Giveaways

So much to share!

I have been MIA for awhile on my blog... Been super busy with the little ladies, and finally... FINALLY enjoying some outside time here in sunny Arizona!

Let's get right to it.

I have been asked to be the Parent/Child advocate for the amazing parent-run organization, ONE HIP WORLD.  Honored is an understatement!  Since accepting, I have been busy as a bee trying to fight for hip kids everywhere... even if it's something small, it can mean so much to a family!

With that said- I wanted to share a few things that we are doing.

CastCooler Giveaway- This may be the most amazing product for a spica cast.  Honestly.  I don't know what we would have done without it.  The owner has teamed up with One Hip World, and donated 30 CastCoolers to us to give away!  You heard me right!  Pretty cool, huh?!  

ENTER HERE by clicking this!

Ivy Rose Spica Chairs- another must have!  The owner and creator, Stephanie, is doing a quarterly giveaway of a spica chair to a family!  This chair and table saved our life and provided Lucy with the chance to have a tad bit of freedom.  She ate in this chair.  She played and colored.  She rocked back and forth.  It was a lifesaver!

ENTER HERE by clicking this!

This was Lucy after her first surgery in her Ivy Rose chair!  AW!

Snug Seat.  This is the company that sells the Britax Hippo Car Seat.  Usually this car seat is loaned out to families via their hospital, but unfortunately, we have word that a lot of hospitals don't have any in stock to loan.  Parents are stuck with a big bill for a car seat to get their casted child around in.  The regular retail price is $500, and with the promo code, they will be $400.  20% off!  It's still expensive, but every little bit helps!  (Promo Code to come asap!)

The Parent's Guide to Hip Dysplasia book. Author and friend, Betsy Miller is simply amazing.  This book covers everything you need to know as a parent of a child with DDH.  Betsy is offering to donate copies of the book, as well as free ebook downloads!  WOW!  Still finalizing details. More to come!

That's going to be great for our overseas friends, who pay a lot in shipping costs.

Amazon.  One of my favorite online shopping sites.  One Hip World has become an Amazon affiliate and is now receiving 4-6% back on all purchases made through this link.  You HAVE to enter and purchase through this link only.  I am now going to order everything on Amazon!  Diapers, baby food, household items, etc... We also get extra percentages if someone signs up for Amazon Mom or Subscribe and Save.  With Christmas coming up, we could really raise some serious funds!  If you have a facebook page or a blog, please link up and support One Hip World with this link!

HERE IT IS:  

Boba baby carriers.  Another great partnership from one of my favorite baby items.  Boba carriers are hip friendly and simple to use.  You can read here about my love for Boba!  They are sending me a few donated carriers to give away, and I am in talks with them of a promo code for us!  Hip Hip Hooray!

More info on how to enter soon.

Another cool thing I have just found and started using is called Receipt Hog.  What is it?  It's an app for your smartphone.  You snap photos of grocery receipts, including Target/Wal-Mart, all grocery stores, drugstores, and dollar stores.  I even snap pics of my receipt from Starbucks at Target.  Since it's at Target, it still counts!  You get points for each receipt submitted.  The company will send you a check once you have reached a certain amount!  It may not be a ton of money, but if we can have 100 people do it, sign over and mail their reward checks in to the IHDI, we could raise a lot!  So download the app if you can!  Super easy to use.  How they can do it is this: they track your age and area and see what you buy, then sell that info to marketing companies.  Great way to earn some do-rey-me.

So you know you can't get away without seeing a few pics of the babes, and hearing an update. :)

We are all doing great right now!  Lucy is still in physical therapy, and making improvements weekly!  She loves her preschool, and is going to be doing a walk a thon at the end of the month.  (sniff sniff!)  

Lily is perfect in every way, just like Lucy.  Bias?!  Nope.  It's true.  They both are simply perfect.  

I am so happy to be the parent/child advocate for an organization like One Hip World.  It's so dear to my heart, and I am ready to tackle this head on!

Thanks for reading, and let's kick some hip dysplasia butt! 

This is why Amazon is going to be so great for us!  NO MORE MALLS!  

Yep, that's my baby on the ferris wheel. She lasted about one minute then said DOWN!

I melt every single time I see this!  Preschool pic!

My little darlings after our 'spa day!'

