Spica: Weeks 4 & 5

Not much to report, just anxiously counting the days, hours, and minutes until we head back up to Shriner's on Wednesday 2/8. It's bittersweet because on one hand, we are relieved that this part of the treatment is over, yet we don't know if we are looking at an additional cast for 6 weeks or a brace she will wear part-time. We won't know until she comes out of surgery which way the treatment will go. So in some ways you could say mommy is not looking forward to next week because it could be news she doesn't want to hear.



Lately, mommy has wanted to take a pair of pruning shears to the cast. It has been pretty rough. It's frustrating when people say, "it's only 6 weeks". That is true until you live it, day in and day out. Mommy looks around at other moms and their squishy babies and still gets bummed out. One would think that she would be into the whole "acceptance" part of the process, but when your dealing with something in which treatment has no real end in sight, it still gets the best of you.

It can also be frustrating when we're out and people just stare at Madelyn. Really, we get it, it's an adorable baby in this ridiculous cast. But just ask instead of staring. We were out at an expo this weekend and it got to the point where when a group of people nearby would stare and whisper, mommy would just blurt out, "She has Hip Dysplasia, this is helping her femur form a hip socket correctly!" They stopped whispering and staring.



Although it is humorous when people ask mommy, "OMG!! How did she break her legs?!" Can you imagine a situation in which a baby would break her legs and then subsequently need to wear a half-body cast??




Madelyn has been struggling in her cast, too. She has become very, very clingy this week. Which is understandable, I would want my momma if I was immobile. We have a feeling she would crawl right out of the cast, but she probably won't have the leg strength to do it anyway.

Madelyn got two vaccines in the arm on Wednesday. For obvious reasons, they can't do the shots in the thigh, so they give them in her sweet, chubby arm and well, she only has two arms, they had to split them over a few weeks. So Madelyn was feeling pretty yucky and feverish these past two days.


Thankfully Mema & Papa Reynolds fly into town on Wednesday night. So whichever way the surgery goes, they'll be here for us. Grandma & Grandpa Douma will be flying in on Valentine's Day. They will be keeping us company and they have an inspection on their new home construction going on right up the road!

It'll be a fun-filled February!

Hopefully it will be cast free, too!

Spica: Week 3

Well we've made it to the "half-way" half-way point.


It seems that Madelyn has reached her frustrations this week (We have to give her credit, she made it further than mommy did). Madelyn and mommy have had a few rough nights sleeping, and even though naps start off nicely, Madelyn often wakes up shortly after going to sleep.



But we are very lucky that we have made it this far with little issues. Some "hip" moms and dads state they didn't sleep for three months. Others mentioned that they camped out in the living room, one parent per couch, and the baby on the bean bag. That sounds pretty rough, and luckily, the Sanborns haven't had it that bad.


It's official, the cast stinks. Mommy had to do some "investigating" into the cast with the headlamp to search for poop after an explosive diaper. But mommy was also checking for any sores or other irritations that could lead to an infection.



Mommy and daddy really miss those chubby legs. We're beginning to forget what's under that cast. It's hard to remember what it's like to hold her and squeeze her whole body, and scoop her into our arms. But it's all there, and just hibernating for the time being.



Madelyn seems to be frustrated more and more each day. She turns bright red, and screams. Picture a sort of baby "The Hulk". We imagine her busting out of her cast in a fit of rage.

Not only are we looking forward to the cast change/removal, but Mema and Papa Reynolds are coming for a visit that same week, and Grandma and Grandpa Douma will be back in February as well. Papa Reynolds hasn't held Madelyn since September so he's in for a real treat!!!




Mommy has been busy trying new "play at home" activities with Madelyn. They have bee playing with different color groups.




Mommy is putting together a sensory board with a variety of textures to touch and of course, Madelyn tries get those things in her mouth.




Mommy also made Madelyn some shaker cups with different foods to make sounds. These included walnuts, rice, cranberries, oats, beans, and pasta. Gotta love rubbermaids, they're so versatile! Oh and don't worry, these were always used under supervision, and the lids are frequently checked for tightness to prevent choking risks :)




So we've settled into our new "norm" now with everything from diaper changes to baths, car seat rides to runs in the stroller. Mommy is very grateful that Shriner's gave her a temporary Handicap parking permit. It makes trips to the store, the Dr., etc. a little easier. And when people see mommy get out of the car and try to understand why someone like her would need such a permit, they see a baby with a giant awkward cast being lifted up through the air out of the car seat into a stroller, and they keep walking.



Mommy has done finished some knitting for Madelyn this week. A little shrug sweater called "Confection". It should fit perfect right around Easter when Madelyn will be cast free. A matching hat is to follow.






