Livy surgery

As I shared a few weeks ago Livy needed some leg corrections. The surgery was to be the day before Mark's American Legion contest in Salem OR (which was also moved to March, we have been very blessed in this whole experience to have the time we need). Thankfully her surgery was moved to the Monday before giving us a full week to re-coup and see how she does with pain. Monday, we showed up to the new pediatric Orthopedic center in Boise. The nurses were great and got her all situated. 

Before too long they wheeled Livy away and I was able to bask in the sun while crocheting and talking with my mom about our Sunday School lesson coming up. 

I was taught to crochet by my grandmother when I was about Livy's age. She was frustrated I didn't hold and maneuver my fingers correctly. I didn't love the pastime and spent my youthful days doing more active creative projects. I crocheted again in college but put that away when I married and my time was more often filled with homemaking. But last week Afton came home from activity days with a hook and yarn. I asked if I could try and lo and behold I remembered. This was actually very soothing to the nerves of wondering what will the after surgery be like. I've watched enough kids go through wisdom teeth and Mark's assorted surgeries to know its not all smooth sailing. 

The doctor showed me finished pictures of what he did. Nothing is in the knee itself. Just in both the femurs and the lower bone. 

Waking up was hard. She was very fretful and sad with the first wake up finally the burses got her adjusted so she could curl up in response to the discomfort. She rested a bit more.

Her second wake-up was much more comfortable. I remember watching and hearing tonsil patients wake up in the recovery room in Boise. They would be so sad crying and miserable. The nurse told us that is pretty normal to wake up crying then if they will sleep again the second wake-up is much better. I was thankful to remember that. Because I don't like watching my kids cry and knew I couldn't handle a week of Livy's tears from pain. Thankfully she managed much better and enjoyed messing with the monitors by holding her breath or laughing to watch the nodes change counts. She got dressed and enjoyed a small sprite and then we were loading her in the car.  

I think it's funny that the doctors have to intial where they are working pre-surgery. It's standard procedure to mark the spot, less they mess up and do the wrong operation. 

At home we have been working to make Livy move. From actual walking around to mobility like stairs, standing and sitting, leg and knee raises and bends. She is perservering and doing the work. Reed helped get her all settled when we got home. He has been working with the animals during this very cold week so he hasn't been much help. Mark was at the shop and then gone on an auto trip so it's mostly me and Livy. 

Livy received a card from her classmates. The nice and hard thing of being home is homework. It gives structure to the days and helps with time passing. It's also part of normal. 
 

Livy has been looking forward to this book for a long time. It discusses and looks at the ravages of yellow fever. We learned a little more about this this fall. I love learning with my kids. 

Part of Livy re-hab is getting up and bending her knees. This bench is good to bend her knees and is solid to stand up from. I was working out in front of her, she was standing and sitting, and raising her knees while also working to bend and straighten them. I'm pleased with her willingness to work through the hard. 

It has been a journey. She is taking pain meds, and homeopathics almost every hour. In between she does school, and or mobility work. Our days are full of working on Livy. I'm thankful for thei stime to tune in to her. She loves when Millie and the other kids come home full of news of the day. We are thankful that this will help her have a life of movement free of pain. The doctor told us her growth plates are more open than he saw in pre-op images. We shall see how tall and strong this lady becomes. Life is good and we are blessed even when life is hard.