New Bed for Christmas

With Trent walking around, we decided to move him from his crib to a real bed. We already had a bed frame that we purchased from a friend when we got a bed for Nora. The two beds could be put together as a bunk bed, or they can be used separately.


This shows Trent in his new bed.


Here he is, trying it out.

He had a little spill the first night, so we put up a guard. Since then he has been doing well and sleeping fine.

Trent also had a couple doctors' appointments this week. We took him to a rehabilitation doctor that he has seen in the past. He was pleased with Trent's progress. He was so pleased that he thought Trent did not need to return anymore. One less appointment for us. Trent also went to his orthopedics doctor who did the treatment for Trent's feet. He was also pleased. He told us that Trent did not need his brace for naps anymore, just for sleeping at night. The doctor said that he will need to wear it until about age five. We only need to see the orthopedics doctor about every three months now.

Trent has come a long ways. He still has a long ways to go - most importantly now with speech - but we have been very happy with his progress. God has blessed him tremendously.

More Walking

Here is a video of Trent walking around our house. He is more confident, but still is about 50% walking and 50% crawling. He is doing better and better every day.

A few steps

So far Trent has been walking with us holding on to both his hands. He has been gradually progressing to where he can walk with us only holding on to one hand, although occasionally he will loose his balance and fall on his bottom. Also occasionally Linda and I have been trying to get him to walk on his own between us. Up until now he has either refused to take any steps or drops to his knees immediately. Tonight we finally had some success. It was just a few steps a couple times, but he did them all on his own. Then as we got excited, he got excited and lost concentration on the walking. Nevertheless, this is progress. Considering that it has been less than a year since he joined our family, his progress on all fronts has been miraculous. It has been amazing to see the work that God has been doing on Trent. We also thank you for all the prayers you have been praying on Trent's and our behalf.

Lost a dear friend today

We just received a letter today from the adoption agency that we used for both Nora and Trent. They, Harrah's Adoption International Mission, are closing down. Unfortunately there have been fewer US adoptions of Chinese children because of increased international regulations and the wait has increased to over three years. Of course the international economic downturn has not helped matters either. Even though they were a smaller agency (maybe because they were) we were extremely happy with the way they helped us. Yes, it was their job, but we never felt like customers. We felt like friends. Perhaps this is because it was started by a couple who adopted three daughters from China themselves. It feels like we are loosing a good friend.

We are extremely grateful now that we decided to switch to a waiting child last year and adopt Trent. It was at about our two year mark in the process. With an average three year waiting time, if we would have stuck with a standard adoption we would be eagerly awaiting a referal just about now. I can't imagine parents who are in that situation right now. Please remember them in your prayers. Fortunately current clients of Harrah's will be transferred to another agency and keep their place in line. Still though there will probably be lots of paperwork and might be a small delay. We still have a one year post-placement social worker visit for Trent and will have to do a little work with the new agency. It is a little easier knowing that he is already part of our family.

Trent is doing well, but still not quite yet walking. He does ok with us holding onto both his hands. We are trying to get him to walk with only one hand holding. On the visit this week, his doctor indicated that his upper legs were still somewhat weak as Trent was walking too stiff legged yet. We need to work on those muscles. Also, still no talking but he seems more noisy. I think it is just of matter of having that breakthrough momment. One of these days he will just decide to walk and talk.

Walking

Trent is not walking on his own, yet, but, as you can see, he can take some steps with help. On April 22 he had his third doctor's appointment since getting off the casts and getting a brace. The doctor ok'ed him to go without the brace during the day. He only has to wear it during naptime and when he sleeps at night. His feet are looking great. He is getting physical therapy to strengthen his legs. We hope that he will be running around soon.

So far, he is not speaking. He does seem to understand us and respond to us. All we can do is keep trying.

Feet correction

Here are Trent's feet before correction as shown in one of his referral photos.

Here is another view from right after he joined us in China.

This shows his corrected feet from the front.

And this his corrected feet from the back.

He is still wearing his braces almost full time, yet. He had his first one month checkup after having the casts removed and getting braces. The doctor was pleased with the progress and said we could give him a little more time out of the braces, from one hour to two. We need to encourage him to stand more (both in and out of the braces). Also we are getting him into some physical therapy to work on the tendons and feet. So far, so good. Thanks for your continued prayers.

New braces

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, we took Trent to the doctor and had his last set of casts cut off. They fit him with special shoes and the bar that goes between them. The length of the bar is set to the width of his shoulders. There is a clip on each of the shoes where the bar clips in, so you can put on the shoes first and then put in the bar. Trent will need to wear the brace full time for the next three months. After that he will only need to wear them when he goes to sleep at night.

He seems to be ok with the braces. He can't get around quite as well as before, but he should be moving around even better after he get use to them. He can only be out of them for an hour at most each day. Tonight we gave him a bath for the first time in a long while. (He had been getting sponge baths and hair washes.) He had lots of fun in the tub splashing around. It was especially good to clean off his legs and feet which had gotten just a little cleaning between casts.

We also took him to a speech doctor, but we didn't learn anything we didn't already know. He is just developmentally delayed so it will take awhile for him to talk. We just need to keep doing what we have been, reading and talking to him.

Preparing for braces

This picture shows the second type of casts that Trent has been in. Last Wednesday, he had a doctor's appointment to measure his feet for braces. These are fairly simple. They are a couple of shoes attached to a bar. This coming Wednesday the doctor will remove this final set of casts so he can switch to the braces.

He will be in the braces for 23 out of 24 hours for three months. After that he will only have to wear them at night when he sleeps. He will have to be in braces until he is five or six years old.