So Blessed

Hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and we are now quickly approaching the new year. I try to remind my kids that Christmas is not only about receiving but giving as well. It's a time to be thankful for all that we have and to remember how blessed we are to have so many incredible people in our life. Our family has had a rough year but finally I feel like we have turned a corner. Ava is doing incredible!! Each day she is moving better and she's back to all her "normal" activities. Sometimes it's hard to believe she had two hip surgeries. I am so proud of her!

Our healthy girl!

All Ava's x rays have looked great and I'm happy to say that she's had two successful hip surgeries. I have heard so many stories of children having multiple surgeries on the same hip, how can I not feel blessed!? In February we return to Dr. A's for a follow up. We will then set up Ava's final surgery to take the plates and pins out of her femur bones. By no means do I look forward to another surgery but knowing it will be the last one makes me anxious to get it over with. I like to think we've all learned some life lessons through out this. I know it has changed me and has giving me Faith I never had before. I will never under estimate the power of prayers. There were days that was the only thing that got me through. I am so proud of how Ava has handled herself  and I love the confidence she displays when she tells people " I had hip dysplasia but I got my hips fixed." It cracks me up to her her say to her brother (and little cousins) "Be careful I have scars and plates and pins in my legs." I look forward to 2013 for new beginnings. As of June (as long as we stay on track) Ava will be considered fully healed. I look forward to that day and this will be all behind us. In the mean time on January 3 Ava will return to the endocrinologist for a follow up. He will check her growth and more then likely send her for blood work to see if her hormone level has risen. I believe if it has that Ava's hip dislocation was the reason her growth slowed so significantly. I pray that is the reason and we are now back on track.

Family : )

With all the recent tragedy around us take a moment to remember how blessed you are. Hug your children and loved one tight and know each day is a gift. To all the Mom's and Dad's who are currently dealing with hip dysplasia, hang in there. One day this will be a blip in our children's lives. The road is not always easy but keep your faith to make it through. I know I am grateful for all that we have, especially our health. Have a happy and healthy New Year everyone!! XOXOXO

Life as we knew it...

Ava's strength amazes me! She is slowly but surely getting stronger and beginning to move fluently everyday. At our last visit to Dr. A we were told Ava was fully healed (even though we're still working on the walking.) She was cleared to resume normal activity and to start getting back into her "normal" routines. Normal??? What is normal anymore? I love seeing Ava move around more and more but to me "normal" isn't until she moves like every other child. Normal isn't until she doesn't have to think about every step she takes or until she doesn't cry or say she's scared when she has to go down stairs. I just want her life to resume the way it was before just without pain. Will we ever be "normal" again? Will the worrying ever stop? Will ever go without my heart in my throat when she's playing in a group of kids? I guess time will only tell just as time is slowly healing my girl.

Ava & Kate (one of her besties.)

Now that I got my neurosis out I can tell the positive things happening in Ava's life. This past week Ava has grown in leaps and bounds. Her recovery has taken a huge leap forward and it's just a matter of time before she's a hundred percent. Ava's physical therapist recommend she use a mini trampoline to help her bare weight on her hips properly. Thanks to a good friend we we're able to borrow one and what a difference it has made. When bouncing up and down she is forced to use her legs equally and it helps strengthen all the muscles in her legs and hips. In the last week Ava has started walking less "soldier" like, can walk up and down stairs using the railing or holding a hand, can alternate legs while walking up stairs (who knew what excitement this would cause) and most recently started riding her scooter. The biggest thing of all is Ava went to our local tree lighting and to cut down our Christmas tree without a stroller. She walked on her own for huge lengths of time and barely asked to be picked up. I can't ever remember a time when we took Ava somewhere and she didn't cry and tell us her legs and knees hurt. To see her happy and pain free makes every minute of surgery, every minute in a cast, the exhaustion and frustration worth it!

First day of Pre-K.

The one thing we learned about Ava is the more she's around her friends, the harder she works. We been having more play dates and getting out more to help her regain her strength and endurance. Today was a huge day for Ava...she started Pre-K!! I'm happy to say she did fantastic but Mommy had mixed feelings. I know, I know, you think I would be jumping for joy to have a few hours to myself but for the last 6 months my life has been consumed with taking care of Ava to help her heal, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself now. I'm sure this will be short lived and I'll find a million things to do or maybe I'll actually sit still and enjoy the peace and quiet. I was very excited for Ava because she was ready for school but the worry wart in me was nervous as well. She has only been with family for the last 6 months and for two hours I had absolutely no control of her environment around her. Well she survived her first day and I'm sure each day will get easier (for me that is, she has this down pat!)


In May Ava will return to the OR to have the plates and pins removed from her femurs. In comparison this surgery should be a piece of cake, one hour surgery and the healing of her incisions. I'm not looking forward to another surgery but I am looking forward to being on the other side of this. Who knows if my worrying will stop but I know seeing my girl so happy makes me beam with joy. Every day we are a step closer to Ava being fully healed. We are so blessed and I have all the confidence in the world that her hips will remain in place. I'm so so proud to be the Mom of such a brave strong girl! We're almost there! XOXOX

Giving Thanks

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for my huge family that provided me an incredible support system. I am thankful for my friends who let me vent, cry and helped me laugh when I needed it most. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who put up with my 3000 mood swings when I was completely stressed out (and still does.) I am thankful for my Jack. He is an incredible big brother and so supportive of his sister. I am thankful Ava is healing and she had two successful surgeries.

It is hard to believe it has been 5 1/2 months since Ava's first surgery and she has been cast free for 10 weeks. The day this whole process began I couldn't even imagine how we were going to get through it. But here we are! My baby is on the mend and every day she is getting stronger. We recently had a well visit at the doctor and I am thrilled to say she grew 3 inches!! For the first time since she was 1, Ava is on the charts. My heart exploded when I heard the news! I am so happy to see her moving in the right direction. We also had a follow up with Dr. A. Ava had a stand up x-ray to see how things look now that she is moving. The x-ray looked great and Ava's hips are looking good. She is continuing physical therapy and hopefully she will be walking normal again soon. Dr. A said she is healed now and gave us the go ahead to start getting Ava back into her normal routines. Yeah!! She's going back to school! We have a follow up visit in 3 months and we will then schedule the last of her surgeries to remove the plates and pins in her femur bones. I am not looking forward to another surgery but compared to the other two it should be a piece of cake.

