Free at Last!

Ronin's cast removal was like watching him be reborn, except this time he was being dramatically cracked out of an eggshell... a festering, putrid eggshell.  Did I mention it smelled awful?  The completely cumbersome diapering method I was instructed to use with him while in his cast proved ineffective from day one.  All the Priuses in the world couldn't make up for the toxicity of the cloud that was released into the atmosphere when they cracked that thing open... I mean, you could almost see it!  Still, nothing a good scrubbing couldn't fix.  Ronin now smells like butter again, as every baby should.

Nevertheless, he is free!  The little guy was so cute during the drive from the hospital.  He kept staring down curiously at his new and improved leg, kicking it and occasionally petting it.  Very sweet.

Just Call Me Rosie!

Today is Ronin's last (full) day in his ten-ton cast (pray he doesn't need a new one tomorrow!).  While I'm reaping the benefits from carrying around his extra weight over the last two and a half weeks, I imagine picking him up without it will be similar to the sensation of grabbing the nearly empty carton of milk from the fridge when you expect it to be full and it goes flying.  Hopefully we won't be back at the hospital for another cast as a result of me accidentally throwing him through the ceiling.

Ronin's Ink

During an impromptu cast-signing party, our talented tattooist friend, Steven decorated Ronin's cast with some seriously awesome Sailor Jerry-style flash art.

The Artist, Steven Andersen of Stay True Tattoo:

 

Since then Ronin has been collecting signatures from all our friends and family who've stopped by to see him.  Most prime real estate is taken, but there's still plenty of room to show your love before he gets it removed on the 14th!

 

 

Colby Drawing a Peg Leg (would you expect anything less?)

My Turn:

About to Sneeze:

5 Days Down...

...12 to go of Ronin in his hip spica cast.  Besides being understandably impatient and more easily frustrated, he is doing famously.  He's definitely needing more one-on-one attention to keep him distracted and happy and more often than not, he can still be found with an oversized, drooly smile on his face.  Each day I'm finding new ways to deal.  For example, my mom and I rigged up the Radio Flyer wagon with a bean bag and umbrella to take him on a little stroll to lighten his mood over the weekend.

 

  

And the Award Goes to....

I would like to nominate myself for Worst Mother of the Year.  

A week and a half ago I slipped backwards down a few steps of our stairs while carrying Ronin.  Reid was running excitedly to answer the door, and since I didn't know who it was, I was yelling for him to stop, but he didn't slow down.  As any mom knows, when you're holding a baby, you can't see where you're stepping, so as I was rushing to catch up with Reid, my right heel slipped off the edge of the step of the stairs I was stepping down to (fortunately just a few steps from the landing).  The diapers and bottle in my left hand went flying as I instinctively used my right arm to protect Ronin as best I could without any conscious thought or plan. It happened so fast.  All I knew was I went from carrying him upright, facing me, looking over my left shoulder to to both of us on our backs, staring at the ceiling.  Ronin was next to me, his head cradled on my right shoulder with my right hand under his right leg (easier to show than describe).  

After the fall we were both stunned for a few seconds before Ronin started crying.  As far as I could see, he didn't have any injuries, but he cried like something was wrong.  I only got him to stop crying by getting him to sleep 20 minutes later.  I checked on him every fifteen minutes or so and he seemed fine, but when he woke up earlier than usual with that same uncharacteristic cry, I worried.  A phone conversation with an advice nurse put me at ease that he didn't have any head injuries, but since he's so young, we took him in to be seen by a doctor that day anyway.  The doc assured me that Ronin was fine and had only been startled.

Over the weekend though, we noticed Ronin wasn't using his left leg.  That prompted us to make another doctor visit with x-rays, which also assured us that there was no major injury, just a possible sprain, probably from catching his leg on the steps when we were sliding down.  

A week had gone by.  Ronin was starting to push off with his left leg again, alleviating any remaining concern in us.  Just as life was returning back to normal, I got a call while on a family trip to Colorado from our pediatrician.  A second look by the Radiologist revealed a hairline fracture in Ronin's right femur (the largest bone in the body that connects the hip to the knee), requiring a cast.  You would never know it by looking at him (with the exception of his "flamingo leg" that he keeps up in the air if you stand him up); He's just been his typical, jovial, bright-eyed self.  

Four doctor visits, two x-ray sessions, and a 2-hour casting later (the first cast had to be sawed off and redone!)...

What I didn't know was that the cast would go from his chest, down his torso, half-way down the good leg and all the way down his bad leg.  :(((((  So sad, especially considering he is just on the verge of crawling!  And in case you're wondering how diapering is supposed to work with this ensemble, those parts are left exposed from the cast.  We have to tuck a newborn-sized diaper into the cast to catch the poo and put a large diaper around the whole thing to catch the pee.  

  

Ronin was such a champ throughout the whole process.  Besides the day of the fall, he's been as cheerful as could be.  He was the star of every waiting room and stole the hearts of the doctor and two assistants it took in addition to me to cast him.  It'll be a long, uncomfortable two and a half weeks, but hopefully when he goes in for his next appointment on the 14th, he'll be free and good as new.  

It's only been a couple hours and I can already tell he is pretty uncomfortable.  I'd appreciate your prayers for these next couple weeks to be over with before we know it, for Ronin's comfort and my patience in the meantime and of course that his bone will heal as if nothing had ever happened!  Oh, and if anyone wants to take Reid off my hands for a trip to the park or whatever to free me up for Ronin, I'd be most appreciative!