I wonder if everyone has the same stress response time. I have figured out that I can run on adrenaline for quite some time. When I had KJ - I felt "great" for 4 days after she was born and then I hit a wall and could barely get out of bed. I feel like I've been managing this past week pretty well, with alot of practical help from my mom. Well I hit my wall this morning.
So KJ lost her arm cast on Monday, she got a pretty new pink cast Monday. (see prior post)
Tues: KJ was especially fussy in the evening hours, I just figured it was because she was overtired. Finally got her down for bed, and figured I would escape out to see Justin play basketball, since my mom could listen for the baby. I was gone all of 30 minutes when my phone rang. My mom: "Becca, babies awake and upset. I don't want you to worry but one of her casts is off." I think angels protected me on my way home that night.. it was real wet and slippery and I wasn't driving very careful. Sure enough - her Left foot had slipped out of the cast. She seemed more scared then in pain, but it was still pretty traumatic, we wrapped her foot up and I called the orthopedic resident oncall. It was a long night... Justin and I were both so worried that she would bust her stitches open in her sleep. She slept sideways in between us and took up most of the bed, we took turns waking up randomly checking on her.
Wed: Left the house bright and early to head up to CHOP for a new cast. The cast room opens at 8, and we were there a little after that. The cast tech J smiled as we walked in and said that he was actually thinking after we had left the on monday that we'd be back. KJ didn't know what was coming for her. She's such a tough girl... they gave her a pretty new "philly" red cast on her left.. and we all agreed that she should get a new cast for her right foot becuase it looked lose anyway. I didn't realize what they were doing until it was already to late, of course they have to take off the old cast... which involves a fancy circular saw. Oh it was awful, KJ was already upset from all the tugging and holding but when that saw hit her cast even I could feel the vibration ripple through her body, it was so scary for her... and me. I just tried to hold her tight.. sang in her ear and wished it was over for her.
The rest of the morning and afternoon were great.. I felt like I had my little active girl back, you could tell these casts were much more comfortable for her.. maybe a little too comfortable for us all.
Pat came over later in the day, and was playing with the baby, my mom came out from a nap and immediately said - where did her toes go? Wouldn't you know.. my little Houdini baby wriggled her right foot deeper into the cast. (her little toes were showing through before) My heart just dropped and I got that sick feeling in my gut. I called the Orthopedic nurse and she said if it falls off just to wrap it up and come in the morning. It was almost funny... I just kept thinking.. how does this happen! 3x! My mom and I (Justin was working) spent the next 4 hours.. holding and entertaining our little girl...I didn't want her to put pressure on that foot if it was in a bad spot. She kept wriggling though, right before her bedtime she was really uncomfortable and actually pushed the cast off her foot herself. The poor thing... I wrapped her foot up again .. pushed some Tylenol down her throat and let her rest finally. Justin and I weren't as vigilant through the night this time.. we were beat.
Thurs (this am): I had hit my wall.. I knew we had to go back up to chop.. for the 3rd time. My baby woke up happy but couldn't play because of her exposed incision. My mom wasn't feeling well and Justin and I were still tired. I just kept crying... the adrenaline had run up finally. Justin just kept hugging me.. it def helped. Needless to say - I sucked it up. I couldn't be a basketcase all day.. I had stuff going on :) We packed the happy girl up, my mom came with me this time. We walked into the cast room and the girls looked up and literally said.. "oh no not again". There was much discussion. The ortho nurse wanted to give her two new casts above the knee.. which just sounded awful to me. Thank God for the cast tech J, God sent him into the room at the exact right moment. They were about to cut off her good cast when he walked over. He decided (apparently he has alot of say, he's beeen there 29 years) to just soft splint her free leg and wrap it really well. I was SO relieved...I could handle that.. that means only 2 casts have to get sawed off when we go back.. assuming they stay on :)
Its been an exciting adventure thus far... I'm thankful she wont remember any of this.. I'm thankful that God's mercy allows us to forget this hard stuff over time.. we'll even laugh about it someday. I'm thankful for the cast tech J understanding how awful having 2 straight, full leg casts would have been for a 8 mo old and intervened... I'm thankful for all my mom's help.. and my husband hugs and mother-in-laws compassion... I'm thankful for my little breakdown today - that it's over and I can move on :)
Oh - and we have 4 more days til we go back for an appt... 2 more casts to go :)
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