I look forward to the next few months as Ava learns to move better and we can say she is 100% healed. I am in awe of her strength and watching her start to dance again makes me so incredibly happy. As a family we had a challenging few months but we made it through it together. I am so blessed to be a Mom of two awesome little people and so proud of both. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for all the support! XOXOX

Progress...

I haven't posted much lately about Ava's progress but like everyone else in NJ we have been consumed with Hurricane Sandy. We are so thankful we were only without power for 4 days (wish I could do more for my friends who are STILL without) and even more thankful Ava was not in a cast when Sandy roared through! I'm positive our experience would have been very different! That being said, we are still taking each day one at a time. It has been 3 1/2 weeks since she took her first steps and her progress since has been amazing. I am so proud of her strength and her determination.

On October 28 Ava had her 5th birthday party, this was a turning point in her healing. She finally ditched her walker and did her best to keep up with her friends. To see my girl so happy and act like her old self was an awesome feeling. It still can bring tears to my eyes thinking about how happy she was that day (and has been since) while dancing with her friends. It was so nice to have some normal activity in our life. Being around her peers definitely has encouraged Ava to try harder and she has become more determined then ever to walk. Since that day she is walking around more and doing a lot less crawling. Monday when we went to Physical therapy, Miss Jill was very impressed with Ava's movement even though we missed a week (thanks Sandy.) The movement is there but now we need to work on strengthening her stomach and hip muscles to make the movements more fluid.

It has been almost 8 weeks since Ava's cast was removed. The difference from day one til now is amazing, although I'm not sure I expected it to take this long. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly proud of the strides Ava has made but I just want my daughter to be herself again. I want her to walk without having to concentrate so hard, I want to hear the pounding of her little feet running around the house, I want her to be able to keep up with her friends and I look forward to the day my heart is not in my throat when she's around other kids because I'm so scared someone will knock her over. On the flip side my heart soars for all things she has relearned since surgery...kneeling, crawling. standing without help, getting up without help, starting to dance, peddling a bike and walking. The look of pride on her face after accomplishing a new task is priceless and the excitement she shows when showing off her new movement melts my heart. Tonight was another proud Mommy moment... for the first time Ava walked up a whole flight of stairs (holding the railing and my hand) alternating her feet on each step! This is huge!! She hasn't walked up stairs in almost 5 months!!!!

Ava and her friends.

I know soon enough Ava will be her old self (hopefully not as cranky since she seems to be pain free.) I can not believe it's been almost 8 months since her dislocation was discovered! I am thankful everyday for the doctor who finally discovered it and for the doctor who performed two amazing surgeries. I look forward (and as always) slightly nervous for November 16...Ava first x-ray standing up. Please, please let those hips be in place!! I pray for another perfect x-ray and that her doctor is happy with her progression. Please do the same! So incredibly proud of my amazingly strong girl!! XOXO

Birthday Girl

In honor of Ava's 5th birthday I made a slide show of her journey to help raise awareness. Ava had a hard time watching the beginning of the video, she does not want to see herself in a cast again. Hard to believe my baby girl is growing so quickly. I am so proud of her!! Enjoy! XOXOX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVHOMIwHTOw

Step in the right direction...

Over the last week Ava has made huge progress. She is gaining more confidence in her legs and herself each day. The transformation day to day in amazing. I have lost count of the number of time tears have come to my eyes just watching her. Being home with Ava almost 24/7 over the last four months has been a whirl wind of emotions but over this week I can finally see the light. Ava has relearned to crawl, pencil rolls every where, scoots across the house on her bottom, gets up stairs, stands at the sink to brush her teeth and stands without assistance. In the past I took each of these achievements for granted, all children hit these milestones with out much fan fair. Heck 6 months ago Ava did all this without a thought. I now realize how precious life is, Ava has struggled and showed tremendous courage to achieve each and every milestone. As hard as it's been we are lucky to relive each one for a second time but this time she gets all the fan fair!

Yesterday was a huge leap in progress for Ava and excitement for our family. Of course the one day a week I work Ava decides it's the day...always in her own time. I received a text from David stating "Check my FB page." I knew instantly what this meant, Ava did something big. I'm the obsessive FB poster of the family documenting each and every step of Ava's recovery. This was big if David posted. There I was in the middle of the salon watching a video on my phone with tears streaming down my face. "My baby did it! She took her first steps!!" I can not even express  the joy I felt inside. One of my first thoughts was "Of course, on the one day I work." Then I became so excited for David, he has seen many of Ava first accomplishments in pictures or videos. This time he got to share the news! On 10/11/12 my girl took her first steps almost four weeks after her cast removal...there's no stopping her now.


Life is slowly but surely getting back to normal. In the last 24 hours Ava has practiced her walking skills over and over. I still watch in awe each time she takes a step. At times I feel sad to see her struggle just to take a few steps but then I see the determination on her face and I know she is so strong and brave. Ava is feeling so confident we even joined her Pre-K class Pumpkin picking today, I have to say it was nice to do something normal in our life. She had a blast seeing her friends and teachers and was so proud to show them how she is relearning to walk. Thank you once again to everyone who has been routing for Ava these last four months. It means so much to me and my family. Everyone has giving us so much strength and every kind word of encouragement touches my heart. We are almost there!!! All our love. XOXOXOX

In Her Own Time...

On Friday it will be three weeks since Ava had her cast removed. That morning she has an appointment with Dr. A for an x ray and to see how things are progressing. The change in Ava's movement over the last three weeks is incredible. Most of her pain has subsided and slowly but surely she is gaining confidence in her legs. Physical therapy is going well and has helped tremendously with rebuilding her leg and hip strength (although she still has a ways to go.) In true Ava form everything is happening in her own time... At PT Ava takes everything in Miss Jill shows her. She cooperates for the most part but often says "I'm tired" and wants to stop whatever exercise going on at the moment. Or other times she says "I can't do it. I'm scared." But when we get home, look out! Ava does everything Miss Jill showed her but on her terms. This kid is stubborn!! (Some say she gets that from me.) She doesn't want help and she really doesn't want anyone watching her. Ava has always been fiercely independent and this girl got her independence back! She is determined to regain her ability to walk and she's on the right path.

Crab walk.

