All the things I am thankful for...

I am so thankful for my beautiful daughter, she is sweet and cuddly, smart, energetic, silly, truly the best baby I could have asked for. Somedays I still cannot believe I am a Mommy. I don't want to do anything else in my life.

I am thankful for my Husband and my family. I am thankful for my sister-in-law being a phone call away when we have baby or pet questions. I have a very close family and I don't know where I'd be without them. I am so thankful my brother is healthy and walking around.

I am thankful for my super sweet and patient animals. Josh is such a sweet dog who doesn't mind having his tail pulled or being chased, Casey is the best cat, and even Barny cat is nice to Blair.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. My first turkey turned out fine, not as tasty as I thought it would be. We had a shacky start the night before, I pulled the turkey out and it smelled terrible. My mom came over and smelled it and then took it back and got me a new one (thank goodness). Darren and I whipped up all sorts of side dishes and then went to my mom's house to eat, again, and have dessert. Blair really liked the sweet potatoes, fed Josh and Betty her green beans, and ate a few bites of turkey.

Today is a better day

Today I am feeling much better, in fact the weather is reflecting that right now, sunshine but still cold. I always give myself a few days to be sad, bawl my eyes out, get mad and hate the world. But I'm over that. It's now time to educate myself and prepare our family for whatever may happen. I never thought we'd be discussing surgery but we haven't had any progress in her hips. For now we'll keep bracing and have fun filled days and let her RUN her in walker so the nights are better. Blair loves running after Josh and Barny and sometimes t-bones them.

Everyone always says "it's no big deal", "things could be worse", "she looks just fine". None of those statements help. I don't want people to feel sorry for us, but also know that this is a serious condition with no set cure. Yes we caught it early but after 5 different braces/harnesses we're in the same spot we were 10 months ago. One thing I am thankful for is not staying with the doctor up here who thought she'd be out at 6 weeks. Ugh I cannot image what life would be like.

One thing is for sure, I have the most WONDERFUL, SWEET, HELPFUL, LOVING, HANDSOME (oh man yes oh so handsome) husband. What I would do without Darren?? He is such a good father, so loving and understanding. I would be a wreck without him.

Oakland trip and beyond

This Oakland trip did not end like we thought it would. No brace free party for us. After having a hellacious x-ray with a very strong willed 10month baby girl the rest of the day went down hill. The assistant came in and looked at the x-rays which to anybody including me could see nothing as changed. He felt her hips, made her cry and then got Dr. Hoffinger. The verdict is 12hours of bracing UNTIL she can figure velcro out and then it's over. We go back in 4months and then he will continue looking at her x-rays and (probably) do surgery anywhere from 18months on. SURGERY?? What happened to she'll be in the harness for 6 weeks? In the brace for 4 months? I've always had surgery in the back of my mind but never thought the words would come out of his mouth. Bottom line we're in for lots of sleepless nights again. I am freaking out about surgery, it's a complicated proceedure not to mention surgery on my little girl and sometimes they have to do multiple surgeries. I'm sad, depressed, and a little angry. No one deserves this, especially my baby. Not in the mood to continue writing.