February Update

So we are at the end of February. Ryan has really exceeded our expectations physically over the past few months. The difference we have seen since just the beginning of November is amazing. He is becoming such an active little boy and we are really having fun watching him blossom.
Ryan and I will be heading to Seattle at the end of March for a special arthrogryposis clinic. They are one of the top world-wide hubs for the condition and geneticist, Dr Judith Hall, will be seeing Ryan. She's in wikipedia if you want to read about her. She is the premier doctor for Ryan's condition....she literally wrote the book on arthrogryposis, and almost any article written on the subject references her, so it is a pretty big deal for us to have the opportunity to meet with her. Ryan and I will be joined by our friends Alexis and Laelia. Laelia also has arthrogryposis and Ryan and Laelia often send videos to one another of their triumphs, while their mothers keep each each other sane. We are glad they are able to join us for this trip.
We also ordered Ryan's first walker. He's been so active that we thought it might be time to give him the opportunity for mobility, even though his legs are not yet strong enough to support him. The walker is pretty neat in the fact that the seat (kind of like a rectangular bicycle seat), moves as his hips move - it is not in a fixed position, giving him the ability to really feel the sensation of hip movement as he moves. When he demoed it at therapy, he took off - down the hallways and out the door. It was amazing how quickly he was able to maneuver this piece of equipment.
On the home front, everyone else is doing great. Derek is keeping busy at work. Devin and Lily will be in ski school for the first time, as we are heading to Tahoe. Lily is really enjoying her tap/ballet class and is getting closer and closer to being able to audition for any casting call for shirley temple that might arise. Devin starts t-ball this week, while I continue to drive....everywhere!
xoxo
k