Post Osteotomies: Cast Change

Today was Hip Chick's cast change for this casting phase.  It was her only cast change after the osteotomies, but her third this year, as she incurred two cast changes after her closed reduction.  This is her fifth cast this year and her fourth spica.  

Preparations were smooth as, after two prior hospital admissions and two prior day surgery admissions, this felt like old hat.  One may expect her to melt each time she hears she has another medical appointment or sees the hospital, but she was in a chipper mood.  She sang along with her favorite Jim James song as we pulled onto the highway.  She exclaimed to Mommy and Daddy about the tall buildings as we approached Downtown.  She serenaded the dark sky with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as we made our exit for the hospital.  

A Halloween-themed sock monkey and pumpkin purse were today's travel companions.  As we settled into Day Surgery, we discussed all of the things Sock Monkey saw.  She showed him the bed, medical equipment, and decorations.  She was excited to wear a hospital gown the same shade of yellow as Daddy"s shirt.

All joviality halted when the time arrived to dose the "goofy juice."  Her demeanor soured and, to Mommy, it felt like the September hospital admission was returning.  Suddenly flooded with the emotion of three days of sleepless, screaming medication refusals, I had to step out for a few minutes while Daddy attempted to coax her.  Unfortunately, there was no reasoning to be had.  Daddy and I worked together to restrain her, dose her, and make her swallow it.  Once the medication took effect,  our remaining tasks were wasy!

As usual, we snagged our beeper and hopped downstairs for breakfast.  It is amazing how ordering the same breakfast from the same cook each time has become a comforting routine.  Soon, we were called upstairs for today's results!

Our daughter's surgeon advised that everything  looks "perfect!"  Her femoral head is positioned properly for six weeks post-surgery.  Her pelvis and femur are healing and showing enough bone (re)generation.  So much, in fact, that he expects to accelerate her femoral plate's removal from March to January.  Because of this, we will delay pin removal from her pelvis until then, to minimize the number of times general anesthetic is administered and the number of times she is surgically opened.  This plan will also allow her to receive added stability for the first month after cast-off.  He also added that her last cast was "pristine" and skin in perfect condition.  All great things!

What's next?  Cast-off is in six weeks.  At that time, she may transition to an orthotic brace.  Then, we plan for hardware removal in January.

Until then, we treasure the era of the green spica.

Post Osteotomies: Week 6 Recap

She did it!!  Our daughter has completed her six weeks of casting (and, hopefully, healing) after her salter pelvic osetotomy, femoral osteotomy,  and femoral shortening.  She has spent 20 weeks of this year in casts and still has another six planned.  Next up, a day surgery endeavor at Scottish Rite this week... but more on that later.

With Daddy's return slated for late this afternoon or evening, I had another girls' day with Hip Chick.  For this time, I purposely did not seek out reinforcements.  Why not?  Plainly speaking, if I scramble to fill every moment of time Daddy's away with additional help, what kind of example does that set for my daughter?   What would that say about me as a wife, mother, and a woman?  And what if Plan B does not work... will I expect others to come to my rescue each time I have singular responsibility for her in the years (casts, wheelchairs) to come?  I think not!  While I treasured the dinner and arboretum companionship these past two days... today was mine.

We began with brunch at an old favorite of mine.  I frequented the original site of this local chain regularly in my early 20's and could not recall the last time I visited any location.  Today was a perfect excuse!  I selected a location within walking distance of one of my favorite grocery stores, to help with an errand afterward.

I quickly assembled the wheelchair and pushed her toward the door with excitement.  As I approached the entrance, I met the eyes of several patrons waiting in line indoors, none of whom budged to assist.  The restaurant has no automated doors.  As I reached to pull the door open and steady it with my heel while pushing the wheelchair over its threshhold, an older gentlemen crossed several people in their 30's and 40's to hold the door for us.  I thanked him. One mother sweetly asked what happened to Hip Chick and remarked on her beauty, but this was an anomaly amongst the surrounding clientele.  I smiled and said that I welcome questions over stares any day, then explained hip dysplasia to her.