Guest Post: Tamara Hansen's JOY

“She will never have normal hips, but we can help her so she can do normal things.”  

Those are the words our beloved orthopedic surgeon said to us said softly to us as we talked over Joy’s bed in the recovery room after her last surgery.   It also words that I have replayed in my head over and over again since.  Right then I let the actual details of the surgery, and the previous ones, all slip away from my mind.  All the tears, heartache and fear kind of just melted into a puddle.  It wasn’t about looking over x-rays, or trying to understand the mechanics of her hips, or talking about what comes next.  His words right then summed it all up.  I found it comfort in his confidence and peace in his simple way of putting our journey in perspective.   We aren’t done.  She will never be free of this.  Yet, we will stay the course.  We will do whatever we have to do to give her “normal”.

He went a little bit further and talked about “playing sports and having babies” as examples of things he’d make sure she could do.  Wow.  What a sigh of relief, yet how terrifying too!

Of course I want her to feel capable of to running a marathon, joining the soccer team or whatever she makes her feel healthy and happy.   Having babies, that’s hard one to think about when she’s only in preschool, but sure I want her to be able to do that if she chooses also.  It isn’t about scoring the goals, being the fastest or giving me grandchildren.  It’s about her having the opportunities to do whatever brings her satisfaction.  Isn’t that all any of us really want for our children anyway, is for them to be happy? 

So, as I replay this message he gave us in my head I think about just that.  I think about how even though this has been one hard road and I hate to think about that we have more surgeries ahead,  that it will be all worth it.  It will be worth as it to know that as she grows up she may have to work harder than some, but she can do whatever  she wants to do.  That hip dysplasia is not stopping her.

Of course, I will always be her number one cheerleader, that’s my job as her mother.  On the outside looking in I am sure I will always be the loudest, most energetic and embarrassing mom on the sidelines.  Yet, on the inside I am terrified of letting her be normal.  It’s hard to admit, but it’s painful for me to watch her do some of the things other kids do.

I have not taken her back to Mommy and Me gymnastics since before her last surgeries.  Instead we play Yoga, gymnastics and dance class at home where I get to be the teacher according to my own comfort level.  When we’re out – just us, with friends or with our play-group I am constantly fighting the urge to hover over her on the playground – and those hips.  

Often the urge wins and I am spotting her as she climbs, asking if her anything hurts and holding my breath as she plays if not I am not in arm’s reach.   I hate that I am always following her, and I do try to keep a distance to give her a healthy space, but I am terrified to let her just be for long.  I have a few close friends that I trust to watch her while I nurse the baby, run to the restroom or grab something from the car but even that is hard.  It’s so hard to let go of the worry. What if she falls?  Will they see if she is wobbly and help her up?  What if one of her legs gets stuck or pulled?  What if she tries to do something her hips aren’t strong enough to do?  What if another kid grabs her by the legs?  What if she doesn’t tell me if something hurts?  What if whomever is watching her doesn’t  know her history?  What if they don’t understand?  What if they think I am just one of those “helicopter parents”? 

My mother always told me “what ifs” will make you crazy.  Okay, so I am crazy.   I  I don’t want to be like this.  It’s not healthy for any of us.  It’s hard though.  One of the hardest things I’ve ever to do.  Some days are worse than others, some playgrounds scare me more than others, the dynamic of some kids play concerns me more.  Sometimes I feel  more trusting, more secure and more brave that she will be okay.  That she knows her own limitations.  Then other times, if she is following someone around, I am terrified that she is going to try do what they are doing - but they don’t have hip dysplasia!  I am really working on this.  It’s a huge struggle for me right now. 

Especially that she just started preschool a few weeks ago.  We are doing a co-op so I work there once a week and she has a drop-off day once a week.  We have yet to do the drop-off.  I have written on her paperwork about HD, she really doesn’t have any restrictions but we don’t want her pulled by the legs.  I have talked to the teacher a little about her history and there are a couple of friends/moms there that know us well.  Yet, I am still so nervous.  I have been so tempted to tell everyone of them our story.  To please, please watch her extra carefully.  I had goose bumps when another mom stood up in front of all the parents at a meeting and asked them not treat her son who is going through his own orthopedic issues any differently.  I was in awe of her.  There was no way I do could do that. It was hard enough for me not to stand up and share our story and ask them to make sure they didn’t let anything happen to my baby girl and her precious hips.

