New Boots!

Ahh! After four pairs of leg braces, we finally have it figured out after a series of problems and issues with other orthodic companies and just in general frustrations.

Will got a new pair of "boots" last week and we haven't had any problems. I can't say enough about Hope Orthodics. They are warm, awesome people who have a background as physical therapists, so they are really trying to give Will the most stability without taking away and movement.

Playing in the "rodeo" room waiting for new boots!

The old boots.

The new boots! He picked the same pattern, just has brighter colors. They have a binder full of choices so I helped him narrow it down to two options - this one and a Longhorn pattern. Yes, I did offer the Aggie pattern as well, but since being brainwashed by his dad, we know that's not an option.

Playing on the play structure post-new boots. Seems to be going well.

I cleaned out Will's closet the other day and decided to walk down memory lane for a minute.

First pair (on the left): Started walking in these boots! A day we worked so so hard to get to and likely it was in part because Will was so determined to get around where he wanted to get to.  

Second pair: Will was doing so awesome we decided to experiment with a lower calf height and Will's first PT, Mr George who I still miss, got out his tool box and cut the back's down. Will thought it was awesome.

Third pair: Will did good with the lower boots, but got sick in Feb. 2012 and March 2012 and the back-to-back illnesses just didn't bode well for his body.

Fourth pair: So on to the fourth pair, we added a lot more stability and support for Will and that has seemed to be the best choice.

Fifth pair: So here we are now! Five pairs of boots since July 2011.

Luckily (??)  as you can see in the photo, we do not incorporate a lot of shoe options into Will's wardrobe. It seems to be easier for Will to only have to adjust to one shoe instead of a lot of different shoes. Plus, the boot only fits into certain ones with wide, big open inserts.

The day we got his current pair of shoes, we got great feedback from his teachers on how much easier it was to put them on. They are so easy, we just bought a new pair of his old shoes. So, new boots and "new" shoes.



Boots

These boots are NOT made for walking...

We went a few weeks ago to a new orthodics company, Hope Orthodics. I really like them a lot and it's worth the trip to The Woodlands. The orthopedist along with Will's physical therapist recommended doing a custom leg brace instead of one off the shelf.

We went yesterday to pick them up and Will really seemed to like the design we picked out - sports theme - with football, baseball, baseball gloves, soccer balls etc.

After the appointment, we met up my mom, dad, sisters and Will's cousins for dinner at Fuddruckers and he seemed to be walking really well in them. He had a blast in the arcade area driving cars and goofing off. He ate a great dinner too. Car ride home was full of chatter about the balls on his boots.

Got home and his ankle bones were red/pink. They orthopedist told me that's normal for 20 minutes, but it should not be red after about 20 minutes. Well, they were still pink this morning. Will actually wanted to put them on this morning, but after getting them on it was not pretty. He actually had tears coming down his face and wouldn't walk anywhere.

Luckily, we had an appointment with Will's new PT, Ms. Lauri and she said, no way. Take them off. So, we're back to the old nasty boots till at least next Thursday when we're going back to get them fixed. That was the first mutually agreeable available appointment. It's rather difficult to get up to The Woodlands where this orthodics place is in the middle of the day.

After we took them off this morning Will perked up and seemed to be a lot happier. I'll be curious to see his ankles tonight if they are still pink.

Will sitting in a bumbo in the Orthodics room. It was a tight squeeze and he thought it was hilarious.

New boots!

It's a much harder plastic, so I'm hoping it can just be stretched out or more padding added to protect his little "feet-sies"