Ready for the GREATEST NEWS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE? Well, I think you'll need a little background first. I have PFFD. That's an acronym basically describing my hips. My right femur bone didn't develop correctly and I am missing the neck and head on my femur bone. Without the head, I do not have a normal hip socket. Also, my right femur is shorter than the left. So if you've known me for a while, you know that I often make fun of my short leg and such. Well, I didn't think that this was genetic.
When Addy was born, I thought everything was perfect with her. The doctor came in the next day and told me that they noticed something wrong with her hip. My heart sank. I didn't want my perfect little girl to go through all that I did growing up, and even now. Well, they noticed that her left hip was out of socket. Exactly how I was when I was first born. We went to a specialist that gave her a harness to wear to keep the bone in the socket so the socket could develop correctly. She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia initially. There was still a chance that she could have PFFD too, as they can't really tell the anatomy of the hip until later (5-6 months when the bones start to develop). So for 5.5 months, I have been worried sick that she would have PFFD. We went to the doctor today, and he took an x-ray of her hips. He came back into the room and showed me the x-ray. Her femur bones are developing normally, and she in fact does not have PFFD, but only hip dysplasia. Our prayers were answered. Her condition is not severe, and a simple surgery and a cast for a few months will correct the problem, and then she'll be like any other kid. I bawled as I called Matt and my Mom to tell them the wonderful news. I know that most of you are thinking But she'll need surgery and she'll be in a cast for a few months?! Doesn't think break your heart? The answer is: no. This is such a small hiccup in the span of her life and ours too. She won't remember any of it, and she'll grow up with normal legs and everything will be fine. I think, really, the only people that can really understand why this is such good news are Matt, and my family. They know what I have been through and how hard it was for all of us to deal with. So the fact that Addy May will grow up normally is such a huge blessing.
Hanging out on the exam table, loving life. Her hair cracks me up.
I went to take this picture up close and she spit as soon as I snapped the picture. Notice the lovely spit mark on the camera. Nice. Also, it looks like her cheeks are lop-sided. Weird. They aren't. Hahaha The rest of the day, I didn't get much done. I hung out and played on the floor with this little person til Daddy got home. I couldn't help it.
