It's gettin HOT in here

After spending a very Hot day at Splash Kingdom in Redlands with the kids, we began to head home but while driving on the freeway and having my nice air conditioner on, it suddenly became humid? NO!!!!! I lost  my air conditioner and while on the freeway, I can't roll down the windows all the way because David freaks out with the massive wind blowing at his face. So when I got the chance to exit and take the surface streets I was able to roll them down at least half way, I began to mess with the automatic windows just so I can get the right amount of wind that David could handle. Sweating, like I just ran a marathon, I am struggling to get these windows right...and finally I did. David was starting to look as if he just walked out of the shower, it was crazy hot...so I drove up to the nearest drive-thru and ordered David a chocolate shake and us some drinks. David was a trooper though, he drank that shake till the last drop and not once did he put the cup down, sweat coming down his nose and forehead, it didn't matter he was enjoying that shake. After 15 minutes of this torture we finally made it home to a cool air conditioned home...ahhhh.

To my surprise

So, we get up earlier than usual and David is in a good mood ( he must of gotten enough sleep ). He looks over to my night stand looking for his toy, he stretches his neck forward and looks down to the floor where he notices his toy, he jumps out of bed and picks it up and begins to play with it. I then get him ready for school, put on his AFO's and make him oatmeal...that kid loves his oatmeal. We wait outside for the bus and its taking long for the bus to show up. So, we wait and wait and I realize its not coming, I called transportation and no answer; I put David in the car and I drive to the school complaining to the Gods as to why the bus didn't show up, I drive up to the school to drop him off, but to my surprise there is no school today...whaaaa??? Gee, thanks for the "heads-up"....I drive up to just see an empty parking lot and the school locked up.

AFO's

       David got back into his AFO's (ankle-foot orthoses) in July of last year and it toke him about 2 weeks to get adjusted to them. As always I followed the procedure of 30 min. on 30 min. off and observe for redness and bruising, since wearing his AFO's David has gotten used to them and is up and around. When David was seven years old he had gotton his first AFO's and he had just started walking at the age of 5, so I had no idea how important these AFO's were to David's needs, keep in mind....lack of education and research.
        Since David has hypotonia (muscle weakness of the legs) it was crucial for him to wear them daily, now I am not a perfect parent, so I did forget at times to put them on and having three other children to look after was not an easy task for me to remember. I regret not following the instructions back then, but live and learn and I revamped myself.
        David well always have to wear his AFO's in order for his feet to adjust properly so he can walk with no pain, his feet tend to move  inwards which caused his knee bones to curve out, not giving him a straight-leg standing. For those parents who know how uncomfortable AFO's can be on a child, you understand my hardship but also let us not forget to give information to our "new" parents who are dealing with their kids in regards to AFO's.
       As for David, he has adapted well and will continue to wear them until his Orthopedic doctor considers them no longer needed, but what I am hearing from the doctor at this moment is that David will have to use them for the rest of his life. So parents if you are considering or required for your child to have AFO's, ask questions and do research, as for me I had to get a referral from his Orthopedic doctor to the AFO Specialist who makes them (Johnson's Orthopedic) and then have him fitted. David's Medi-Cal insurance paid for them so you will have to contact your primary doctor or insurance before you start the process. I hope this information was helpful.