The staff was warm and kind.  They cleared an extra large table that had been housing the wait and offered it to us because it was the tallest table.  I expressed my gratitude and suggested they seat another small party at the other end of our table, as it was very large and we would like to assist the restaurant by sharing.  Soon two women, who looked to be in their 50's or early 60's, joined our table.

These women spoke rather loudly and I could not help overhearing their conversation.  It struck me as an ironic juxtaposition that one of the women dominated their conversation with moans of how miserable her life is.  She quibbled about her weight while slurping her fried eggs.  She complained about deciding whether to select a $40,000 or $60,000 car for her daughter, who needed to learn a lesson about financial management. She gushed about her terrible self-image and announced that she fears what people think of her when they look at her.  They hardly glanced our way the few times Hip Chick needed readjustment in her wheelchair.  They did not hear her cheery "please" and "thank you" requests to our shared waitress.  They did not see her strain to reach her food.  They overlooked her giggles and songs as she happily ate her breakfast. 

I left the meal feeling that the juxtaposition grew a little profane.  As we walked away, the more silent of the two thanked me for sharing the table.  I smiled and remarked that we were so grateful for a table that could comfortably accommodate the wheelchair that we wanted to thank the restaurant by sharing.

The waiting area had filled again and many stares eyed us as we crept toward the exit.  I looked up to one woman's stares, who actually responded by looking down into her coffee cup, sipping it awkwardly, and gripping it tightly.  Not one able-bodied individual offered to help with the door.  I wanted to channel Sally Field's performance from Forrest Gump and announce in a pronouced-yet-dignified southern drawl: "What's the matter? Haven't you seen a little girl in a wheelchair before?"  Our waitress chased after us and ran ahead to open the door.  Cafe Brazil's staff earned an A+.  The clientele ... well, you can assign your own grade.  I am slightly ashamed to admit that this specific location is down the street from my alma mater.

Next, we had a shopping expedition!  Mommy had a special afternoon project in mind and we needed a few supplies, plus our favorite rosemary bread for the week.  Much like our prior shopping tip, our little hippie held a hand basket in her lap.  She was Mommy's special helper and quite excited to do so!  

We returned home for a very special project:  Hip Chick's first cooking lesson!  I had planned to begin mommy-daughter cooking lessons earlier this year, but traction and multiple casts wedged in the way.  I wanted to keep the cast as clean as possible.  With a cast change around the corner and cast #5 on our plates, I finally decided:  cast be damned, I am sharing this experience with my baby.

She loved it!  She mashed bananas for Mommy's special chocolate chip banana muffins.  She whisked dry goods.  She counted ingredients as I measured and poured them.  We stirred the final swirl of ingredients together, our hands on top of each other.  And the best part was sampling our work!  A fun time, indeed.

Below are additional thoughts.

1.  Last week's update portrayed fragility in the household.  Have things improved?

Yes.  Week five was our bottom and week six was our rebound.  She slept full nights three times this week and her interrupted sleep was less volatile.  Thank goodness.

2.  There has been no mention of diaper leaks for this cast... does this mean we have incurred none?

No- we had two urine leaks, one loose stool at school (due to overindulgence of oranges) and one super soupy diaper this morning.  I think it was due to a coconut raspberry smoothie late last night.  If we were going to have a diaper like that, we are fortunate that it came so close to her cast change... I never want to experience that again!  Regardless, I have been less hard on ourselves for such things these past six weeks.  

3.  There have been more notes in the blog about strangers' reactions for this fourth cast than the prior three.  Why so?

In her prior casts, we would carry her most of the time and could often minimize sight of her casts with long dresses.  She is now too heavy to carry for excursions.  The wheelchair and the cast's stability bar are unmistakable- there is nothing anonymous about a wheelchair housing a bright spica cast.  

The wheelchair also draws far more attention from other kids.  Some are curious, many are upset.  While at the arboretum yesterday, one little boy saw her and instantly grew a rather troubled look on his face.  He must have been around 10 years old.  He asked me in a very sad and respectful voice whether Hip Chick would ever be ok.  I smiled and told him that she was born without the right bones in her hip.  I explained that we are fixing it for her and, yes, she will be ok.  I believe my response to children's questions about her could have a lifelong impact on how they view disability and want to make the right mark.

