Squishy!!!!

So June 1st was the big cast off day.

We woke up to a happy sweet Collin who had no idea what the day had in store. We got to the orthopedic and they took us pretty quick. They warned us it was loud and while it wouldn't physically hurt him to take his cast off, the saw would crerate strong vibrations in his bones that he wouldn't like. They gave him a big pair of headphones and he did good the first few minutes. Then it was about 15 minutes of torture. First, they cut up the legs and front. Then they flipped him on his tummy to cut the back. Collin's skin looked grea considering it was in that cast for 3 months. It was just red and flaky, but there were no sores or welts... Thank goodness!!

After the cast came off, they took him to X-Ray where everything looked good. We are not completely out of the woods yet, but both hips are in place at this stage. We need the bones to calcify and set in the socket at a certain angle. We will know how the bones are progressing at the next X-Ray at the beginning of September. I keep hearing people tell me that is too far away, but it's really not if you think about it. I mean we are waiting on the bones to grow and calcify and set up, that's not something that can be done right away.

After we left the orthopedic, Collin was not digging having his legs touched at all. We went to the artificial limb and brace company so he could get fitted for his Rhino Abduction brace. On the way there, he found his toes in his carseat. He hasn't let go since ;)

He wears his Rhino at night for about 10-12 hours. He doesn't mind it at all, but sure doeseny when it comes off every morning. He kicks and stretches and just loves being free.

It's been great to have him free during the day. Collin is just so squishy and active. It's great to see him kick his legs, touch his toes, and roll around.

We had his 6 month check up today. Collin weighs 15 lbs, 4 oz. That puts him in the 11th percentile. He is 27 inches long... That's the first length we've been able to get since the day he was born. He is in the 70th percentile for length. We have been cleared to start solids, not just rice cereal in his bottle. I'm excited to see his different facial expressions as he tries new foods.

Milestone wise...

He can support himself on his tummy, and lift his chest up.
He can sit in between us on the couch, as long as he is leaning on us
He can grab things he wants like his paci or a certain toy and can lean over to grab them. He can also take his paci from us and put it in his mouth independently.
He feeds himself his bottles, as long as he is sitting supported on our laps. He takes it out when he needs a break and puts it back in by himself
They want him to roll over by the time he is 7 months, or we might need to do some physical therapy

Collin loves to sit at the table with us. Hopefully he will sable to sit soon and enjoy his highchair. For now it looks like we will enjoy our solids in our bumbo.

Les and I are doing great. He is officially in his last year of pharmacy school and I am excited to be a 3rd grade teacher this upcoming year after teaching 4th for the past 3 years and take on the challenge of being a model technology teacher. I love my iPad and am looking forward to all the other technology to really have an engaging year.