4-Wheeler!

Paton (and the other kids) are enjoying their new 4-wheeler!  Thanks so much to Grandpa Bray.

Hannah and Grandpa Bray

We enjoyed hearing Hannah play with her Grandpa Bray at Christmas time.  They sounded so good together.  She's also excited about inheriting her Great-Grandfather's violin, which was made in 1927.

Walking with Mr. Turtle

Look at Paton walk with "Mr. Turtle"!  About a month ago, Paton took off with his new toy walker (Thanks, Janie!).  His therapist plans on ordering him a "real walker" soon, but meanwhile, this one is a great substitute.  He is walking in the library, at church, and to therapy ... it's so exciting!

Last week, we began again the nightly Ponseti bar & sandals.  It has been a year since he last wore this apparatus; last month, the Spina Bifida Clinic orthopaedic doctor said the clubbed foot is "clubbing" more, so time to go back to the bar.  We dreaded his reaction to the unusual positioning of his feet but it was really a breeze.  (Thank you who were praying specifically with us about this.)  Paton even brought the bar to Mom last night when it was time for bed and asked her to put it on!!!  Happily, it should help with the way he keeps getting his feet tangled when walking.  And that's due to the clubbing of his lfeft foot ... as well as low muscle tone in the right.  Both feet lean dramatically right.

He is a smart little guy who talks almost as much as his big sister Charis.  We all enjoy recounting various things he says througout the day.  Today Paton and Mom were working on kind ways to tell other kids to leave his turtle/walker alone ... this due to his infuriated, explosive response to a 4-year-old at the library who tried walking off with his turtle WHILE he was walking with it: "It's not your turtle!!  It's my turtle!"  Hmmm.  We're working on this one.

Please consider a donation to the Spina Bifida Association of Houston that has benefited our family in so many ways.  John and Hannah are bowling in the SBA bowl-a-thon in August and are almost 20% to their goal of $500.00 for our family.  Follow THIS LINK or feel free to send a check and we'll pass it on to them.  The check can be made out to Gulf Coast Houston Spina Bifida Association.  We've got a month to raise the rest of our promised goal -- thank you to those who have already given!

ZIP!

Paton loves watching his his brother and sisters take flight on their new backyard zip line, or watching them swing from their giant swing. The little fella even has his own swing attached to the bottom of the tree house. The treehouse is a work in progress, but eventually we plan on many great campouts out there.

Dynamic Stander

Paton is getting around these days -- at least at the therapy center -- with the help of a "dynamic stander." It seems like he really enjoys it, though he does get a little frustrated at times. The plan is for him to use this while he develops the skills to stand upright for extended periods. It should help him acclimate to getting around in an upright position. Then later he'll transition to a "gait trainer" to help him try to take some steps upright.

The Bray Crew Aug 2011

Everybody is doing well. Paton's crawling around all over the place. And talking! He loves to listen to people intently and then copy words. He loves talking about dogs. He's supposed to stand some, but he doesn't like it much. Going to therapy once a week. We just love the little fella. Love the whole crew!

I can crawl! (If I have to.)