Another round of Botox

I said I would keep my blog updated regarding Corbins experience with botox but I've been a little slack blogging recently, or perhaps I should say I've been a little pushed for time lately! Anyway Corbin had his second lot of botox almost 12 days ago.  This time I only counted 26 injection sights in his bilateral sural triceps and abductors only. (They chose not to do the hamstrings this time because they wanted to put the maximum dose in the abductors and triceps to see whether or not this would help the right foot that turns significantly in - which I find a little strange given the hamstrings appear to be the tightest muscle group that Corbin has)

So far the response has not been as "good" as last time, by this I mean last time he had the ability to walk (in his walking frame) with reasonably straight legs and very little twisting of his pelvis but not so this time - a small improvement yes but not as good as last time, however I would venture to suggest that this has alot to do with the tightness of his hamstrings!!  The roll in of the left foot has not altered in any way and I'm still over the whole stretching thing and it still  hurts Corbin in several places in his legs to walk for short periods of time and he would far rather crawl.

Maybe I am just a pessimist, but again I question what has been achieved???  Corbin can walk in his walking frame with a slightly better gait, but it still hurts him to walk therefore why would he want to walk, and his left foot still turns in.  Has Corbins quality of life changed?  No - in fact he will probably tell you it is worse because once again the rigorous stretching and physio is getting in the way of his play time and yes it hurts too.  Will Botox miracuously make Corbin walk independantly?  No.  So why do we do it?  I'm not too sure what an orthopedic surgeon would  say to this, but as a parent its probably because I'm still hoping for some miracle.......

A new family wagon

Miss Liv and I flew up to Napier on Thursday to pick up our new family vehicle.  A Hyundai van that will be fitted with a wheelchair hoist to accommodate the new power chair that Corbin will be getting sometime soon (???)

We did a 3 day road trip of 1300kms and a ferry trip over Cook Strait.  It was a nice little bonding time for mother and daughter.  We visited Te Papa (NZ's National Museum), visited the Wellington botanical gardens, a ferry trip over Cook Strait which neither of us have ever done before, stopped at  several spots between Blenheim and Kaikoura and looked at the seals that were on the side of the road, visited friends and family in Christchurch and Timaru, did a little compulsory mother daughter shopping and stopped and walked down to see the Moreaki Boulders.

I love the new van but it will take a little time to get used to the size - its a quite a change going from a little Mazda 3 hatchback to an 8 seater van.  Its the same colour as my little Mazda and someone asked me if I had a new car (as I was getting out of the van at school) - dah! Noooooo my little Mazda has just grown up!!!

Happy Birthday Master Jay

It is Master Jays 15th birthday today.  Wow do I feel old - I'm sure I'm not old enough to have a 15 year old.  Where has that 15 years gone?
Master Jay is a very disappointed that the NZ government increased the age to get your learners drivers license from 15 to 16 years old last year, and has repeatedly informed us that he should be getting his learners license today!!!  Instead 365 days to go.  I'm sure he sill insist on doing a count down over the next year.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY xxx