Daphnee's New Brace

We went back to her Orthopedic doctor on the 15th to do another ultrasound and see if the Pavlik harness was helping her hips go in the sockets.  I am sad to report that there was really no change that they could see on the ultrasound after 4 weeks in that harness.  It wasn't a good doctor visit, and these past 10 days with this new brace has been really hard.

From what they could see they would recommend doing surgery at about 6 months of age (in 2 months from now).  If she has surgery then she will be in a cast from the waist down for 3 months.  Until then they said we could try and use this new brace to see if it could help in the mean time.  But the doctor said this brace isn't usually used for a baby with Daphnee's exact condition, and he even admitted that he was pesimistic that it would even work.  It is frustrating and we feel like we are putting her through more discomfort and hassle for no reason, but if there is even the slightest chance that it will work, we are willing to try it. 

Here are some better pictures of her old harness. 

And we have graduated to this new contraption of a brace.  She is sitting in her swing in the first one.

 It velcroes up and over each thigh to keep a stiff foam pad in place and then velcroes around her belly. 

 Then there is hard plastic that is held together with a big screw to keep her legs from coming together.

We can take this brace off for diaper changes only.  And its a good thing because she poops out of every outfit, not every diaper, but every outfit I have to pre-wash before it goes into the laundry.  Not fun!!

We get to try this one out for 4 weeks then we go back for another ultrasound on September 12th.

No Dairy

We have been on a mission to find out what is giving Daphnee so much tummy trouble, so I am going to exclude dairy from my diet.  I went off dairy for two weeks already and it seemed to help a little.  She still had some gas and wasn't the best eater, but it seemed to take away her screaming fits and really hurtful gas episodes.  When I added dairy back into my diet it was a horrible week.

So if it gives her any relief at all or helps me with my patience then I am willing to try it again.  When I first thought about doing a no dairy diet I immediately thought, "No milk, cheese, or yogurt...Not a problem."  As I began to think about it more I realized no butter, sour cream, or ice cream. 

My wonderful supportive husband decided to make me breakfast my first morning and he was surprised when I told him that I could not eat the pancakes he had made me.  There was buttermilk in our pancake mix and we had butter flavored syrup.  That was my wake up call that I HAD to read labels.  So, we add bread, salad dressings, and many other things to my "didn't realize they had dairy in them" list of foods I can't eat.   

I know I can make my own bread and I could buy Almond milk  for my cereal, but I would love for you to help me out with some other meal ideas I could make that are dairy free.  You don't have to go search dairy free meals (like I have been doing), but if  you cook something for you family for dinner that is dairy free then think of me and let me know what it was.  Leave a comment, shoot me an email, or even facebook message.  All recipes, tips, or ideas are welcomed!!!  Thanks!!

Four Years and Counting...

Scott and I are celebrating our 4 year anniversary today.  We took the kids to the lake then came home and cleaned up.  Scott cooked us a scrumptious surf and turf dinner with grilled steak, shrimp, asparagus and mashed potatoes.  He has become quite the grill master since we have been married. 

I am proud to say that we have been happily married for four years and have two beautiful children.  I didn't know it was possible then, but I am more in love with Scott now and know our love will continue to grow. 

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Brother and Sister

We have noticed a lot of similarities between Dallin and Daphnee beginning from when she was only a few days old.   They are definitely siblings in a lot of ways.  I thought I would share these pictures.  I know I'm the mom and probably biased, but I think they look so much alike. 

 (Dallin at 2 weeks)

 
(Daphnee at 6 weeks)

 
And here is a current picture of the two of them.  We love them both SO MUCH!!!

Videos

I came across these videos that we had taken weeks ago before Daphnee was in the new harness.  Thought I would share how expressive and vocal she already is.  When she smiles her whole face lights up, and she is learning to make all sorts of sounds now.  

She is so happy and smiley like Dallin was at this age when you catch her at the right moment.  I know she looks funny in the second video (her hair dried funny after I washed it), but she is really expressive in it. 

Pavlik Harness

I don't even know where to begin...I have so many thoughts running through my mind at this time.  I guess I will start with the news that for a week now Daphnee has been in this new contraption called the Pavlik Harness. 

We went back to Primary Childrens Hospital for her to visit the Orthopedic doctors this time because our Pediatrician noticed a click in her left hip.  After a hip ultrasound we found out that both of Daphnee's femoral heads are out of the hip sockets (hip dysplasia).  Her Urology doctors mentioned she might have issues with her hips or might not, but we wouldn't know until she was older and had healed from her surgery.  And now we know we have something else to tackle. 

We will have a 2 week visit back in SL to make sure the harness is still fitting properly and then a 4 week visit to assess wether it is working or not.  If it is working and the hips are moving into the socket correctly she will continue wearing the harness for months (possibly up to 6 months).  If it isn't working after 4 weeks then she will have to have surgery and will be in a cast. 

The challenge is having to rethink everything we have done so far with caring for her.  In her mermaid straps her legs were together and we could swaddle her up and now we have to keep her legs apart.  Being on her tummy or in a front carrier are now possible  and before they were forbidden.  I have to nurse her and snuggle her differently.  The one similarity is that she is in it 24/7 and we can't even take it off for baths.  So now back to the spit baths.  

Daphnee is adjusting to the new harness pretty well.  The first couple of days were rough which were to be expected and now she doesn't seem to mind them at all.  She just has her normal fussiness now which on a good day is a couple times a day and on a bad day it is several 20 minute unconsolable screaming and crying fits.  After three months I have noticed one consistency in her crying, she is always tooting.  I am pretty sure she has really bad gas.  It is usually brought on when I try and nurse her, and she has cut way down on her eating because she knows it is going to be painful. 

The past week has been an adjustment to say the least, but we are just hoping and praying that the harness works and Daphnee doesn't have to have another surgery. 

Fishing Trip

On Saturday we decided to go fishing.  Scott has been wanting to have a family fishing day ALL summer.  We packed a lunch, got a fishing license for me, and we were off.  After a couple different places we finally found a good spot on the river that was slow enough for Scott to teach Dallin. 

Thanks Mema and Papa for buying Dallin his first fishing pole. 

Dallin did really well.  He loved watching for his bobber and actually fished for a long time before he got burned out.  He didn't like constantly reeling in his line to keep up with the river current, so maybe he is more of a lake fisherman where you can just let your line sit in the water if you want. 

 Scott even ventured up the river where he had caught some fish earlier this summer. 

We came home empty handed, but we had a great day!!