After a lazy morning sipping coffee,
we decided to get dressed and hit the pavement again!

We were all craving the energy that St. Louis has to offer.
We needed it to distract us.
And it did not let us down!

We stopped at a little bistro and ate a fabulous lunch.
Sidewalk dining is becoming a favorite in this family.

Kisses.
So sweet.
I can never get enough.

After lunch,
we continued to get lost in the hustle and bustle of city life.

And before we knew it,
it was time to head over to see Dr. Dobbs, the Orthopedic Surgeon that will perform Cliff’s surgery tomorrow.

After the long walk through the never-ending crosswalks and hallways that connect our hotel to the hospital, we were finally in the “sacred area” known as Children’s Hospital.

The Boy knows that this is the place where Dr Park “fixed his legs”
and I am pretty sure he loves these hallways just as much as Ross and I do.

The smell, the lighting, the smiles on children’s faces that we pass in the halls who are going through things at such a young age that most of us will never face in our lifetime all bring back the feeling of hope that was given to us here.

This is where we heard THOSE words that would change our outlook on Cliff’s future.

You know them,

“Cliff WILL walk independently!”

No one else has EVER said that to us and right here,

we were given the gift of hope.

In this place,
hope filled our hearts and there was no room left for despair.

After going over some information with Michelle, the nurse,
Dr. Dobbs came in the room and began to check Cliff out.

Cliff was calm and said “Hey man!” when Dr. Dobbs walked into the room.

Dr. Dobbs is comfortable, we felt as if we had known him our entire lives.

What can I say, The Boy knows an excellent surgeon when he sees one!

Dr. Dobbs said that Cliff’s heel cords had good range of motion and that they did not need lengthening done! He did tell us that Cliff will most likely need a heel cord release sometime in the future as he grows, but we will just monitor his range of motion as he gets bigger. He said that Cliff’s hamstrings were what is causing him to walk on his toes. So, in the morning (at 7:15am CST to be exact) he will make a very small incision on the backs of Cliff’s legs, above his knees and perform a Bilateral Hamstring Release.
We are thrilled because this is the most minimally invasive route possible and Cliff is the perfect candidate for this procedure!

Then after going over some post-op details,
Dr. Dobbs looked at us and said

“I am EXTREMEMLY optimistic that Cliff will walk independently…
and you should be too!”

I just about tackled him and plastered kisses all over his face right there.

Yep.

We heard THOSE words again,
and this time was just as sweet and wonderful as the first time.

All three of us laughed, giddy with excitement and were beaming with pure joy on the long walk back to the hotel.

God is so good!

Cliff is very calm and even seems to be a little excited about tomorrow.

He informed us as dinner tonight that
“Dr. Park fixed my legs and Dr. Dobbs is going to help me walk with flat feet!”

Please continue to pray for Cliff.

Please say a prayer for Dr. Dobbs and the wonderful medical team that will be in the operating room with Cliff tomorrow morning.

Please pray that Ross and I remain strong so that we can comfort Cliff.

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."

Job 9:10

After a lazy morning sipping coffee,
we decided to get dressed and hit the pavement again!

We were all craving the energy that St. Louis has to offer.
We needed it to distract us.
And it did not let us down!

We stopped at a little bistro and ate a fabulous lunch.
Sidewalk dining is becoming a favorite in this family.

Kisses.
So sweet.
I can never get enough.

After lunch,
we continued to get lost in the hustle and bustle of city life.

And before we knew it,
it was time to head over to see Dr. Dobbs, the Orthopedic Surgeon that will perform Cliff’s surgery tomorrow.

After the long walk through the never-ending crosswalks and hallways that connect our hotel to the hospital, we were finally in the “sacred area” known as Children’s Hospital.

The Boy knows that this is the place where Dr Park “fixed his legs”
and I am pretty sure he loves these hallways just as much as Ross and I do.

The smell, the lighting, the smiles on children’s faces that we pass in the halls who are going through things at such a young age that most of us will never face in our lifetime all bring back the feeling of hope that was given to us here.

This is where we heard THOSE words that would change our outlook on Cliff’s future.

You know them,

“Cliff WILL walk independently!”

No one else has EVER said that to us and right here,

we were given the gift of hope.

In this place,
hope filled our hearts and there was no room left for despair.

After going over some information with Michelle, the nurse,
Dr. Dobbs came in the room and began to check Cliff out.

Cliff was calm and said “Hey man!” when Dr. Dobbs walked into the room.

