Today I took Ricky to the orthopedic surgeon. We'd been referred to him because of his turned in left foot. The doctor examined him only very briefly and then came up with a diagnosis that is actually quite positive: internal femoral torsion. Here's what the literature he gave me says:

"...Internal Femoral Torsion is caused by the inward rotation of the thigh bone, or femur. This problem can be very upsetting because it occurs at an older age and many children are aware that they have an awkward or different way of walking or running... A variety of treatment methods... Do not hasten the natural tendency toward improvement which generally occurs prior to the age of 12. By the age of 12, 95% of the children will have improved enough so that the condition is no longer noticeable... At the age of fifteen if a natural correction has not occurred there is the possibility of correcting the intoeing surgically."

Whew. :) Also, I got the results of Ricky's blood tests from last week. Everything was normal (!) and his IGE level (indicator of the level of allergy-causing mold growing in his lings) has continued to drop.