But, I didn’t and I am not going to.  I am trying to let her just be a normal kid as much as possible.  As much as I want for her to have strong hips and be pain free, I equally want her to have a healthy amount of confidence and trust in her own abilities.  If I keep hovering over her and trying to keep her from feeling independent, than why I am putting her through her surgery after surgery?  Isn’t the whole point so she can “do normal things”? 

We have our big follow-up next week.  We have not had an appointment and x-rays since January, when she got out of her brace after 13 weeks in it full-time following her pelvic osteotomies last fall.  The bone grafts were looking great then, she started walking the same day and now running even better than before.  We do have things to talk over with our doctor, but he has assured us we deserve some successes along the way and we are on a break for a few years now.  Praying this stays the same.  Also praying for some positive news on the AVN front, that maybe some blood supply is returning to the femoral heads.  Of course I am in the midst of the week before an appointment anxiety big-time right now, so I am also replaying those words more than ever.  “….so she can do normal things”. 

Who knows, maybe she will take after me and be much more interested in getting elected for student government than trying out for the gymnastics team anyway? 

    

Guest Post: Betsy Miller

Ask and you shall receive...
I wanted to have another 'hip' friend do a guest post on my blog.
I am SO very honored that Betsy Miller offered to help me out.
ENJOY!





Hi, I’m Betsy Miller, the author of The Parents’ Guide to Hip Dysplasia. Today I’m going to talk a bit about my early childhood treatment for hip dysplasia. Back in 1962 when I was a baby, my mother noticed that something seemed wrong with my hips. I have two older brothers, so I think that’s one of the reasons my mom picked up the problem. Not to mention, she was a very smart person.
When a baby’s hips are both dislocated, it can be hard to spot hip dysplasia because both hips look the same. During a typical infant hip exam, doctors check for asymmetry (if only one hip is affected), and for a hip click—the sound of femoral head (the ball at the top of the thigh bone) going in and out of the socket when they move the baby’s legs a certain way. If the ball never goes into the socket, then there isn’t a hip click.
Sometimes these cases aren’t caught until a child is of walking age. The child isn’t in pain from the dislocations, but the hips tend to look wider than usual, sometimes the feet appear to turn out or in, and there’s a characteristic walk called a “waddling gait” once the child starts walking
Since we don’t have any family history of hip dysplasia, I’m not surprised that mine wasn’t caught when I was a newborn, but I’m forever grateful that I was diagnosed and treated. My parents took me in to be seen by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. In fact, they took me to a number of doctors for second opinions because they were hoping to avoid an open reduction (surgery that involves cutting open the hip joint). They chose the only doctor who was willing to try for a closed reduction. With a closed reduction, the child is put to sleep with anesthesia, and the doctor maneuvers the hip into place.
So off I went to the hospital for traction to loosen my muscles for the closed reduction. I was a baby, so I don’t remember this, but my parents told me that my mother visited me every day and breastfed me. The nurses disapproved, because at that time, the prevailing wisdom was that bottle-feeding was much healthier, but my doctor said it was fine for my mom to keep breastfeeding. I’ve also been told that when I got bored I would fling my pacifier across the room and yell until a nurse came in to give it back to me. Hmm, maybe I wasn’t their favorite patient.
To get on with my story, after the traction, I had a bilateral closed reduction. Then I wore a Petrie cast with a bar between the legs. After the cast came off, I wore a soft, cotton brace that my mother had sewed for me. I don’t remember wearing the cast or brace, but I do remember being put to bed in a frog legs position. My mother showed me the brace once when I was an adult.
I grew up running around and playing like any other kid. The only restriction I remember is when I asked for ballet lessons when I was about five. The doctor was concerned that might loosen my hips too much, though he said dance in general was fine. So I tried tap dance with one of my brothers, but then I got bored and went on to the next thing—probably jump rope , hop scotch, or roller skating.
Now that I’m 51, I’ve had to slow down a bit. I get hip pain if I stand or walk on concrete for a long period of time. At some point I will probably need total hip replacements, but that’s years away. There’s
no doubt in my mind that without treatment I would have had significant problems from my teen years onward.
Every hip dysplasia story is different. Your child will have his or her own path. Just remember when you’re traveling that path together, that in the end, you’ll get through it and your child will have a better life. That will be the gift you have given your child.

