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