Eight months after Tru received his third prosthetic leg he was being casted for his fourth leg. In this photo he is being fitted with his newest leg. We were not able to take it home that day as it needed more adjustments.
So off to Disney World we went.
Two days before Christmas Tru's fourth leg was delivered.
It always takes him a few minutes to warm up to the newest leg.
Take a look at that clean, unmarked little foot. That would not last long!
Off with the old, on with the new.
Needed some work on the knee alignment.
Tru is always thrilled and fascinated when Mrs. Angie makes adjustments without removing the prosthetic leg.
After a few test walks and more adjustments we went home with leg #4.
Just a few days later we were back for some more adjustments.
Two weeks later we visited with the crew of doctors at the Limb Deficiency Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Hospital. It happened to be a school snow day so Lin-Ley came along.
Tru charmed and impressed as usual.
Just this week we had to go see Mrs. Angie again to be fitted for a new, larger prosthetic foot.
So what does Tru do when Mrs. Angie takes his leg to the shop for adjustments? Hop of course!
Here is the Leg family to date. Tru has named them Baby Leg, Sister Leg, Mommy Leg and Daddy Leg.
It is very important to Tru that the legs all sleep together each night.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
By: Tru
We have always referred to Tru's left foot as the "good foot" and his right foot as the "new foot". Recently, when attempting to put on his shoes, he asked me to tell him which shoe went on which foot. I told him, "This shoe goes on your good foot."
Then he replied, "Oh! So, this shoe goes on my naughty foot!"
It was eight years ago...
Dallas and I began our trip to China on Feb. 28, 2003.
We had no sleep for around 36 hours.
Finally, we arrived at our hotel in Changsha on March 2, 2003 ready to drop from exhaustion.
To our surprise our baby girl was waiting for us at the hotel.
Dallas spotted her as soon as we entered the lobby.
We rushed to our room, dropped off our luggage and reported to the banquet room where we received our bundle of joy.
Dallas made it into work today (although he should not have) but the kids and I have been "snowed in". We all stayed in our pj's, watched movies, and had a few snacks. As you will see Lin-Ley chose to accessorize her pj's with a fashionable winter scarf.
Lin-Ley took this opportunity to work with Five-O. Dallas and Lin-Ley have been introducing one new trick a week. This is what she has mastered to date:
We woke this morning to two inches of snow.
Lin-Ley's school was closed and Tru's school was open until 4PM.
Lin-Ley and I went into my office for a while and then picked up Tru.
On the way home it began snowing again. It is a driving wet snow.
We are expecting five to eight more inches tonight!
The roads are already bad as we had to encourage Rocket (our van) up some of the hills near our home.
Upon his arrival at home Dallas told the kids to bundle up and they were soon loading onto the sled.
Five-O got a ride as well.
Trying to catch snowflakes.
Even Five-O's mouth is open.
It is always a good time to swing on the tree rope.
The snow was so wet and driving so hard that ten minutes was as long as the kids (and Dallas) could take it.
We began Christmas Eve early with two batches of cookies. Oatmeal raisin chocolate chip and pumpkin spice.
After the baking we got dressed and went to the movies. We saw Yogi Bear (silly!).
After our return home there was some pretend napping going on. The "napping" was near the Christmas tree so that the "nappers" could snoop through the gifts.
Aunt Diane and Uncle Ted sent us another gingerbread house this year. Actually this year it was a ski lodge.
This is the before shot.
After sharing the lodge with our church friends at the Christmas Eve program...
this is the after shot. I can not watch the chaos but I know the kids have a wonderful time dismantling the house each year.
Then it was back home to get ready for Santa.
We left Santa's goodies on the Fred Plate this year. The goodies included carrot hair, cookie ears and a chocolate covered raisins beard.
Lin-Ley also left Santa a note of reminders. We tried to tell her it was too late to make any changes but she insisted.
Just for the record Mommy wanted a jet booster for our well so that we would have better water pressure.
Posing for a few more photos before bed. (And snooping once more through the presents from Mommy and Daddy, the grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins.)
Jacob made his final appearance for the year. As soon as the kids went to bed Jacob made his way back to the North Pole to report to Santa.
Santa delivered his gifts. As usual, in our family, Santa delivers only three gifts to each of the kids. Lin-Ley requested Furr Real friends and cowgirl boots. Santa threw in a rainbow maker as well.
Although there are many other gifts under the tree, Santa's gifts (even though he only leaves three) always make the biggest impact.
Tru did not have any requests this year other than a video game. Santa brought him a marble maze, Light Bright and of course a Leapster video game.
Note To Santa:
Dear Santa,
When the box says assembly required please investigate further. Your helpers did not appreciate finding out (at 10PM on Christmas Eve) that the marble maze instructions (located inside the box) stated that the assembly may take 4 -6 hours!
Love,
Mommy
Christmas morning began around 7AM and the kids were thrilled. Even Five-O enjoyed opening her gifts.
Tru loved his video game.
The marble maze (which took a record 2.5 hours to assemble) was a huge hit!
Today, at church, Lin-Ley and all of the 1st-7th grade children sang during the Adult Worship Service.
Lin-Ley is in the second row, center with a red top.
Mercy and Lin-Ley at rehearsal.
Because Dallas has to work on Sundays I taped their performance:
Always ready for a photo opportunity.
Our little Christmas Angel.
A FEW MORE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS FROM DISNEY WORLD:
Christmas Weekend Quotes:
* Christmas Eve -
Tru: "Do you hear that sound?"
Dallas, Jody and Lin-Ley: "No."
Tru: "Do you hear it now?"
Dallas, Jody and Lin-Ley: "No."
Tru: "Oh. It must be God calling me."
*Christmas Morning -
Tru opens a gift (a game) from Mommy and Daddy, looks at Mommy and says, "Oh, I never wanted this game. You can have it back."
*Bathtime Revelation -
Lin-Ley: "Mom, I decided what I am going to do when I get into college!"
Jody (thinking she had made a career decision): "What?"
Lin-Ley: "I am going to get my ears pierced!"
