God has blessed us! We are 6 weeks in with this Spica cast and Rivers is doing so well. Initially, it was difficult learning how to hold her, how to pick her up, and how to keep her on my hip, but we have managed to adjust to our new "normal". Thankfully, God answered my prayers. She has slept so well and hasn't seemed bothered by it one bit. I'm able to keep her clean and the diaper change situation has been fine :)
Like with so many other things I've been through, I have seen God's hand in this. I'm always reminded of that saying, "Sometimes he allows you into a what seems like a hopeless situation so that you can only find hope in Him". I know this wasn't hopeless, but to find out something isn't just "perfect" with your baby and to know the possibilities of what could go wrong just seems to turn up the worrying to unbearable levels. Thankfully, He knows just what we need, right when we need it.
Probably about 1 week into the cast, I was just absolutely taken over by fear and doubt. "What if this doesn't work?" "What if the bone doesn't stay where he places it?" "What if she doesn't walk well?"...."or at all??"
Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 This scripture is in my heart. I know this...and yet, I can't stop worrying about those little bones.
And then He speaks to me. I can't remember a time when I've ever studied Ezekiel. Not even sure where to find it, but God, in his ever faithful sweet voice, puts the same passage in front of me on the same day 3 times. 3. Times.
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me,“Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37:4-10
God is so good to me :) Here I am, consumed with my worrying and in his lovingkindness he takes time to show me that He can do this. That He's got this. He'll bring that little hip together, bone to bone. HE is in control. He's done it before, for a whole army of men, in fact. SO- I gave that sweet baby up to him.
Last Wednesday, Rivers was put to sleep for a second time. They repeated the arthrogram (looked at the socket with dye and Xray) and put her into a second cast. Ben and I waited nervously for 1 1/2 hours before our doctor came to the waiting room. He tapped on the window with a huge smile on his face. Rivers' hip looked great. "Better than he expected". Specifically, the muscles holding the hip in place had responded to the casting. This was an answered prayer! We were all thrilled and so thankful. It really makes the next few weeks in the cast seem like a piece of cake. God is faithful:)
My sweet girl will be in her Spica for 5 more weeks and then a brace at bedtime. Perfect timing for beach season! Here are a few pics from the last month.
She is such a sweet baby :) A bean bag is a must have.
After this, I learned to do a cast check a few times a day :)
Wagon + Pillows saves mama's back :)
