good news!

We got good news at the ortho today!

Juno's hip showed enough improvement that we can continue on with the hip abduction brace. That may not sound like "good" news, but since we aren't facing a reduction or spica cast (not right now, at least), I consider it very good news! She will probably wear the brace 24/7 for another 2 months or more, but she is happy, healthy, and thriving in it, so that is something that I can definitely live with :)

ps Happy Valentine's Day!! We had chicken cordon bleu bread bowls for dinner and chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes for dessert. Yum!!

Goodbye, Pavlik... hello, Abduction...

Today was Juno's follow up ultrasound and exam at the ortho. I was hoping that there would be enough improvement that we could start weaning her off the Pavlik harness--or at least give us some encouragement.

Unfortunately, there was no improvement. The ortho didn't think another 2-4 weeks in the Pavlik harness would make a difference, so he put her in a hip abduction brace. Unlike the Pavlik harness which is all velcro and canvas, the abduction brace has a hard plastic back. It does the same thing--keeps the legs flexed and spread apart--but it's more rigid so (hopefully) more effective. The ortho said the reason the Pavlik didn't work was probably that Juno was too strong for it and stretched the straps with all her kicking and straining against it!

Our first afternoon in the abduction brace has been ok. With a different brace, we now have to figure out nursing, swaddling, and sleeping all over again. She napped ok and was even happy for quite a while laying on the floor, but she did cry for about 30 minutes and I think she was just uncomfortable.

(Of course, it's always hard to tell if she's uncomfortable because of her reflux, the brace, or a combination of the two--or maybe she's just a fussy girl)

Here's a front view of the new brace. At least she can wear normal clothes again!

And here it is from the back. You can see in this picture how big it is on her. She's between sizes which makes it even more uncomfortable but hopefully won't make it less effective.
As for me... I'm doing ok, although I'm sure there will be some tears later on. I'm disappointed and discouraged and scared. If there is no significant improvement between now and Valentine's Day (our next follow-up), then we'll have to consider a reduction and a Spica cast (surgery and body cast). I don't think I have to say that I want to avoid that. Then again, if this isn't going to work either, I'd rather just cast her and get it over with, instead of wasting time and torturing her with things that don't work.
Juno and I (and the rest of the family, who do still live here even though I haven't blogged about them in weeks) would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.