Full Tilt and the Latest Look

Ever have one of those days - I mean ooooooone of thooooooose days? With the school year continuing at full tilt and added running for Maxim, there is definitely an increase in time on the road.

Last Wednesday, Maxim was scheduled as usual for the re-casting process. They were also planning to do the hip pull where they would put Maxim's right hip in temporary traction during an x-ray to better evaluate the best plan for that particular issue.

Wednesday is also a day full of band and orchestra practices and piano lessons. So the kids and I all hopped in the van at 8 a.m. and headed for the Homeschool Building in Wyoming (a town about twenty-five minutes from home between us and Grand Rapids). I pulled into the parking lot there, Brina going right into orchestra practice and the rest of us finding an empty table at which to tackle other homework.

At 10:30, I left the older three there, having made lunch arrangements for them and knowing that during Maxim's appointment, they would be well occupied with either continued music practices or homework assignments yet to be finished. So off Maxim I went in the van. We pulled into the doctor's parking lot with a couple of minutes to spare, Maxim having taken the prescribed valium dose thirty minutes prior. As I reached into the van to lift Maxim from his seat, I spied Joel's trumpet in the back seat. My mind began to spin. I was the one who had suggested that Joel leave it locked in the van until he really needed it at 11:30, so it wouldn't be taking up unnecessary space at our study table on a typical Wednesday morning. Without even thinking, we had done the usual and now here I was with Joel's trumpet, needed in less than an hour, with Maxim about to go into a 1 1/2 hour appointment, minimum. Yes, I had just given Maxim the painkiller, but I also had Joel getting ready for his last practice before the District Festival, scheduled for Thursday.

I carried Maxim into the doctor's office, sheepishly explained my dilemma, and they were able to reschedule him for Thursday morning at 11:15. We then raced back to the Homeschool Building and delivered Joel's trumpet to him just in time for practice. He was so relieved. He said he had been praying that I would notice it there in the van.

I noticed during those hours after the valium dose, Maxim didn't not seem any different, so I hoped it would actually make a difference on Thursday, to help him relax for the hip pull as intended.

After, piano lessons were complete and a good moms visit at the same time, we were home by about 5:30. Long day.

Thursday arrived and after a little more calm early morning, we were all in the van again, except Brina who wasn't feeling well. The plan was to take care of Maxim's recasting and hip pull, and then go to District Festival to cheer on Joel's band and others participating.

Maxim was not afraid at all this time as the green casts came off. He had already planned that the third casts would include yellow on one side and orange on the other, and that's what he asked for.

Once the casts were off, the hip pull was completed within minutes and we were back in the casting room. During the pull, which the doctor had implied could be quite painful, Maxim had obviously hurt but was not overwhelmed. During the casting of his right foot/leg, however, he cried with gusto. Poor little guy. Earlier, when I had mentioned to Dr. Reinhart that I didn't see a great difference with the prescribed painkiller, she suggested I give Maxim some of the children's tylenol in my purse. Once this kicked in on top of the prescription, he was very relaxed during the casting of the last foot.

We finished the appointment with plenty of time to drive to Grandville High School where the District Middle School/ High School Band Festival would take place. It is an honor to be a part of and a great opportunity for all of our home schooled musicians to be critiqued by skilled judges. Joel's band ended up with a rating of "I", which is the best you can achieve there and this gives them the opportunity to now go to State Festival in April. Good job!

Yesterday, we were already back at Dr. Reinhart's office for another re-casting, as no other large enough time blocks were available later in the week. Each time we go, she looks at the position of Maxim's feet and continues to evaluate and ponder the best approach as time goes on.
Yesterday, she commented that maybe taking care of the right hip first would be most beneficial. This will be seriously considered after the MRI on April 2 to see how much cartilage he has there.

Dr. Reinhart also said the re-casting will continue weekly until they see progress reach a plateau. As long as the feet are continuing to improve in position, they will keep doing it. If Maxim's feet plateau sooner than hoped for, the doctor says the only thing they can do surgically is called a tailectomy (sp?), which is considered a "salvage measure"; sort of a "there's nothing else we can do for you" measure. In other words, PRAY. God knows the plans He has for Maxim and he also knows that Maxim desires to walk. We are trying to make the most of help available while learning also to put our true trust and hope in the actual Great Physician.

Maxim has been taking the initiative to pray all by himself over the last week and it basically a long thank you list. Wonderful to listen to, since he lists everything from pizza to cars to Grandpa, and if something comes to his mind more than once, he thanks God for it each time. The other day, he thanked God for Cyan three times in one prayer.

Maxim is not awake yet this morning, but later today I will take a picture of him again with his latest colors (red and blue), along with pieces of the casts that were removed yesterday. Wouldn't want you to miss what a little rainbow he has been these last few weeks.