A new cast and a miracle

Russell's had his new cast on for a week! It's going really well.  It's always pretty crazy at first-and it seemed a little more crazy this time, but then again it always does, so maybe it's just my faulty memory.  :/  He'd only had his 4th cast off for about a week, so this was the first time he remembered getting the cast off when he got the new one on.  He was pretty mad when it was put back on, and he now knew that we have the "ability" to take it off.  So for the first few days, he kept grabbing the front of it and saying "OFF. TAKE OFF."  He's now given up on his parents ever catching on and taking it off, but it was so sad for those first few days.

So, I didn't go with Russell for this cast.  It's the first one I've missed.  Apparently that's the key.  Because he doesn't have to get another cast on!!...We're going to move on to a brace in August.  When they did the x-rays after applying this (5th) cast, they gave Scott the great news = there is NO NOTICEABLE CURVE!!  In other words, we're down to 0* RVAD AND 0* Curve.  This. Is. Amazing.  This is a miracle.  Really. 
So I'm thinking Scott should take the kids to all future medical appointments.

He was fitted for his brace while under anesthesia at the same time they did the cast.  Scott picked camo green.  I think that'll be a fun choice.  The brace will fit just like the cast did with a few exceptions:
No over-the-shoulder straps, it just goes under the armpits.
Less bulky, by far. 
It can get a TINY bit wet, and if it gets dirty, we can just wipe it off.
It is removable.  He'll wear it for 23 hrs./day at first.  Probably for a long time.  The straps will be in the back.

The mushroom-shaped window in the front will be the same, so will the rectangle window in the back.  It will still go down over his hips, because they anchor it.  It is still a "hard" brace, so it still limits his mobility just like the cast. 

It mostly represents PROGRESS.  Which feels so good.  We just feel so blessed to have such wonderful doctors and other medical professionals who've helped him and us through this journey so far.  I am grateful for all the friends and family who have prayed for him and us.  We are all so lucky to be a part of such a miracle.