HAPPY DAY!!!

Today was the day - the cast came off!! We were all very excited for the big event. We woke up, everyone had their shower or bath or sink hair-washing/spongebath (whichever applied), and after breakfast it was time to go! I really didn't get too sad as I did the last spica cast diaper change.

For a day or two before, we had been talking to Gavin about the fact that it would be loud "like a vaccuum". I didn't realize that the saw was actually attached to a vaccuum! He started out very well.

Jaynee wasn't quite sure what to make of all the fuss!

They cut and pried opened down the middle first. Gavin was pretty interested in this first part. If it could have ended there, it would have been perfect! I think in his mind he was done.


So when Jared picked him up and they started cutting down the side he was not as happy about life, but still did surprisingly well. I think part of the issue was that since the cast was already loosened in the front, it was actually kind of pinching him around his hip where they had a TON of cast material.


So after cutting down both sides and also down the insides of his legs, they did the final "peel" (See his skinny little leg??)


And then, with no hesitation, the assistants toss the cast into the garbage can. It was kind of a weird feeling, after Jared and Gavin left for x-ray, standing there looking into the garbage at this object that had, in a weird and obnoxious way, become part of our son for eight weeks. We literally had to take care of it almost as a child; sopping it up after potty accidents, putting bibs on it to keep it clean during meals, even using a blow dryer on it from time to time.

Gavin was all smiles getting back into his "own carseat" as he called it. However, the smiles didn't last terribly long because once we got back he had a little bit of a fall while he was trying to do the same things he was doing in his cast without the support of his cast.


He was very hesitant to do ANYTHING that involved his hurt leg (which we have since dubbed "the grumpy leg"), but he LOVED his bath once we convinced him that it wouldn't hurt. I worked with him on telling me where it hurt in the hopes that putting words to it would help the crying. It did, a little. What helped was giving him some time by himself in his bed, where he started doing stretches - no coaching necessary. After further experimentation and getting a little more willing to try to walk, he is back to his cheerful self this evening. He still isn't walking on his own, but he is easily cruising on the furniture and crawling around. He even sat comfortably on the floor to work on a puzzle with me this evening.

Isn't he clean and adorable after his haircut (thanks, Grandma!) and two baths?? :)

The doctor warned us that it will be a week or two before he is walking comfortably. While experimenting with him this evening, it's pretty evident that his center of gravity is off and he'll need to get that figured out before he is comfortable. He's proven that he is a trooper, so we are pretty confident that he'll be back to his old, adventurous self soon!