This whole process has taken a toll on me that I had not expected. I knew it would not be easy but I didn't expect it to invade every inch of who I am. I am looking forward to life going back to normal (well a normal as normal gets.) I have become consumed  with her recovery. I forget things, I become anxious easily and I find it hard to find time to do things for myself (like exercise & I guess I'm not losing that 15 lbs for my upcoming 20 year HS reunion. Oh well!) At the same time I would not change it for the world. Watching the determination and strength Ava has helps me get through each and every moment. She's navigating territory that in the past was easy for her and watching her struggle can make me so sad. Then Ava gets a look on her face of such pride for her accomplishment that I quickly remember how strong my daughter is. In three weeks Ava has relearned to sit on her own, crab walk, bend her knees, crawl, pencil roll and pull her self up on things. She's slowly taking steps (with help), peddling a tricycle and kicking a ball. Her achievements are outstanding! Ava is on her way to being completely healed and will be up and running in no time. I can not say enough how proud I am of her! My daughter is AMAZING!!

Love this girl!

Physical Therapy

The change in Ava in the last 12 days is absolutely amazing. I never anticipated how hard it would be after her cast removal. Don't get me wrong, I knew she wouldn't get up and walk and I knew she would be stiff but I never expected the length of time it would last or how much strength she would need to rebuild. Not only does she have to recondition but she is also relearning what was normal to her. For three years Ava walked one way but now has to completely walk another. I can't even imagine how this must feel for her, now I completely understand why they prefer to perform this surgery at two years old opposed to a four year old. A two year doesn't anticipate or fully understand what is going on. The fear is not fully there yet and they are so curious they just move. My poor Ava anticipates pain and is scared when trying new exercises. She is fully aware of what is happening and bucks the system the whole way. She knows when she tries to stand or moves her legs it's going to hurt, not just a little but a lot.

Today was our fourth physical therapy session and what a difference! Last week when Ava met Miss Jill she barely wanted to do a thing and cried off and on. This week she's a changed girl. After our little discussion about cooperating or being put back in the hospital, Ava opted for trying harder (although she does test her limits.) At Monday's session she really fought baring any weight on her legs but today (with a little fight) she did it. (Yeah Ava!!) Miss Jill found her weak spot...swings!! In one of the PT rooms there is a giant swing and after cooperating Ava got to take a ride, the look of joy on Ava's face made the previous crying so worth it. My heart breaks every time Ava cries out "It hurts!" or "I'm scared!" but it soars when I see the look of pride she wears when she does something she thinks she can't do. Slowly but surely she is getting there. The strength Ava has with in her has truly shown no boundaries.

Crab walk.

Leg raises.

Sitting.

Pushing herself on big swing.

Everything takes time and I have to remind myself Ava has been through two major surgeries. Our days aren't always easy and there are moments when I feel like there is no end. Having to push Ava can be hard especially since she is usually talking back or resisting every step of the way. It's difficult for a four year old to understand that she needs to work through the pain to eventually be pain free. It's a whole new learning experience and all we can do is give her the tools to help her recover. As always, Ava is doing things in her time. (Gosh this girl is stubborn!) I'm so proud of my brave butterfly! Each day she is getting stronger and learning more of what her legs can do. All we can do is have lots of patience and help guide her as she relearns. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day!

It's been a week...

Ava has been cast free for a week now. Oh what a long week it has been! I knew this part of the journey would not be easy but I never expected it to be this difficult. Ava is scared! Scared to be moved, scared of being touched and wants no part of standing. She has been fighting us tooth and nail on her recovery. At least four nights this week Ava woke up screaming out in pain almost every hour! The lack of sleep has not helped and on top of it I got sick with allergy and sinus issues. My patience has been thin and I really just want to see my baby healed. Her cries and screams break my heart! I hate to see her in so much pain. Yes we give her pain medication  and we do whatever we can to make her comfortable but she does not make it easy for us. We're all tired. It's hard to get make a four year old understand that yes it hurts but the more you move through the pain the better you will feel. Oh the road ahead seems so long!

Ava is not sleeping well, cries in pain at physical therapy, complains her knees hurt and will not bear any weight on her legs. She moves around and can now bend her knees but she is using her arms and core to compensate instead of working the muscles in her legs and hips. Finally on Friday I called Dr. A with my concerns. He relieved my fears some by telling me knee pain is common due to the way she was casted and it could take weeks before the muscle pain is gone. He expressed concern about the lack of sleep and the fear of bearing weight on her legs. Bottom line Ava needs to get moving to progress to walking again. If by Monday Ava is not sleeping better and trying harder to move she will have to return to the hospital for pain management and physical therapy several times a day. Well guess what... all Ava had to hear is "hospital" and "IV" and her little attitude took a 360! Neither one of us wants to go back there so hopefully we finally got through to her how important it is to try harder. It's tough love time but as a parent it has to be one of the most difficult things. Nobody wants to see their baby in pain.

Working those legs!

Loving bath time!

Not so sure!!

 The last two nights Ava has slept better (oh so thankful!) and today she seemed to try a little more. We got her to do some exercises and when David helped her stand she managed to balance for a brief moment on her own. (Yeah!) When she sits in her chair her knees are sitting better and she seems to be moving her legs and feet around more. On a positive note bath time has come to be a favorite for all. Ava is so happy swimming around in the tub and almost all her dry skin has washed off. What a crazy ride this has been and unfortunately it is far from over. I pray tomorrow is a better day and Monday we will not have to return to the hospital. Ava is such a brave girl and I know how challenging relearning to walk must be for her. Hopefully things will only get better from here on out. My girl is on the mend and I can't wait to see those first steps!!

Life after the cast...

It has been four days since Ava had her cast removed. As thrilled as we are, it has not been as easy as I hoped it would be. Okay I didn't expect miracles and I know that it could be weeks before she walks again but it is definitely harder then I thought. We had made it through the worst of it, right??  I think I may have been wrong about that. Yes the surgeries were hard, dealing with the cast was hard but we adjusted and made our way. Nothing is harder then watching your child in pain. It's heart breaking. We are back on the roller coaster ride, just a different one. During the day Ava does great. She is slowly moving around, bending her knees, pointing and flexing her toes and rolling over. She can pull herself across the room on her bottom using her arms and is doing more and more for herself. She still has to be carried everywhere but often tells us it hurts when lifted. Being put in and taken her out of her car seat is the worst, there is just no good angle to lift her. Ava's legs still lie in the position they were casted because the muscles are so stiff. Her right leg looks the worst due to the knee being slightly rolled in. She is having a difficult time moving it or holding it straight. Nighttime has become a complete nightmare! Ava falls asleep easily but wakes up often during the night screaming of pain. She has not slept well since the cast was removed and last night was the worst! She was up almost every hour! (I think Jack was the only one to get sleep in at our house last night.) Ava screams in pain and says stuff like "It hurts so much!" "This is worse then the cast!" "Make it stop!" A knife right to the heart every time. My poor girl, I would do anything to take the pain away. Please! Please! Please! Let her pain subside soon.

