Makenna has her first follow up appointment in the brace this week in Chicago. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I feel like her back is completely straight. I scrutinize her back as she climbs in the tub, I methodically run my finger down her spine as she compliantly bends over and touches her toes. She seems straight by all outward appearances. Will they x-ray her? Will they see something different? Am I seeing only what I want to see?
All of these questions keep racing through my head. What if I let her stay out of her brace one hour too long? What if they see something I don't? It's a dangerous mix of doubt and fear. And a healthy dose of preparing myself for anything ~ and preparing her. She asked me to 'check her tummy' the other day. This was something she would always ask me to do in the cast. I'd run my fingers along the tummy cut out, gently rubbing inside the cast, as far as my fingers could reach. I used this opportunity to my 'prepare for the worst' advantage. I asked her, "Do you miss your purple hug machine? Or did you like your green one better?" "Purple" she said. "Do you miss it?" "Yeah, I do." She said. I feel really good about where we are at; and, I really am confident that she is maintaining a straight spine... but at least I know, she wouldn't fall to pieces if she needed a purple hug machine again :)
I will give an update when we return from Chicago...
All of these questions keep racing through my head. What if I let her stay out of her brace one hour too long? What if they see something I don't? It's a dangerous mix of doubt and fear. And a healthy dose of preparing myself for anything ~ and preparing her. She asked me to 'check her tummy' the other day. This was something she would always ask me to do in the cast. I'd run my fingers along the tummy cut out, gently rubbing inside the cast, as far as my fingers could reach. I used this opportunity to my 'prepare for the worst' advantage. I asked her, "Do you miss your purple hug machine? Or did you like your green one better?" "Purple" she said. "Do you miss it?" "Yeah, I do." She said. I feel really good about where we are at; and, I really am confident that she is maintaining a straight spine... but at least I know, she wouldn't fall to pieces if she needed a purple hug machine again :)
I will give an update when we return from Chicago...