One Month Update
It's been one whole month since Salem got her first cast. During this month, we've had our one year check up at the pediatrician's office, gone to our friend Noah's 1st birthday party, participated in baby dedication at our church, celebrated mother's day, added a few words to our vocabulary, took two unassisted steps, played, read books, continued to enjoy baths and played some more. Needless to say, it went by quickly.
In the last month of just living and doing day to day things, we haven't had much time to sit and think about the cast, honestly. We have just lived and dealt with things along the way. But today as I look back at the last month, here are some updates about a one-year-old's life in a cast.
First of all, we had to move up in shirt size-she is now wearing a 2t. So we got a good few months worth out of her 12 month shirts and dresses and I tried to put her in each of them at least once. Then I was sad when it came time to move them all out of her dresser. It was like a milestone that rushed by too fast.
She eats smaller portions. I had read on the Facebook group from other moms that their babies were not able to eat as much food in one sitting because of the cast; otherwise, they would throw up some. We experienced this. At the time, she was still only eating three meals a day, so we added two snacks and cut the meal portions a little. This has helped a good bit. We also leave her positioned upright, either in her highchair or walker, for a little longer after a meal to help her fully digest.
The moleskin, the tan stuff wrapping the bottom of the cast by her belly on top of the tape, has irritated a portion of her skin. It took a while for this to happen though and luckily is the only spot. We replaced the moleskin, flared the cast out a teeny bit with pliers at the site (they do this at the hospital so it's fine) and have been applying Aquaphor.
Initially, some people were afraid to hold her. "I don't want to hurt her," was common. We would tell them just to grab her under her arms and pick her up like normal. She's not bothered and holding her won't hurt her. If anything, she's just a tad heavier and awkward to hold at first.
Her pants fit differently. Luckily, she's still able to wear her 12 month pants, shorts and skirts. However, instead of them sitting on her hips, which are just barely hidden by the cast bottom, they sit right below. This causes her booty crack to be on display for everyone to see, so we are constantly pulling the back of her pants up.
The cast leaks after bath time. Let me explain. The cast does dry pretty quickly and so does the liner. I dry it with a towel afterwards, then we put on a diaper and pajamas. She still gets a bottle before bed and drinks it as I hold her in the rocker. After putting her to bed, I noticed a wet spot on my pants where she was sitting reclined. It took me a couple of days to realize that any water inside the cast was slowly dripping down her back as she laid there. So, I started tucking a burp cloth into the bottom edge so it catches any leftover water. We have thought about using a hair dryer on low to help with this process but have yet to try it out.
When we explain to people about why she's wearing the cast, they tend to feel sorry for her. They probably imagine themselves being trapped in something constricting every day, after being free for 20+ years. I had heard that kids adapt quickly to things like this and it really is true. The thing is, Salem hasn't had 20+ years of knowing something different. She just turned 13 months and discovers new things everyday. She didn't know she had ears until we took her earrings out for the MRI in March and she just learned where her eyes and nose are. The cast is just another new thing. Overall, she has adjusted very well to it and we couldn't be happier about that.
We are thankful for the support, encouragement and prayers we have been receiving from family and friends through this experience. God is still working a miracle in her spine and we know she will have an awesome story to share becuase of it. Her next appointment is June 24, when they'll remove this cast and put a new one on.
Here are some pictures from the past month.
In the last month of just living and doing day to day things, we haven't had much time to sit and think about the cast, honestly. We have just lived and dealt with things along the way. But today as I look back at the last month, here are some updates about a one-year-old's life in a cast.
First of all, we had to move up in shirt size-she is now wearing a 2t. So we got a good few months worth out of her 12 month shirts and dresses and I tried to put her in each of them at least once. Then I was sad when it came time to move them all out of her dresser. It was like a milestone that rushed by too fast.
She eats smaller portions. I had read on the Facebook group from other moms that their babies were not able to eat as much food in one sitting because of the cast; otherwise, they would throw up some. We experienced this. At the time, she was still only eating three meals a day, so we added two snacks and cut the meal portions a little. This has helped a good bit. We also leave her positioned upright, either in her highchair or walker, for a little longer after a meal to help her fully digest.
The moleskin, the tan stuff wrapping the bottom of the cast by her belly on top of the tape, has irritated a portion of her skin. It took a while for this to happen though and luckily is the only spot. We replaced the moleskin, flared the cast out a teeny bit with pliers at the site (they do this at the hospital so it's fine) and have been applying Aquaphor.
Initially, some people were afraid to hold her. "I don't want to hurt her," was common. We would tell them just to grab her under her arms and pick her up like normal. She's not bothered and holding her won't hurt her. If anything, she's just a tad heavier and awkward to hold at first.
Her pants fit differently. Luckily, she's still able to wear her 12 month pants, shorts and skirts. However, instead of them sitting on her hips, which are just barely hidden by the cast bottom, they sit right below. This causes her booty crack to be on display for everyone to see, so we are constantly pulling the back of her pants up.
The cast leaks after bath time. Let me explain. The cast does dry pretty quickly and so does the liner. I dry it with a towel afterwards, then we put on a diaper and pajamas. She still gets a bottle before bed and drinks it as I hold her in the rocker. After putting her to bed, I noticed a wet spot on my pants where she was sitting reclined. It took me a couple of days to realize that any water inside the cast was slowly dripping down her back as she laid there. So, I started tucking a burp cloth into the bottom edge so it catches any leftover water. We have thought about using a hair dryer on low to help with this process but have yet to try it out.
When we explain to people about why she's wearing the cast, they tend to feel sorry for her. They probably imagine themselves being trapped in something constricting every day, after being free for 20+ years. I had heard that kids adapt quickly to things like this and it really is true. The thing is, Salem hasn't had 20+ years of knowing something different. She just turned 13 months and discovers new things everyday. She didn't know she had ears until we took her earrings out for the MRI in March and she just learned where her eyes and nose are. The cast is just another new thing. Overall, she has adjusted very well to it and we couldn't be happier about that.
We are thankful for the support, encouragement and prayers we have been receiving from family and friends through this experience. God is still working a miracle in her spine and we know she will have an awesome story to share becuase of it. Her next appointment is June 24, when they'll remove this cast and put a new one on.
Here are some pictures from the past month.
At her doctor's appointment
Taking kissy face selfies at our friend's party
With daddy, excited about her dedication at church
Playing in church after her dedication
One of her many silly faces
A new trick she learned, to grab things she dropped into the coffee table hole
How she feels about this whole casting thing, "I'm conquering this!"
Salem is so precious and has the best disposition! I'm so glad she has you and Brandon as parents!
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