4.  There is another appointment at Scottish Rite on the horizon- what will this entail?

As usual, we will admit through Day Surgery for Hip Chick's OR reservation.  She will be administered general anesthesia.  While in the OR, her cast will be removed and an arthrogram performed, meaning that a long needle will inject dye into her hip for imaging.  What is unique to this visit is that they will check her pelvis for bone generation.  If enough bone has generated around her graft, they will open her hip and remove the pins currently holding it together.  If not, the pins will remain until cast-off, which is currently planned for December.  Then, she will be recasted and return to us!  Cast #5, coming right up...

Girls' Weekend

This weekend was girls' weekend!  Daddy took a couple of days out of town for a much-needed break, which meant big things for Hip Chick and Mommy.  This was the first trip Daddy has taken since Hip Chick's diagnosis, which also meant the longest amount of time Mommy has managed Hip Chick alone with a cast.  

First order of business was Friday night dinner. Luckily, one of Mommy's friends called with a generous offer to babysit, intending to give Mommy and Daddy an unexpected date night.  With Daddy out of town, we capitalized on the opportunity for a girls' night out!  

While I have treated our little hippie to mommy-daughter meals in her cast and/or wheelchair before, it has always been at unusual mealtimes, when I was primed for greatest success.  After navigating Friday evening traffic and eyeing the full parking lot as I assembled the wheelchair, I was thankful to be meeting a friendly face.  Hip Chick ordered her favorite meal and Mommy brought a couple of small sticker books to help with diversions.  As a sweet end to our meal, our friend had an excellent dessert suggestion... a pizookie!  It was girls' night out... how could we say no?  She was a little fragile by dinner's end, but I viewed dinner as a grand success.

While we had enjoyed an extra night or two of sleep this week, restlessness returned last night.  Both awakenings were mild, however, and averted the dreaded screming fit.  I considered this a gift.

Today was the big day.  With Hip Chick's upcoming cast change, I was uncertain as to whether we would be able to pull off trick-or-treating on Halloween next week.  Our favorite arboretum offered a full menu of autumn fun this weekend, and so Mommy grew determined.  

When I initially planned the weekend, it was uncertain as to whether I would have assistance.  The Rocky theme song grew stronger in my mind with each passing day.  Visions of multicolored pumpkins danced in my head.  An extended arboretum visit with the wheelchair, a spica cast, and a Halloween costume, swarmed by hay bales, a plethora of pumpkins, and ambulatory children? Could I do this?  

How could I not do this?

Fortune sided in my favor and I did have an extra companion for the outing.  It still required smart planning on my behalf.  My car was packed the night prior and we opted for a drive-thru breakfast for ease.  (Yes, I said "drive-thru."  Scandalous.)  We arrived prior to the arboretum's opening, to prevent a reprise of last year's parking debaucle- story better left untold.  Early parking and a smart space enabled me to assemble the wheelchair and my casted cowgirl in time to be in line when the gates opened!  Score for Mommy.

Wait... did I say cowgirl?!  You bet!  Just because she sports a giant cast doesn't mean she can't dress up.  Hip Chick has been emphatic about her character of choice for the past few weeks.  After a few strike outs, I found a Melissa & Doug cowgirl set which claimed to fit up to a size six.  It worked!  Hip Chick exclaimed "YEEHAW!" all day in the pinkest cowgirl fashion.  And she has a costume with which to play dress up for the next few years.  Score two for Mommy.

Thanks to our early arrival, we shared the pumpkin village with few others.  We had time for photos and a climb into Cinderella's carriage before the trick-or-treat stations filled with costumed characters and candy.

Soon, we were able to follow the candy corn stations through the gardens for our holiday treats!  Cinderella herself gave Hip Chick her first handful of goodies.

Most of the stations were accompanied by storybook presentations of holiday-themed history.

