Spica Saga: The Beginning

If you're lost...here's what brought us here.

We got to Scottish Rite bright and early Tuesday morning just in time to wait. We were bumped from our timeslot. Twice. Which isn't a big deal unless you have a hungry baby who hasn't had anything to eat or drink since 9:30 the night before. The good news is that our hungry baby was Molly who just happens to be a really good sport! We tried to keep her mind off her empty tummy and eventually she fell to sleep in my arms.

Taking pre-op vitals

Best thing ever.
She woke up a little...punchy

Getting into costume

She was really into the hospital slipper socks...I think it's cause she hasn't worn any in quite some time!

They bundled Molly up in those nice warm hospital blankets (I love that feeling. It's my favorite part of every hospital experience I've had) and wheeled her away just like that. She probably really enjoyed the ride. She has a thing for flourescent lights.

Ryan and I of course sobbed and then sat and prayed together for every little detail we could possibly think of. And then God covered me up with a big, heavy, warm hospital blanket of peace. Really. We walked around a bit before coming back to the room to wait for Dr. Fabregas.

After just an hour he came to tell us that Molly had done well during the closed reduction and casting. He confirmed that it was just her left hip and that all of this was indeed necessary to right what was wrong. He said that she would certainly need another cast after this one for another 6 weeks. But she did well and that's what I heard!

It was a little while before they brought her in. I was sick with anticipation about how she would be and feel and what this "spica cast" was going to be in real life on my baby instead of on all the internet babies I'd poured over for weeks. I saw the nurse come in with this bundle and she handed her off to me right away. It was strange because I didn't even know how to take her from the nurse's arms. We could see she'd been upset from the tell-tale red unibrow she gets when she cries. When I got her she felt so heavy and then her upper body melted into mine and all was well! The nurse brought over a bottle of apple juice and as she was asking me if Molly would take apple juice Molly sat up and snatched that thing out of the nurse's hand and was chugging it before I could answer. Poor thing!

She waved at the OR nurses as they left and then flashed this big grin. Welcome back Molly Doll!

At this point I still hadn't seen the cast. I just felt this tree trunk sitting in my lap. After the apple juice I handed her off to Ryan and got a good look for myself. Her little right leg was dangling free and really I don't think it was as awful as I had imagined. Of course I knew I would feel that way...the most valuable thing I'd learned from the hipbaby moms in my internet research was that the anticipation and unknown of this whole process was way worse than the actuality of it. Well, actually, the anticipation, unknown, AND the first 2 weeks. But that's another post!

Perfect position for cradling Daddy with a good read

Soooo sleepy

Special Delivery for Molly! With Love from Ally

So here's a good look at this cast they call "spica":

It goes from above her belly button to her ankle on the left side and her knee on the right. There's a diaper opening and the edges are "petaled" with moleskin (not real moles) for freshness and padding's sake. When the moleskin get's soiled you change it out. Her diaper consists of a #1 tucked on the inside of the opening and a #5 to hold it in and as a just-in-case cover around the cast. People use all kinds of things when diapering a spica baby--poise pads, sanitary pads, cloth diapers etc. It's really just a trial and error thing until you find what works best with your baby and their unique spica shape. The first time our nurse, Joan, showed us how to do this I thought "there's no way Ryan's going back to work. This will take two people always" but now we are both capable of changing her alone. Pros? No. Good enough? Yes. It's hard cause you can't just swing her butt up in the air by her ankles. You can't really bend her at the waist at all! It takes technique and practice for sure! We'll get there...

Passing the time

Later that night we packed Molly and Gertrude up for a wagon ride around the hospital.

For some reason they've taken down the fantastic mobiles that used to hang in the Scottish Rite lobby. Ryan and I were bummed about this now that our baby is old enough to notice and care about them! We went by the faux fish tank instead and Molly was mesmerized. It seems a visit to the GA Aquarium is in order. Sounds like just the outing for a sweet spica-bound baby!

Waving to the fish

Airing out

Poor Molly! Not only had she lost her mobility but her hand was all bound up on a stupid IV board!

Another view

That's okay! She one-handed it!

All packed up and ready to go home! Molly was "reading" the card from Ally on her balloon on our way to the car:)

Since we've been home it's been a whole lotta trial and error! But even error is welcome when it's in the comfort of home.

We're so thankful to have Molly back safe and sound and in relatively good spirits too! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!