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.