One-third the way there!

We're back in hospital tomorrow for my baby's first 6-week checkup for her hip dysplasia. Its only out-patients this time, but that means sitting in a queue waiting to see the surgeon, which could take hours for a 15 minute assessment. I've been told these clinics can be insanely busy so I'm aiming to get there early.

I'm glad to say that we've made it one-third the way through her treatment. It hasn't been easy. Then again, we've been so lucky that she only required an abduction brace, or rhino brace as they're sometimes called, rather than a spica cast. She has tolerated it so well. She has her moments with it, and can get very frustrated, especially when she's around other babies her age who are able to crawl and move around. I know she knows that she's different to them. But for the most part she has remained a normal, happy baby who just accepts her situation for what it is. I'm amazed by her, but then I had the condition myself and was put in a body cast for 6 months and I turned out ok. So that makes me amazing too, right?!

So anyway, we're going in tomorrow for an x-ray and assessment with her consultant. I have no idea what they are going to tell us. I'm assuming there are a number of possible outcomes - the most likely being that some progress is evident but we keep going as we are for the full 18 weeks as planned. I've learned how to deal with it now so its not so bad.

The hardest part is her lack of independence. She became very clingy to me when the brace was fitted. She almost seems insecure without me, which makes me sad for her. She should be discovering the world around her, but she can't even sit up without being propped up with pillows, and even then she keeps falling backwards or forwards and gets terribly frustrated. I try not to let my anxiety show but I'm sure she senses it. I long for the day when the treatment is over and she can be a 'normal' child again. Even for her just to be able to fit comfortably into her buggy and carseat so she can enjoy getting out and about.

So fingers crossed tomorrow will go well. I'm glad I can say we've gotten through the first part and we're surviving.