long day

Carter had a hard time sleeping, but thankfully a lady brought in this cute little musical light up aquarium.

He fell asleep to the music and holding his horse.

Then he got a little goofy, I think the drugs are really kicking in:)

He’s pretty fascinated with the red light on his thumb.

Dr. Vincent came in and loosened his cast a little on the top. Carter is sick of medical people and being messed with, but they are his big helpers!

We are leaving the hospital, so we got to try out his new car seat. It’s specially made for kids in spica casts. It doesn’t go up on the sides like most baby seats, so there’s room for that big cast and there’s this wedge thing that we stick through that big gap. It’s a little crazy, but it works.

Thank goodness Lucy was with us and drove Carter and I to Show Low to be reunited yet again with our family. Carter is a true example of being happy, despite the pain and crazy position his legs are in.

Laun is an amazing husband and father. That sweet man has driven to and from Utah so many times, for the last 3 weekends in a row now! He works hard all week and then drives so far just to see his family on the weekend. I adore this picture of him and Carter, so sweet.

I’m so tired and don’t really feel all there physically, emotionally or mentally right now, to be completely honest. I feel as if my loved ones are lifting me up with their support and helping me survive.

Carter’s surgery

Last night was rough. Carter didn’t sleep well and I couldn’t nurse him, since he’s having a surgery. He finally fell asleep a little before we had to leave for the hospital.

I love this crazy kid!

I think he’s happy to have Grandma Lucy here.

Checking out the toys and sitting up (he won’t be able to sit up in the cast).

I had to get some pictures of his cute legs before he got casted.

Laun is sad that he won’t see Carter until tomorrow. We face timed so that he could see Carter before surgery.

Dr. Vincent cut some tendons, cleaned it out and got his hip where he wanted. He had to cast Carter very extreme because of his hip position.

I was happy and sad all at once to go back and see my baby in the recovery room. Poor boy is used to army crawling and sitting up, but when he wakes up he’ll probably feel like he’s paralyzed since he’s casted from the waist down.

At least I can still see his cute toes.

Poor boy, he’s probably wondering what the heck is going on. At least he’s healthy, it can always be worse.

Dr. Vincent with Carter

He was still very drugged and was in and out of sleep.

His cast lining is different, should be easier to clean.

Just look at that crazy position…poor boy! It looks like he’s doing the splits, or as Dr. Vincent says…it looks like his left leg is trying to go over a hurdle.

Carter in his hospital crib…I love how little of the bed he occupies.

My good friend Elizabeth Ashdown came with her daughter Harper.

Elizabeth grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures for me…

Harper brought Carter that cute green ball I’m holding.

Dr. Vincent came in and showed me Carter’s hip x-ray. He’s a great doctor.

Andy and Elizabeth’s family came to visit and brought Carter some toys.

I brought the horse rattle that Laun got for Carter and the sweet boy held it and fell asleep.

 

Lucy went back to my brother Andy’s house and thankfully Andy stayed with me and helped me with Carter, since I’m really not suppose to be picking up that much weight yet and having a cane makes it hard, too. Andy waited around while I got some much needed sleep in before he headed home. I sure love that brother of mine.

weather

The weather for Laun in Utah is a bit different than the weather for me in Arizona.

big day

Today is a big day. I’m leaving my mom’s house, with just a cane and no walker, thank you very much! It’s also a scary day for me. I’m leaving my mom, who’s basically been my “crutch” that I’ve leaned on since Laun’s been in Utah for work. I’m headed for Tucson for my surgery follow up appointment with my doctor and then tomorrow Carter has surgery. We are going to be left hip twins and it will be all sorts of crazy or should I say crazier.

My appointment with Dr. Maltry went well. I love this man. Besides my closest family members, he’s had one of the biggest impacts on my life. Because of him I am able to have two new hips, less pain and a second chance at life. I can be a better individual, wife and mother. It’s hard to accomplish all I need to when I am in such pain everyday, so I am super excited to heal and do more.

The man- Dr. Maltry

The hips-

My left hip looks pretty good, although I’m still standing pretty uneven. It will take months for that to improve. I will be excited for my next x-ray to see it progress.

My left hip is a different model than my right one. Some people had problems with their bones growing into the other kind, but mine worked great. Because of that they no longer use that same hip, so my left one is a little different. The right one didn’t require screws, but I guess the kind they put in my left hip always takes one screw. Since my bones are especially screwed up they gave me two screws…I guess that just makes me extra special.

After the appointment my mom took Carter and I to Elizabeth and Andy’s home. It’s so nice they live here and that I don’t have to stay in a hotel. Lucy met up with us at their house. She is going to take Carter and I to the hospital tomorrow for Carter’s surgery and help me since I’m still on a cane and really shouldn’t be lifting Carter yet. Then after the hospital stay she will drive us to Show Low where Laun will meet up with us this weekend.

When my mom left for home tonight I stood in the driveway and watched her pull away and cried. I broke down. I don’t know how I’m going to make it without her or Laun. This is a hard time for me, but we will survive. I’m normally pretty independent, but it’s hard when I’m still healing after a major surgery and then my baby has to have a big surgery. I hate that I require so much help, but I am so grateful for all the service from both our families.