On an adventure of sorts

As many of you know, William was diagnosed with a condition called "club foot" when I was about 20 weeks pregnant. We were directed to wait until his birth (we then did not even know he was a boy) for a complete diagnosis, as ultrasounds can sometimes be deceiving. With help from our outstanding pediatrician and a good friend it was decided we would see Dr. Frino at Baptist Hospital. Today Josh, William, and I drove to Winston-Salem and I was eager to find out about this doctor and William's treatment.

The passage in Matthew was playing in my mind as we rode home today:

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable they they? ... See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. yet I tell you that no even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (taken from Matthew 6: 25-34)

From the doctor's tender demeanor to the orthopedic tech's capable hands to the nurse's joyful (and hilariously quirky) personality I could not have felt more assured of my son's well-being today. While today marked the first day of a new challenge, and while I certainly was caught a bit unaware by the enormity of William's fragility, God's promise to take care of all the "tomorrows" to come is real.

As I know that it is nigh impossible to know about these things and not do, I will give you an assignment-- pray. Please pray for Josh and me as parents that we would be tender, consistent, and dedicated to partnering with the doctor.

Finally, don't worry about Jonathan-- following a moment of confusion when he saw William's casts, I told him they were just like big band aids and he smiled. I think he will be no less than a fearless protector;)

Treatment details: William will wear "soft" casts for a week at a time for six weeks, which will gradually rotate his feet enough to be braced. Following this he may have a little surgery on his achilles tendon, after which he will have "hard" casts for three weeks straight. Then he will be put in braces (removeable) to wear all the time for 3 months. Then he will wear the braces only at night and naptime for two to three years. Dr. Frino says he has a very mild form of club foot and the treatment should go very smoothly!

Here are the little casted feet. (He will wear casts like these for 6 weeks for the beginning of treatment.)

Here we are with friends Emily and her daughter Ella when William was two weeks old.

2 1/2 weeks old

3 weeks old

Brothers (and Wake Forest fans)