Yesterday David and I took Ava to her first physical therapy session. We met Miss Jill, who Ava seemed to like. She answered any questions that was asked and cooperated for the most part. I think Miss Jill caught on quickly that Ava does not do anything unless it is on her terms. (Oh I hope this lady has patience of a saint because nothing will get accomplished otherwise.) Miss Jill began by asking about Ava's surgeries, casts and her current abilities. Next she measured the movement in Ava's legs. This session was more of evaluation to help miss Jill design the proper PT for Ava. She did a couple of exercises to see where was Ava was at and gave a few suggestions for home.  Watching Ava pull herself up holding onto a large cushion with out help made me realize the hard road ahead of her. She has to relearn everything! She has to relearn to use the proper muscles and not to compensate with other muscles the way she has over the last few months. Watching your child struggle with something that came so easily just a short few months ago is heart wrenching but on the other hand the look of pride in Ava's face when she accomplishes the task herself makes my heart soar.

I know like everything else we have gone through after a few days things get better. We adjust and take each day as it comes. On a brighter note Ava is so happy to be able to take a bath again. Lucky for her we have a jacuzzi size tub and she can practically swim in it. She would stay in for hours if we let her and she is so completely happy when splashing in the water. The look of contentment on her face during bath time reminds me everything will be okay. Ava has a rocky road ahead of her but I know like everything else she will rise to the challenge. She will regain strength and regain proper use of all her hip and leg muscles. I look forward to Ava's first steps all over again and being able to pick up my little girl without the screams of pain. And most of all I can't wait to hear the words "Mommy I don't hurt anymore." We are getting there and I'm sure Ava will be healed in no time!

Goodbye Cast!!!

95 days!!! That's how long my sweet girl had to be in her casts. Wow! We did it! There were definitely days that I though it would never end. It has been quite a journey, although Ava still has some healing to do the worst is over. Ava was so excited the days leading up to today. She would count the days left on her countdown calendar & scream in excitement that Friday was cast off day. Last night she even wanted to take pictures on her last night in a cast.This morning was a completely different, she woke up crying and really anxious about today. At least a hundred times she repeated "I'm not getting an IV, right?" "Dr. A promised no IV." She did not know what to expect and more scared then I though she would be. We reassured her over and over it would be fine but nothing was helping.

Jack by her side.

After arriving at the doctors office the anxiety continued. She was still asking the IV question (even Jack was getting annoyed) and was worried about the pain. While we waited in the exam room she started crying again...Oh Ava it's going to be alright. She wasn't buying it. She cried through the x ray and then the tech came in to remove the cast. Oh no! This was not going to be good! She decided her cast should stay on. (Sorry Ava, that's not an option.) The tech began prepping her and getting ready to saw off the cast as Ava screamed the most gut wrenching scream I have ever heard, the WHOLE time. It was hard to keep it together, I had tears in my eyes through it all and both David and I were trying to reassure her it would be okay. Nothing was working, Jack had to leave the room (but came back when Ava asked for him.) It felt like an hour but in no time the cast was removed and there were Ava's beautiful legs! WOW!!! She looks so big! Where did those long legs come from?? My girl grew so much! There is no more cast!! Best day ever!!!

Look at those legs!

Ava was still very anxious and was not calming down even when Dr A came in for the exam. He is happy with how her incisions are healing and happy there were no sores on Ava's legs. He showed us the x ray and Ava's hips are perfect!!! He said to let Ava take things at her own pace and to start physical therapy 2-3 times per week for 3-6 weeks depending how quickly Ava bounces back. If there were any problems give him a call immediately, come back for a check up in 3 weeks and we were free to go. Yeah! Ava was not ready, she cried and kept telling us she was scared it will hurt when I move her. Oh Ava! I finally coaxed her to put on her underwear and pants and carefully put her in the stroller, we were on our way. Ava was crying off and on when we put her in the car. I'm not sure how much pain there really was, most of the crying was from the anticipation of it.

True to our word, the first place we took Ava was the beach. It was a short visit but we saw the beach and ocean and breathed in the salt air! Ava was free!!!!! We had a quick lunch and some ice cream (well at least we did, Ava wanted no part) and Jack ran down to the ocean and back. Ava had some cotton candy (her favorite) and we were on our way. She was still crying off and on and when we got home she declared "I'm never leaving the house again!" (She's a funny one.) We got Ava settled on her favorite mattress and within a half an hour I had a new kid. Ava was wiggling around, starting to bend her knees and moving her legs together. Go Ava!! I give her a few days and I'm sure she'll be all over the place but one thing I know for sure it will be on her terms. My kid is amazing!!

Princess P!

I feel very blessed today. Ava made it through two major hip surgeries, two Spica cast and one Petrie cast in her true Ava style... with lots of sass! She is a strong brave girl and I could not be more proud of her. Tears fill my eyes as I watch her mover herself around and explore what she is capable of doing. I have no doubt Ava will be up and about in no time, there is no stopping her. I pray Ava's pain will subside quickly and her hips stay in place. It has been quite a road but as a family we made it. I love my girl to pieces!! My butterfly is free at last!! Ava will be dancing in no time! xoxoox

Pilates anyone??

I can not believe in 4 days Ava will have her final cast removed. It has been quite a ride and I get emotional just thinking about it. Ava has coped so well through out this whole journey, she has amazing strength. I think back to the day of her first surgery and remember how scared I was when I saw her Spica cast for the first time. But we did it! We took it one day at a time although it was not always easy. I can not thank our support system enough. Without our family and friends we would have never made it. I love you all!! You helped my girl do amazing things and helped me get through days when all I wanted to do is crawl in a hole. When Ava had her cast change four weeks ago I could not even imagine the end. Ava was in so much pain it broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Believe it or not it was almost worse then either surgery, we had a full week of feeling helpless. It's amazing how resilient children are and the change in just four weeks!! Ava is ready! She is like a little acrobat swinging her legs around and trying to stand on her own. She looks like she's doing Pilate's the way she moves and right now seems to be pain free. There is no stopping her! Ava's nervous for the cast removal and is scared of the unknown. I'm sure there will be some pain but her legs will be free!!Yeah!!!! I can not wait to see my girls legs! I look forward to Friday and I pray the rest of Ava's recovery goes as well as the recovery in her casts. Look for pictures of my Princess P cast free!!! We're there... I see the finish line!!

