A turtle without his shell

We're back from our home town Shriner's and all settled in. They cut off his cast this afternoon and thankfully the roads had pretty much cleared by then. Though, we did see lots of remnants of early morning accidents and mishaps on the highways.

Kelly was fast and confident with the saw and got his cast off in record time. Jack cried, but it went quickly. The girls were so thrilled to see him without his cast on for the first time in six months. Everyone is tickling his back and giving him big (but gentle) hugs.

After we got home, we gave him some time on his feet to figure out how to balance again. We played catch and he very quickly learned. His shoulders are looking great - one doesn't seem higher than the other anymore. His shoulder blades still seem very asymmetrical to me. But, all in all, we see some improvement and are really anxious to see what the x-rays show.

His first bath at home in six months was a disaster, since his fear of water has really gotten bad. He nursed in the tub and let me wash his hair very quickly, then wanted out. We put on lots of calendula and got him in his jammies for bed a little early. Now he's running around with his sisters, being a wild man as usual. I so badly wish I could say we were finished with all of this. I feel like I've teased him now - giving him a little taste of freedom, then cruelly yanking it away next week. But, our primary source of consolation right now is just knowing what capable, experienced hands he'll be in at the new hospital. I am excited to see what progress we have made and even more excited to see what progress the future holds for him. Six months down. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may be a speck right now - but it will grow, and with it so will Jack - straighter and straighter every day.