We bid the pumpkin village farewell just as the crowds began to swell and snuck away to other areas of the grounds.  Our highlight was the new children's' garden.  Our family had missed its opening due to its proximity to Hip Chick's September surgery and Mommy was determined.  Were we to come all this way... giant cast and wheelchair... and miss this "nationally acclaimed" spectacle?  I think not.

It was truly amazing.  We enjoyed the smells and sights of the eatible garden immediately after our entrance.  Hip Chick asked why corn stalks were correlated to gas pumps and wanted to see an oversized artichoke sculpture open and close.

Soon, we snuck away into the "Secret Garden." (Snuck?  Well... with the wheelchair, it was more akin to elephants stomping through a clearing- but that just sounds less poetic.)

We turned and twisted our way through tall hedges to reach an interactive display.  Hip Chick could not resist!

As she turned the crank, the sculpture above spun against a cloudy sky.   

We snuck past dragons to discover their guarded treasure: a very famous magical spectacle!

Could It be?

Who could resist?

We wound through the remaining displays to spy our solar system, a cave, waterfalls... we must return with Daddy and Big Sis!

We stopped at one of the on site restaurants for Hip Chick's lunch- a very smart move, as she had reached her limit.  Rainclouds began to creep over the gardens just as we reached our car.  She napped only for our drive home, which led to a slightly more volatile afternoon.  Floor puzzles, storybooks, sticker books, cartoons, check-ups, and more filled the later portion of our day.  It is nearly 10pm and she just recently relented for bedtime.  

As for Mommy?  I feel accomplished. And hopeful.  

Post Osteotomies: Week 5 Recap

Hip Chick has completed her fifth week of casting after her osteotomies.  I had considered waiting until week six for the next update, but week five was so rough that it deserved its own post.  

So, what is pushing us?  Neither the spica cast nor wheelchair are weighing us down.  It is not the payment plan for the medical bills.  It is not the limited scope of Hip Chick's independence.  All of the above is quite manageable and we were mentally prepared for.  It is the sheer exhaustion from the continuous lack of sleep, combined with the fragility of Hip Chick's demeanor during her restless phases that is trying us.  Her teachers continue to applaud her cheeriness at school, so the screaming fits are limited to her red-eye awakenings.  Even the best of parents would feel fried during an hour long 3am fit after sleeping four hours per night for the past week (or five).  

She does not awake with tantrums... but her shell cracks with the slight pressure of an undesirable answer from Mommy or Daddy. It feels as though we parents are in an animated film, swerving around and flipping over giant obstacles, nearly unwieldy enough to be comical.  I wish I could relay that we handle it with the grace of a well practiced Tigress.  Instead, we feel a bit more like a clumsy, awkward, bull-in-a-china-shop Po.

Below are additional, recent thoughts.

1.  Hip Chick cannot be the only 'hip' child with sleep issues... what tips did the support group suggest?

Unfortunately, the support group did not offer a single piece of advice on this one.  This seems to be more of a personality-specific or cast-specific issue, anyway.

2.  What means have we attempted to alter the interrupted sleep?

We have attempted more puzzles,  more stories, encouraging her to crawl, more cuddle time, forcing her to awake early (in hopes to force an earlier bedtime), shortening naps, no sugary foods at night, Zyrtec to manage her seasonal allergies, later bedtimes... 

3.  How is her mobility?

Just after I posted on her immobility last week, she figured out how to pull herself out of bed.  She also rolled off of a beanbag chair onto the floor, on her stomach.  She attempted to pull herself into bed and, once stuck, looked up at me and announced, "I keep trying."  With that said, her teachers indicate that she has little interest in crawling at school.

4.  How is the sleeplessness affecting Big Sis?

Fortunately for her, she has nearly two weeks of breaks between most visits now that she is back in school for fall semester.  So far, she has eluded the most difficult nights.  

5.  Is Hip Chick still pacifier-free?  Does this play a role in her sleep problems?

Yes, she has completed 10 days without the paci and rarely requests it.  Is she suffering from "paci withdrawl?"  Not too much.  She had sleep issues and tantrums for nearly a month in the cast before the paci met its end.

6.  What now?

It's after 10pm.  G-d willing, we hope for rest.