Yeah Ava!!

Each day Ava is gaining strength back. I added this video for those of you not on Facebook. We are so proud of our girl!!

I See the Light!

Today was the day Ava went for another follow up x ray. I have to admit I was really nervous. What if we had done the exercises wrong?  Did I move either hip out of place when I was taking her in and out of the car?? I hope Ava didn't push her hip out with all her wiggling and moving.  A thousand things went through my head and I prepared myself for another 3-4 weeks of this cast. All I know is I could not wait for this appointment because today was the day we found out when Ava's cast would be removed. Thankfully Ava finally can handle sitting in the car and we had a peaceful ride to East Brunswick. (I was worried about this too!)

As always we started our appointment with the x ray. After Dr. A reviewed it he came in the exam room to check Ava's hips out. I carefully placed Ava on the exam table and Dr. A explained he was going to take the bar out and do the same exercises that Mommy and Daddy do everyday. Ava was  very sceptical but laid back anyway. The first thing Dr. a said was how impressed he was that Ava was laying so flat without pain, most children can't do that in such a short amount of time. (Great news!) Next he removed the bar and did the scissor motions we have been doing everyday. After he wobbled her legs back in forth to check the movement of the ball in the socket. Ava let him do all this with a smile on her face and no complaint of pain. (That's my girl!) After putting the bar back in Dr A said "Okay I'll see you in two weeks to remove the cast. The x ray looks great and her movement is good." What??? Did I hear you right??? That is the best news ever!!!! I wanted scream with joy! TWO WEEKS!!! Princess P is almost done!!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited??? I see the light!!! NO more cast! My girls legs will be free at last!! After I calculated that September 14 will be the greatest day ever, we discussed what will happen after. Dr. A said to expect Ava to be fully walking again 3-4 weeks after the cast removal. Most kids regress and begin like a toddler again...pulling themselves up on things, cruising (holding on to furniture) and finally taking steps on their own. (Okay we can deal with is.) Also start looking for a physical therapist in our area that takes our insurance and that has experience with pediatric physical therapy. Ava will have to go to physical therapy because he wants her gait (the pattern in which a person walks) monitored. Basically he wants to make sure there is no waddle, the most common sign of hip dysplasia. Okay we can do that too! It will take about one year for Ava to be completely healed. There weren't many restrictions... no trampoline or monkey bars (the number one reason for a child visiting an Orthopedic doctor) and he recommended swimming and bike riding to strengthen her muscles.  Hello swimming lessons and since Ava found out about the surgery she has said she wants a bike with training wheels when it's all over...the count down begins!!!

We happily made our next appointment and I immediately called David to tell him the good news, then the tears of joy began. I can not express the joy I was feeling at that moment. Ava is in the home stretch!! We can do this! I know the first couple weeks will not be easy but Ava has amazing strength and will. I know my fighter is going to be running and dancing in no time. Ten hours of surgery, 11 hours of anesthesia,  7 days (total) in the hospital, one blood transfusion, lots of morphine, two Spica casts, one Petrie Cast, countless sleepless nights, tons of tears (Ava's and mine), pot after pot of coffee (me!), numerous bottles of wine (me & David) = one incredible big brother, one wise cracking little girl, two exhausted parents. Exactly three months and two days after the first surgery our little butterfly will be set free! I am so proud of Ava and so grateful for her healing!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you for all the love, thank you for all the support and most of all... thank you for all the prayers! Two weeks from today you can find the four of us sitting on the beach...the first place Ava wants to go after her legs are freed. Anything for you Ava girl!

Happy Tears

I don't usually blog twice in one day but I had to share my girls accomplishment. Our day started out rough and then it got rougher... Ava wanted to attend her baby cousin's first birthday party. It was taking place in PA, an hour drive away. I was skeptical about going but Ava was crying how she missed Mason, Jayke and Brice and had to go. After asking and asking over and over I gave in against my better judgement. Our last car experience was horrible but Ava said she was ready. I got Ava settled in her car seat and the first part of the drive was going well. Then about 25 minutes into it Ava lost it. She was hysterically crying and screaming that it hurt. I immediately stopped the car to see if I could adjust her at all to make it better, she insisted we keep going even though she was still crying. Five minutes later she was screaming again "It hurts so much, make it stop! I miss my home!" I turned around to head home but now we had to drive 30 minutes back. It was horrible! Ava screamed and cried the whole way. The worst was her saying "Mama help me!!" By the time we got home we both were crying hysterically, I was never so happy to see my house before. I finally got Ava in the house and settled, and finally after an hour we both were much calmer and Ava was happy again.

By the time David got home I was exhausted and drained! It had been a long afternoon, we were both happy to see him! As we settled into our night, David did Ava's leg exercises with her. After she was done she scooted herself to the end of her crib mattress and rested her feet on the ground, she told us she wanted to try and stand. With my help, Ava stood for the first time in 11 1/2 weeks!! Yeah Ava!! I am so proud of my brave girl!! This time I had happy tears for my girl. After Jack got home from the party Ava could not wait to show him her newest accomplishment. Jack cheered her on like he always does,such a great big brother. Today started out crappy but ended with hope. Ava proved she is healing and before we know it she will be standing on her own! I look forward to many more happy tears!!

Here we go.....

I am so proud!

You can do it Ava!

That's my girl!!!

Rough Mornings

Slowly but surely Ava is getting use to her cast, as are we. This thing is awkward and lifting it is hard. I know this will never get easier but over time Ava will have less pain and not cry or scream when we move her. When Ava is sitting still and playing she is extremely happy but try to move her watch out. She's still scared and any sudden movement seems to hurt. Oh my poor baby! But I have to stay by far, mornings are the worst. She has been sleeping well overall but when she wakes her muscles are stiff and moving hurts. She's a mess! She cries and says "Don't move me!" It is so hard seeing her like this and not being able to help her. We give her Advil to help but it's not instant relief. I'm her Mom, I should be able to make her feel better. I feel so helpless.

This morning was particularly bad. Ava woke around 6am and wanted to come in bed with us. She cried a little when I moved her but after massaging her feet (a trick that always works) she fell back to sleep. She woke again around 8am yelling "My leg hurts!!" Ava complains often of her right leg being in pain, this is the side of the second surgery and hasn't had as much healing time. She was crying and talking in the saddest voice, it just broke my heart... "It hurts so bad!" "I just want it to stop! Make it go away!" "When is this going to be over? I want this to be done!" "I miss running, jumping and playing Mommy!!!" "Mommy I just want to play!!" "Mommy don't move me, it's going to hurt!" Oh Ava!! I wish I could change it all for you. Watching your child in so much pain is almost unbearable. I am so sad for her and would do anything to make it better.

