1 Amazing Year!

Hello from sunny Arizona!  
We are almost hitting 100 degrees already, and it's official.
It's SUMMERTIME!  
Usually I get ill at the thought of facing another summer, but we have had a super busy year, so we are ready to chill out a little bit, enjoy swimming and splash pads, and go on plenty of ice cream dates to cool off. :)
Tomorrow is May 20.  Exactly 1 year ago my Lucy had her Dega Pelvic Osteotomy.  If you aren't sure what that means, here's a link to describe her surgery.  (YIKES!)
It doesn't feel like a year ago at all… It feels like a really, REALLY long time ago.  I guess that's because Lucy is amazing me every single day, and I honestly don't feel like I have as much of the constant worry that I used to.  (Notice I said 'as much.'  There's still a ton of anxiety and worry every single day, but it's better.)
So, what have we been up to?!  
Lucy just completed her first year of preschool.  It was probably the best decision we have ever made, putting her in this school.  She has the nicest friends, who have the nicest parents… therefore we are all going to be friends for life!  Her class put on a Mother's Day tea party for all the moms, and sang us a few songs, and it took every ounce of my strength not to bawl the whole time.  Seeing her sing, 'I LOVE MOMMY' made my heart burst with pride and joy. 
HERE IT IS!!!  Cutest ever...
We still are attending physical therapy, but will soon be done, and on a monitoring basis.  Lucy still… STILL has trouble going up a stair without holding on, with her left leg.  It's crazy how much muscle strength she is still working on gaining back.  
We have her enrolled in swim class, and it's been really great for her!  Our physical therapist said she gets a lot of propreoceptive input in the water, so she can really go to town!  I watch her swim every week, and I can't believe that she is the kid in the water… she looks like a 6 year old in there!  Again… PROUD!!! So proud of this girl.
The difference one year has made… 
I see all of these new parents on our hip group, and my heart really goes out to them… however, I am so happy to share our story and remind them that things will get better… I feel like my Lucy is a success story, and will continue to be a success story.  
So, with that said, the babes are waking up…
I just wanted to do a ONE YEAR post and say this:

#TAKETHATHIPDYSPLASIA

My little fish!

Buddies for life!

You know, just hanging out playing FROZEN!

Did you know?!  Anna and Elsa live here...

Celebration lunch after the last day of school

PURE JOY

If there is an hour that goes by that she isn't dressed up and singing LET IT GO, it's a miracle

Saying goodbye to our favorite doctor and the best surgeon in the world… Thank you Dr. Segal for treating Lucy like she is your own!  We love you!!!! 

At Disney on Ice….

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

Final x-ray!

WHEW!

We are home from the dreaded x-ray! 

We got to PCH children's center early, and Grandma and Grandpa Farrish met us there.  I was doing okay until we pulled in the parking lot.  Right when we pulled up I felt my heart racing and a sick feeling.  There was a little voice in my ear saying, 'what if this doesn't work?'  

We got in fairly quickly, and Aaron took Lucy in for the x-ray.  (She always wants daddy to take her in.)  We get in to a room, and in walks Dr. Segal. 

Lucy's face lights up when she sees him.  She loves him all of a sudden. :-)

He bends down to her wheelchair, takes her pillow off, and shoves it in the trash!  I mean SHOVES it! He looked at me and smiled, and I knew all was perfect!  BEST FEELING EVER!  

He did a full exam, leg length check, knee height check, had Lucy bend her knees... He then picked her up, put her on the ground and said, 'walk to mommy.'

I looked at him and said, 'are you serious??'  He said, 'yah, of course I am.'  (He really isn't the joking kind...) 

Lucy got the biggest smile on her face, and took 3 steps and landed in my arms.  I can't even explain the look of joy on her face.  I got tears in my eyes, and almost felt frozen in time.  I did not expect her to walk for weeks, let alone same day... 

Dr. Segal said that her angles are still a little high, but he is hoping that when her cartilage turns to bone, that will lower the angles of the hip.  (The AI angles are measured from the bone, and surrounding the bone is the cartilage, so it doesn't count in the angle measurement.)  

