No More Bandage!
Yesterday was a happy doctor’s visit. According to Reveille’s neurosurgeon, her back is all but healed. That means no more wraps or bandages to keep clean and in place! Reveille did get her 4th cast too. Getting a new cast is never a happy experience for her, but it’s one more out of the way. I am looking forward to the day my daughter doesn’t need any more casts or bandages and she can wiggle free and easy.
Filed under Doctor's Visit | Comments (5)Reveille and the Puppies
We are commonly asked how the dogs have responded to the baby. We have been pleasantly surprised at how smoothly that introduction has gone. We have 3 dogs and their responses have been indifferent, interested, and affection. Our medium and large dogs, Juliet and Mesquite, have payed minimal attention to Reveille. They are respectful of her space and do not ever pay her much mind. When Reveille cries we will get the occasional head tilt but by and large they are much more concerned with their own daily activities. I can say that they all enjoy the constant presence of someone in the home though. Mesquite will also periodically sniff Reveille while she is sitting with us as well. Our largest dog, Calamity Jane, is a little bit of another story. We like to say she loves the baby. Calamity is typically either afraid or aloof to anything we bring home so her interest in Reveille has been fun for us. She will often check the bassinet or changing table and wag her tail upon finding Reveille in it. She also enjoys licking Reveille’s baby hands & head. However, due to the size & strength of her tongue we limit this activity. Calamity is also learning the command “find the baby”. When presented with that task she has been surprisingly capable in finding our new family member. All in all, we have been blessed with the ease it has been to bring Reveille into what the dogs consider their pack. In a future post I would like to share the process we went through and the ground rules we have laid for the dogs and our baby. Reveille for her part doesn’t seem to care much about the dogs one way or another.
Early intervention
On Monday March 23rd, 2009 Revie had her evaluation with the Easter Seals therapists. I was very pleased with the knowledge and care that all the therapists conveied during our meeting. My only complaint was they did not have enough information about Revies hospital tests and results. A more detailed history from the hospital would have been nice. During her evaluation Revie had to be only in her diaper, well she also had her full leg cast and a sock to protect her other foot from the rough edges of the cast. She was wide awake as I put her on the blanket in the middle of the 4 therapists. I began by putting her on her belly which she quickly showed them that she could roll to her back from that position. I was very glad she showed them that she could do that and also how well she can hold up her head and move it from side to side. She was a bit wild moving her legs(cast leg included) and arms all around. Though according to all the therapists she is doing very well and say that her being on her belly for her first two weeks of life was acually really good for her development. The next course for early intervention is for them to come back in 3 months so end of June. Physical therapy would have done more but having the casting till the end of May caused a draw back. I will get some exercises to do with her in the mean time. But all in all they say we are doing everything we should be and they think she is doing very well. So that visit was positive. What a relief!
Filed under Therapy | Comments (2)Weekly doctor visits 3-24-09
This weeks spina bifida clinic included a visit to orthopaedics and the pediatric neurosurgen. Reveille had her week two cast replaced with a new week three cast. This new cast is working on extending her foot to about a 70 degree angle. Once that angle is achieved she will be ready for an outpaitent surgery to lengthen her acheilles tendon. Which I’m not looking forward to having her to through another surgery but it’s just one step closer to her foot being fixed.
Reveille was as good as could be expected for what is being done with her foot. They removed the previous cast with the saw which is quite loud. Then they pry apart the cuts and remove the plaster pieces. Next to remove is the cotton wrapping. Reveille’s foot is at this point looking very straight and her tors are now pointed down like a ballerina. The skin on the outer side is looking wierd due to the movement happening there are also some sore looking areas. We were told to just leave them and that that is normal. But still my baby having any sore there bothers me and I want it fixed. My mom has been coming with for these visits and she has been a great help during these times. After the previous cast has been removed my mom washed her leg and then we massaged that leg and helped Revie excercise it. Revie’s calf muscle is starting to get smaller which makes me feel bad for her. Before appling the cast they stretch her foot which really hurts Revie, she crys so hard that she turns red. I wish i could help her more than just trying to console and soothe her. This week they applied the cast in two portions a lower to get the foot in position then finishing it off with the rest of the leg. I asked that they move it down a bit but not as much as I would have liked. They also weighted her without the cast which I was very happy about she was 9 lbs 1 oz.
After the casting we had to see the neurosurgen who is very nice and caring. She likes to get us in the office asap so we don’t have to wait with everyone else and be exposed to all the germs. She was very happy with Revie’s incision site healing. Though something a bit funny is going on. It seems that some young babies bodies do not breck down internal stitches. So they heal but as they are healing their body pushes the stitches to the surface to get them out. There seems to be one area now that this is happening to her but there maybe another toward the lower area of the incision. All of this is fine but we have to watch for infection. I beleive that all the doctors and nurses like to see the little babies grow week by week.
Hello!
Welcome to the amazing world of Miss Reveille Marie.
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