Kaizen Klan: The Crazy Kaizen Kids

The month of February has come and gone and life is just as crazy as usual. We recently made several trips up to The Children's Hospital and Research Center of Oakland. We were taking Caden up there to meet with several doctors and therapists who specialize in spasticity, (the tightness that Caden has in his lower legs). After meeting with more than 10 specialists in the field, they recommended a spinal surgery known as SDR, or Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. Basically, the surgery consists of making an incision in his lower back and finding the nerves that are responsible for movement of his lower legs. They then stimulate the nerves using electrical impulses to figure out which nerves are not firing correctly. Once they identify these nerves they cut them leaving only the nerves which are functioning correctly. We were really hoping to have the surgery done before the new baby comes and before we move, but the doctors want to give him another year to grow and mature before they do the surgery. They're not sure he could handle the extensive therapy that follows the surgery at this time. The therapy includes a 4-8 week hospital stay where he would receive physical therapy 7 days a week for 3-4 hours a day. Over the next year while we wait for the surgery they might cast and botox his legs to keep them from getting worse. As of now, we're looking at next summer (2011) for the surgery to take place, we'll see what happens in the mean time. Luckily, he's not in any pain, he just falls a lot and has trouble getting around. Even through it all though, he always has a huge smile on his face.

Our little Téa is coming up on her 2nd birthday in less than 2 months. I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. She is becoming such a big girl. She is quite the little chatter box and everyday is striving for more and more independence. She has also recently taken to coloring. Not just coloring on paper but on anything in sight. This includes herself, Caden, the doors and walls, and even our poor dogs. There's no escaping our little artist. After coloring on the door one too many times though, mean old mommy handed her the rag and made her clean the walls that she had so beautifully decorated. We haven't had any murals on the walls or doors since then. Here's some moments from our crazy life throughout the month of February.

Téa's tattoo sleeve

Poor Caden got tagged, too!

One of Téa's many murals on my doors

Mommy making her clean up her mess

Téa wearing Daddy's hat

Silly girl

Caden and his goofy face

Téa putting Elmo "night night" to bed

The kids playing the drums on one of Mommy's pots

They were being so silly, they even thought it was funny to switch hats with each other (Caden's hat is the blue one with stripes and Téa's hat is the red one. Hence why the red one looks so silly on Caden's head)