Anyways... we don't have to go back in for another 6 months!  I asked him if she has any restrictions, and he said NOPE!  Let her do what she wants, and LOTS of swimming.  

It was so busy in there today.  We had to wait for a room to see Dr. Segal.  I didn't get a chance to take a pic of the x-ray... darn it!  Sorry!  All I needed to hear is that 'the bone is healed.'  

Thank you God!

We got home and Lucy said, 'Lucy WALK!'  She walked in the house and ran straight to the fridge and played with all the magnets, then went and tore the play room upside down.  I am currently sitting in a tornado of a mess!  Toys EVERYWHERE!  I am loving it.  SO happy my little lady is back. :-) 

(I am also so happy that both girls are napping.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh)

Tomorrow we are going to Grandma's house to swim, then my husband and I are going on a date!  My sister is going to come over and watch the girls.  We need a break.  It's been a heck of a month!

Again, thank you to our wonderful friends and family!  We love you all!

Here are 2 videos of my perfect angel a few minutes after pillow removal!  ENJOY!

Abduction pillow

Short post tonight, but wanted to share with you guys a little bit about this pillow!
I made a video of how it goes off and on, and how Lucy is able to move around in it.

I can't say it enough.  WAY better than a spica cast!  Lucy can actually move!

Anyways...

CLICK HERE to see our totally homemade video of the big, blue pillow!

She can even ride Rudy the donkey...

..... or play catch with her feet....

Can you tell Lily is thrilled to be a part of Lucy's band?!

WEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In a spica cast, there is no way she would be able to sit up like this.  Core muscles are so important!
It took her so long to build those up after the last cast... this time she's using them even more...

MORAL OF THIS STORY:  The pillow sucks.  BUT, it's a ba-jillion times better than the cast!  

Night!

Wild Child

I have never thought of Lucy as a 'wild child.'  She is honestly the best 2 year old I have ever seen.
BIAS?!  Maybe a tad... but really.  This kid is pure perfection.
She listens.  I would tell her, 'Luc, don't move, mommy will be right back.'  She will put both of her hands on her lap and say, 'right back mama.'  I have to just look at her most of the time when she is acting up and she stops... she never EVER wants to make her mommy upset.  So many friends of mine do 'time outs' with their 2 year old.  Never once have I done that with Lucy.  She is very sensitive.  Very sweet.  A 'pleaser' type personality...

Until the pillow.

Dun dun dun... the big, blue pillow.

Now, as much as I complain about this pillow, it's 5 billion times better than the spica cast.  Actually, there is no comparison at all since the spica cast wouldn't allow her to sit up on her own.  It would go up to her armpits, making it to where she would have to lay down most of the 6 weeks.  The pillow allows for a lot more movement, a lot more core use, and a lot more worry for mama!
After hearing Dr. Segal say 'it could be 4 weeks, but I would feel better if she did the extra week,' in my mind, I know her hip is healed.  I think that's why I didn't fall on floor with a heart attack yesterday.  What happened you ask?

My sister was over visiting and helping with the girls... Lucy wasn't napping, so I went in her room and gave her some juice and the Ipad to have some quiet time.  (She usually plays for a little bit after waking up... she likes to do puzzles and watch Leap Frog)  We have the toddler bed barrier thing up after taking off the front side of her crib.  We did that because there was no way to lift her in and out of the crib.  You have to lift her like a baby, so with her being 32 lbs, it's tough!
Anyways...

The baby monitor is on, and I hear her laughing and playing... Until she says, 'MAMMA!  MAMMA!' That's pretty normal for her to yell when she is ready to come out... The sound echoed down the hallway and sounded like she was VERY close.  I run and turn the corner, and there she is.  The little booger was sitting on her bottom, just her shirt and diaper, scooting on her bum down the hallway.

OH.  MY.  GOSH.

My sister came running behind me and it was just this moment of silence where we didn't know what to say.
Lucy broke the silence by raising her arms up victoriously saying, 'YESSSSSSSSS!'
I just looked at my sister and said, 'I am at a loss for words for once in my life.'

