Keeping a two year old sane in a hip spica cast!

The summer of 2012 with Grant in the hip spica cast was probably the hardest thing I've been through as a parent so far.  It's was physically and emotionally taxing for all of us.  Grant was so heavy and awkward in the cast, we had sore backs and arms for weeks.  He, of course, was uncomfortable, hot, itchy, stuck, and totally dependent.  We became very creative on trying to do "fun" things with Grant.  I've googled, searched, and You-Tubed many ideas to learn anything I can. 

This was one of Grant's favorite things to do, "tractor ride!"

 

We learned more than we ever wanted to know about the femur, hospital beds, positioning to avoid bed sores, car transportation and harnesses, and keeping a "stuck" two year old content. Most of all we were reminded how hard it can be at times to be a parent.  I wanted so badly to be the one that was hurt. 

He became a bit too obsessed with the ipad.  Look at those arm muscles!!

We were lucky to have a great Orthopedic Surgeon, who is also a friend, take care of us.  He reassured us, educated us, calmed us, and he and his staff were great with Grant.  Actually, Grant still often times talks about going to see Dr. Mike. 

Ice cream time with family!

We had the challenges of cleaning him, changing his diaper, feeding him, and keeping him comfortable. Jenna was a great big sister and was very helpful with Grant. She would lay on the floor and played with him, watched the same movies over and over with him. I will never be able to watch Cars or Monsters Inc. without thinking of that summer. Jenna would also be careful not to talk about fun things she was doing like going to the movies, swimming, playing outside. She was so considerate.

The hammock in the shade was another option for him to have a change of scenery,

At the time, the days dragged, and I marked a big black X on every day, to slowly see the end getting closer. It actually worked to our benefit that Grant was so young. He healed much faster than an older child or adult would. He was in the cast for almost six weeks. Just like they did to put him in the cast, they put him under anesthetic to remove it also. The cast is so big and it's a process, so it's easier this way.

getting some tummy time!

I was so excited and nervous that day. What if it was too early to take it off? What if he got hurt again? At least with that God awful cast he was protected. What if he was in a lot of pain? How would I hold him and move him around and be sure I wasn't hurting his leg? How scared would he be? We were going to have to prepare for a different norm for a while. 

Itchy itchy skin!

 

 

It's tough to nap in that cast.  He finally fell asleep while the vacuum was running.

Three Year Pediatrician Visit

This is for the records...I have a tall one on my hands!

Jenna is 39", putting her in the 100th percentile for height!
She's 35 pounds, putting her in the 95th percentile for weight!

She did good at the appointment until the nurse came back in the a chicken pox vaccine shot. After the shot and after she could breath again from crying so hard, she pointed her finger at Nurse Mary and said, "Mary, that wasn't very nice! Don't do that again!"

Mary - she told you!

Give us a break!!

Please...give us a break! No more hospital visits, surgeries, medical issues...We've each had our share now! I had my miscarriage, Erik has his stay in the hospital for chest pains, and now Jenna! Of course, I would have gladly broken my leg if she wouldn't have had to go through this, but it didn't happen like that! We deserve a break! Of course, yes, things could have been worse, but it has just been draining the last couple of months.

Last week was awful! Jenna fell at school and chipped and fractured her front tooth vertically, which resulted in surgery on Friday morning to remove the tooth. It was painful physically and emotionally for all of us! Our beautiful little girl now has a big gap in her smile and most likely will until her permanent tooth comes in. The tooth is actually in two pieces! She was sedated and had an IV and then proceeded to get sick after coming out of the anesthetic. We are doing a follow up to see if there is a bridge or spacer they can put in, until then we are letting her heal! She is as cute as ever to me and was SUCH a trooper through the whole process.

Here are a few pictures.


The last picture I took of Jenna with her smile and teeth intact!



The tooth and chin after the fall at daycare.



Her smile this morning after surgery!

The Eye Doctor

We had a follow-up eye appointment today for Jenna. She did not want to be there and from when we first walked in the door, she was asking to go home. We found out she needs a stronger lens in her left eye and honestly, her far-sightedness can't get much worse in that eye. The Dr. thinks it will start getting better. With that said, the good news is that he doesn't think she will need surgery at all, which is great!

She was a handful while we were there and he didn't even touch her. We got in the exam room and she started saying she wanted to leave and go out the door and go home. Then he asked is she wanted to watch cartoons...

Well, all of the sudden he was her best friend for about 30 seconds until she asked for a princess movie and he only had Finding Nemo or Tom and Jerry. Then she started fussing and crying again. Then he told her she could pick a toy out of the toy chest is she was good and she liked that idea for about 15 seconds until she decided she wanted candy and a sucker, not a toy.

In the end, we survived and are thankful we don't have another check up for six months!