Pumpkin Patch

Even a day's worst beginning can turn with extra effort.  Despite the exasperation dripping from last night's post and an episode of shrieking this morning, Daddy and I opted for a bit of social roulette.  We decided a bit of time outside could do the entire family good and drove Hip Chick and Big Sis to a local pumpkin patch.  

Fueled by adrenaline and caffeine, we arrived mid-morning and assembled the wheelchair with a sliver of cautious optimism.   The sunny weather and buzzing crowd were contagious.  We saw a few familiar friends as we entered the grounds and stopped to say hello.

Big Sis quickly spied a hay bale maze and conquered that under Daddy's watchful eye while Hip Chick and I visited a few more animated favorites.  After time for photos and fresh kettle corn, we visited the face painting tent.  It was Hip Chick's first time!  She selected a smiley ghost and Big Sis was rather pleased with her squiggly-mouthed pumpmin.  

A few well-timed reinforcements soon arrived.  They cheerily walked the girls to the property's horse pasture for an introduction.  Mommy and Daddy held back and relished a few minutes of silence.  We treated the girls to a hay ride, then selected a few small pumpkins for a craft project and soon bid the patch adieu until next year.  Our experience far exceeded our expectations- success!

After a quick lunch on the way home, Hip Chick had her afternoon nap.  Big Sis and I seized our opportunity and went shopping.  I relished the "big girl" time.  We planned and plotted our day's remaining activities and returned home in the late afternoon.

 

We kicked off our evening with pumpkin decorating, courtesy of our morning's spoils.  Hip Chick decorated a Minnie Mouse pumpkin, Big Sis a Hello Kitty pumpkin, and Daddy a Darth Vader pumpkin.  Mommy's monster pumpkin drew a collaborative effort.

Big Sis and I soon executed on our spooky "Monster Day" dinner plans. We happily worked together to make "snakes and brains" (spaghetti and meatballs), "boo-berry punch" (blueberry and lime punch with sparkling water), and "graveyard pudding" (chocolate pudding with gummy worms and a giant candy eyeball).  

Hip Chick began dinner on a sour note, but ultimately could not resist Big Sis and Mommy's cheer up efforts.  We sung the Indiana Jones theme song as we slurped our snake noodles.  We hit all of her favorite slapstick toddler favorites.  In the end, Mommy's goofiness helped push her mood back into favorability.   We ended with a "monster smash"- everyone smashed cookies into crumbs with which to dust their pudding.  I may regret this decision during tomorrow's cereal breakfast, but the girls loved the permission to beat their dessert into submission with measuring cups.  

We ended the day with a monster-themed movie for the family.  Much to our relief, Hip Chic's demeanor was drastically different by bedtime than her morning had hinted.  She is wrapping up her fifth week of casting in this current spica, which indicates that a cast change is nearing.  We can only hope the next cast form will offer her more comfort and peace.  

Sleepless in Spica

We are NOT sleeping.  It is 1:12 am and Hip Chick is wide awake.  This is more commonplace than an anomaly and it is wrecking havoc on the household.  This 4th cast, this month after her osteotomies, has been one of the hardest months since she has been born.  Usually, when she cannot sleep, she is rather testy and eventually something sets her off into a shreiking and screaming tirade.

At least we have the consolation at this very moment that she is in a happy, bubbly mood.  But if she does not start sleeping soon... if Mommy and Daddy don't start sleeping soon... I fear that we will crumble.

Father of the Year

It is October- a time for harvest festivals, hay rides, Halloween and... Daddy of the Year.  What images are evoked by such a moniker?  A young father teaching his child to read?  One in his midlife, teaching his teenager to drive?  Regardless of what colors your mind's eye, I saw a better one tonight.

Since her first cast, Hip Chick and hair washing have been poor companions.  We have tried various approaches, to much avail.  It is always a two person job, due to her size, weight, and escalating hysteria.  But recently Daddy finally cracked that coconut shell.  What did he do, pray tell?  Offer gifts?  Sing and dance?  Dress up as her favorite cartoon character?

One word:  water.  As in: buckets and buckets of water.

