Wednesday, October 3, 2012
cleared
We saw Dr Lively again today, this time for a well baby checkup. Annabelle has been fever free since early yesterday afternoon, so he saw no need for her to not be able to have surgery next week. Her labwork all came back normal, so .... here we go!
Monday, October 1, 2012
102.2
102.2
Not a radio station.
Yesterday morning when Annabelle woke she felt hot. I took her temp and it was 101.8. A dose of Motrin, it came down to 99.8 and she was her happy little self until around 5pm when her fever spiked again. We gave her another dose of Motrin and the fever was back up to 101.8 at 8pm. A dose of Tylenol and she was good until the morning. She felt super hot when she woke this morning, and her temp was 102.2
I was worried all night last night because I didn't want anything to have to delay her surgery. I called the pediatrician as soon as the office opened and she saw Dr Lively at 11:30. It was oddly comforting, because his daughter also had hip dysplasia, although I'm not sure if she had to have surgery or not.
He couldn't find a cause for Annabelle's high fever, which was a bit frustrating - I was thinking maybe she had an ear infection or something. He said it could be viral, could be a UTI. But nothing obvious. So, we had to collect a urine sample and he sent her off for some lab work. We're back home now and she's acting a bit more like herself.
More comforting, he reassured me that if for some reason her surgery is delayed due to this (unknown) illness, it's for her health and safety, because the anesthesiologist will want her as healthy as possible prior to intubation - which makes perfect sense. I don't want to send a sick baby into surgery. I'm just so anxious already knowing her surgery is one week away, the prospect of having it delayed and having to wait longer is frustrating.
I'll do what's best for my baby girl though, that's my job.
Not a radio station.
Yesterday morning when Annabelle woke she felt hot. I took her temp and it was 101.8. A dose of Motrin, it came down to 99.8 and she was her happy little self until around 5pm when her fever spiked again. We gave her another dose of Motrin and the fever was back up to 101.8 at 8pm. A dose of Tylenol and she was good until the morning. She felt super hot when she woke this morning, and her temp was 102.2
I was worried all night last night because I didn't want anything to have to delay her surgery. I called the pediatrician as soon as the office opened and she saw Dr Lively at 11:30. It was oddly comforting, because his daughter also had hip dysplasia, although I'm not sure if she had to have surgery or not.
He couldn't find a cause for Annabelle's high fever, which was a bit frustrating - I was thinking maybe she had an ear infection or something. He said it could be viral, could be a UTI. But nothing obvious. So, we had to collect a urine sample and he sent her off for some lab work. We're back home now and she's acting a bit more like herself.
More comforting, he reassured me that if for some reason her surgery is delayed due to this (unknown) illness, it's for her health and safety, because the anesthesiologist will want her as healthy as possible prior to intubation - which makes perfect sense. I don't want to send a sick baby into surgery. I'm just so anxious already knowing her surgery is one week away, the prospect of having it delayed and having to wait longer is frustrating.
I'll do what's best for my baby girl though, that's my job.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
here we go again ...
We saw Dr Olney today to follow up with Annabelle's left hip and to see him prior to her upcoming surgery ...
Left hip is still in place! Praise God! He said it looks perfectly normal for her age. Right hip is still dislocated which we knew and expected to hear.
So, in 20 days, she will have her next surgery - an open reduction, in which he will make an incision in the crease of her leg (she can still wear a bikini when she gets older with no visible scar), go into her hip joint, clean the tissue buildup out of the socket that is preventing her hip to be in place, then reduce her hip into the socket, and she will then be put into a spica cast for 6 weeks. After that, she will return to the rhino cruiser.
Deep breath. I am scared beyond belief but know it's one step closer to hearing the words that I so long to hear: Healthy Hips.
Left hip is still in place! Praise God! He said it looks perfectly normal for her age. Right hip is still dislocated which we knew and expected to hear.
So, in 20 days, she will have her next surgery - an open reduction, in which he will make an incision in the crease of her leg (she can still wear a bikini when she gets older with no visible scar), go into her hip joint, clean the tissue buildup out of the socket that is preventing her hip to be in place, then reduce her hip into the socket, and she will then be put into a spica cast for 6 weeks. After that, she will return to the rhino cruiser.
Deep breath. I am scared beyond belief but know it's one step closer to hearing the words that I so long to hear: Healthy Hips.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
I was going to be brave.
I was going to be brave.
We did this before, right? We woke up well before dawn and drove our tiny girl to the hospital for surgery. We carried her down the hallway knowing we would soon have to hand her over to the OR team. We handed her over and watched the OR nurse carry her around the corner to the team that would care for her while under anesthesia. I sobbed as we helplessly took the elevator to the waiting room where I would pace until we got word that she was out of surgery. We waited in angst as we were waiting to hear her name called so that we could meet her in the recovery room. I rocked and held my sedated little girl and longed for the time she'd open her eyes and want to nurse again.
We did this already. So, next time, no big deal, right? That's what I've been telling myself.
I was going to be brave. With this surgery, we have no what-ifs. The outcome is definite: Open reduction, Spica cast for 6 weeks.
So, then why with every passing day that the day gets closer do I get more and more scared?
35 days until we do it again. 35. That's a fewer number of days than she'll actually in the cast. When I think about it, I'm nauseous. I don't want to do this again. I'm scared to death.
