Walking

Ethan started to walk back in January.  He never really got his balance though.  When we went to physical therapy the day before my surgery (March 1st) we were told that we should get him some foot braces to help him walk.  We ordered them right away.  When we got them I wasn't sure what to think.  I had a hard time with it at first.  It just felt like yes, we had a preemie, but he has been doing great... til now.  The braces just seemed to stare me in the face to remind me that he was born premature and that he may face many challenges in his life and this is the time that we start to see what those challenges may be.  I think part of having such a hard time with it might have been the fact that my hormones are a little off these days.  Now that he has had them for a month he walks pretty darn good in them.  He wears them most of the day.  If I don't put them on him right away in the morning he will bring them to me because he gets tired of falling down.  I think he knows he needs his shoes and braces to walk.  It really doesn't bother me now that he has to wear them.  The downside of the braces is that I have to find shoes that will fit his braces in them and he won't be able to wear sandals now in the summer... well I guess he could but he needs to wear socks too!  I try to keep his shoes pretty clean since he wears them all day every where.  Most importantly he is walking which makes him feel so proud of himself and it helps me as I don't have to carry him all the time!