Day Eighteen: Flat Feet

This morning we got a later start out the door thanks to a 9:00 am appointment with Katie's orthopedist in Encino. The report is (no surprise) she has flat feet and her ankles turn inward. Outside of that, there doesn't seem to be any impairment. He told us to go buy her some extremely well made shoes with good arches at a specialty shop... and he would submit to insurance a recommendation for personally-formed shoe inserts for her (that would need to be changed out every 6 months as she grows). These cost $300 each... and insurance doesn't usually cover them. Nevertheless, he would submit it... and play up the Syndromes she has and see if that would motivate them to pay for them. It will take a few days to find out if they will.

We noted today that as Katie played with her Gameboy (an electronic hand-held game) that she would talk harshly and caustically to it as she played... and if anyone were to talk to her then, she would respond caustically at them and act very sassy and disrespectful. Despite our attempts to curb this, she would not control herself. I thought of taking the game away from her, but I knew this would send her over the edge into a huge hysterical meltdown, and I didn't want to deal with that in the car on the way to UCLA. So everyone in the car grew tense and quiet (except Katie)... and were greatly relieved to drop her off. I spoke to the parental trainer about the Gameboy and our frustrations and asked her how to handle it. She said she was very happy to speak to us in regards to this in our meeting with her this afternoon.

Bea has a headache... Mark is a little edgy and the stress has me also edgy, tired and achy in my shoulders. I think we all need a good masseuse and a week away in the Bahamas. Mark will get close to that.... He leaves Thursday for a week alone in Texas with his family there. Bea and I will hold down the fort here... but if there is anyone who would like to give Bea and I a respite this weekend, feel free to let us know ((BIG grin)).

As always, I will finish this report at the end of the day.

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Well, our day at UCLA is finally over and it was a lot harder than we expected... but then, whenever we meet with the Psychologist and the Parental Specialist it ends up being an emotional roller coaster day. I would never say we have been bad parents to Katie... in fact, I think we have done very well in our parenting skills... but parenting a child with this configure of challenges cannot be approached in the same manner an AVERAGE parent would approach it... and we are now having to re-learn many of our basic interactions and skills with Katie and with each other. This is giving us a whole new understanding of the phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks".

OH YES YOU CAN... (but it takes a lot longer and it's a lot more painful).

Nevertheless, we ARE learning and I want to give big KUDOS to Bea and my honey of 10 years.... and me too! We are all pressing through the hard moments and challenges with great consistency, even though we aren't seeing a temendous amount of change YET! I kinda liken it to dieting... consistant discipline and looking forward to the prize (and not at the disappointing scale) will eventually bring the change you so desperately want.

In regards to the Gameboy, we got some very good ideas and marching orders that we have implimented this evening... and we are already seeing pretty good results. It gives me hope.

Tonight is leftover homemade chili, garlic bread and a heavy dose of "early to bed".

Chow 4 Now,
Susan