Baby carriers 101

Hello, and welcome to Baby Carriers 101!
I have been wanting to write this post for awhile, but going to the baby store the other day to look around really fueled my fire!
What happened you ask?!
I was walking by the baby carrier section.  Of course, the biggest end display was Baby Bjorn.  The sales lady was talking to a family about how great they are.  She said, 'it's great that your baby can face out and see.'  The lady said, 'I heard it's bad for their hips?' The sales lady said, 'oh no, that's not true.'
WRONG WRONG WRONG.
My blood is boiling at this point.  I am looking at her young daughter who is very pregnant, and thinking, OH MY GOSH what if she has to go through what we did with hip dysplasia?
I couldn't take it anymore.
Like a psycho stalker, I waited for the right moment and went over to them.  I said, 'I am SO sorry to bother you, and I don't mean to be weird, but my daughter was born with Hip Dysplasia.  These are the WORST carriers for any baby to be in.  It can cause their hips to dislocate.'
I went on to explain to them that my daughter has spent close to 1/3 of her life in casts and braces due to hip issues.  Thank goodness they didn't punch me in the face, and they were very receptive and asked a lot of questions... WHEW!  I led them to the good baby carrier section of the store, and they bought a BOBA carrier.  YAY!  Made my day.
So, let's get to WHY the front facing-crotch danglers are bad for your baby.

1.  Overstimulation.  A baby is learns from mom or dad's facial clues, and overstimulation of the world around them is NOT good.
2.  HIPS HIPS HIPS!  When a baby is facing forward, there is no support around the knee or thighs.  They are simply 'dangling' from the crotch.  With no support, the hips can slip out of socket.
3.  It's awful for the parent's back!  Front facing carriers are not good for the person wearing them, or the little person in them.

The pic on the left! YIKES!

Remember Lucy's cast?  Well, the cast keeps the baby's legs apart, in a frog leg position.  Why?  That is the best position for hip growth.  It forces the femur in to the socket of the hip, which makes for a happy hip joint.
Harnesses and braces that are used to treat hip dysplasia also keep the baby's legs frogged apart.

Any carriers, bouncers, slings, chairs that keep your baby's legs together or 'dangling' are NOT good choices for healthy hips.

With that said, do we use a bumbo chair?  Yes.  My 6 month old with good hips is allowed in there for about 10 minutes a day to watch me do dishes. :)  No more than that.
Same goes for jumperoos, excersaucers, and especially walkers.  Those contraptions do not allow the legs to be free, therefore can cause hip issues.  Again, if your baby is doing well at his/her hip checks with the doctor, a little bit of time in one of these things isn't going to hurt... just not for long.

If a baby carrier has support for the baby through the back of the thighs to the knee, most likely it's a good one!  Carriers that keep the baby's legs together are not good.  Even though there may seem like the baby can move if he/she wanted to, usually a baby won't fight against the material.  You want the legs to be able to fall open, aka good hip position.

Baby's hips and joints as newborns are very laxed due to the hormone, relaxin, that the mother produces and passes on.  The more you can support the joints at the hip, the better your baby will be.

TAKEN FROM THE IHDI SITE:


After birth, it takes several months for the joints to stretch out naturally. Babies that have been in the breech (bottom first) position may need even more time to stretch out naturally. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. During the first few months of life the ball is more likely to be loose within the socket because babies are naturally flexible and because the edges of the socket are made of soft cartilage like the cartilage in the ear. If the hips are forced into a stretched-out position too early, the ball is at risk of permanently deforming the edges of the cup shaped socket (hip dysplasia) or gradually slipping out of the socket altogether (hip dislocation). Hip dysplasia or dislocation in babies is not painful so this may go undetected until walking age and may also result in painful arthritis during adulthood. The risk of hip dysplasia or dislocation is greatest in the first few months of life. By six months of age, most babies have nearly doubled in size, the hips are more developed and the ligaments are stronger, so are less susceptible to developing hip dysplasia.

The most unhealthy position for the hips during infancy is when the legs are held in extension with the hips and knees straight and the legs brought together, which is the opposite of the fetal position. 