Envision... me holding our spunky child in her giant cast near the bathroom sink, head spinning around like an 80's horror flick, shrieks spewing like an indoor fire sprinkler.  And her daddy: laid a towel on the bathroom floor, kneeled down, and challenged her to dump water on his head until she was no longer afraid.  He even laid on his back and let her dump water on his face from a three foot elevation.  (The latter finally evoked giggles from both Hip Chick and Mommy.)  When she still had difficulty with her hair wash, he let her dump water on his face afterward until she laughed.

There are "great father" milestones which are a given or a typical rite of passage.  But subjecting one's self to waterlogging so their immobilized child won't dread a hair wash?  Priceless.

Post Osteotomies: One Month Recap

Hip Chick did it!  She has completed one month of casting after her osteotomies.  Combined with her initial round of casting (after her closed reduction), she has had 18 weeks of casting thus far this year.  If all goes as planned, roughly eight more weeks of casting to go.  Below are our recent thoughts.

1.  At the three week mark, Hip Chick still was not very mobile- has this changed?

She is requesting to "crawl" more and requesting changes of scenery more often.  She is growing a little restless, which may be a springboard to more mobility.

2.  How is her disposition?

We still receive compliments on her disposition from her childcare provider.  She seems to be settling more at home as well.  We are thankful, as it has been a difficult month.  She still has some sleep issues, though- which means we all have sleep issues.

3.  How is her relationship developing with her wheelchair?

She has grown accustomed to it, at least for brief intervals at mealtimes and outings.  She recently watched an episode of Sesame Street in which there was a cartoon of a little boy playing in his wheelchair, photo above.  She was so excited to see another child with a special chair that she exlaimed out to Mommy and Daddy.  In a best case scenario, we will need the wheelchair for only another couple of months.  If this were to become a longer term need, it would be helpful for her to know another child with a wheelchair. 

4.  How does she handle being around children who don't have mobility issues?

Fortunately, most of the children in her current daycare class were with her during the first three casts.  They seem to have an understanding of each other.  When I dropped her off at daycare this morning, two playmates ran to greet her and were by her side as I walked away.  Her teachers tell me that the other children bring toys to her and help her.

5.  Does she request or attempt to do things she cannot physically accomplish in the cast?

She occasionally asks to go swimming or take a bath.  Most recently, she has wanted to dance.  On the drive to daycare this morning, she slowly and gracefully moved her arms to my radio's tunes.  She told me that she was a ballerina.  She also "danced" for her teachers today.  One seemed to find this sad, but Daddy and I think it to be a very positive sign that she still wants to do such things and encourage it!

6.  Is she developmentally delayed in other areas from all of her mobility challenges this year?

Not at all- physical disabilities and mental disabilities are two different issues and should be treated as such.  She is simply a normal little girl who cannot walk right now.  Her only crutch had been her beloved pacifier, of which she has been free for 48 hours.  She finally chewed it into such deterioration that I told her it would start giving her tongue "owies" if she did not throw it away.  And she did!  I had not pushed her too hard to break the habit due to all of her other issues this year, but this natural opportunity presented itself.

7.  How was her transition into the "big girl bed," since it coincided with her second surgery?

That was a very easy transition.   She is too immobile in the cast to cruise the house at night and does not seem to miss the crib slats.

8.  What is next?

She will have a cast change prior to Halloween.  As before, she will undergo general anesthesia and go into the OR for an arthrogram.  If her pelvis has (re)generated enough bone, her pelvic pins will be removed.  If not, they will remain until cast off.  She will be recasted and then discharge home.  Current plan is for her to be casted until sometime in December.

Fright Fest

There comes a critical point in a woman's life in which she must face her fears.  In that pivotal moment, the essence of her femininity blossoms to its full potential.  She rises, and is flooded with the knowledge that she is forever altered.

Today, this fundamental shift in paradigm was mine.  Today, I harnessed from within.  Today... I took Hip Chick to the supermarket.  

But first, a little fun!

