Always....Velvet: Where the heck have I been?!?

Where have I been? Where have you been?? LOL. My daughter often asks for me to update by blog, she likes reading my stories. She says I am a good writer...well, I do my best.

Speaking of my daughter, I thought I would tell you all a little about her. First of all, she is the most beautiful, strongest, caring, amazing woman I know. I hope to one day, when I finally grow up, be just like her.

So lately, this has been her life: She works 12-hour days, 3 days one week and 4 days the next week. But not only loooong days, but graveyard days (nights?). She is at work promptly at 1730 and gets to see the sun rise at 0530 every work morning. On the days she is not working, she is also not sleeping (which I would totally be doing). She is busy raising the most precious, cutest, sweetest young man, my most favorite grandson! This has not been an easy task as my grandson, Jordan, has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Natalie has not really wanted to spread this news, not because she was ashamed but because she never wants her son to think he has a disability. The cerebral palsy was caused by a stroke most likely before or just very shortly after birth. Natalie had noticed some signs early on but was told by her (stupid) pediatrician that her 6-month-old son was just being "lazy" with his right side and that she needed to make him use it more. Seriously? A baby being lazy? But, she took this advice and tried to work with him a little more. He was hitting all his milestones on time. However, things were different with him. Like crawling, he didn't crawl like other babies, he scooted across the floor on his baby butt using his left leg to propel him forward. This was not a huge concern for any of us because, well because babies are all different. It was when he started walking that she realized it was more than just a lazy baby. He would not put any weight on the right leg at all and while taking steps, he would walk on his tippy, tippy toes with the right foot. This caused a slight limp in his gait.

Jo took baby Jo to a different pediatrician (yay) and tests were ran, MRI scans were proformed, x-rays were taken, blood was drawn. Then --- COVID!!! Baby Jo had to start physical therapy via a video chat (this was very effective...not). He was seen by specialists, again, via video chat. Anyway, it's been a long road and Covid did not help matters.

The doctors made braces for his feet; the right foot is a full brace going up the calf and the left one is just to have the same size shoes on. This was back in October. They did really nothing. Natalie had a really hard time making baby wear them, he didn't want to, they hurt. She did her best and finally he was wearing them all day when she was home. Just recently, Natalie took baby to Shriner's Hospital and they immediately casted his right leg. She was not expecting it happen that day! She thought she was just in for a consultation! She was kinda a mess, she called in tears. I had to calm her down and let her know that this would upset baby and to just take deep breaths and know that she was only doing what needed to be done for her child. She was being an excellent mother and doing what was necessary. She calmed down and decided this was a really good thing. He wore one cast for a weekish and then a new one was put on with more lift to the foot. This one comes off Friday!! He will have a new set of braces when the cast comes off. Natalie asked the doctor what was the next step if this didn't work, she was told this always works!

Baby Jordan has been tested in his speech and in his mental capacity and these things are right on track! And let me just tell you, none of this, the limp, the braces, the casting, has kept that baby down! He literally RUNS everywhere. He will grab your hand and tell you, "Let's go" and then he says "Run, run, run!!" I think this is because of his mommy. She encourages him to be just him and she pushes him to be the best he can be and she will never let him think he has a disability. Of course, his daddy and his Mimi and his Pops and his other grandparents and his cousins and his aunts and uncles are always there to catch him if he falls, but mommy does not let that happen.

This is the most amazing shoe ever! It is called a Billy shoe and zips open all around the toe she you can insert his foot and make sure the heel is all the way down and not have to push and pull and make it harder to put on. Twas a lifesaver for my baby.