Finally an update!

Sorry it's been so long since a update but we been pretty busy. With keeping up with Chase's appointments, the kids, my appointments and health and the house. 

Chase has been in cast #3 for 7weeks now,only 2 more to go. I feel that 9 wks in this cast is going to be hard to hit but with Chicago's Shriners are pretty busy and I guess,I called a lil bit to late(4 wks after getting this cast) to get him in where he should be in his cast schedule. I learned this time I'm calling super early like first week in cast. 

We officially have a walking little boy! 3 weeks ago he just decide he rather be walking then crawling. He was walking a little bit before but we had to really coach him and he would take a up to 10 or so steps. Now he is totally walking everywhere. Now he can bug his siblings more and get in to everything. After he got the walking down and got tubes placed in his ears, he also talks more now. He is growing up way to fast and I'm missing the baby stage so much. 

I have been working on resolving some of my back and hip pain I been dealing with. We found out my lower few vertebras that aren't fused have curved( darn you scoliosis). And my right hip is higher then the left, I could feel that before the X-ray. So with that I developed snapping hip syndrome. Everything is connected from having scoliosis. All my pain drives me harder to make sure chase has the best shot of straightening his spine. So scoliosis is running my life I feel at this moment. Everything is planned around all our appointments and on the days we do have free,  I recover or well try too. 

  

Just A Short Update.

I think I have said this before, But these 8 weeks are flying by with casting. Chase has now been in cast #2 for 6 weeks now. I can't wait for the week of cuddling and bath times. And cast # 3 is already planned and got the date,just got to get the hotel  booked. 

I finally just gave up and called in to my doctor to get my own scoliosis checked on. For a few months now lower back pain has been stopping me in my tracks. I am refusing to get more of my spine fused, So I hope they have another suggestion.If my rods are broke or bent or removed for any reason,well I will just have to figure out how to deal with that surgery. 

I can tell the kids have been cooped up in the house for way to long now. The kids are at the point of bugging each other. And the fighting is CONSTANT.Can't wait for spring just to let them go out and run some of this energy out. And for this cold season to leave. With 4 kids in the house we always have one or 2 of them sick. And call me bad mother but I don't let them go out and play in this weather if they are sick. I think that's just asking for trouble. 

My depression and anxiety are fully active. I might be getting the winter blues. I need the SUN light and the warm weather. I am trying my hardest not be go back on medication for it but I think my depression is starting to run my life. I have short level before getting irritated and have not want to do anything,but I push my self to try and get everything done. But I just don't do or want to do anything for "myself time". 

Spring Better Be Around The Corner.

So our first trip "in cast" went good. Flying was a bit different just for the fact  chase laying on me with a bulky cast isn't anything comfortable and it cant be for him either. But thank god he slept on both flights.

Feb 2013

We enjoyed the Arizona weather and seeing the family we have out there. Chase got to be in his natural state of just in a shirt and diaper a lot. And I missed the tank top and flip flops that we don't have back here in Illinois right now.

Chase had them whipped. What chase wanted chase got! This boy would eat 3 breakfast most days.Ate so much dinner one night his lil tummy was sticking out of the cast more then I have ever seen and it couldn't of been comfortable.

Feb 2012

Every time I seen another kid that looked like my Step kids I would be thinking what they would be doing at the time of the day. Doesn't help that I can see John and Mike in Chase.

We been home for a couple of days now, and back in our routine. The break from appointments was nice. But its back to a full week schedule.

We got only in to week 2 of this cast with out a wet accident. It just ruins my day, because I am on high alert for cast sores and I never feel like I get the cast 100%  dry.

Now that we are back in the COLD weather. I am in this "funk". Just sluggish, irritable, and depressed. I hope its just the weather. I miss going to the parks, for walk, and sitting outside.I just need to snap out of this feeling(easier said then done) .

It Can Be Done, I Got To Keep Tell Myself That.

18month old+Traveling alone with 18mo old+Cast=I feel like a nightmare coming.....

I hate traveling alone, but makes me so nervous to travel with chase. I have flown more then 6 times and I still am scared to death of planes. I just imagine it now Chase crying on the airplane because he wants off my lap for 3-4hrs.I will cry right along with him. And what the hell do I do if he HAS to have diaper change on the plane? Oh my.....but once we land all that will be forgotten because it will just be a bit and I will see my family!

