Dumpling! Get off your toes!

Somewhere around the millionth time I said that, I think I lost the "please," at the end. But Dumpling being the resilient peace-maker that she is, just smiles her coy smile and immediately gets 3 inches shorter. If I had a nickel for every time I said it in the past half year, we'd be living the independent life on acreage in the Hill Country.

Or, maybe in an historic home downtown, actually. But clearly, we'd still be dealing with the reality that "toe-walking" as the orthopedist so clinically diagnosed it, has its consequences. It's not just cute.

I remember back 18 months or so, asking Dumpling why she did that, "Are you trying to be taller?" She explained that she just liked to pretend to be wearing high heels. I thought that was strange because she's not seeing that modeled by anyone 'round here! I'm way too over myself to be dealin' with heels. But, anyway...

About 6 months ago, we four girls were at the orthopedist for something else entirely when the woman said she'd like to scan the sisters as long as they were there. Neither had the problem that the doctor was looking for--(Am I being cryptic enough? See me protecting the privacy of my girls?)--but she did notice that Dumpling has a very short and tight Achilles Heel, and that's not good.

We took her home to nag and exercise it ourselves, but then...

Sometime in the 10-day stupor between our vacation and Christmas, I had to take Dumpling to the prosthetics supply dealer to have her fitted for braces.

First, the protective stocking. Don't be too jovial, Mr. Technician. Dumpling doesn't need much to assume that now you're...engaged.

At some point while she was being plastered, Dumpling--student of the Ancients this year--shouted, "Look Mommy! I'm being mummified!"

Enjoying the joke together.

She's thinking that he's been staring at her foot for a really long time now, but actually he's holding her in a flexed position to make the cast.

Now he's cutting it off. With a blade! Such trust. Imagine my shock when afterward I found a 2-inch gash in her leg, right down the middle!

She quickly assured me that her cat did that. Mr. Technician quickly concurred.

The braces are removable, and not near so ugly as Forrest Gump's. They are short, plastic, and will keep her off her toes so that her heel may stretch and lengthen. She might even get to keep what remains of her collapsing arch in the bargain. And I know she liked picking the design herself: cream with pastel butterflies. Understated amongst all the neon and themes; that's my girl.

Don't fret for her though. Not yet. She's quite excited, in fact. And so is her little sister, who, on the day of the fitting, began walking on her toes.

Uh....no, Cuddlebug. You've got a different kind of braces in your future with your man-made, super-dee-duper overbite. Now get that thumb out of your mouth! You've reached your quota! (Those teeth? Mine. My fault. My genes. Sorry, Baby.)

Anyway...

Dumpling gets her leg braces tomorrow. If the Lord brings her to mind, would you pray for her? She's very excited, and as a homeschooler, she doesn't have an inkling that braces aren't just g-r-e-a-t! But I've been warned that she might be a little sore, and I know this is likely to put a crimp in her twirl. And that girl sure does like to twirl.