Where to begin...

Wow, it literally seems like the last few months of our lives have been a medical blur. I'm not sure where to even start again.

Aspen had her tendon lengthening procedure done on July 14th. This is to help her hips stay in place from the bi-lateral open reduction she had done when she was a year old. The following week we went back for the follow up visit for her fractured humerus. The Ortho removes the cast, and comes back with the most bizarre look on his face. Her radial head, which had been IN A CAST, was dislocated. This is not consistent with a humerus fracture, hence the bewilderment of the doctor. So he schedules her for surgery the next day.

Cast#2
The following day, we take her to have a closed reduction procedure on the arm, to position the bone back in place. The Ortho comes out and advises us that he *thinks* based on scar tissue and cartilage that it is a congenital dislocation of the radial head, and has probably been out of place since birth. Apparently these defects are not picked up until early adolescence or unless an injury occurs which prompts investigation. He advises us that the ligaments may be damaged and probably will not hold it into place, but rather push the bone back out to what the ligaments thought was the natural position (which in Aspen's case- is out of place).

Cast#3
He was right, as soon as the cast came off the bone was right back out of place. So the next step was an open reduction with a modified Bell-Tawse procedure in addition to an ulnar osteotomy. Back to surgery she goes, and thankfully was easily talked out off the day-glo orange cast again. Pink was the winner.

Braces #1 and #2
Much to the delight of my insurance company, Aspen was fitted for 2 separate Dyna-Splints once the third cast came off. One for extension and one for flexion. She now looks like a mini-robot.

We could breathe and relax now-right? Right???

Cast #1 - July 6th

July 6th...

So off on that Monday we head on over to the Ortho armed (ha- no pun intended!) with the x-rays from the hospital. Yep, she has fractured her humerus. On goes a lovely bright pink cast, and with a wave and a smile we are headed back home with a follow up on 3 weeks.

Oh, and at the same time we also get Aspen's pre-surgery registration for her tendon lengthening procedure on July 14th. For her hips. Make sure you are keeping track of the bones we are discussing. Did you know that there are more bones in an infant/toddler body then an adult?

You think you've been busy?....

Well, I say HA to that!

Welcome to the post series called "How many casts can you wear in 4 months?". A small informational grouping of references and tidbits that will make everyone educated about bones. And how easily they break. Grab a chilled beverage, some Frito's and enjoy.

Introductory...The Splint

Let the tale begin with joy, laughter and merriment on a fun filled Fourth of July. Hot dogs, swimming, the Grubbs, and some tasty ambrosia salad followed by fireworks were no match for the evil couple known as.........water + tile.

Throw in one running triplet and you have yourself an ER trip.

5 boys and 1 girl. Guess which one went?

Yep...Aspen.

3 hours later we were sent on our way with a beautiful $1 million splint, lovely photos of a fractured humerus, some Tylenol with codeine and a follow up with her Ortho on Monday. Not too serious, after all they said it was a small fracture, should heal quickly. Right???

Well it's about time....

I finally remembered my photobucket account info and fixed my background graphics. More fun and interesting things to follow :)

If I had a quarter...

for every single doctor and exam where Aspen's heart murmur was missed- I would be rich.

Mid May when we returned from San Diego, the trio got sick. Of course I immediately self diagnosed swine flu and took the to the doctor. My Ped is great-slightly odd and quirky, and aside from the one odd scarlet fever diagnosis, is pretty darn good.

So the fact that he caught a heart murmur that had never been mentioned before was something that caught us off guard. Sure, it slipped by the 5 previous visits to him, but hey, the 6th one was the charm. After all, why wouldn't it have been picked up by one of the NICU doctors who examined her every day for 3 months?

So yesterday, after waiting a month, we finally saw the cardiologist. He was amazed that it had never been picked up before, but quickly realized that the location made it almost impossible to see from the ultrasound (behind the breastbone), yet easily more noticeable from an auditory standpoint.

So he diagnosed her with a muscular Ventricular Septal Defect. Thankfully, it is a pin hole size, and he is optimistic that it should be completely closed in the next 2 years, avoiding any surgical intervention.

He also cleared her for her upcoming tendon lengthening surgery in mid July, since she has not gained the abduction results that the Ortho would like to see. He is concerned that the tightness could compromise the positioning of her hips. At least she will not be in a cast this time, but only a brace. Which is good, considering I just loaded up on tutus!

Aspen at dance class

No Gymboree at gym class???

I am an unprepared mother.

I signed the trio up for a "Ballet, Dance and Motion" class at a local rec center. Word on the street is that since they went to a lottery system for their highly recommended preschool program, it's a good idea to schmooze a little.

I can schmooze with the best of them.

So I enrolled them in this class. One, because it is on Saturdays, and Two, because, well, it was the only one in the time frame I needed. If it was Skeet Shooting Basics 101 from 11:30-12pm- they would have learned to have a damn good shot.

Imagine how I cringed when MY LITTLE GIRL was the only one not in a TUTU. "The Father" said she wouldn't need one since it wasn't strictly a ballet class, and besides, I was not putting the boys in tights. You will notice that Ryan is missing from the pictures. That is because he prefered to spend his class enrollment fee on crying and watching from the window.

So off I go to figure how to get twinkling lights on Aspen's new tutu- I must leave a lasting impression.

Aspen performing to world renowned "Squat and Twirl"

"What the heck has Mommy done to me?"