One week of casting remains!! We have enjoyed a festive week here in the Hip Chick household, especially due to the unusual timing of a religious holiday. Big Sis joined us on Wednesday for a candle lighting, gifts, and pie baking. We four headed to a relative's home on Thanksgiving Day to join extended family for additional merriment. On Friday, Daddy and I enjoyed our sixth date night since her diagnosis and we hosted neighbors for a little holiday fun last night. Wow- who is this family and how did we pack so much into one extended weekend? A hopeful glimpse into the future.
Below are additional thoughts.
1. Prior posts indicated additional difficulties regarding diaper leaks- has the resolved?
No. We are incurring more overnight leaks than ever. Hip Chick now pulls out the additional pads I stuff into her cast in the middle of the night- perhaps due to boredom, defiance, or both. We cannot resolve the issue by placing her on her back to sleep, as she can easily flip herself onto her back in the dark- and will do so without hesitation. And due to her late bedtime, there are not any good opportunities for additional red eye diaper changes unless Mommy and Daddy want to stop sleeping completely. This is driving Mommy bananas. BUT, we are near the finish line.
2. How is Hip Chick's mobility?
She making us hyper-vigilant with Cirque du Soleil-esque acrobatic attempts. She performs log rolls back and forth on the floor. She can now balance well enough to stand unaided... so she attempts to propel herself off of anything she can (beds, couches, etc.) in effort to stand. On Thanksgiving, she had a very difficult time resisting a stairwell. She can hold onto our hands and swing her legs to "walk." There will be no shortage of motivation when it is time for her to relearn to walk.
3. Did we alter any of her holiday gift plans due to her hip dysplasia?
We upgraded her play kitchen. This served multiple purposes. First, we expect it to encourage her mobility- crawling, stretching, standing, walking. Second, we expect it to foster independent play. Third and perhaps most importantly, cooking is an interest she can develop regardless of her physical condition, as we do not know what her future holds.
4. How is Hip Chick's disposition?
She remains volatile. Thanksgiving Eve, in example, she rallied until after 11pm. Due to all of the noise, Big Sis could not sleep and was awake until after midnight. Hip Chick awoke again at 3:30am and it took Mommy the better part of an hour to settle her back down. She greeted the sun with a series of screaming meltdowns that carried us until we left to meet family on Thanksgiving Day. She did not nap that day, did not go to sleep until after 10pm, and then awoke the family at 3:30am the morning after Thanksgiving. I cannot say this is unusual.
5. How is Big Sis and Hip Chick's relationship?
It is as strong as ever. After nearly 10 months of traction, casts, and surgeries, they don't really know much different anymore. At least, Hip Chick doesn't. She sobs giant tears when Big Sis leaves for her "other house." Clearly, Big Sis handles Hip Chick's physical condition with enough grace and understanding that their sibling bond is unaffected.
6. What remains in this last week for Hip Chick?
The "Twelve Days" series will cover that nicely. A bigger question is, "What will Hip Chick's hip do once the spica is removed?" Earlier this year, she hit every "best case scenario" while the spica casts remained, then her hip redislocated within two weeks of the second spica's removal. What will happen this time?
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