Minus the pillow + PT

Well, here we are.

6 weeks post surgery!  It feels like forever ago.  

Since Wednesday, aka pillow off day, we have been so busy!  As I posted a few days ago, Lucy walked out of her x-ray!  She walked when we got home... 

She woke up Thursday morning and didn't want to walk at all.  She must have done too much.  Same with Friday and Saturday... She wanted to be carried and sit on the couch.  

Then Sunday came... and she said, 'mommy- I WALK!'  She got up and walked and walked and walked!  I have just been letting her go at her own pace... If she wants to walk, great.  If she doesn't, no big deal.  I figure her body knows what to do...

Today was our first day back at physical therapy.  It was so nice to see Miss Hillary again!  Lucy was so happy to get back in the routine.  Warming up, kicking, air mattress, stairs, etc... Good stuff.

Miss Hillary was impressed at Lucy's new found confidence!  Even though she is very hobbly and stiff still, Lucy was playing and climbing all over the room!  

We first went into a smaller room with a slide for Hillary's eval.  She had Lucy climb up the stairs and go down a slide.  She had her crawl through a tunnel, stand up on her tip toes, and jump on a trampoline.  Hillary was impressed with how Lucy's shoe inserts are working, and said we don't need them any longer!  (Her ankles were pronating, aka rolling inward when she walked.)  They are actually rolling a little bit too far the opposite way now, so we are going to take the inserts out and see if they can stay good.

We went into the 'barn' to finish PT.  The barn is just that- a big barn!  There are goats outside, and inside... there are stairs, swings, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Lucy immediately wanted to go inside the ball pit.  It's full of balls that are hip height, so for Lucy to walk through the ball pit is really good for her strength.  

Miss Hillary blew up the air mattress, and had Lucy roll and walk on it.  Lucy still needs strength in her glutes (same as the last year) so bending down and picking up toys while on an air mattress is good for that.

We also stacked some blocks on a stool and had her kick them down.  (She LOVED that!)  She had her kick them with her RIGHT foot aka the GOOD leg.  Why?  Because that forces her to shift her weight over her left hip.  She has to balance and stand on her left leg.  That was hard for her to do, but hey... she's only been walking again for less than a week.

So- we are back on the PT road... which is good.  I love our PT, Lucy loves her too- and it's so interesting to learn different things to help Lucy get stronger.  

In fact, I have learned SO much, and am SO interested in therapy, that I am considering going to school for it!  Yep- a long road ahead, but we will see.  If it's in the cards, it's in the cards...

We also have been swimming a lot.  With 120 degree weather, we don't stay in the pool long since it's like bath water.  YUCK.  I hate Arizona this time of year. 

I took video yesterday of Lucy walking... Besides being weak, her hitch in her walk isn't there anymore!  So glad for that.  We are back to the waiting game of getting her stronger... (story of our life for the last few years!)

Here are a few pics and video of our last week!  ENJOY! 

Peace out from SUNNY, HOT, MISERABLE Arizona!

(OH, and if your child has had hip surgery, GET PHYSICAL THERAPY!  It's the best thing we could have ever done for Lucy!)  Hopefully you will be lucky enough to have a pediatric therapist as awesome as Miss Hillary! :)

Lucy and her cousin Tyler at his birthday party yesterday.  Lucy serenaded him!

Yay the ball pit!

Air mattress basketball

KICK!!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Lucy swimming!  WORK THOSE HIPS!

Awww, my other 2 favorite people... Don't mind Aaron's black eye on his right eye.  He was getting out a baby seat for Lily from storage and the metal part to it hit his eye!  Isn't Lily a total babe?!

Progress and PT

It's only been our 4th physical therapy session, but WOW!

I officially have a baby who can take steps on her own!  TEN in a row to be exact!  I officially have a baby who can stand up on her own without pulling up on anything!  I officially have a baby who has the confidence in her legs again to go after what she wants... 

