It's Time for a Change

This Thursday Gracie goes in for her cast change procedure. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. I am so happy to have survived the first half of her time in a cast. I am very nervous about her being put under again. And I am scared about the next six weeks in a cast.

Thankfully Grace's procedure on Thursday should not involve any cutting. She will be placed under general anesthesia, her old cast will be removed, dye will be inserted in her hips with a needle and a new cast will be placed on her. She will remain in that cast for six weeks.

Before Grace's first surgery several mothers who had gone through the hip dysplasia and spica cast experience told me that while it was very hard, it was not nearly as scary as they thought it would be. I have to agree. It has been a tough six weeks but it was survivable. We had many sleepless nights, lots of overwhelming potty issues, worries about the heat, worries about her comfort and of course many worries about her healing. Add to that our dog dying and a grill fire that damaged our garage and you can say that we have had a rough six weeks. With that said, we made it through with minimal tears on my part and mostly a sense of peace and an openness to hear God's message and lessons.

It was not easy though! This is a tough experience and I never want to have to put Grace through this again. That is why I am asking for prayers for two specific things. First, please pray that on Thursday Grace will have a safe surgical procedure with no complications or issues. Second, please pray that her hips will be healed at the end of this process and she will not need additional surgeries or casts.

Thank you all for the love!

Happy Daddy Day

Happy Daddy Day is Jack's interpretation of Happy Father's Day. This was his greeting for Christian this morning. These two kids of ours are just so cute and fun. However, they are also a ton of work. That is why it is so important to remember our parents on Mother's and Father's Day.

Christian is an amazing dad. I believe being a dad is Christian's calling in life. For many years I did not want children but Christian always knew it was part of his purpose. Being a dad just comes natural to him. Whereas being a mom is like high school Calculus for me. I can get it done but I have to study really hard and work my tail off to be good at it.

Jack adores his dad. It is so cute to watch our babies with Christian. He does such a good job playing with them and taking care of them. I feel so very blessed to have found this man to raise our babies with.

My favorite things about Christian, the things I am most grateful for at this point in our marriage, are that he is a great dad, provider and friend. When I was younger and dumber I would likely have said that romance and a sense of humor were the most important qualities in a mate. While Christian has those qualities too, I now know those are way down on the list when you are knee deep in diapers and doctor bills.

The last few months have been challenging for us. It seems life keeps throwing us curve balls. We are trying to be still and find the lessons in all our hard times. The one thing I know for sure through all of the craziness is that I am so thankful for our strong marriage and Christian's ability to parent our children. He is a good catch. That is for sure.

Happy Father's Day Christian! I love you for so many reasons but watching you love our children makes me so proud and my heart so full.

Grace's Sweet Smile

I need to blog about Jack. I am working on one all about my sweet boy, his love of trucks and his super funny personality. But I really just want to talk about Grace. Maybe it is because she is newer or maybe she just has more stuff going on right now. I have talked a lot about Grace's surgery and hip dysplasia but not very much about HER as a person.

This girl is just amazing. I know she is only 4 and 1/2 months old but really she just seems older to me. I feel like I have known her forever. She is an old soul and seems to have so much wisdom although she can't even talk. No, I am not crazy. She really has a peace about her that makes me more peaceful. She makes me want to be a better person.

Grace loves kisses. We do this sweet thing where I pretend to smell her armpits and say shoo-wee and she giggles. Her little armpits are so ticklish and the whole gig really entertains me. Even in her cast she smiles and laughs and is a pretty chilled out baby. She really only cries when she has gas (which who can blame her), needs a diaper change, wakes up alone in her room or is overtired. Otherwise she just kind of hangs out and watches the rest of us like she is just happy being a part of the party.

Grace is focusing on her fine motor skills recently and loves playing with her toys. We even bought a special spica cast chair/table that allows her to sit up and play. She loves sitting and playing. She especially loves it when Jack comes over to play with her. I think having a big brother is going to make her tough which is always a good quality in a girl.

I think Grace may be more Christian's child in the same way Jack is more mine. Jack has always been a little ornery and sassy although he has a sweet and empathic nature. Grace on the other hand is more laid back. She doesn't sweat the small stuff. She just has Christian's nature. I can tell this already and boy am I thankful. I don't think we could take three people with my personality in this house.

I may be wrong about Grace. It is hard to tell at this age. But I bet I am right. I know these babies better than anyone and love them to pieces.

This Friday Grace goes back to the doctor for a x-ray. If all is well we wait another three weeks until her next surgery and cast change. Our prayer is her hips will still be in the correct position and healing. If not, I think they will pull her out of the cast and we will have to start all over. This would not be good. Please pray that our sweet girl is healing.

I love these babies!