all wrapped up in a bow

It's obvious to *everyone* - including random strangers at the airport who loudly announce, "that boy is bowlegged!" to grandpa who exclaimed, "he could ride a horse all day long!" - that Z is bowlegged. Even though our pediatrician is not concerned, with J and his sister's history of wearing braces as infants to correct bowed legs, we decided to get a second opinion. We have also been concerned about the amount of calcium in his diet (he's allergic to most major sources) and saw a nutritionist a couple weeks ago.

Yesterday, we saw an orthopedic specialist at Children's Hospital. When we first arrived, they talked about drawing some blood to check levels of calcium and vitamin D. After looking at the x-rays the doctor said, "His bones are strong. I can tell he has plenty of calcium." The bright white area at the ends of his fibia and tibia is new bone growth indicating that he has good amounts of calcium, "so keep doing what you're doing."

Well, what I'm doing is still nursing. After talking with the nutritionist she said that I'm Z's best source of calcium. So, looks like I'm in this for the long haul - like, until he's 10 or something. (ha)

Z will likely always have some bow to his legs, but they should straighten out somewhat in the next couple of years. On the bowlegged spectrum, he is certainly at the far end, but they don't do braces anymore. He'll get x-rayed again in one year to check on his progress. There is a chance that he may need corrective surgery or braces in the future, but everyone's opinion at this point is, "let's wait and see."

In the meantime, we enjoy the stories about guys who have bowed legs and get excellent vert on the basketball court. It's a feature not a flaw. :)

bodies

Z and I along with S&Z saw "Bodies...the Exhibition." I certainly learned a lot but it was also kind of weird - where did the bodies come from? I didn't think about it before I went, but as we were looking at people's stomachs, veins, and muscles, I kept wondering. S heard they were from China. She's right: Education or freak show? 'Bodies ... The Exhibition' cashes in on our own curiosity

Weird.

I was most amazed by the exhibits of veins and arteries - it looked like a human body constructed from sea coral. Mother ocean....ya....we definitely come from the sea.

Speaking of body parts...
I ask Z, "Where is your nose?" With a big grin, he raises his finger to his nose and sometimes he also says, "nose" - quite clearly! The other day I asked him about his nose and his response was to point to his left eye and say, "eyes."

The report from daycare on Tuesday was that he knows all of the motions to "the wheels on the bus." I keep singing it, but he hasn't decided to join in with me yet. darn it!

Tuesday was our last day of Master Gardener class. This coming week we have a review, a potluck, then graduation. Now to make my yard look like a Master Gardener lives here. With two dogs and a lot of shade, it will not be an easy task. The yard already feels so much better without the willow. Now, to keep the flower beds free of weeds, fill in the empty patches, and design around the dogs. I've been watching where they like to lay at different times of the day.

We started a new google group for MG knitters. We plan to stitch together once per month.

Someone got into the house the other night and took one of J's guitars. It was a scary but benign wake-up call to replace the "Old Black Dog security system" with modern technology and it's further proof that Young White Dog is a lover not a fighter.