I'm glad I can say after moving her through screams she did calm down. Her Advil kicked in and once she started to move around the stiff muscles loosened up, (then Ava's day always gets better.)  Once Jack woke up and came down to play with her, life was suddenly better. I am so proud of Jack and how patient he has been with Ava. He plays with her for hours on end (even when he's getting as frustrated as we are) and helps in any way he can. Jack can always bring a smile to her face and make her laugh hysterically. Jack is an amazing little person who has the kindest heart. He has a constant worry and concern for his little sister. It makes me so sad that at

My loves!

7 years old he worries so much.  I could not be prouder of my two kids. They have endured so much this summer and I am looking forward to our lives getting back into our normal routines. I pray both my babies have all the strength they need to get through the last few weeks of this. The end of September can't come fast enough!!

Adjustments....

It has been over 24 hours since Ava had her Petrie cast put on...it has been an interesting 24 hours. I thought nearing the end of these casts would be easier, boy was I mistaken. For one, Ava does not like to be touched or moved. She has soreness in her now exposed muscles but she is also scared. Anything new she screams like I've never heard her scream before. The neighbors probably think we're beating her, it's that bad!! Jack was playing across the street at his friends house and he said you could hear her loud and clear. All you have to do is mention moving her and the screaming begins.. (Oh this needs to stop.) Yesterday afternoon went pretty smoothly until it was time to exercise Ava's legs. Oh boy, I was just as frightened as she was. What if I hurt her or pull a hip out??  We were both scared. I have to say it went well, about half way through the scissor like movements Ava realized it just felt weird but didn't hurt. Yeah another hurdle crossed! The real drama began right before bed, Ava decided holding in her pee was a way better idea then allowing one of us to carry her to the potty. She couldn't hold it anymore and let loose all over the couch! Augh!! Really Ava? That was a much better idea?? Now her Petrie cast got soaked for the second time that day. This kid is going to stink by the end.

Sitting up... but unsure.

Okay I completely understand why she's scared to move but the complete panic that overcomes Ava does not help. It's very awkward to lift her, we're still figuring it out. There is just no good way to do it! When I lift her up I feel like her casts are weighing her legs down. Trying to hold her upper body and lower body at the same time is very difficult. (I can't imagine that this is going to get easier.) Also Ava is itching and scratching herself like crazy. Where ever she sits or lays she leaves behind a pile of dry skin. Ewe!! This to shall pass... hopefully quickly. Thankfully Ava had a great night sleep. Small blessings. I woke to the sound of her and Jack talking happily. I looked at the clock and it was 7:15am, Yes!!!! First thing Ava said when I peeked in the room was "Mommy! I don't hurt as much!" Oh Ava, music to my ears. After screaming all the way down the stairs Ava calmed and didn't freak quite as much when we did her leg exercises. Maybe I'm finally getting through to her that it's only going to get better. It's hard to explain to a four year old that although it may hurt some, the more you move the muscles the quicker it will stop hurting. That's a big concept to absorb. My poor Ava! Going to the bathroom is still an issue. Once the pain goes away it will be easier then in the Spica cast. She can sit at a 90 degree angle now and will be able to balance herself. Unfortunately Ava is scared! Not just scared but a cat about to be thrown into water scared. This morning she actually was holding me so tight that she grabbed my hair and I thought a fistful was going to come out. My heartbreaks for her. I don't know what to do about this but she can't keep peeing everywhere. It can only get easier, right???

So proud!!

I'm trying very hard to focus on the positive. Ava slept well last night (hopefully this will continue), she's eating well (for her) and she's in a much better mood today. The best thing of all, Ava pulled herself up into a sitting position! (Maybe she is hearing us through all the screams.) Now if we can get her over the fear of the potty and riding in the car we'll be good to go. As I sit here and type Ava is sitting herself up and laying back down as she yells "I'm doing sit ups!" Amazing a difference a day can make! Everyday she will get stronger and stronger and our little butterfly will be back in full strength. We have one remarkable little girl! I can not tell people enough how much I admire her courage and strength. We're almost there Ava girl! We're almost there!!

Cast Change...

Waiting for cast change.

Today Ava went for her cast change from the Spica cast to the Petrie cast, should be easy, right??? We prepped her well over the last few weeks, it was going to be a piece of cake compared to the two surgeries. Through Ava's eyes not so much. It started last night with her telling us how she didn't want to get her cast changed and how she was fine just the way she is. Oh no, this is not good! We had to be at the hospital at 6:15am for her 7:30am appointment. Ava woke on her own around 4:30am... crying. "I don't want to change my cast!" There was no doubt, she was scared. Scared of the unknown, scared of being able to move more. As difficult as 10 weeks of being in a Spica was, we had it down pat and she was comfortable. She cried off and on the whole ride and while we waited. We got her to smile here and there and many of the nurses remembered her but she was not convinced this was a good idea. Dr A and came in for our consult then it was time to head in. Ava was very distraught as she was wheeled into the OR, she kept saying through tears "Please don't hurt me!!" I was heart broken. I hate that she has to endure so much and I can't take any of it away for her. I was escorted out in a haze of tears...let the waiting begin.

New green legs!

Before we knew it, Dr. A was walking our way. Wow that was quick! Exam, x ray and cast change took just about an hour, gosh that was nothing! Dr. A brought us into recovery while he explained the cast. As he pulled the covers off Ava it was not what I expected. Not sure what I thought it would be like but it was two green casted legs with a wood bar in between. Oh! This should be fun! He went on to explain how to take the bar out and twice a day we needed to exercise Ava's legs in a scissor movement, back and forth and side to side. Ava's hips look great and are still in place! Hooray!!! We needed to see him in a week for our post op visit and soon as Ava was ready we could head home. Ava came out of it okay but she was in pain. She was not happy about the IV being in nor with the interesting new cast. After much coaxing I got her to drink some apple juice and her vitals we're good. Yeah! We we're going home!! Now the fun begins,how do I move her??? Hmmmmm this should be interesting. David went to get the car and Ava's stroller and I got Ava dressed. The nurse took the IV out and all Ava wanted was for me to pick her up. As I began to move Ava she began to scream bloody murder!"It hurts!" Oh this is not good. Through screams and tears (hers and mine) we made it to the car. David helped me get her safely in her car seat and I climbed in the back with her by her request. Homeward bound we go!

