The past few weeks have not been the easiest which has surprised me. I thought spica life was the hard bit but for us personally the after care has been harder still. We always knew Erin would be needing more surgery and that is planned for May, but I didn’t realise how challenging life post spica would be.
Obviously I didn’t expect Erin to get up and start walking but I totally didn’t realise how sore she would be and how much life would still be a daily struggle and challenge. Two weeks ago I told Lee that I would do the weekly shop, when we got there I tried to put Erin in the trolley, but she just didn’t bend that way.
She tensed, she cried, I cried, we went home.
It is bloody hard.
However four and half weeks post spica, life is finally getting easier on the hip front. Erin has a cast iron will and is determined not to be left behind! Yesterday at a friends wedding Erin decided it was the perfect place and the perfect opportunity to start cruising around the dining table. Obviously this produced lots and lots of praise so with an audience of the wedding party and top table she continued to cruise about until her legs couldn’t take it any more and she ended up in an exhausted but happy heap.
These milestones eclipse everything for us. We can see that it is still going to be the hippy waddle rather than a walk at the moment but hopefully the next operation will put paid to the waddle and she we will walk tall. Obviously the waddle doesn’t bother me from a visual outlook, I don’t want it gone so we only see what others may consider as perfection. We need it gone so that her femur is located in the hip socket that will be built for her by those surgeons who are taking care of her. We need it gone to hold off osteoarthritis and painful hips from a young age.
We have six weeks to make the most of before we head back to children’s ward. I have a lot planned to pack in during this time. We have booked center parcs as a short break to have some quality family time together before it all starts again. I have booked tickets for the Cbeebies live tour for her to watch. I think she will burst with excitement when she realises where we are!
Erin is now much more mobile, but her method is crawling. It looks really strange to see a two and half year old crawling, I constantly feel the need to explain to people as her disability is hidden whilst she is out of cast. I am also finding it a challenge to provide toys that encourage her to walk and stand. Baby walkers are out, they are not reccomended as they put the hip in a vulnerable position. However the push along walkers are designed for much shorter children than Erin. Therefore she hunches over and cannot use them with a natural ease.
Therefore if anyone knows of anything suitable do let me know!