I know her condition is fixable. I know eventually this will all be behind us. I know there are far worse case scenarios out there that we could be dealing with. I know all of this.
It doesn't make me less scared.
I can't tell you what a helpless feeling it is to hand your child over to someone and know that you have absolutely no control over what is about to happen. I don't want to do it again. This is what our girl needs, so we will do it again. And again after that if we need to.
I was going to be brave.
So I'm going to try to be.
We did this before, right? We woke up well before dawn and drove our tiny girl to the hospital for surgery. We carried her down the hallway knowing we would soon have to hand her over to the OR team. We handed her over and watched the OR nurse carry her around the corner to the team that would care for her while under anesthesia. I sobbed as we helplessly took the elevator to the waiting room where I would pace until we got word that she was out of surgery. We waited in angst as we were waiting to hear her name called so that we could meet her in the recovery room. I rocked and held my sedated little girl and longed for the time she'd open her eyes and want to nurse again.
We did this already. So, next time, no big deal, right? That's what I've been telling myself.
I was going to be brave. With this surgery, we have no what-ifs. The outcome is definite: Open reduction, Spica cast for 6 weeks.
So, then why with every passing day that the day gets closer do I get more and more scared?
35 days until we do it again. 35. That's a fewer number of days than she'll actually in the cast. When I think about it, I'm nauseous. I don't want to do this again. I'm scared to death.
I know her condition is fixable. I know eventually this will all be behind us. I know there are far worse case scenarios out there that we could be dealing with. I know all of this.
It doesn't make me less scared.
I can't tell you what a helpless feeling it is to hand your child over to someone and know that you have absolutely no control over what is about to happen. I don't want to do it again. This is what our girl needs, so we will do it again. And again after that if we need to.
I was going to be brave.
So I'm going to try to be.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Rhino activities
 |
| In our Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair |
 |
| In the Rainforest Jumperoo |
 |
| In the Rainforest Jumperoo |
 |
| Wearing a small Halo Sleepsack at night, brace underneath |
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| Wearing a small Halo Sleepsack |
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| Swinging in the Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing |
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| In our new double stroller: Baby Jogger City Micro |
Saturday, August 18, 2012
rhino roll
Since we've been able to allow Annabelle more time out of her brace the last few weeks, she has really gotten mobile!
She rolled back to front without her brace a couple weeks ago, and the next day, she did it IN her brace - I was shocked!
She's also working on her version of crawling, which looks more like digging, as she digs her head into the floor and kicks with her legs until she scoots to whatever object she is trying to reach. She also rolls like crazy.
She still isn't crazy mobile when her brace is on, but I'm thankful she's meeting more of her milestones.
I had initially prayed that she wouldn't become mobile prior to her open reduction/cast placement so that she wouldn't get so frustrated and being unable to move, but it's such a joy to see her exploring and discovering her world. The 6 weeks in the spica cast will be long and stressful - but they are only 6 weeks. Only 42 days. That I can handle.
She rolled back to front without her brace a couple weeks ago, and the next day, she did it IN her brace - I was shocked!
She's also working on her version of crawling, which looks more like digging, as she digs her head into the floor and kicks with her legs until she scoots to whatever object she is trying to reach. She also rolls like crazy.
She still isn't crazy mobile when her brace is on, but I'm thankful she's meeting more of her milestones.
I had initially prayed that she wouldn't become mobile prior to her open reduction/cast placement so that she wouldn't get so frustrated and being unable to move, but it's such a joy to see her exploring and discovering her world. The 6 weeks in the spica cast will be long and stressful - but they are only 6 weeks. Only 42 days. That I can handle.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
one in, one out
A couple weeks ago I took Annabelle back to the Orthopedic Dr. She had an x-ray (she's old enough now - no more ultrasounds!), and we got some reassuring news. Her left hip is still in place, and looks good - Dr Olney is confident it will continue to stay in place, so she is now allowed 6-8 hrs a day out of her brace, and has no restrictions when out of her brace (except no Johnny Jump-ups). I promptly put our Jumperoo together that night. She's still more a fan of the Exersaucer than the Jumperoo, and I feel better about the Exersaucer because she can still wear the brace in it. I still kinda baby that hip.
Her right hip is still dislocated, which we know and expect. She'll have her open reduction in October that should fix it.
In the meantime, we're working on weaning her out of her brace, slowly. She is also now doing physical therapy for her torticollis. She's still pretty limited on her range of motion, and she detests the stretches we have to do for her. I'm praying it gets easier as her muscles stretch out. We have several sets of stretches we have to do 5-6x a day, for at least 5 reps. So, all-in-all, each stretch 25-30 times a day. It's a lot, but not that time consuming. It's just painful to watch her screaming, but to know it's what she needs. I hate seeing my baby uncomfortable.
Otherwise, all is well!
Her right hip is still dislocated, which we know and expect. She'll have her open reduction in October that should fix it.
In the meantime, we're working on weaning her out of her brace, slowly. She is also now doing physical therapy for her torticollis. She's still pretty limited on her range of motion, and she detests the stretches we have to do for her. I'm praying it gets easier as her muscles stretch out. We have several sets of stretches we have to do 5-6x a day, for at least 5 reps. So, all-in-all, each stretch 25-30 times a day. It's a lot, but not that time consuming. It's just painful to watch her screaming, but to know it's what she needs. I hate seeing my baby uncomfortable.
Otherwise, all is well!
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