Man, I have to admit. This year has been SO crappy for us!  Between casts, surgeries, doctor's appointments, etc...  BUT seeing little  Lucy walking around makes me so proud, so happy, and so amazed at this perfect little girl I am raising. :-)

As some of you know, we took a 2 week vacay to La Jolla, California near San Diego.  We had a blast!  Lucy got to walk on all different textures.  Her therapist, Hilary, says sand is the best thing for her to walk in!  (Remember from my last post, we are working on developing her sensory and proprioception.)  We walked on the beach, walked to the park, walked everywhere!  She still needed to hold my hand, of course, but she has the motivation to GO!  Those little things like walking in the grass barefoot, we take for granted here in AZ 7 months of the year!  Poor thing, if she tried to walk in grass here, her feet would burn...

Today I was so excited to show Hilary how Lucy takes steps... Lucy was totally hamming it up, walking all around the room from toy to toy.  Hilary was SO proud.  She says Lucy has the drive to do anything she wants... (that's half the battle.)  So many kids lose so much proprioception and motivation during a cast for months and months, that it takes time to build that up again.  Hilary says developing her proprioception is key.  That way Lucy won't tippy toe anymore.  

A few things we have been doing at home (recommended by Hilary) are massage, and pressure point therapy.  Now that Lucy is mobile, she doesn't even want to lay still for her massage, so that's getting frustrating!  Also, we have been making her 'work for it.'  For example, when we do a puzzle.  I put the puzzle pieces on the ground, and the puzzle on her table.  I make her bend down to pick out a piece, then she can put it on the puzzle.  Sometimes I have a small pillow or stool near, and I have her walk over the stool or pillow to go get the pieces.  Remember, we are working on her core, legs and hips.  All of that has to get super strong again... She actually enjoys doing her therapy work, so that makes it less like 'work.'

I still go behind her when she crawls, and offer resistance to her ankles and legs.  I just meet her resistance.  One thing with DDH babies, after the cast removal they still crawl with their hips flexed outwards, not under them... picture standing there, then just sticking out your booty. (haha, I know...) that's how hip babies move.  We need to teach Lucy to put her hips back in, in alignment with her core.  Again, we are trying to teach her not to compensate.  She needs to learn it right from the beginning. :-)

She got to walk up stairs today with help, alternating which foot to start with.  She seems to favor starting with her left. (her DDH side.)  Why?!  Hilary said she isn't comfortable with shifting her weight to the other side.  She reminded me that just because her left side is the affected side, her right side was also casted, and we need to nurture and work with that side as well.

All in all, I am SO thrilled with her progress!  We are 7 months post surgery (almost),  3 months post cast removal, and almost 2 months free of her brace. (Only at night)... so for her being totally free for not even 2 months, the progress is unreal!

I also have noticed now that she is mobile, her words are coming together.  She has started to say 'tree', 'go', 'bee', 'gone', and a few other words all in the last 2 weeks.  It's like it's all clicking together...

Here are some pics... The first 2 are L at PT, where the ball pit is the hit of the party.  We are going to build her one. Again, it's the sensory thing... Also, if the balls are hip height, making her walk through the pit is another awesome exercise for her hips... 

Hugs from AZ

The awesome ball pit... It's just PVC pipe and tarp!  The balls are super cheap at Toys R Us and Target.

I am totally going to make one for our back yard!

Work those hips!

So are you melting at how cute she is?!  I know, I know... she's a total babe.

I turn my head for one minute, and she climbs up on the coffee table...

... and walks all around the couch....

The babe of the beach!

Daddy showing her the sea lions at La Jolla Cove

I LOVE YOU LUCY!

Just another day at the beach..

First day of physical therapy

Today was the babe's first day of PT.

I am really happy with how it went!  Her therapist's name is Ms. Hilary.  She was very, very nice, and knew not to get too close just yet... (Lucy is skeptical of new people!)  

The place we go to is called Horizon Pediatric Therapy in Mesa, AZ.  It's a home that has been turned into a PT place.  What's nice about that is it doesn't have that sterile, cold feeling like a doctor's office does.  

