Happy Hayes Family: March 2008

Friday, March 28, 2008

Dinner With Cousins

March 7, 2008
My cousins, Benjie and Christina were in town for a couple of days, and we were able to get together for dinner one night. We ate at Franchesco's. That was during the time when we were all fighting off sickness, so a number of people were missing: Chris, Steven, Ryan, Andrew, and Tyler. Travis and Tyler were staying with my parents for a few days, but Tyler got sick and went back home. We had a great time filled with good food and catching up.

The "whole" gang, as it were:
Travis, Robin, Benjie, Christina, Mom, and Dad

Travis and his pizza

Benjie and his PIZZA!

Only one slice left...

WAY more than one slice left!

posted by Robin Hayes, 7:51 PM | link | 2 comments |

A Time Line of Andrew's Clubfoot

I've been looking back over our pictures from the last four years, and it has sparked many memories. I had forgotten that Andrew's first bath was on his two month birthday. He got his first cast on before his umbilical cord fell off, so he didn't get a real bath in the tub until after he got his last cast off.

April 28, 2004
Andrew in his fourth and final cast
following his teunotomy (cutting of
the Achilles tendon).

This is Andrew's team - Dr. Noonan is on the left, and
Dr. Nemeth is on the right. After Andrew was done
with all the casting, Dr. Nemeth took over his care.

After almost two months of being in casts, this
is what his leg looked like! And he also suffered
a cut from the cast saw. The last cast he had was
really thick - it was extra protective as he had to
have his Achilles tendon grow back after they cut it.

Andrew's first pair of shoes: they're so tiny!

Steven and Ryan have done a lot of changing
in the last four years as well!

August 1, 2004

August 17, 2004

October 6, 2004

October 24, 2004

November 4, 2004

January 29, 2005 The ball we used to help
strengthen Andrew's abdominal muscles

April 16, 2005: Finally learning to crawl

It's such hard work!

After Andrew learned to crawl, he did it with no
problem, even with shoes on!

July 8, 2005: Cruising into trouble

March 30, 2006: Full blown walking

Andrew didn't crawl until after he was one year old, and didn't walk until he was 18-1/2 months old. I was super worried, but he has more than made up for it in the years that have followed. With some intervention through the Child and Family Connection, we hooked up with evaluations and a physical therapist. The first time we got evaluated by the PT, she helped him learn how to crawl. It was that easy. Very soon after that, he could crawl with or without his shoes on. And then he started cruising. He cruised for a long time before he was ready to take his first independent steps. But he finally did. And I am thankful!

posted by Robin Hayes, 9:33 AM | link | 4 comments |

No More Shoes!

Yesterday (March 27, 2008) was a very exciting day. After having been through a very intense first two months of his life, Andrew started wearing bar-and-brace shoes. At first he had to wear them 24 hours a day. When he was about nine months old, he got to have a four hour break a day. By the time he was one or so, he was able to have them off for eight hours a day. Then he went to wearing them any time he was sleeping - nap and night time. So for the past three years, we have been strapping these shoes on (nearly) every night.

I have been talking about yesterday for the past couple of weeks with Andrew - that he won't have to wear his "night-night shoes" any more, because he would ask for them when I was putting him to bed. "Mom, I need my shoes."

So yesterday, we made our much anticipated trek to Madison to go to the American Family Children's Hospital to see Dr. Nemeth. We are officially released from the bar-and-brace shoes. What a beautiful day! Chris pointed out that I was setting myself up for a major disappointment by making such a big deal of it being the "release day," as we weren't positive. Every indication from our last two visits (last March and then in September) pointed to his fourth birthday as being his release age. And thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. We go back in one year to make sure that he is still on the right track.

I am so thankful for Andrew's progress. God has been so good to us. We were put in the hands of good doctors from the start, his case was mild, and it only involved one foot. He has come a long way. He runs and jumps and keeps up as best he can with the big boys. He doesn't have many of the problems that accompany clubfoot children. God is good!

Last night, Andrew lifted up his blankets and told me that he needed his shoes. I told him that he didn't need his shoes anymore. I got to put him to bed guilt-free with no shoes. What a blessed night. I imagine that it won't take him long to realize that it's ok to sleep without shoes. I am thankful that he will be able to sleep in any position that he wants without having his legs in weird positions because his feet are attached to each other. We are thankful and praising God!

This morning, Andrew got out of bed all by himself. He didn't have to wait for anyone to come untie and unbuckle his shoes before he could get up. The blessings may seem small to others, but they are abounding for me!

March 27, 2008
Last time to take Andrew's shoes off
so that he can get out of bed.

Dr. Nemeth with Andrew

Asleep...

First "legal" night with no shoes. Look at
that peaceful position with feet together!
Now, if we could just get him to sleep
barefoot and let those feet breathe!

Here's what I mean about sleeping
positions with his shoes. Ah! No more!

posted by Robin Hayes, 6:57 AM | link | 9 comments |

Welcome Home, Uncle Ed, Auntie Robin, and Alex!

A really sweet sign that the neighbors from
across the street made to welcome home
Uncle Ed, Auntie Robin, and Alex

Waiting for the party to commence!

Watching a movie, waiting for the party to start...

"SURPRISE!!!"

Sister Hugs

The neighbors from across the street - they made
the nice sign, and let us hide cars in their driveway

Martina, Surprise Party Planner, Extrordinaire

Kelly

Nancy and Melanie

Dad, being a goofball, and Mom

Mom and Aunt Judy

Clara, Joel, and Annie

Dad and Keith

Pastor with Auntie Robin and Uncle Ed

Alex, Ryan, and One Cool Cake

Clara and Grandma Kay

Auntie Robin and Travis

Cousins and more squished on and around the couch...
If it wasn't for a very vocal Kelly, we wouldn't have
gotten Chris in the picture. Good job, Kelly!!!

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, Uncle Ed, Auntie Robin, and Alex returned to United States' soil from their trip to Russia to make Alex's adoption complete. Once the plane landed on American soil, Alex became a US Citizen! All but one of their kids: Joel and his fiance Annie, Nancy, Clara, Kelly, Tyler, and Travis met them at the airport and brought them home. I'm sure it was a wonderful reunion! (Sarah is away at college in South Carolina.)

While the kids were busy picking up their parents, final preparations were being made on the home front for a welcome back surprise party. Martina Kilburn was instrumental in planning the party. She and I put our heads together and came up with a lasagna dinner idea. Martina, Grandma Kay, Aunt Nancy, and Robin Joyce all made lasagnas.

When the Fosters all arrived home, Grandma Kay was waiting for them in the kitchen - since she was supposed to be there. The kids had told their parents that someone had provided a meal for them, so it wouldn't be too suspicious that there was food waiting. We all hid in the living room jittery with excitement (ok maybe I was the only one jittery with excitement), until they made their way through the house and we could jump out and yell "surprise!"

It was a super fun evening. Pastor and Jeremy and Anouk came later in the evening. Pastor had us go around the room and share testimonies of our praise to God for various workings in the whole adoption process. God's hand was evident around every corner. Then we all held hands around the room(s) and Pastor led a prayer of praise to God.

posted by Robin Hayes, 6:31 AM | link | 2 comments |