I picked Lucy up and put her back in her bed.  I said, 'show mommy how you got out.'  She put her head down because she knew she shouldn't have done that.  What does she do?  She puts her hands on the side of the crib and pulls to a stand and says, 'TADA!'
I quickly said, 'NO Lucy!  You can't stand yet, not til Dr. Segal says you can.'  She said, 'OK mama' and then did it again.
(That night when my husband got home, the crib front went back on.  My back will just have to deal with leaning over with a 32 lb kid for the next week.)

My once perfect listener is over it.  Over the pillow.  Over sitting down for the last month.  Over restrictions.  Over surgeries.  Over doctors.  Over everything to do with DDH!
I don't blame her because I am over it, too!

Good news is that she was finally able to have a real bath.  That was pretty awesome.  We have even done 2 baths in one day just to kill some time...

Somehow through this surgery, I have managed to really try to stay positive.  Lucy understands things now, so she feeds off me.  I try NEVER to blame the pillow for anything.  Like, for example.  She will say EVERY DAY to me, 'gymnastics?'  (breaks my heart) but I say, 'no baby, it's not open today, pretty soon,' instead of saying, 'not til your pillow is off for good,' or 'we can't because of your pillow.'
It's a whole new ball game with a kid that understands...
I also say to her almost daily, 'do you want to go with mommy to the store and show everyone your pillow?  It's so awesome!'  She will say, 'yah! Lucy's pillow awesome!' and then she pets her pillow. :)
It's really sweet... if she would have been closer to 3, she wouldn't buy what I'm selling... but she's at the perfect age right now...

My husband was saying he thinks she's going to miss her 'Guppie stroller' aka the wheelchair.  We see people in the mall in a wheelchair, and I tell her, 'look baby!  They have a guppie stroller too!'  She gets so excited...

The BEST piece of advice I have heard through this journey is:

'Don't make her hate this as much as you do.'

It's true.  It's the advice I will pass on to new parents dealing with DDH.  A lady on our group's little girl had surgery last week.  Before her surgery I spoke to her mom on the phone... Mom told me how the 4 year old girl is actually excited to get a cool colored cast!  My answer was, 'GO WITH IT! Tell her how special she is, and tell her all of the fun things you can do together while she's casted.'  As a parent, that's rough since you know it's so much more than this... but a child's mind is so simple and innocent.  So that's it:  'don't make her hate this.'

And she hasn't, because I haven't let her.  We have pulled together as a family.  We have wonderful friends... we haven't let this get the best of us...

Just as things are coming to a close (8 more days!)... I now have a new way to describe Lucy other than perfect, amazing, wonderful, joy, love..... WILD!

I should have known when she was dancing in the hospital on the 2nd night we were there, that I was in for it this time... (thank God for pain meds!)

Or 4 days post surgery when she is rolling all over the place...

Or a few weeks ago as she is doing her 'Jungle Book' dance...


Actually, I am not going to call her wild.  I am back to calling her...

Perfect. :-)  I wouldn't have this little monkey any other way than what she is.  Everything about her, even scooting down the hallway after breaking free, is perfect.  <3

And there she is... scooting away!

Making a shirt for sister and her that match

Grandpa came over and Lucy was helping feed sister

You know it's love when she shares her pirates treasure

This toy has been so awesome... its colored pieces of paper that slide in a plastic case with cut outs.  You pop the colored buttons to make the picture... pretty cool

This was our second movie!  The LORAX.  It's part of the theater's summer movie program... super fun!

2 week follow up

I am a tad bit behind with my blog update... :)
Man, a toddler that is restricted AND a 4 month old is taking about every second of my day...
BUT...
they are both asleep, and I have my Trenta Iced Green Tea from Starbucks and I am ready to type away.

