Susi's Journey To Walking

 January 2007 -baby girl undergoes surgery to repair her spina bifida.

Also born with bilateral club feet. No plan at this time to do anything to repair them.

At 2.5 years old she left the orphanage in Siping City and went to the clubfoot unit at  An Orphan's Wish. 

Casting began to straighten her clubfeet. Many children are successful with this treatment.

Unfortunately, for Susi, this would not be the case.

After the first set of casts, she developed an infection  in her leg and casting could  not continue properly.

It took so long to heal that progress in both legs became uneven.  She spent and entire year of casting, infection, healing and repeat. Her feet could not be repaired. Then sweet girl went to Beijing to live at Shepherd's Field. The doctor there had her seen to do surgery to repair her feet. This happened at the same time that we found our Susi -Yue and began her adoption. So the surgery was not done.

About 18 months after that, little Susi is home with her family and prepares for  clubfeet  correction surgery. 

April 2012 - Susi is ready to go into surgery with Dr. Vu.

It was a very difficult surgery reported Dr. Vu. It took almost  4 hours and he could not quite  get the feet positioned as well as he would have liked. He said this surgery is best done on a 9 month old baby. The fact that Susi's bones had formed for 5.5 years made it very difficult to correct. After surgery her feet are considered braceable. They are at a ninety degree angle. She got her first set of full length casts, pink, of course.

Two weeks later the pink casts come off and mama and Susi are shocked with what we see.  Left foot.

Right foot. Dr. Vu says the feet look good and are healing well.

So, on go the purple casts for the next two weeks.

Off come the purple casts and feet look a little more closed and healing.  Left foot.

Right foot.

There are two pins in each foot. One in the top of the foot and  one in the heal. These come out this day. They measure about 2 inches long. Unbelievable!

Last set of casts go on, red with gold glitter.

Here we are in May 2012. Casts are off for good. Feet are healing well. We have learned that Susi has ability with her right knee to kick back her foot. The left knee, not so much. But once positioned she seems to be able to hold it.

So, now establishing what feeling she has in her legs, she was fitted for braces. These will come in a few days.

In meanwhile she is trying to keep her feet as flat as she can. She is wearing whatever shoes she can get on. She loves shoes!! She is using her new trampoline and doing lots of physical therapy.

And of course, STANDING!!!!! She gets in and out of her wheelchair and now gets in and out of her trampoline.  While her feet are still sore and weak, she still smiles and is excited to learn to walk. We pray that is God's plan for her!

Memories of May and Mother's Day Lunch

 Graci and Susi teaching Thad and Kamby letters and numbers.

 They love bike riding! Graci now has no training wheels but I need to get a picture of her on two wheels.

 Susi had a great year at Cubbies! She did so great on her book and has really opened up in participation. We are so proud of her!

 Our family on the last night of Awana. We love Awana! Next year everyone will be in club from Cubbies to  high school.

 Sissy Sanannah and Kamby Lou -best friends and best sisters.

 Susi - Yue

 Silly Alyx and Dax 

 Thad and Graci - She sure loves her little brother!

Sissy put makeup on the little girls.

Our Family Pictures

 Brady Family 9

 Just the Girls

 Brotherly Love

 Daddy and His Boys

 Mommy and Her Girls

 Mommy + 7

 Daddy + 7

 Daddy and His Girls

 Mommy and Her Boys

 Kambyri Senait - 2 years 10 months old

 Thaddeus Joel - 3 years 1 month old

 Susannah-Yue Noellyn - 5 years 4 months old

Phillip Daxton - 5 years 8 months old

                                Gracelyn Jia - 6 years 1 month old                              

 

Alyx Susannah - 16 years old 

                              Savannah-Lee Lauren 21 years 10 months old                                                             

 Very Proud Mom and Dad

 Seven from Heaven

March Birthday Madness

 Mommy and Graci had so much fun getting mani/pedis together for Graci's 6th birthday!

I notice a resemblance. 

 Is Susi always smiling? Yes, yes she is! Whether it is a ball or a piece of ribbon, this girl is always happy and grateful for it!

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar -created by Alyx for Thad's 3rd birthday.

 Opportunity to get a family pic and update ages.

Happy birthday to Thaddeus Joel! 

 Blow out your candles!

 Happy birthday boy going to bed in his big boy firetruck bed. He just moved out of his crib a week before turning 3. He is thanking Jesus for his birthday and for his spongebob. Grandma got him two Spongebobs and they top the list of his favorite gifts.

 Graci and Dax

 Susi painting her flower pot at Graci's birthday party. (Told you, she is always happy!)

Flower pot painting 

 Digging for bugs

 Found some!

 Planting seeds in the painted flower pots.

 Graci and her dirt cake - created by Alyx for Graci's 6th birthday.

Happy birthday to Graci! 

 My sweet 6 year old!

 Thad enjoyed eating and playing with his dirt cake.

 The dirt cake was a big hit! Cousin Serenity and Kamby.

Kamby sending a quick text about the party!

What a fun weekend celebrating our beautiful son and daughter! It is hard to believe that my little princess Graci Jia is 6 already. She is missing two teeth and almost has her perm teeth back in. We always stand in awe of what a gracious, sweet, nurturing, loving sister and little girl she is. She loves to learn and is impressing us with her reading ability. So blessed to have our precious Graci Jia!
It seems like just a minute ago we brought home our very fragile, sick, tiny little Thaddeus Joel. Now, just like that he is 3 years old. He is the most precious, sweet, loving little guy. His curious and get-into-trouble spirit makes our lives full of fun, adventure, and pure joy! Everything my little man does, brings a smile to my face as I see his sweet, curious, innocent thoughts behind it. As he is talking in full sentences now and using such emotion words, I am reminded at what a big boy he is becoming. I sure miss my little needy baby but I sure enjoy my little man!