Through this whole process with Makenna, I have developed a network of friends. Friends that I wouldn't have met without all these hurdles and challenges ~ so again, I have been blessed. There is an online support group for parents who have children with progressive scoliosis. It is a wonderful place to ask questions, vent frustration, share information and express the things that only someone walking the same path would truly understand. I first stumbled upon this group prior to our consultation appointment in Chicago. I learned so much prior to the first cast. Things that didn't even make sense at the time....
They talked about lotions, creams and ointments that helped with skin irritations, cleansers we would need if there was an 'accident' on the cast. All of these things did not make sense to me until the first time I actually needed them. And so, like with most things in life, I couldnt really appreciate it until I was in the moment.
And they talked about how wonderful it was to hold their "squishy kid" in between casts. There were wishes to families getting a cast break to enjoy their "squishy kid". It didn't make sense to me. So, I remember hugging Makenna before her first cast - and thinking "Yeah, she's not really squishy.... Why do they all know what one another is talking about? I don't get it".
Then after the first cast, I remember hugging her and thinking very much the same thing - I still didn't get it. Of course it was different, but it was ok. She could still squeeze me with her arms. From the conversations, it seemed this hug would be cold somehow, but it wasn't.
And then we took the first cast off. And I hugged her. And I got it.
Our children melt into us when we hug them and we hardly even notice it. "Squishy" to me refers to the melting feeling, that somehow you feel like one when you hug your child. It happens to me every time we take the cast off. I forget how wonderful it is - and I can't get enough of it :)
Hugs and Squishes,
Amy
They talked about lotions, creams and ointments that helped with skin irritations, cleansers we would need if there was an 'accident' on the cast. All of these things did not make sense to me until the first time I actually needed them. And so, like with most things in life, I couldnt really appreciate it until I was in the moment.
And they talked about how wonderful it was to hold their "squishy kid" in between casts. There were wishes to families getting a cast break to enjoy their "squishy kid". It didn't make sense to me. So, I remember hugging Makenna before her first cast - and thinking "Yeah, she's not really squishy.... Why do they all know what one another is talking about? I don't get it".
Then after the first cast, I remember hugging her and thinking very much the same thing - I still didn't get it. Of course it was different, but it was ok. She could still squeeze me with her arms. From the conversations, it seemed this hug would be cold somehow, but it wasn't.
And then we took the first cast off. And I hugged her. And I got it.
Our children melt into us when we hug them and we hardly even notice it. "Squishy" to me refers to the melting feeling, that somehow you feel like one when you hug your child. It happens to me every time we take the cast off. I forget how wonderful it is - and I can't get enough of it :)
Hugs and Squishes,
Amy