Hilary was actually very pleased with Lucy as she is!  She said that her range of motion in her leg is really good, and her posture is near perfect!  What we are focusing on is for Lucy to re train herself to trust her leg and hip again.  Hilary said the muscle tightness would/could 'eventually' work itself out, maybe.  BUT, if you start PT right after a surgery, you will teach the baby to walk using the hip first, not their knee and leg.  She said it's a lot harder to correct a gait when a child is older.  It seems we are getting Lucy in at the perfect time.  Hilary also told us that she is impressed that Dr. Segal recommended PT, because most orthopedic doctors don't.  She feels that EVERY child who has been in a spica cast could benefit from PT.  So, if your child has been in a cast, or will be soon... push for PT!  What can it hurt?!  

I asked her how long she thinks it will take Lucy to re train herself and to walk... she said 'very soon!'  She is proud that Lucy has the desire, and tries to walk on her own already.  (She falls flat, but hey... she is trying!)  She said having the desire is half the battle.  

Lucy has only been out of her brace for 2 weeks.  We are so proud of how well she is doing!  I forgot how it feels to have her crawling on me. Smothering me.  Not stopping for a second.  I can't complain ONE bit about it, because I remember her in her cast just sitting there.  I will take EVERY single thing I can, as long as she is moving and happy!  (Please remind me of this when she is running in a million directions and I am carrying a newborn and chasing her at the same time.)

Anyway, I wanted to share some of the things the PT suggested we do.  They aren't 'huge' big things, but I can absolutely see how this will help her.  I will explain as we go...

Remember, these were meant for Lucy at her stage, so don't take this as generic for all babies her age after surgery. Ask your doctor before starting anything! :-)

Sorry it's on it's side, no clue how to fix it. :)

Anywho... have the child on your lap and have them stand on their own to play with magnets on the fridge. This will strengthen the LEG muscles. Don't let them push backwards first.  Always have them shift the weight forward.

I thought this would be cool.  You can use a child sized swimming pool and fill it with balls, toys...whatever. Have them crawl in and out of it.

Kicking. It seems like L will mostly kick with her 'good leg' aka the right one.  We need to work more on her kicking with the left.

This is to stabilize the hips to get them in shape for walking. 

L tends to turn her foot outward, so the PT said to keep forcing it straight. 

(I think this is all I am going to be doing for the next month. Putting her foot straight.)

She said the repetition of doing this, it will train her to put it straight.

Our PT room :-)  Daddy came too!

I have noticed L will usually only re shift weight to her right side, not her left.  This will force her to use that hip!

She said to use a stool and have them practice getting up and down

This was another thing we were supposed to do! (Notice her left foot turning out.  Drives me crazy and I have to keep correcting it.)  Balancing on one leg... 

Pool... instead of just letting her free kick, sway them horizontally.  Let the water flow do it's thing!  It will help loosen the muscles.

Weird picture, huh?!  No clue why the kid is wearing a weird hat, but anyways... 

This is pretty self explanatory...

YAY I am awesome at this!

This is what is going to keep me busy.  I will upload a video of Lucy's crawl.  She goes FAST, but has her left leg extended out straight.  It's like a scoot more than a crawl.  I am supposed to follow behind her, put her legs in line, and give resistance.  Great.  I can see knee pads in my future!

Would you know she had a cast on 8 weeks ago?!  Seriously?  I have a future ROCKETTE on my hands...

This was another big one.  Again, the weight shift.  L doesn't do this yet... we need to work on this one...

She also said don't let her sit in the 'W' position, which is where both legs are almost tucked behind them.  It makes it WAY too easy to not use the hips.  

Lunch after!  YAH!

This one sounds fun.  She said if they are crawling up hill, or over pillows, they can't scoot.  They will be forced to use their hip.

Her Gymboree class has inclined mats, so those are going to be great! 

So all in all, it went really well.

We have tons of new things to do with her... 

I am also glad that she feels Lucy will be able to walk really well and really soon!  YAH!

Over and out from SUNNY Arizona... home of the 110 degree daily weather...