Hips - Good & Bad News

The last couple of Dr. visits have been hard. Whenever we had to take the girls to the doc at UofM, it was always a 3-5 hour ordeal. Celie never had an easy time of the x-rays or the exams and Anna hasn't been to easy either.

Our last visit here in OH was o.k., but the x-rays were weird because the tech mad them both stand up. Well, this time we made sure they were laying down and had a shield on to protect their ovaries. (that is important because of how many x-rays they will be getting in their life time).

How about Good news first. Anna's hips were very iffy 6 months ago. Her hip pockets were very shallow and the Drs. were thinking that she might have to have surgery when she is 2 or so if the problem doesn't correct itself. However, not only is she growing like a weed, her hips have "hugely" (direct quote from the Doc) improved since her last visit. Her hips are still on the shallow side, but there is remarkable improvement with the hips forming a better socket than before. It was very clear on her x-rays - the before and after images. So, with Anna, we are on a wait and see basis. If she has the same/better results at her next visit in 6 months, then we will still have to watch her, but would probably go to a yearly basis and there wouldn't have to be any surgery.

Now for the bad news - well, it isn't horrible news, but it isn't great. Celie's hip socket seems to be working on getting deeper, however, the ball joint of her hip isn't really sitting very well in the pocket. It is definitely obvious from from x-rays. The doc wasn't quite sure if we should do some more wait and see type of thing - another 6 months and then decide or if we should decide to do something in the near future - this fall, etc. So, it is looking like unless Celie's hip gets better, she will have surgery again in the fall or winter some time to try to push her ball deeper into the socket. The Doc is going to take Celie's case to the group and see what the consensus is of all of the ped ortho docs. We should know something in the next couple of weeks - hopefully.

I am thankful that with both of the girls, the problems are fixable. However, with Celie, I can't help to think about pre-school that we were going to start in the fall - potty training - finally - so that she could start school, etc. not to mention the difficulty of having to move her in a spica cast when it weighs 20# and she is now pushing 45# herself. That is a lot of weight. I think about all of these things and they make me sad, but I have to remember that it is fixable and it will be o.k. I have to remember to live for today and the future will be o.k.