As some of you may know, this pillow is... well... it's off just as much as it's on.  Not by my choice... Lucy has taken matters in to her own hands...
The first week or so, things were okay.  She never thought of taking it off.  Then- one morning I walk into her room, there she is.  Naked as a jaybird.  No pillow.  No diaper.  No shirt.  She said, 'Mommy!  I sleeping!'  From that moment on, our pillow friend has been kicked off during every nap and every night.
I have threatened her.  I told her the wolf (long story) is going to come in her room and get mad at her.  I told her the Dr. is going to get mad.  I have done everything in my power.  It doesn't work.  She is two.  She feels great, and she's ready to roll.  YIKES.
(The 'wolf' is actually a fox on the Nick Jr. show Peter Rabbit.  She calls him a wolf and always says 'scary!!'  I figured that might scare her to keep it on.  Nope.)
With our 2 week 2 day appt, I was scared to death that this bone wedge had moved.

We arrive to Phoenix Children's Hospital and for once, Dr. Segal is on time!  Shocker!
We get the x-ray, and are walked over to our room to wait for Dr. S.  We see him walking by as we turn the corner and what does he do?!  Walks over, sticks his hand in Lucy's bag of gummy bears, takes one, eats it, and says 'That said Dr. Segal on it.'  HA!
He comes in the room and starts talking to Lucy about Houdini.  He tells her that he could escape from any contraption, just like her!
He took her stitches out and said she is healing beautifully!  I said, 'well, I hope her x-ray is as beautiful.'  He said, 'it's fine' under his breath.
He pulls it up on the computer, and WHEW.  Looks awesome!
Thank you GOD.
He explained that her AI angles have decreased already, and will continue to do so as she grows and her cartilage turns to bone.  The AI is acetabular index.  Basically that means the angle of the socket.
Her number was at 34, now post surgery it is 27.  20 is about ideal right now, but he isn't worried about it at all, and says the bone growth will occur.
I told him, 'I have a confession.  Lucy stood up wearing her pillow.  AND she takes it off all the time.'  His answer??  'Do the best you can.  She looks great!'
He then asked how 2 more weeks sounds... Wait- what?!  REALLY!?!?  I was like 'heck yes that means only 4 weeks total!'  He was all on board with it.
Then- he said, 'no, let's wait til the following week.'
I asked him, how did he change his mind that fast?!  He said he would feel better with that extra week.  No, it's not going to kill me- but to shave off that time would have been nice.
OH WELL, not that it's 110 degrees here now or anything... and we are stuck inside...with a baby and toddler... No big deal. What's another week.
:-P
So, there ya have it.
June 26 is our magical date of the final x-ray and pillow off.  (Well, pillow off for good)

Ironically- one year ago yesterday marked the day that Lucy got her cast removed last year.  What a year it has been.  Never would I have thought that we would have 3 surgeries under our belt, 3 body casts totaling  16 weeks, 6 weeks of a brace, a pelvic osteotomy and a BIG, ugly, removable pillow.  Wow.  What a year it's been.

One thing I have noticed with this time around, is that people are SO much nicer!  When Lucy had her cast on and was in our stroller, we would have people staring, asking us 'how did you break her legs?' and gasping as we walked by.
This time, I can't even begin to tell you all the free stuff Lucy has gotten!  Managers at stores have given her free chips, hats and candy!  The aquarium that we visit gave us a free buddy pass for next time... a nice man in line at Target bought Lucy Doritos.  At Starbucks they gave her a free vanilla milk.  People walk by and purposely say how cute she is... I guess a child in a wheelchair breaks your heart.  I guess I never thought of her that way- as heartbreaking- just because I know the truth.

I know as she is strolling through the mall, with her new hat, eating a bag of Doritos, sipping on her Starbucks Vanilla Milk... that she could rip this pillow off in about 2 seconds flat, stand up, and be GONE.  It's funny.... It's almost like our little secret.... :)

Until next time folks....

Ashlyn and Kyla. 2 of the sweetest girls in the world hanging out with the other sweetest girl in the world!  They are so excited to come over and play with Lucy and Lily!

Waiting for Dr. Segal

OK, the pic on the left is her before x ray.

Notice on her left hip (right side on pic) the socket doesn't cover the femur?

Now on the right picture- that's the x-ray from her visit.  The bright white area just above the green line- that's the cadaver bone wedge... Notice how the socket now covers her femur?  Yep, that's the point...

Celebration lunch

Makes me sad.  This is her incision after he removed stitches

Lucy and her BFF Hannah at the aquarium

And this little stinker... she wheels herself away from me in about 2 seconds... She is too smart for her own good

AND... dun dun dun... it's almost off!

