4 Days until Christmas and where has the time gone??

Sorry I haven't updated the blog as frequently lately. Things have been very busy around here. Justin is making a lot of progress in regards to his independence. We finally saw Orthopedics this week and we may have a small setback in February. Justin has a heterotopic ossificiation (HO) on the back of his right leg. What this means is that bone is starting to grow and you can feel it on the back of his leg. It is starting to become painful when he is sitting on it. The treatment right now is to wait at least 6 months from injury to see if it grows anymore. It is pretty common and sometimes they just leave it alone if it doesn't cause problems. In Justin's case his can be felt, it is causing pain, and feels like it may start to ulcerate and protrude through his skin. At the end of January they will do a CT scan to visually see where it is growing and plan to surgically remove it. The way the Orthopedic doctor explained it to Justin is that the HO is like coral reef growing through muscles. We are trying to be positive and hopefully the surgery will not be as invasive as they are thinking right now. Justin is a little bummed because by the end of February he should be walking well on both legs plus the area where the HO is located is underneath his skin graft. Speaking of the skin graft it is doing great! We are still seeing wound care but its only open in one small area.

Other exciting news is Justin has a temporary thumb post for his right hand. Even though he has adapted well without a thumb the prosthetic department made him one. It is a temporary model to see how he likes it and if it increases his functionality. I will post a picture because its really hard to understand without seeing it. I will take one tomorrow! If he really likes the thumb then this company can make Justin a glove that will look like a real thumb and also a glove for his left hand. It is just amazing the kind of things they can do here! Things are definitely moving along and hopefully Justin's right leg will stop giving him trouble so he can progress to walking on it. First the darn skin graft and now the HO. The doctors said they will still allow him to try walking once the skin graft is healed even with the HO.

Justin's, Mikes, and Murphy's friends from Echo battery have been visiting all week. They finally were able to make it out here because they just went on leave since getting back from Afghanistan on Thanksgiving. All the guys have enjoyed seeing each other and catching up. Last night 11 of us went to dinner and we had a great time. It is really nice to finally meet all the guys plus getting to meet their wives and friends.

So I can't believe Christmas is only 4 days away. We are keeping it simple this year and really enjoying the true meaning of Christmas and getting to be together as a family. We have our tree decorated and two wreaths hung up and we are ready. (I am kinda bummed because it doesn't look it is going to be a white Christmas) but I am sure that snow will be coming sometime after the first of the year.

The Crabbe Family would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are all looking forward to a new year and new beginnings. Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support!

Happy Holidays from Maryland!

A few pictures from Justin making his gingerbread house last week!

Justin and his Occupational Therapist Caitlin beginning his gingerbread house 

Building away! I am in the background going through all Justin's appointments. I carry the planner everywhere because he is so busy all day.

Final Product

Won the prize for the Best Townhouse! 

 We also went to a Christmas Party at the Commandants House last Wednesday! It was very nice and the house was beautifully decorated. There were about 400 people at the party so it was pretty busy but we all had a great time!

1 of the 14 decorated trees 

The backyard has a parade deck. This picture was taken at night but the flash brightened it up so the parade deck could be seen. 

Original Tiffany's Lamp

With Bonnie Amos the Commandants wife!

The front of the house