Just beautiful....

....This beautiful piece was posted on the Hip Dysplacia facebook page by one of our mum's, it's lovely join us here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/Hiptoddlers/?fref=ts ....

FOR YOU PARENTS!!
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualise God hovering over earth selecting his inst

ruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realise it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

Steph xxxx

Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy & another check up

....So much has happened since I last posted. Following on from Maisie's last check up, we started Physiotherapy, this consisted of some exercises for us to do on Maisie every day to strengthen her muscles and improve blood flow. Simple exercises were quite hard to do with Maisie as she refused to allow her leg in the positions needed to do the physio! Unfortunately I cannot upload the physio sheets we were given, but if you would like a copy of them please leave your email address in the comments & I will email them over! We were also advised by the physio to buy Maisie a space hopper/exercise ball to assist with the stretching of her legs, this too was no good as she would not open her legs or allow you to open her legs. Even though the physiotherapist could do it to her!....

....Our physio referred Maisie to hydrotherapy, Maisie absolutely loved this, 6 half an hour sessions, this was brilliant and Maisie loved going every week. It did take a little longer than 6 weeks because the heating system for the pool was broken for two weeks. The staff in the hydro team were impressed with how well Maisie did from her first session where she would hardly move at all, to practically swimming on her own and doing most of what was asked of her. All this was great for Maisie, even if she did pull the emergency cord while I was getting her dressed at one of the sessions....

....We saw the physiotherapist after all of Maisie's hydro sessions were finished, Maisie's angle improved 10 degrees, which is great and matches the good leg. Although we were told this anticipation was still in my mind over what the xrays would show on 25th September....

....Maisie's appointment at Royal London, upon arrival Maisie was sent for two xrays, one with her legs straight and the other with her legs almost in the Spica position but ankles together, as always Maisie was great having her xrays done. Once they were done it was back up to clinic to wait to be called by the registrar - they were on a very nice 50 minute delay! Eventually we were seen, however nothing has changed compared to her last xray before the physio and hydro. It is fantastic that nothing has changed by means of getting worse, but the problem is that nothing has got better either! The registrar advised us to stretch Maisie's legs at least twice a day in sets of two for 10 seconds minimum each time, regardless of how much she resists - easier said than done when your not trained to do so! Also we are now going onto consultant lead appointments, which will mean that we will only see Maisie's consultant and not the registrar - which is great for me, I prefer it that way! There is a little muscle what I would describe as being behind the groin, this little muscle needs to be stretched, if left alone or does not get stretched then over time it will push Maisie's femur head out of the hip socket. Lots of exercise or as much as Maisie can handle. We go back in February 2013 for more xrays and a check up to see how things are going, the AVN cannot be left to develop any more. For now Maisie is enjoying life and we are trying to be as "normal" a family as possible, taking away every time she falls we panic and check her over and over, every time she cries for what seems no reason is questioned, our panic over her running or walking too fast, we do pretty well at being a normal family....

Steph xxxx