Thinking Pleasant Thoughts???

 Last Monday, Allison went for the 3rd set of casts to stretch her Achilles tendons.  Oh, joy! (Note: That was said with a hint of sarcasm.)  She bears it well, but this is not the highlight of her week. : )

Getting them off was a breeze.

 The unveiling  (sheeeeewy!  stinky feet!!!)

 Her cast cozies.  It's a fun way to keep the tootsies warm on the rare cooler days. : )

 This is what happens when the bag leaks while showering.

Nope . . . not doing that again. (Referring to letting the bag leak and leaving it wet overnight.  Showers are mandantory! ; )

 Such a sweet smile . . .

Cracked up when we saw this come across the computer screen.

OK, Allison . . . Get up and get moving!

That's an inside joke. ; )

While letting her feet dry out . . . you know, waving them around so that the putrid, just-took-a-cast-off smell could waft through the room . . . she was enjoying the exhilarating freedom, knowing that it was short-lived.

After about 5-10 minutes, she was moved to a larger room, and here came the doc.

Don't get me wrong . . . he is a nice man and VERY efficient in what he does . . . but he sure does inflict torture to the poor child. : )

 To get it stretched, he has to put all of his weight onto her foot.

 Measuring . . .

 Then came the casting.

 All the while putting as much pressure as he could to get as much stretch as possible.

 This is when the other motto on the computer screen would come in handy . . .

Hmmmmm . . . this would be just as possible as when the doctor semi-jokingly encouraged her to "think pleasant thoughts" the week before. : )

 Measuring the angle again . . . she gained 7-8 more degrees!!! : )

 The face of misery. :*(

Patient misery (no pun intended)

Then it was time for the right one.

 The nurse was keeping constant pressure so they wouldn't lose any of the stretch.

 Casting . . .

He told of the one he had just finished on a small child.  Apparently the child was a wiggler, and it took longer to get the cast on, thus causing the material to get really sticky.  He was holding the foot with his gloved hand, and when he brought his hand up, the palm of the glove stayed on the cast!

 When the nurse asked what colors she wanted, Allison replied "glow-in-the-dark and black" with such promptness that it made the doctor laugh.

They have been so good to make this already unpleasant experience a little more pleasant for her.  Each time, she has not only picked the main color, but also has been allowed to choose a contrasting color to "decorate" it, as well.

Christina had some bright idea as to the design, so guess who got to do it?

 Not the nurse . . . she was just making sure it was done right . . .

 She let Christina do it!

That was lots of fun, and so sweet of the nurse.  Since Allison is usually put at the end of their schedule, she has a little more time to do extras. : )

 The finished product . . . so far. : )

We did some of our shopping, and then headed home to finish decorating. : )

 I mean, what else would you do with the bare spots?  Hahaha!

We didn't get any pictures of the most hilarious scenes.  Like the ones where those drawing and coloring were laying in the floor in awkward positions under her propped up legs, trying to get to that bare spot they couldn't get to any other way.  Or when their arms got tired, so they rested her casted leg on their head.  Or when they tied themselves up in pretzels to see if they missed anything.  Yeah . . . quite a scene! : )

 Left foot . . . courtesy of Valerie

 Right foot . . . courtesy of Christina

And some close-ups . . .

 Don't push me! I'm Heeling.

 My Doctor is

STRETCHING

his patients!

Just gotta love the jewels!

 Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.