I planned a series of small errands together today, culminating in the dreaded grocery stop. First, we ran by our local Party City.  Hip Chick has been excitedly chattering about Halloween and her costume preference as of late and so I thought we could kick off the afternoon with a fun errand.  In retrospect, I should have feared this first agenda item more than the last.  

The store was filled with eager shoppers, hunting for this year's costume of choice.  Hip Chick has become rather emphatic regarding her dress up preference and Mommy was willing to tackle anyone unfortunate enough to prove an obstacle.  The aisles were narrow and foreboding.  Shoppers were reduced to animalistic behaviors, pushing and swerving ahead for their coveted masquerades.  I may have seen one of Harry Potter's Death Eaters hustle someone over a sparkly, lavender, size small Batgirl costume.  The wheelchair did not prevent others from stopping short in front of us, reaching around us, or huffing at our roadblock.  Unfortunately, we learned that her costume of choice is only available online.  I drove that wheelchair out as though it was the Indie 500.

Next, we visited a beloved gelato shop.  I thought that a bit of sugar before our third stop would carry us far.  The gelato patrons were decidedly gentler and kinder than our prior stop.  Someone actually opened the door for us and another offered to carry our order to a table.  Perhaps the likes of strawberry sorbet and salted caramel gelato soothe the mercinary within.  

Lambie came along for the fun as well.

And so it was time for the dreaded supermarket run.  Why was this such a dramatic event for me?  Hip Chick is in her fourth cast.  I did not take her grocery shopping in any of her prior casts.  At the age she was diagnosed, she was too large to carry into a supermarket if I also wanted to carry groceries.  Her prior casts were so awkwardly supported in her stroller that I never felt comfortable with such excurions.  But now, with the wheelchair, these excuses must be overcome.  

I snagged a parking spot facing the exit, lest I knock over sizeable displays of canned goods with the wheelchair and need to break for the car.  As I carefully assembled Hip Chick's wheelchair, I noticed a woman staring at me.  It made me recall a recent breakfast outing with Hip Chick.  We parked a few spaces over from the handicapped spaces.  After assembling her chair, a man (who appeared to walk just fine) walked to his car in the handicapped space and smartly asked whether I really had someone to ride in the wheelchair.  My temper flared.  I may have called him an unflattering name.  Either way, I withheld my remarks this time and eyed this voyeur with my peripheral vision.  She visually inspected Hip Chick quite hard as I pulled her out of my car and onto the chair.  I hope she was satisfied.

My main quandry with grocery shopping was how to carry the groceries.  As Hip Chick's cast provides a rather wide base of support, I cheerily assigned her the task of "Mommy's special helper."  All she needed to do was steady the basket.  I apologize that no photos were taken, lest images of the poor, wheelchair-stricken child relegated to steadying a food basket go viral.

We cheerily zipped through produce and managed to make it past the berries before the first awkward gasp from a stranger.  Hip Chick failed to notice, however, and was thrilled to provide input regarding which bunch of bananas looked best.  Next, we inspected the cheese counter, as Mommy had a special idea in mind for dinner and needed advice.  As the cheesemonger placed our selection into the basket, she cheerily issued a thank you.  Staff were more than eager to help us locate hard-to-find foodstuffs.  We made it to the bakery, on the store's opposite side prior to being huffed and cut in front of by a stranger and I consider this a success.  

We selected enough groceries to fill our handbasket, which isn't much- but more than I could have managed without the wheelchair!  I usually do not accept any offers for help out to my car, but relented this time.  It was worth it.  I silently made a note to bring tip money going forward.

We emerged from shopping to see that we had escaped a rainshower.  It left a rainbow behind to congratulate us.  What a successful afternoon!  Outings require considerably more time and planning now than before... but I can take my baby out now, which is a large impact on our quality of life.

Post Osteotomies: Week 3 Recap

Our daughter has completed her third week post surgery and, wow, what a hectic week it was.  Fall weather has finally swept into the region and the cold front pushed in quite a bit of bustle with the rain.  As for Hip Chick, her disposition mirrored our lawn, which glistened with a delicate frost by week's end.

