SOME "KNEEDED" ANSWERS

Update since 6-22-22 left knee injury:

Swelling has went down.  However, his left knee has slid out of place several times in this past month.  Also, his right knee also slid out of place just the other day too.  

So this past month, we have been having Jonah wear almost full-time the Target-bought knee braces on both knees for whatever help they can provide.  We are hopeful the orthopedic doctor will prescribe better braces for Jonah's knees.  

On Sunday when Jonah's left knee slipped out, swelling came back. 

Very glad we finally have our orthopedic appointment today!

My notes from our appointment today with orthopedic doctor:

Dr thinks constant bracing is the answer for now along with continued PT.

So we now have braces for BOTH knees which are specifically made to prevent the knee cap from slipping out of place. Jonah had one of these for right knee from Fall 2021, but he had outgrown it. And the brace is specific to left or right so that is why we needed braces for both knees today.

She would like an MRI though given the amount of swelling on 6-22 and even now. Although she said today’s X-ray looks much better- patella back to center. She talked about waiting a few weeks before scheduling MRI to see if this newest swelling goes down and if new braces for both knees stops his falls. But we decided to go ahead and schedule MRI since that might be weeks out anyway. If he improves greatly, we just cancel. She is hopeful there is no tear bc she said he would be in more constant pain. However, the continued swelling makes her want to just check. Besides over-laxity from DS, Jonah has very shallow grooves for kneecap to sit in which makes it even easier to slide out Jonah very resistant to new knee braces. I think he’s just sick of always dealing with stuff

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Also, dr thinks the reason we’re seeing more of left foot turning is bc to hold your foot center, puts tension on the knee muscles. So it probably feels better to let his foot relax to center.

 

SIX YEARS OF “GOTCHA”

 

7-15-10

Ben (Kostas) arrives at the orphanage at 3 weeks old 

7-9-16

Meeting Ben (Kostas) for the first time

Six years later!

Has he changed?  Does he love us bigger and better?  

Have I changed?  Do I love him bigger and better?

Yes to all the above questions!

Ben’s love for us has grown from being in love with us, much like when you start dating.  The infatuation phase, honeymoon period.  Over these six years, I think Ben has learned to love us deeper and more unconditionally.  He use to shut down or get very angry anytime we crossed him or he didn’t get his way.  I think he’s learned to trust that we care for him and aren’t just saying “no” because we are mean.  

Is he still a work in progress?  Yes, of course, like we all are!  He still has orphanage junk that can rear its ugly head when he is triggered in some way.  But the hard days are fewer and farther between.  He is mostly a fun, energetic, smart, cute little boy who loves his life and loves his family!

I feel like my love for Ben has grown in the opposite way.  I started with the committed love, the one where you don’t always feel it, but you know you’ve made a promise to stick with this person for life.  

Over these years, I gotten to know Ben and see how cool of a person he is.  I’ve come to greatly respect how much Ben has accomplished in his life: surviving the orphanage, going thru open heart surgery ALONE at 18 mths, learning English, adapting to family and school life etc.  I’m learning to understand and have compassion for his vulnerable hard times.  I’m learning to accept that Ben’s sad often presents as mad.  I’m learning that it’s ok that as his mom, I’m not his first “go to” person.  The dad and sibling relationships are still more fun and attractive to him.  As his mom, I most closely represent his orphanage caregivers: I feed him, clothe him, keep him clean, direct him, teach him, and discipline him.  I’m always there. Not the most fun to him, more functional I guess.  

But that’s ok.  The rejoicing is that Ben has a family!  As one fellow adopted-from-an-orphanage mom said to me, Ben’s worst day here is still better than his best day in the orphanage.

I love you Ben!  We all do!  I don’t know how we managed life before without your authority and direction😊 

THE BEST LAID PLANS...

 

We've been coming up with lots of Plan B's during the month of June and July so far.

1. We've already mentioned Ben's birthday/camping trip didn't go as planned because of Ben being sick with a bad cold.

2. That same camping trip was also affected by Jonah's knee injury.

3. Summer school at school, my plans for summer school at home with boys, and Miracle League baseball have not gone as planned because of Ben's cold, Jonah's injury, and some health issues for my dad.  

4. Our latest camping trip to Wisconsin Dells didn't include as much hiking as we hoped because Jonah is still having discomfort with his knee.  His orthopedic consult is 7-21 so hopefully then we will get some ideas how to help him.

The duck boat ride could happen as planned! 

The boys loved it!

We also were able to mini-golf with the boys.  Jonah had 1 "hole in one" and Ben had 

THREE "hole in ones"!  

The above photo shows the Cave Hole.  When Jonah saw this, he signed "Jesus' tomb"- How sweet!   

We also took the boys go-carting 

which was also a big hit!

Our plan B for hiking was for us to each take Ben on a hike.  So Ben got double the exercise 

and double the fun, hopefully!  

He also got to go hiking earlier in the week with Abigail.