Braces, Brandon, Thomas & Prepping for Halloween!!

  Back in August we saw a child orthopedic specialist for Eliot (for which we were on the waiting list for months and months).  Eliot, since he began walking, walked only on his toes.  We finally learned that it was not because of anything devastating (it could have been because of a number of terribly scary disorders), but because his heel cords are too tight.  He has excellent range of motion everywhere else in his body except with his heel cords (or achilles tendon area).  The Dr. told us he needed to get fitted for braces that he would need to wear 20-24 hours a day for 6-16 months.

  We got an appointment with an orthodist (I think?) who made Eliot's braces to fit right to his little legs.  He even got to pick a pattern to have them molded in-- and wouldn't you know it? He picked trucks and vehicles.

  We're having SOME trouble wearing the braces as much as he's supposed to.  Some days are easier than others.  We call them them his Super Boots (thanks to the orthodist for coming up with that term).  Eliot was very proud of them at first, but the novelty seems to have warn off just a little.  He even confessed to me just a couple of days ago, that he doesn't really like them.  I have a strong feeling he will be wearing them on the longer side of the range too due to what I am seeing in his physical therapy.

Back in May, there was a news story that was caught a lot of attention about a pit bull dog named Lilly.  Lilly had been adopted from a rescue by a Boston Police Officer who thought she would make good company for his alcoholic mother.  One day, Lilly and her new owner, (the officer's mother) were out for a walk in Shirley, MA when the lady collapsed unconscious on the railroad tracks.  A train was headed for the lady, and brave Lilly pulled her out of the way, leaving Lilly to get clipped by the train herself.  Several surgeries and physical therapies later, Lilly is doing much better.  She did lose a leg, but she can walk and even run again.  

 Eliot had heard about Lilly in the news and even followed her on Facebook with Ted.  We had heard one day about a month ago that "Lilly the Hero Pit Bull" was going to be in Salem, MA at an event to end Puppy Mills.  Having nothing else to do that day, we decided to go take Eliot to meet Lilly.

Now, we were not really in the market for another dog, but when we met Brandon---- and eleven year old senior Pit Bull that came from a neglectful, abusive family and never knew love and couldn't get enough of it---- it really was love at first sight.  We went home that night and talked about Brandon.  I think it was that night that Ted called Brandon's foster Mom.  We set up a home visit and we went back to visit Brandon in his foster home environment.  Brandon and I bonded instantly.  He's been my very best buddy ever since and I (personally) am SO SO happy so announce that Brandon is the newest member of the Baker family.  He is the best dog that I have ever met-- the best dog that I could even dream up! He's perfect! And he doesn't chew ANYTHING!! (Not even dog toys!!!) See? PERFECT!!

 

Then, we had our annual Day out with Thomas trip! Nana came this year and was excited to see how excited Eliot got about the whole thing.  It even amazed me how excited he still is about the whole thing-- he doesn't even really watch Thomas anymore, but he still got excited to ride on that big blue engine! Not to mention the other rides, games, and fishing!

And finally, we started early this year (early October, late September) with our Halloween preparations.   I was excited because this was the first year that Eliot was really into decorating with me (Christmas is going to be SO FUN!) We made a family of ghosts (can you guess which one Eliot made? even though he claims one that I actually made as his own), we put some pumpkin sticks in the ground and we covered our windows in Halloween (removable) stickers.  And we've already even made a couple of Christmas gifts!  Less than two months away!!