Ava cried the whole way home. Every little bump Ava screamed "It hurts!" "I want to be home now!" At one point she even yelled "Stop hurting me!!" Poor David, he was doing in best but the pavement is just not smooth. Wow there are a lot of bumps and dips in the road, my poor girl. After an excruciating hour for all of us, we were finally home. Now getting her inside... Ava decided she wanted to sit in the car for a minute. She was anticipating pain and was in no hurry to be moved. David ran inside and set up her crib mattress she loves to lay on and I tried to calm Ava. Next thing I know she's yelling "I have to go potty!" and the flood gate opened. OH jeez! Pee was going every where! Through the pillow she sits on, down her car seat, onto the regular seat and puddling on the floor. I lifted Ava up as quick as I could while she yelled in pain. Seriously 10 weeks in  a Spica cast and not one accident, 3 hours in a Petrie cast and urine everywhere. I"m sure Ava's mole skin lining the cast needs to be changed but Ava is too scared to let me survey the damage. Once her pain subsides we'll check it out but until then I'm letting her be.

It has been an exhausting day already and it's only 1:30pm, I'm drained. I pray Ava's pain goes away quickly and she  starts to enjoy her freedom. She was such a brave girl! I'm sure the next few days will be a roller coaster of emotions but I'm sure in no time Ava will be back to herself. My little fighter is one step closer to this all coming to an end, Ava's the strongest little one I know!! On our way to strong healthy hips!!

In the mean time...

It has been two weeks since I last blogged. Quite frankly it's because nothing all that exciting has happened. Ava is in her tenth week of her Spica cast. I know! I know! For everyone around us the time has flown by and it's hard to believe we are nearing the end of summer. For me and my family it has been an extremely long ten weeks!! On Tuesday, August 21st Ava goes for her cast change from the Spica to the Petrie cast. I am so happy the day is almost here but also my nerves are a wreck. Dr. A will move her hips and then take an x ray to see if the ball stays in the socket. As long as it stays put she will move on to the Petrie cast or as Ava says "My green frog legs." (Yep, the next color on board is green.) Thankfully this cast will allow more movement for Ava but I'm a little worried about her legs being casted straight. I'm sure once again there will be a learning curve just like with the last two. The cast change will be nothing compared to her two hip surgery but it doesn't make it easier to watch your child be put under anesthesia. This will be the fifth time in the last 2 1/2 years! Yikes! I wish it wash the last, unfortunately those plates ans pins need to come out a few months from now.

70 piece puzzle..Taadaah!!

I can't say it enough, I am so proud of my little fighter! Ava has handled herself amazingly well over the last ten weeks. Can you imagine being four years old and not being able to move?? All the independence instilled in you is all taken away in an instant! Don't get me wrong, she has some miserable days (and so has Mommy.) She can be moody, cranky, demanding and frustrating (so can Mommy.) She also laughs and smiles a lot. Ava loves being tickled and loves when I massage her feet. She can now color in the lines, cut well with scissors, paint rainbows and do 70 piece puzzles on her own. She also says she's never going back to school, she has become very attached to Mommy and Daddy. (Guess what Ava, once you get the go ahead, your going!) That will be the best day ever,it will mean she has healthy hips. We're almost there!! After the Petrie cast is on, only 3-4 more weeks. Yeah!! I can not wait until my Princess P is walking, running and dancing again! That will be the best day ever! I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it! I will never take the simple things for granted again. My heart goes out to every child who has to endure this process. We are so lucky to have such a great support system, it has made a difficult road so much easier.

Please keep Ava in your thoughts and prayers Tuesday when she returns to the hospital. We need those hips to stay in place! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of Ava's journey. We are so thankful and so blessed! We're almost there!! My Ava will be up and dancing in no time! xoxox

Post Op X Ray #2

It has been 2 1/2 weeks since Ava's right hip surgery and today was her post op x ray. This day could not come fast enough if you ask me . . . it was the moment of truth. Is her hip still in place? Is it healing properly?  After arriving at Dr. A's office Ava had her x ray and we patiently waited for Dr. A to come in and tell us how things looked. He brought the x ray up on the computer screen and I saw the most beautiful x ray I've ever seen. . . Ava's two perfect hips!! It took all I had to hold back my tears of joy.  Right there on the screen was proof Ava was going to be okay and yes there is a light at the end of the tunnel. She made it over one more hurdle but we're not out of the woods yet. She has 2 1/2 more weeks in her purple Spica cast and on August 21 she will have a cast change to the Petrie cast. We will once again return to the hospital so Ava can be put under anesthesia. Her purple cast will be removed and an exam will be giving to make sure when the ball rotates in the socket properly, after an x ray will be taken. If the hip is still in the proper place they will put the Petrie cast on, if not the hip will be manipulated back into place and another Spica cast will be needed. 99% of the time things go as planned, please let Ava be in that 99%. The Petrie cast will allow Ava to have full movement in her hips  such as sitting, rolling over and possibly standing. Her chest, belly and hips will no longer be casted, yeah! This cast will remain on for 3-4 weeks and will be removed in the doctor's office.

Happy Girl!

Waiting.....

 Ava has been in a Spica cast for 53 days, that's 7 1/2weeks! That's it! To everyone else I'm sure the time is flying by but for our family it's at a snails pace. Over all Ava is doing great and by far it's the hardest on me. Ava has Mommy on the brain and there are days I barely get a second to myself. She has started complaining about being in the cast and has asked many times "How much longer?" I'm tired. Wait that's an understatement. . . I'm exhausted! She is still not sleeping well and there's not a moments rest for the weary. It kills me when I hear her say "when I use to run, walk and ride my scooter. . ." At times my patience runs thin and we argue, followed by Ava stating "Your being so mean to me!" while she sobs hysterically.  Bottom line, we've all had enough. I'm so grateful to my friends who have helped me get through the more difficult days. I pray the next 2 1/2 weeks go quickly and her hips heal properly. Ava has endured so much since her first surgery, I look forward to seeing her cute little legs again. We're almost there and I know my little fighter will handle what ever comes her way next with her usual sassy style. Please continue the prayers, we need these hips to stay in place! xoxo



.

