I cannot believe it's been 5 weeks since my last post. Not much had changed, so I guess there was nothing to update! Caroline was still in a cast and I was/am still pregnant and getting bigger by the minute. And that is no exaggeration. I feel huge. I am sure the 100+ degree temps is not helping!
So today was our "cast removal day". Caroline did great all things considering. I mean there was a saw was near her face and they cut off the cast. As soon as we went back to the room she immediately said, "NO". She knew exactly what was going on. I tried talking her through it this morning, and she said, "cut off", but I don't think she knew what cut meant. After that, we went downstairs to orthotics and she was fitted for a hip brace, then back upstairs to x-rays and questions. Being pregnant during this time definitely has its benefits. I can't physically be in the room during x-rays so I got to miss them. But Web did tell me it was not a pleasant experience. Imagine your legs being in the same position for 11 weeks, and all of a sudden a complete stranger is moving them and taking an x-ray. Needless to say she was not happy. We even had tylenol with codeine in her and she still wasn't happy.
But when it's all said and done she is ok. She is much lighter, which I welcome with open arms. My lower back was officially hurting.
So onto the bad news, because you know nothing is ever simple.
Caroline has to be in this hip brace, full time for a month. Night, day, all the time. Our dr. is afraid that if we take her out of it to bathe her or to let her swim she will start kicking her leg (of course she would) and that could hinder the hip healing process. Our dr. did tell us he is conservative and would rather be safe than sorry. After 11 weeks in a cast, we really don't want the hip to move out of place so we might as well suck it up and just deal with it. So, in 4 weeks we go back and hopefully at that time, she will just be wearing the brace at night time. Web and I have yet another learning curve on how to care for her, change her diaper, etc. But we've done it twice now, so what's a 3rd time? What's that saying, "3rd times a charm"? And nothing like up to the last minute. I am literally having BBB in 6 1/2 weeks unless he decides to join us earlier. So that will give us approximately 19 days of freedom. We started this journey mid April and when it's all said and done we will have about 19 days without a cast or a full time brace! What a wild trip! I guess we should just count our blessings that this has been a super, easy pregnancy!
/knocking on wood/
Thank you all so much for your prayers, kind words, cards, balloons, toys, and food! Web, Caroline and I absolutely could not have done this without your support!
Love to all! US
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
New countdown has begun!
Well we are back from Omaha. I am sorry I am just now updating, but there is never a dull moment with Caroline! And when she naps I try to rest, or do laundry, or clean up her new found love of play doh. Our Omaha trip couldn't have gone any smoother. Caroline enjoyed movies in the back, while Web and I just got to talk and relax. We met some awesome OI families at the Rainbow House the evening we got there and it was so nice to talk to families who are going through the same thing you are face to face. We could share stories, give examples, or just be a sounding board for your current frustrations and troubles. It was very nice. The next morning we were at the hospital and Dr. E was willing to start early, which made us feel better. The wait in the pre-op room is excruciating. You see kids being rolled by your room to go into surgery and you are just holding your child hoping yours is next, then also hoping she is not next because you don't want to let go. We gave Dr. E our requests for the new cast, shorter on the body, feet and/or toes free, and if at all possible her lower left leg free. He said he would do what he could. He also told us he wasn't sure if he was going to need to do the arthrogram. It depended on what the x-ray looked like.
C was given her happy juice, she wheeled away, I cried a little hysterically, got it together and went to wait. Waiting rooms suck.
Literally within an hour Dr. E was out and talking to us! He didn't have to do the arthrogram, Caroline was cleaned up and her cast was back on with all our requests! AND on top of that, it only needs to be on for 5 weeks! That's because of Web's 10 year college reunion, but whatever works! 5 weeks is better than 6! We met her in the hall after recovery, went to her room and the next morning we were on our way back to Oklahoma. It was such a quick turn around, but we are so happy with the results. On her discharge papers, it said to contact Dr. Herndon, our local ortho for cast removal in 5 weeks. And I promise you, we weren't off the hospital grounds, and I called the office and made the appointment. I needed a date to look forward to. So, on June 29th at 10 AM, Caroline's cast will be off! We will be able to put her in the pool and let her build up her muscle strength. I am trying to think of anything and everything to do in the next 27 days. Next week we are pretty full, the following week kind of full. Our weekends are definitely filling up. Anything we can do to make the time fly I am all for it! I personally think the next 27 days will drag. But we are finally on the downward slope, and so excited.
On another exciting note, her new cast has proven that she is definitely ready for it to be off as well. She is officially crawling with her cast. It's not the prettiest crawl, and she definitely tires out quickly, but it is improvement. And it's also helping her muscles in her free leg and her upper body. It's so nice to see her on her belly and not lying on her back.
All in all, we doing well!
Baby Boy is continuing to kick me constantly to let me know he is around as well, and not to forget him! I am sad to say, that sometimes I definitely do forget I am pregnant. Then I will feel a kick and the light bulb will go off. If anything, Caroline's surgery has definitely made this an easy pregnancy! By the time the cast is off, we will just have 6 weeks left! WOW! Hard to believe. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and positive thinking. It does not go unnoticed!
Love to all!
C was given her happy juice, she wheeled away, I cried a little hysterically, got it together and went to wait. Waiting rooms suck.
Literally within an hour Dr. E was out and talking to us! He didn't have to do the arthrogram, Caroline was cleaned up and her cast was back on with all our requests! AND on top of that, it only needs to be on for 5 weeks! That's because of Web's 10 year college reunion, but whatever works! 5 weeks is better than 6! We met her in the hall after recovery, went to her room and the next morning we were on our way back to Oklahoma. It was such a quick turn around, but we are so happy with the results. On her discharge papers, it said to contact Dr. Herndon, our local ortho for cast removal in 5 weeks. And I promise you, we weren't off the hospital grounds, and I called the office and made the appointment. I needed a date to look forward to. So, on June 29th at 10 AM, Caroline's cast will be off! We will be able to put her in the pool and let her build up her muscle strength. I am trying to think of anything and everything to do in the next 27 days. Next week we are pretty full, the following week kind of full. Our weekends are definitely filling up. Anything we can do to make the time fly I am all for it! I personally think the next 27 days will drag. But we are finally on the downward slope, and so excited.
On another exciting note, her new cast has proven that she is definitely ready for it to be off as well. She is officially crawling with her cast. It's not the prettiest crawl, and she definitely tires out quickly, but it is improvement. And it's also helping her muscles in her free leg and her upper body. It's so nice to see her on her belly and not lying on her back.
All in all, we doing well!
Baby Boy is continuing to kick me constantly to let me know he is around as well, and not to forget him! I am sad to say, that sometimes I definitely do forget I am pregnant. Then I will feel a kick and the light bulb will go off. If anything, Caroline's surgery has definitely made this an easy pregnancy! By the time the cast is off, we will just have 6 weeks left! WOW! Hard to believe. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and positive thinking. It does not go unnoticed!
Love to all!
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