Week two of Natalie's Hip Spica Cast

Well we're two weeks in and if I could describe Natalie in two words during this past couple of weeks I'd say - Super Baby! Only two days after getting her cast on she got a brutal cold and then broke her first tooth - all without a single cry.

Here's how it all went down:

As soon as surgery was over our little beeper went off and I got to go to Natalie just as she was waking up. She was pretty upset at this stage - but as soon as I got to her I nursed her (which was definitely awkward at first), and that seemed to calm her down. Once they moved us into our room she was doing much better, only about 20 minutes after we moved she was smiling and laughing for us. I think that was the moment when I could finally breath - just knowing that she was happy was so calming.

She had a little meltdown again as we were walking her down for her MRI - but I nursed her again and she was back to smiling. They had warned us that she would likely get pretty upset during the MRI because they would have to hold her hands steady and it would be loud. But Dan was able to go in with her and they put a giant set of headphones on her little head and let her hold her wrist rattle so that was more than enough for her. She was a rock star and didn't flinch the whole time.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out in her day surgery room. Natalie slept, played with some toys and charmed all the nurses. We also learned how to change her diapers and figured out some comfy ways to cuddle her and hold her. The nurses totally adored her - and barely let us leave with her. She did so well that they decided we didn't have to stay the night (thank heavens) so we headed for home around 8 pm that night.

Putting her in her stroller and the carseat was a bit awkward but she didn't complain and even fell asleep in her carseat. Once we were home she slept most of the night propped up in her crib (I'm sure the Tylenol and Codine helped a lot).

But really since then she's been doing fantastic - it took a few days for the anesthetic to wear off so she was really sleepy, but she didn't seem to be in any pain. I thought the incision would be sore so I was nervous to touch it during diaper changes . But once I worked up the courage to wipe it off I realized she didn't even feel it.

She also didn't eat as much as usual but after about three days she was back to her normal eating patterns.

And surprisingly, her sleeping is actually better than ever. She falls asleep easily and wakes twice during the night for a diaper change and a munch. She naps pretty much every two hours and then hits the hay at 7:30. For the first week or so she couldn't get to sleep before 9 pm but after one night of skipping the late evening nap she was having she was back on track.

We've found that she likes to play at her little table (throwing toys for us to pick up) and she loves when we sing her songs.

Now that her cold (and mine) have cleared up and with temps forecasted way above the -30 mark we've weathering we're going to try going back to Gymboree and starting Mother Goose this week.

I honestly can't believe how well Natalie has been doing. And I'm sure part of reason for things going so smoothly is the fact that my mom was here for the first week and now Dan's mom is visiting. My mom was great at entertaining both of us and even getting us out for our first post-cast trip to the mall. And Dan's mom has been a huge help - especially with me being sick this week and Dan being in Toronto for work.

Our friends and family have also been amazing - their phone calls, e-mails and Facebook messages all made us feel supported and loved.

So for any other parents out there who may be waiting to go through the same procedure and are terrified it will change their sweet little one - I have to say that things have gone a million times better than I'd ever imagined. Natalie is still the same happy baby - laughing, smiling and giggling as much if not more than ever.

She is our little Super Baby!

Here's a look at what's to come:

In three weeks she gets a cast change and then it's only 7 weeks until her cast comes off (April 1st I'm hoping!) Yippee! Only 10 weeks to go! After that she may need to wear a brace for a while, but we'll be able to touch her chubby legs and easily change her little bum. I can't wait to squeeze that bum!

Ciao for now,

Wendy, Dan and Natalie

Here are a couple of recent pictures,

Showing off her new Crawler Covers

Her new teddy bear from cousin Caitlyn

Crawler covers again

Modeling the bloomers from the new outfit Nanny gave her

Natalie says no

My mom is visiting, and she's been teaching Natalie a few things. Here she is learning how to shake her head no. I think we're in for some serious trouble ;)

Our Purple People Eater

Here are a couple of pics of our purple people eater from surgery day.

Chillin with Daddy before surgery. She hadn't eaten since 3 a.m. and was still cheery as ever at 8:30 a.m. Love this kiddo!

Rockin with Mommy

Happy as ever and looking cute as a button only a couple of hours after surgery.

Getting ready for a snooze.

Surgery Update

Just a quick note to let you all know that Natalie's surgery went really well today and we were actually able to come home tonight. She was such a trooper - smiling and laughing at us about twenty minutes after she woke up. (She had a couple of crying moments - but they didn't last long).

She seems to be coping really well - everyone she met at the hospital today was amazed at how pleasant she was. She spent most of the day in bed playing with Gertie and Montrose the moose, and catching a few Z's - and she even managed a few giggles and babbles. The nurses loved her so much we weren't sure they were going to let us leave.

She's upstairs now, having a snooze in her new purple cast. We'll post some pics tomorrow.

Wendy, Dan and Natalie

Hip Surgery this Friday

Before Christmas we found out that Natalie has a dislocated hip (due to a condition called hip displaysia) that will need to be corrected with surgery. After the surgery she'll have to wear a hip spica cast that will cover her from her tummy to her knees for 6 to 12 weeks. . Our hearts were broken for her but we know that this needs to be done.

Our families and friends have been extremely supportive already and both of our mothers are coming to Calgary during the first three weeks that Natalie is in her cast. Friends have all offered thier support and prayers and even strangers have helped us by sharing thier experiences.

We know it will be tough but we've decided to try and look at this not-so-great-situation in a positive light. We realize that there are much worse things that could happen to our little pumpkin and we're going to do everything we can to make her comfortable.

Natalie's surgery is Friday, after that we'll post as many updates as possible in the coming weeks so you can keep up with her progress. And for those of you who may not know us but happen to find this blog - please feel free to ask questions or share your experiences.

Bye for now
Wendy, Dan and Natalie

Christmas in Cape Breton - with all of the folks at home

Happy Holidays everyone! The little McMahon clan has just returned from a fantastic three week trip to Cape Breton where we sang, visited, played - and ate way too much yummy food.

From start to finish Natalie was a superstar traveller. She snoozed on our laps and cooed at her seatmates during our eight hour journey. And when she arrived on the Island she was the star of the show from day one. She giggled, smiled and charmed everyone - from strangers to friends and family.

Here are a few highlights.

Natalie graced us with her presence at her Nanny-the firefighter-'s holiday tea. Here she is chillin with Nanny, Great-Grammie and her Great Aunt.

We were invited to the Cape Breton Fiddler's Association's Christmas party -where Dan played guitar with a whole shwack of fiddlers. Of course everyone was taken with Miss Natalie. Not five minutes after we walked in the door she was whisked away by some lovely ladies and didn't seem to care that mom and dad were nowhere in sight.

Here's a shot of the fiddlers giviner'.

Here she is with her dad loving all the music - forty fiddlers and she didn't even flinch at how loud the music was - she's a true Caper.

Here she is with her new friend Helen - looking pretty comfy only a few minutes after arriving.

Natalie was also Christened during our trip home - she slept through most of the mass and the baptism, but when it was all over she was wide and wake and very cheery.

While we were home Natalie also:

Had apple juice for the first time

Learned to roll from her tummy to her back and then started rolling like crazy

Started to wiggle to get herself closer to toys she wants

and

Met Santa Clause

More pics to come soon.

Happy New Year Everyone!