But any tips to keep him clam? After 2hrs in the car he cry's he wants out and he is just done.And that cast,Its bulky on him.Its are to keep a toodler from wiggling, but the cast doesn't help. Its hard to get a grip on him to keep him from wiggling. And I hate to see if someone by us has something he wants...Oh my..."Please keep tablets out of my childs eye sight, He will wanna play with it"

To get off topic, I have been dealing with some bad insomnia. I dont even remember when it started. It may been this way for my whole life. I cant just fall asleep. I am awake for what it feels like HOURS laying down. I end up,surfing the net, watching TV, drinking a bunch of water(then once I do go to sleep I end up waking up to go to the bath room). I just cant sleep. I been taking unisom(SP), to try and sleep. Its 10pm and I am tierd, but sleep yeah right.

Cast # 2 is proving to be different from the first. Chase is back to not having anything to do with independent steps at all. Crawling is even a bit difficult.I know its only been a week of this cast, but he seem use to it. But still gets mad at the cast pulls at the shoulder straps and after crawling for a long stretch  or even just a little bit, he will just lay down and give in. It breaks my heart,I have to pick him up and cuddle him. I just want him to be able to do what ever he wants in this cast.But he is still doing great with his walker.

He feels lost on these weekends.

Only a few more days until nice Arizona weather. I don't know anyone that likes this cold weather, and if you I'm sorry but your crazy!

Chase is in his bed telling him self a bedtime story. When his brother and sisters are gone its like all routine is out the window, I can just forget that he had one. All day he will stop at their bedrooms doors and knock and yell for them. It's kinda cute and sad at the same time.

I did absolutely nothing today. Should of did atleast a little but ahhh it will wait till tomorrow. I enjoy it but feel guilty on these types of days. They don't come often. I try my hardest to not let life run me over. But it is right now. Every little thing in my life is running me down.

On a good note Chase is attempting to take steps all by him self took 3 steps  by himself. And his balance is getting better again he is back to being a pro with his walker. He can get anywhere he wants with it now. 

I'll leave off with a old picture. I can remember Chase being that small like it was yesterday. He was so tiny, slept a lot, and kinda colicy( I don't miss that). He would sometimes sleep so much during the day I would just pick him up to cuddle and rock him. I still at night just wanna pick him up and rock my sleeping baby.

THE FLU! EVERYONE NEEDS TO WATCH THIS!

The flu is very active right now. This video I found is very informational. You don't have to touch anything to get the flu....

Just Watch!

Just Some Facts...Did You Know?

I get a lot of scoliosis questions, from family and friends. So here are some facts I know.

• Idiopathic Scoliosis (idiopathic meaning nothing causing the scoliosis) is mostly seen in teenage girls.

• Idiopathic infantile scoliosis is opposite, more then half is seen in boy than girls. 

• Idiopathic infantile scoliosis is thought to either be developing while a fetus due to uterus pressure or after birth from laying the baby flat on its back and causing a flat spot on the skull or developing a spinal curve. (Chase's doctors are convinced that he inherited it)
 

 

• 90% of idiopathic infantile scoliosis in the US will need treatment. It will just disappear on its own. 

Site Ref.

• Most infantile scoliosis curves are left thoracic and with juvenile scoliosis most curves are right thoracic. ( This is one statistic Chase doesn't not follow, His is right thoracic with infantile scoliosis. This could be do to inheritance, Mine if I am not mistake I think is to the right also,) 

 Site Ref.   

I have done tons of researching and know most risks of bracing VS casting.And have talked to Dr. Hammerburg who applies EDF casting. Bracing will just hold the curve or slow the progressive down. While after getting the spine the straightest they can with casting( and with what I see they can get them pretty well under 10 degrees with casting and the child can start off with 50+ deg. But aslo depends on the little spine) Dr Hammerburg and other doctors applying EDF casting can successively brace. 

Chase will make his own  path in this journey. I do not look at all statistics and think chase will follow them like the statistic of children needing surgery if casting don't work.But If we was to think about another child( Which we aren't!) I can't say that the risk of scoliosis wouldn't be in the back of my head.