Madelyn had a chance to see her 1st snowfall. Unfortunately because of the cast, we couldn't take her out in it. But we did dress her accordingly in her snow-family shirt. Not far from now she will be out there making real snow-families.



Well we're getting through it. Some days drag, and other days fly by. Mommy want this cast thing to be done but she is also loving all the wonderfulness that is Madelyn. We try to cherish every day and remember how quickly babies grow up. It's bittersweet, so for today, we will "be in the moment' and enjoy all that babyhood has to offer (even if it's with a Spica cast) ;)

Spica: Week 2

Ok, so we are really over this whole cast thing.....really.
Unfortunately, it's not going anywhere for four more weeks, at least.



Madelyn is perfectly content living in her cast.



But mom and dad (okay mom) would love more than anything for it to be off. This is partially because mom is already sick of the "OMG what's WRONG with her?!" or the awkwardness of carrying around a stiff, bulky 19 lb babe (don't get us wrong, Madelyn is held almost all day regardless of her bulkiness). But mostly, it has to do with change in completing the day to day things.

Like being careful when lifting her out of the crib (for her sake and ours). Conducting multiple middle of the night diaper changes for fear that our daughter will end up smelling like a urinal and developing whatever a "urine burn" is within the nooks and crannies of her cast (we may or may not have used a head lamp to do some investigating already).

Oh and now that Madelyn is on a "I only need to poop every 5-7 days" kick, we had a major blowout earlier this evening and all we need to say is the lovely white gore-tex that lined the inside of the cast is no longer white.....

Going to the store and running errands are normally a little bit of a hassle with a babe, but when you need a stroller for the babe and a cart for the food, it brings hassle to a whole new level. We found that the ErgoBaby carrier kind of works, except there is the metal rod pressing against one's stomach the entire time, but hey, whatever it takes.

Speaking of "whatever it takes", mom has kinda taken to that expression in regards to Hip Dysplasia......
"Whatever it takes" for our daughter to have healthy hips...

"Whatever it takes" for our daughter to be able to run half-marathons, paddle, swim, or Irish Dance like her momma one day. I mean, look at her, how could a mom not want to sacrifice a little normalcy for all of that.




So these days, Madelyn and momma are basically attached to the hip (hehe, pun intended!) Madelyn is basically in our arms for the majority of the day. Occasionally, Madelyn will nap in her crib and give momma a break. When she's awake, she's sitting on momma's lap playing in different rooms or in her booster seat at the kitchen table trying and refusing new foods.





We really try hard to not have her laying down on her back/head. The last thing we need is for her to need a helmet to treat Flat Head Syndrome (because she doesn't look ridiculous enough already). Another reason she doesn't lay on her back very much is because the cast kind of puts her at an angle, and we don't need a faulty diaper leaking into a mess up her back. And, as if we need another reason to justify keeping her sitting up, if she can't strengthen her legs and hips right now, momma is going to help her strengthen her neck control.





So in lieu of sounding so trite, we will end this on a positive note. Six months is quickly becoming our favorite age.



Madelyn giggles and laughs and loves to gaze at mommy while nursing and snuggling. Earlier on this very day the two sat and giggled back and forth for quite some time.

Parenting Co-Op class is a breath of fresh air for both mommy and Madelyn.


This week a fellow mom had a brilliant activity with paint/water ice cubes. It was supposed to go on the paper.
This is what we looked like after class.



Luckily we've got 4 weeks until the cast change/removal. We've decided not to think about what will happen after that surgery, since she could come out with a new cast or god willing, she will come out with nothing but a brace to wear part-time.

All in due time.

Spica: Week 1

So we survived our first week with the Spica cast. It went incredibly well. Diapering is a bit annoying (especially at 2 am) but we're figuring it out. We were lucky this week that Scott's parents stayed with us and helped us get through the initial trials, but honestly, it couldn't have gone better. Madelyn has really taken to her cast and it doesn't seem to bother her. Many people say that Hip Dysplasia doesn't hurt, but she has been amazing while in her cast, way better than the many days without it. So who knows. Scott says it's because she hasn't lost any mobility.

So how does one entertain an immobile 6 month old? Lots of hugging, cuddling,




trying new foods,




and of course, time with grandma and grandpa.


Overall, it was a great week. Madelyn learned to laugh out loud and would laugh all night! Becky and Maddy went to their first parenting co-op class in Richland. It was pretty fun and they met some other moms and their babes.

Madelyn had her 6 month checkup with some vaccines and a flu shot, in both arms. An unfortunate side effect of the cast. She once again proved how tough she is and had a pretty great day. We are blessed to have such a happy, adorable, sweet baby.