The risk to the hips is greater when this unhealthy position is maintained for a long time. Healthy hip positioning avoids positions that may cause or contribute to development of hip dysplasia or dislocation. The healthiest position for the hips is for the hips to fall or spread (naturally) apart to the side, with the thighs supported and the hips and knees bent. This position has been called the jockey position, straddle position, frog position, spread-squat position or human position. Free movement of the hips without forcing them together promotes natural hip development.

See how bent and flexed the baby's legs are?  Forcing them to stretch after birth can hurt their hips! 

I really wish pediatricians would have this discussion with new parents.  Or at least pictures describing good and bad carriers in their office.  Since they don't, yours truly is here to help:

See how the baby's crotch is the only thing supported in the bottom left photo?
See how in the slings the baby's legs are forced straight and together?
Please don't!

YIKES!  I can't believe this company can make these with a good conscious!
BAD BAD BAD!  Zero hip support.
Crotch dangling.

Zero support anywhere for the legs and hips.  Even though these are inward facing, they still have NO support!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

OK, Now let's get to the good ones!

HIP HIP HOORAY!
See how the baby is supported through the back of the thigh?  Total support for baby.

YEP.  Good ones!  Support!  I can't imagine being dangled by my crotch!  This  looks way more comfortable.

Super cute wraps and carriers.  Right on.

She's got it!  GOOD JOB mama.

Thank you to my beautiful model, BRIER and her amazing daughter Jocelyn for this photo!
Carrier shown is my fave, BOBA

See on the right how the baby's legs can wrap around mom or dad?  WAY better than the one on the left!

Buying a good carrier may cost $20-$30 more than a crappy one.  But trust me.  Surgeries and hip issues for life will cost you way more.  Mentally and physically!

Here is a list of brands I recommend:

BOBA- rated best baby carrier 2012

ERGO

BECO

MEI TAI

BABY K'TAN

MOBY

So the reason I like the Boba is this.

It doesn't require an infant insert.  

Super easy to put on.  It can support an infant all the way up to a big kid!

I hope this post has helped!  I also hope you will share it and pass it on!

- Karen

aka Lucy and Lily's mama!

Rate your Doctor

Hi all!

I have been meaning to put together this blog post for awhile.

As you know, we are truly blessed with Lucy's surgeon, Dr. Lee Segal at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
He has made a very bad situation a little more tolerable.  Trusting someone with your child is a big deal.  I am going to write PCH a letter telling them what a wonderful doctor he has been to Lucy.  They are a lucky hospital to have him there.

I think it's so important for us, as parents, to give credit where credit is due.  Many doctors, especially surgeons, have a bad reputation for poor bedside manner, for being hours late for appointments, and for not educating the parents about what is happening to their child.
BUT, like I said, I truly feel like the luckiest mom in the world.  God led us to Dr. Segal, no doubt about it.  I felt so comfortable with him on our first visit.  He was with us for quite awhile, explained things perfectly, and was up front and honest from the beginning.
Now, is the feeling mutual?!  Probably not!  HA!  He told me, 'Karen, you ask questions that no other parent has ever asked me before...'  I am sure I drive him crazy, but he knows me by now... he knows to just go with it. :)
Anyways...

There are a number of sites that you can 'rate your doctor.'
The good, the bad and the ugly ratings.

How nice would it be to be able to shout from the rooftops about how wonderful your doctor is, and how much they have helped your child?  Or, if you weren't happy with a doctor, shout that from the rooftops also!  The internet is amazing, and it's critical in today's society... Finding a competent doctor SHOULD be easy, right?!  WRONG!  It's hard as heck!  It's hard to find someone that  you and your child click with...
So come on moms and dads, let's help out others by recommending a great doctor.

So please, pass this on!

RATE your doctor.  Rate your surgeon.  Rate your physical therapist.
If we all do this, we could help some other family find a great doctor... or potentially steer clear of a doctor that we felt wasn't a good fit.

(Not all the available ratings or rankings sites provide correct information. It's up to us patients to figure out which ones are most useful as we judge a doctor's competence to diagnose and treat us.)

Here are a few sites!

Let's do this!!!!!


HEALTHGRADES

RATE MD's

VITALS

DR SCORE CARD--- Australia, UK and Canada too!