The Choices We Make

Ava has been in a Spica cast for 6 weeks and 3 days now. After I came to gripes with having to put my baby through not 1 but 2 surgeries, I made a promise to myself that no matter how difficult things got I would do what it takes to keep everything in a positive light. This is much harder then it sounds but I like to think I'm keeping my promise. Believe me I have had moments where I have completely lost it but I try to regroup quickly and move on. There have been moments when it's all I can do from bursting into tears and I keep a smile on my face. There are moments when I just want to walk out the door and not come back but I just take a deep breath and keep going. It's hard! Harder then I could ever imagined. But the reality is Ava is the one in the cast not me. Her frustration must be overwhelming. That's why no matter how indecisive she is,  no matter how much she cries, screams, yells or speaks freshly, I stay calm (well almost always) and try to make it better for her. All Ava's independence has been taking away from her; so if she cries because she wanted the pretzel goldfish instead of the regular I give in, get it and try to remember 6 weeks ago she would have gotten it herself. Ava and I are very much a like and I'm not ashamed to admit I've thrown a tantrum or two in my life. I also know children learn from what they see, if I want Ava to have a good attitude then I have to have one too.

Ava has handled herself impressively well through out this whole ordeal, there are times I actually have to take her lead and not freak out. To save all of our sanity I try to get us all out of the house at least once a day; sometimes for a walk, sometimes to a store. When you have a child in a Spica cast you might as well be pushing a circus animal around. People stare, gawk, point and worse of all, give the look of pity. Ava is oblivious to this but it irritates me. I'd rather someone ask about it then look at us like we have the plaque. Then on the other hand, there are the people who are just plain rude and inconsiderate. This bringing me to my point... the choices we make. Yesterday Ava and I went to Walmart to pick up a few things. The main isle near the registers had large displays containing school supplies, making it difficult to maneuver around and not a ton of space. Here I am pushing Ava in the stroller with a pizza balanced on top, my bag over my left shoulder and a basket on my right arm filled with things we were purchasing. Needless to say I had my hands full. (This is a normal scenario for me, I always think I can do it all.) Anyway I see a seemingly healthy woman approaching with her cart, so I start to back Ava out of the way into another isle. As she passed us she says "I can't get by because your daughter is sitting so spread eagle!". . . In a slightly rude tone.What!! I was so shocked all that came out of my mouth was "I'm sorry, she doesn't exactly have a choice!"  As I checked out a bazillion things went through my head of what I should of said or how I could of handled it. How can someone be so rude! If the roll was reversed I would of been the one who stepped to the side or even helped the person juggling so much. In fact in the past I have.  After I vented on Facebook, I realized I handled it perfectly fine. What example would have been setting for Ava if I flipped out. Don't get me wrong, I was annoyed!! But instead of dwelling on it I decided to list all the good things we're thankful for instead of holding on to the negative...

~ All our friends and family that have made meals or brought us food.
~ Our family support.
~ All the gifts people (near and far) have given or sent both Ava and Jack to keep them busy.
~ All the people who have come to visit to help pass our long days.
~ My friends who have listened to me vent and cry since the beginning.
~ All the generous donation people have made to help us raise hip awareness.
~ Most of all, all the people (who know Ava or not) praying for Ava's full recovery and healthy hips.

Now I want to share a good story to restore every one's faith in others. On Monday our doorbell rang, it was the mailman delivering a gift to Ava. As we opened the box we had no idea who it was from. Inside was a cute dance bag, two beautiful dance costumes including the accessories, a cowgirl hat and a crown. Included in the box was a letter stating she was an owner of a dance school that was sent a prayer request (from someone in our church) for Ava along with the link to our blog. After reading our blog she was touched by Ava's story and strength and wanted to reach out to Ava and let us know she had our support and prayers. The letter brought me to tears and made me realize what wonderful people are out there. I can not thank her enough! So remember that there are good, kind hearted people in the world. For every rude one you may encounter, there are ten others that are kind.. This is one of many stories I could tell that have touched me over the last several months. My Ava is so blessed! I choose to be positive no matter what comes our way, I hope you'll do the same. It makes the road so much easier.

This hat was made for her!

We're getting there. . .

It has been one week since Ava's right hip surgery. . . she is slowly but surely coming around. I'm not going to lie, it has been a rough week. Ava is not generally a complainer and handles pain amazingly well  but now she often says "My hip hurts" or "My leg hurts." I'm not surprised by this, not only did she have surgery but her left hip muscles were manipulated and changed positions as well. She has been running a low grade fever off and on all week. This is normal but doesn't help with her comfort level. Ava is back on the "Mommy only" kick . If I leave the room she is screaming for me and only wants me to do things for her. "Mama! I just want you!!" I love you Ava but  I need a break sometimes too. She is not sleeping well at night. She is uncomfortable and cries out "I can't sleep!" How do you comfort a child when there's not much you can really do for her ?! I can handle most anything thrown my way but lack of sleep is killing me. Last night she even said "You are being so mean to me!!" Okay maybe I raised my voice a little because it was 3:30 in the morning and I was exhausted but mean! I don't think so! This to shall pass . . . right ???

Slightly bigger Spica chair.

We are slowly adjusting to the shape of this cast. We have using the potty down pat, although it's not easy. Her Uncle Butch added five inches to her Spica chair so she is able to use it again. Best thing ever!! But unfortunately the angle of the cast makes it more difficult to stay upright and some times she slides off the seat a bit. I tie her in with a scarf (this took lots of convincing) to make it more secure. We're trying to get back in our groove but the moodiness (from all of us) makes it tough. When Ava doesn't feel well she can't make a decision about where she wants to sit, what activity she wants to do or what she wants to eat. Then she gets mad at me because I can't read her mind! (Hmmmm ... I wonder where she gets that personality trait from?!?!) I know once the pain subsides we'll all be much happier. Please hurry up!!

On Friday, August 3 we go for Ava's post op x ray. This is the day that can not come fast enough. This is our tell all moment. . . is the hip still in place ??? Until then I worry about everything. If the  x ray looks good we all breath a sigh of relief and just let Ava heal. I started prepping Ava for her next cast. She was not thrilled with this new piece of information but perked up once she found out her chest, belly and hips would be free. She even gave a smile once I told her she can stand in this cast. She already picked her next color. . . . Green!! (Mommy's favorite color.) My forever optimist. . . "Mommy I'm going to have green legs and maybe I'll even be able to walk like a penguin!" Oh my strong little one, I hope so! I so want this for her so she can feel like she has some control back. Each day Ava will get stronger and stronger. She is so brave and really takes each step in stride. Oh Princess P you'll have healthy hips soon!!

Still my fashionista!