and Kristin have been giving John and I the royal treatment by letting us sleep in two mornings in a row and hanging out with Luca! We have also been around the city (thanks to the Lanes and Mari for babysitting Luca) If you know Seattle we made it to Queen Anne, West Seattle, Downtown- Pike Place, Eastlake boat houses, Wallingford, Greenlake, Ballard, Magnolia (fisherman's terminal and Chinook's), Fremont, and Capital Hill all in one day!!!

Another parent's persective

I read this and thought I just had to post it. It was written by a mom who has a three year old son, named Owen with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita.
She has also made a documentary coming out in Jan. of AMC. Can't wait to watch it.

As a parent of a child with arthrogryposis, I know how frightening those 3 words can be the first time you learn them.

I know how your emotions and self-doubt can get the best of you. How you can spend hours questioning what you did or what you could have done differently. The blur of the first year of back to back appointments with therapists, orthopedic doctors, geneticists, insurance claims departments and more.

Now three years later, I also know that it is okay to feel scared, too question if you are doing the right thing or the wrong thing or the not enough thing.

I know that for every ignorant comment someone will make, 10 other people will stop to tell me how beautiful my child is and how lucky I am.

I know that life will never be calm (let's be honest I have 3 boys, that is NEVER going to happen) but it slows down.

I know that you will find strength when you never thought you had it. You will find faith because you need to believe. You will love and cherish the smallest milestone because our kiddos have overcome amazing odds. (We were told to consider our options with Owen. That he wouldn't live a week after being born, that he would be a vegetable.)

I learned that doctors don't know everything. I learned to trust my instincts and find the best doctors for Owen, no matter what it takes.

I also have had the opportunity to interview more than 40 families to date. Some are adults with AMC, others are young adults or parents with small children. For all the information out there about AMC, there is plenty of insight only those in the community get to hear.
I am looking forward to the movie coming out in Jan. You'll have to watch it too:)

Ready for winter

Luca got this snow suit at the MOPS Swap last March and it is going to keep him warm this winter! The days are getting darker, wetter, and colder but we are staying dry and warm. I think he is going to like seeing snow whenever it falls.
He was out of his AFO's the last 24 hours to heal his purplebruised skin. The skin has healed and the AFO's are back on. We are going to take one last trip to Children's this week (today) to have his AFO's refitted to make sure his heal is down in them.

Bruised, regressed, disappointed

Well, another visit to Children's today. Luca's feet have bruising, and are already beginning to regress and curl in even with using the AFO's 23 1/2 hours a day. Luca and I will have to go again tomorrow because Dr. Mosca was not available today. We may go back into casts, or plan surgery? Not quite sure what the next step will be. Luca sure does look cute in shoes though. We tried some on just for fun for a few mins.

Luca in a basket

Jess found a little basket for Luca to get pushed around the living room in. He loved it. He is also reading a book in Dutch. Got to love it.

My new boots (AFO's)

No more casts (right now)

Luca is going to the AFO's splints for his feet today. Dr. Mosca said that his feet are corrected but the challenge now will be keeping them this way. We will post some pictures of what the AFO's look like soon. Dr. Mosca said that he has never had a patient with sever club feet that have been corrected by the minor surgery that he did on Luca this last Aug. Your prayers and ours are being answered. Thanks for your support along this challenging and important journey. The hard part now will be faithfully stretching his feet 3 or more times a day to keep his feet in this place. He will wear the AFO's 24 hours a day besides the few mins. that he is being stretched. He can also bear weight on the AFO's so maybe he can learn to stand someday soon. If you want to be a part of the foot stretching team just let me know:) We can use all the hands that are willing (and ears through the screaming). Thanks for all of your suppport, Katie

Sticking with the Blog

Hello,
I am sorry for the confusion between the two blogs. I am going to stick with the blogspot blog because it is easier to post videos on it and discontinue the wordpress blog. Sorry and thanks for sticking with us. Love, Katie

Halloween Fun

Luca was a monkey for Halloween. We had a super harvest party at church on Friday night and then went over to the Alm's on Sat. for some soup. Layna was a ladybug and Maya a little lioness.