MD NATIONWIDE

HEALTHCARE REVIEWS

Quality time

Just a little update on what the Farrish Fam has been up to!

BUSY BUSY BUSY as usual!

We just got back from La Jolla, California.  La Jolla is an amazing little place in San Diego.  AH-MA-ZING!  We love it there.  We did a quick trip, but made the most of every single minute in the beautiful weather.

We arrived at our hotel, and as we pull in, guess what is next door?!  An ORTHO surgeon's office. 

Really??

Can't I escape DDH for a few days?

Anyways... We drop off our bags, and hit the beach!  My little Goose was so happy... She kept saying, 'OH WOW MOMMY!  Ocean!'  It was so sweet.  Our hearts melted once again when we saw her running on the beach, the water getting her toes, and the look of pure joy on her face.  Priceless.  Some parents may take that for granted.  Not us!  It was awesome.

The 2nd day there we hit Sea World!  We got there right as they opened, and we felt like we had the place to ourselves.  Shamu, Dolphins, you name it.  We saw it! 

We were so tired after that.  Lucy walked more at Sea World than she has in the last few weeks combined.  She walked up all the stairs to get to the dolphin show... the fatigue kicked in.  She was done.  Instead of hitting the beach again, we went back to our room, ordered room service, watched TV and went to bed.  

We had a quick trip, but it was great.  Totally worth the 5 1/2 hr drive to see the babe at the beach. :)

We had PT again today.  Miss Hilary really worked Lucy out today.  She had her do some exercise ball activities.  Twisting and reaching while laying on the ball on her tummy.  Lucy's trunk, core and glutes are still very weak and tight.  We are hoping to stretch them out and help her gain strength.  Hilary showed us some things to do while on the ball.  

We also did some single leg step ups, and man... broke my heart.  Lucy's left leg is still so weak.  She can't step up with her left leg without holding on to something.  After all the PT we have done, it's STILL that weak!  I can't imagine if we didn't do therapy how weak and tight her hip would be. 

Well, kind of a boring post today- but I wanted to get these pics up! (The 2 reason I write this blog is for Lucy, and also to help other parents)  

I hope Lucy can read this one day and see what she has been through as a child.

(If you are reading this I LOVE YOU LUCY!!!!!!!!!)

OH- before I sign off.  Lucy is potty trained.  It's been only 6 days and she's got it.  

Yes. 

She's a star!

                                                    Feeding the sea lions at Sea World

'MORE WISHIES!'  $25 in fish later..... (Yes, we are suckers!  Anything for this girl...)

Does this look like $100 of food?  The hotel sure thinks so....

It was a half hour before we got her out of this boat....

The star of the show!  SHAMU!

Lucy said 'CAST'  I said, 'do you need a cast??' She answered, 'YES'
So- I wrapped her legs up in blankets.  She then took it off and said, 'Dr. Segal- hip all better!'  Crazy how this is her 'normal'

At Coyote Cafe in Old town San Diego.
They serenaded Lucy!  She loved it... 'MORE SING!'

At San Diego Harbor seeing the pirate ships

JOY

Yes.  We needed a 5 foot pink dolphin to lug around all day at Sea World....

Feeding the sea lions...

Nothing better

She loved being in the hotel!!!

'Hewwwwwohhhhh?  Gwamma???  Bye.'

Summer time

Summa-summa-summa time!
Well, I am really not THAT excited that it's the middle of summer.  In Arizona, we have had temperatures that will fry your skin off!  118 degrees a few weeks ago... yuck!  We try to get all of our stuff done in the morning, then stay inside after noon... Gotta love Phoenix...
Anywho...
Today was a great day.  Lily had her 6 month precautionary x-ray with Dr. Segal.  She already had her 6 week ultrasound, and all was okay, but an x-ray will only show bone once the baby is 6 months.  All was great!  Her angles were 25 and 26, and her hips are in the socket and looking perfect.  Thank goodness.  She hasn't had any of the signs thus far, but it's been in the back of my mind for awhile... I couldn't sleep at all last night.  I kept thinking, 'oh my gosh, what if she has to have a surgery.'  I was scared.  We can put that to rest now.  Dr. Segal said for peace of mind, he wants to do a 1 year x-ray to give an all clear.  That will be right around the same time as Lucy's follow up, so I am hoping for a Christmas gift of TWO all clears!