I have had people tell me- 'oh, just put tape on it.'  That's not the problem.  The velcro isn't what she messes with.  She is so strong... either she uses her good leg to slip out of it, then takes the good leg and pushes it off, or she just uses her hands and pushes down.  

This pillow is getting BURNED.

JUNE 26.

And.... it's almost off...again

Week 1- CHECK!

Well, we can check the first week off the books!

DONE!

For those who have done this- you know the first 7 days is the hardest... I have to say... It has gone better than I expected.  Now, not saying it's been a cake walk.  BUT, it hasn't been as bad/hard as her first surgery.  She seems to have bounced back quicker, and accepted the fact that she can't walk.  (Sad)  Also- it may be because she isn't in that dreadful cast.
Days like yesterday, I was almost hoping for a cast.  Lucy has now become Houdini, and flips her legs right out of the pillow.  She says, 'Mommy!  Feet!  Toes!'  I have woken up two mornings already to find Lucy sleeping peacefully... as her pillow is also sleeping peacefully... on the floor next to her.

I wrote our surgeon and he doesn't seem concerned at all... I even sent her a picture of her pulling her moves and he wrote back 'all is well.'   I think I will feel better after our x-ray next Wed to see things healing as they should.

I fully expected for Lucy to be sleeping in my bed.  I expected her to scream most of the day like she did before with her first surgery.  I don't think I could be more wrong.  She wakes up after a 12 hour sleep and still seems to feel good.  She's on ibuprofen and tylenol only- each 2x a day.  I also think that I know what I am doing more this time with her, so it seems to be going better than expected...

We have already been shopping, of course!  We went to Target, and the little lady got so much attention.  A nice stranger in line bought her a bag of Doritos, we went to Petco and bought a fish, and we hit the dollar store to get some little things to play with.  Good times. :)  Unfortunately, 2 out of the 3 fish we got have went to fishy heaven.  The one we still have, 'Nemo' isn't too far behind, I bet.  We are hoping he sticks around longer than his friends did!

Life for momma has been hard and busy.  I keep on top of keeping Lucy busy at all times.  We take breaks to watch a show now and then, but I won't let her watch tv all day.  It drives me crazy... There is only so much Peter Rabbit and Bubble Guppies I can take...We play the Ipad, we go on a walk next door to see our neighbor's boat, we play in the living room, we go on a drive... anything to make the day go by.

I have already decided that Dr. Segal and I are going to have a 'Karen style discussion' next week about the length of time for this pillow.  He said he is going out of town at the 4 week mark, but I am going to tell him that we want to see him the day before he leaves for a 4 week x-ray and hopefully to get this pillow OFF!  He isn't the type to be pursuaded easily, but I am going to push til I can't push anymore!  I honestly can't keep this thing on her much longer.  She even tried to stand up in her highchair today!  I guess it's a good thing that she feels so good, but I am worried she is going to do something and hurt herself and compromise this bone!

Here are a few pics of our last week, and her scar.  :-(  Breaks my heart to see this on my baby.  The bruising is better than it was, but still... she's only 2 years old.  I hope to never see anything like this on her ever again.

Have a great week, and BRING ON JUNE!

:-( BREAKS my heart.

Happy Birthday to our new fish

Birthday party!

Playing with her dollhouse at her newly modified table!  (Thanks DAD!)

We have chocolate ice cream like all the time now.  Thank goodness she's not in a cast!

Play doh and farm!

Her cousins came over to hang out and play!

They had a tea party for Lucy

Our wonderful friends Heather and Kenzie sent Lucy some art supplies!

We walk over every single day to our neighbor's house to see their boat.  Lucy LOVES boats, the ocean, fish... I think she thinks the bubble guppies live in here...

My husband's co-workers built a wheelchair ramp for our front door!  So sweet

Yes.  She is spoiled.  No, I don't care.  Lucy is perfect and can have whatever she wants.

After rolling all over like a wild woman

Dora's playhouse!

Dora and Nemo!

Hannah is Lucy's BFF!