Dr. Dobbs is comfortable, we felt as if we had known him our entire lives.

What can I say, The Boy knows an excellent surgeon when he sees one!

Dr. Dobbs said that Cliff’s heel cords had good range of motion and that they did not need lengthening done! He did tell us that Cliff will most likely need a heel cord release sometime in the future as he grows, but we will just monitor his range of motion as he gets bigger. He said that Cliff’s hamstrings were what is causing him to walk on his toes. So, in the morning (at 7:15am CST to be exact) he will make a very small incision on the backs of Cliff’s legs, above his knees and perform a Bilateral Hamstring Release.
We are thrilled because this is the most minimally invasive route possible and Cliff is the perfect candidate for this procedure!

Then after going over some post-op details,
Dr. Dobbs looked at us and said

“I am EXTREMEMLY optimistic that Cliff will walk independently…
and you should be too!”

I just about tackled him and plastered kisses all over his face right there.

Yep.

We heard THOSE words again,
and this time was just as sweet and wonderful as the first time.

Cliff is very calm and even seems to be a little excited about tomorrow.

He informed us as dinner tonight that
“Dr. Park fixed my legs and Dr. Dobbs is going to help me walk with flat feet!”

Please continue to pray for Cliff.

Please say a prayer for Dr. Dobbs and the wonderful medical team that will be in the operating room with Cliff tomorrow morning.

Please pray that Ross and I remain strong so that we can comfort Cliff.

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."

Job 9:10

Yesterday,
we hopped into the hotel shuttle and spent 4 hours at the Zoo in St. Louis!

Cliff had the time of his life!

We have a wonderful zoo at home,
but this zoo was AMAZING!

There were little trains that went all throughout the zoo!

(We may or may not have almost been run over… twice!)

There were a bunch of babies there!
We watched this mama and baby elephant for EVER!
They were just soooo cute together!

Then it was time to pet the stingrays and sharks!
Cliff is fearless and couldn’t wait to slide his hand down the slimy back of a big stingray!

Ross was just as excited!

…Ok, Ok, I was too!

This little shark really liked Cliff!
He stayed right by Cliff the entire hour we were there!

Even Hollis got in on the shark and stingray action!

It took about 20 minutes to convince Ross and Cliff that there was more to see!
They so would have stayed there all day!

Cliff got up close with the Apes!
And laughed wildly when they started to wrestle each other!

Cliff was SUPER excited to see the penguins!
They were literally RIGHT there… like we could have touched them!
(Ross was like a kid in a candy store… he has this strange love for penguins…)

They were so neat to see, but it was FREEZING in there…

We had to warm up, so we went back outside where we spotted a baby camel and his parents!

Aren’t zebras so pretty?!

I love them!

The Boy had a blast chatting with the monkeys too!

(monkeys seem to really like Cliff… hmm…)

They seemed to be as interested in us as we were them!

Seriously, who knew there were so many types of monkeys?!

I think they have EVERY kind at the St. Louis Zoo!

After the Zoo,
Ross taught Cliff how to “ride” his walker down hills!

…Boys will be boys!

This Boy is amazing.
His positive attitude and outlook on life is simply beautiful.
He continues to smile through every challenge he he is faced with and embraces life like no one else I have ever met.
He is truly a miracle.

After a fun time at the Zoo and learning new walker tricks,

we all crashed for a few hours!

As soon as we all woke up,
we went straight outside to stroll around and find a bite to eat!
The weather was pure perfection and we had to soak up every second of daylight left.

As we strolled up and down the sidewalks, dodging people who were in a hurry and weaving in and out of tables at local sidewalk restaurants,

we soaked up the energy. 
The craziness of the hustle and bustle, the way we all jumped every time a horn beeped, the smells of each restaurant we passed  and how people who heard us talk stopped us to ask which part of the South we are from were the perfect distraction for all of us.

After strolling nearly 7 blocks and eyeing the food people were eating at about 50 restaurants, we settled for Tom’s Bar & Grill, which was back where we started.

Sidewalk dining at it’s finest.

Yesterday.
A day full of happy memories and lots of love.

A day where our fears and anxiety were replaced by the buzzing energy that flows through St. Louis.
A day of exploration and distraction.

Today we meet with the Orthopedic Surgeon to see exactly what he will be doing to Cliff on the operating room tomorrow.
I will post an update as soon as I can!

Please continue to pray for Cliff.
We appreciate your support so much!

Today, we are clinging onto this bible verse as Cliff’s surgery draws closer and closer:

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10