We have been staying so busy getting ready for our San Diego trip!  We are taking Lucy to the beach to celebrate her recovery.  (Seems to be a tradition) We are going to La Jolla again.  Lucy LOVES the ocean.  She loves sand buckets.  Dolphins.  You name it.  Anything ocean- totally her thing.  I think that she must think the Bubble Guppies live there.  Hope she isn't disappointed... :-)  Maybe seeing Shamu will keep her mind off the guppies.

Today the wheelchair place came and picked up the wheelchair.  So glad to see that thing go.  Strangely enough, Lucy LOVED that thing.  I mean, LOVED it.  In the hospital, we decorated it with Bubble Guppies stickers, and we told her it was a Guppie stroller, and that the guppies sent it for her.  From that moment on, it was called a guppie stroller.  Every morning when she wanted to get out of her bed, she would say, Guppie stroller, mama.  Even the other day, as we were walking hand in hand to her Gymboree class, we walked past a handicapped parking sign.  She said, 'what's that?' and I said, 'a man in a wheelchair.'  She said, 'No, guppie stroller!'  Every time she sees anyone in a wheelchair, she gets excited and yells, GUPPIE STROLLER!  People are probably like, 'what is up with this?!'
So funny how kids are so awesome... She's at the perfect age to 'fudge' a little and tell her things to get her through.  If she would be a little older, she may not buy what we tell her. :)  Hey--- gotta do what you gotta do to get through the day.

Lucy's walk is improving, but still far from 'right.'  She flails her arms a lot for balance and is very weak on the operated side.  I always remind her when going up stairs or a curb, to 'start with your other foot.' When going down, I tell her to start with her right foot. (weight shifting over the left leg)... so that's a constant in our lives, has been for over a year actually.  May be forever... who knows.

Yesterday was 'one of those days.'  Just a lot on my mind and had a panic attack over Lucy's future.  I think with Lily's appointment, things just built up and I lost it a little... Hearing and seeing stories of what hip dysplasia has done to some people scares the be-Jesus out of me... I know I can't control it, I know I can't change it, I know a tree could fall on me tomorrow... Some things are just out of our control.  Days like yesterday is when I just say to Lucy, 'Mommy will ALWAYS fight for you and do everything she can to make your life the best EVER!'  Then she looks at me in between her Ipad games and says, 'yah okay... ice cream cone?!?'  Really deep, huh?!

Her scar is healing well, I am using the Mederma for kids cream every day and massaging it in.  Hopefully that will help it.  Dang- it's a big scar.  She was standing up in the tub last night and it took my breath away a little... it's long.  Her body is so little that it's just heartbreaking to see this huge scar on her.

Lucy is officially enrolled in a pre-school program!  It's only 2 days a week for 2 hours a day.  Just enough time for me and Lily to go grab a coffee and do some shopping. :)  Her BFF, Hannah is also going to pre-school at the same place.  Gonna be awesome!  The kicker is this... She has to be potty trained.  UMMMM... yah.  We started that months ago.  Then had to stop due to surgery.  So we are going to be in 'potty training boot camp' when we get back from our trip.  We are also moving her in to a big girl bed, and Lily into a crib and out of the bassinet.  Good times ahead.  Ha!  Wish me luck...

I have asked a few people from our hip group to do a guest post for me... I am so excited to get it and post it for everyone... One lady is from California, and the other is from England.  Both have been through this for too long.  They are going to have an interesting post...

That's all for now- but be prepared to be on 'photo overload' once we get back from vacation. :)  Last year she couldn't walk on the beach, so this year---watch out.  The babe in the pink tutu bathing suit will be taking over San Diego. (Let's just hope this same babe SLEEPS at night since we are all in one room... )



Here are some pics and video.  ENJOY!

Lily happy after a good hip report!

She is getting so big!  And yes, her braids melt my heart!

Two loves of my life!

Working those hips in the pool at Grandma's house

3 Farrish girls (excuse the no make-up, I have no time for it anymore)

Lily loving kisses form us!

Lucy rockin' her HOPE THE HIP HIPPO SHIRT while 'petting' her sister

Cousins <3

Dancing with her BFF, Hannah