Our week began with a reintegration into childcare- a big step for Hip Chick!  This reintegration was a little more difficult for her than prior ones.  She would chatter excitedly about seeing her friends on the drive over, but the first two mornings were frought with very teary separations, as she did not initially grasp that Mommy would not remain with her to play.   By Thursday, however, she was excited to select books for storytime and play outside in new ways.  

We were encouraged to notice that her sleeping patterns improved on the days she attended daycare.  The stimulation of her classroom and classmates helped tire her more than one-on-one time with Mommy and Daddy or even fun with Big Sis.  This was reinforced over her three day weekend, as she reverted to 3am wake-ups by Sunday.  Her current cast form simply does not enable the mobility of her prior casts and we are challenged with tiring her daily.  Below are additional thoughts.

1.  With Hip Chick's return to childcare, is she still utilizing the spica desk at school?

No.  Over the course of her first two spica casts, she grew frustrated with her physical distance from her classmates.  She wanted to do things in as similar ways as possible as her friends.  This included activities ranging from meals to painting.  As she is currently casted in a seated position of sorts, her teachers have developed smart ways to secure her in their toddler chairs, so she can be part of the class.

2.  If Hip Chick is not potty training, how is she affected by watching her classmates potty train?

She tells her teachers when she needs a diaper change.  One of her teachers remarked this week on how she shows signs of readiness and will likely potty train easily once she is walking again.

3.  How is her disposition?

That is a difficult question.  Her mood swings quickly and sharply.  We cannot easily pinpoint whether this is her personality's natural progression through the "terrible twos" or her reaction to having such little independence and control right now.  Either way, she takes additional time and attention to manage at this stage- especially on days that she wakes early.

4.  If her sleep patterns are erratic, is she having nightmares?

This does not seem to be the case.  She had night terrors when she wore the Rhino Brace last summer and the two sleep issues are very different.  We often ask her what she dreamt of and she usually says that she dreamt of being a fairy, flying in the sky like Peter Pan, but with pink wings.  Big Sis often flies beside her in the dreams.  To us, the sleep issues seem to correlate more directly with her immobility.

5. How is Big Sis navigating this phase of Hip Chick's treatment?

She is doing a fantastic job.  She has been very understanding and offers to help push the wheelchair, play with Hip Chick, or do additional things at home.  We do not demand these things of her, however, as it is her job to be a grade schooler and not a caretaker.  I still think it is good for her own disposition that she is not at our home full-time.  The time at her other home provides a buffer that other siblings do not necessarily receive in these situations.  

6.  How are Mommy and Daddy's disposition?

We are tired.  Hip Chick's erratic sleep patterns have added a layer of unexpected complication to what we hoped would be a familiar routine.  She is heavier than before, which is also challenging for Mommy and Daddy's bad backs.  BUT... we are fueled by the hope that the osteotomies will fix her hip- or at least fix it enough to last several years between surgeries.  

7.  How are Mommy and Daddy taking breaks?

We received babysitting help this weekend!  We stopped by a house party and then enjoyed a dinner out.  We are grateful for the help, as Hip Chick is heavy to lift and diapering requires special care.  At the same time, Mommy and Daddy need time out together, as we need to ensure our relationship also receives attention.

8. Have either Mommy or Daddy attempted another solo excursion with Hip Chick?

Yes!  She stayed home from daycare on Friday, so Mommy took her out for a Mommy-daughter breakfast.  Breakfast was a positive experience, with the help of a Minnie Mouse stamp set.  

9.  Is Hip Chick generally well behaved during outings?

Not necessarily.  This morning, she began a breakfast with friends with some peppery meltdowns.  Clearly, her 3am awakening did not help matters- we just have to address each outing individually and hope they grow sunnier over time.

10.  With weather changing, how are we dressing Hip Chick?

Thankfully, we have enough hand-me-downs from Big Sis and a good friend to help us transition the seasons and a few extra purchases and gifts have rounded out what was lacking.  As before, we can most easily dress her in either dresses or shirts of an appropriate size.

11.  This is a fun time of year for children... what's next for Hip Chick?

We need to select her Halloween costume for this year and are a little stumped.  Who has creative suggestions?!