Naomi's update...

***Naomi's doctor has been asked to serve down in Haiti all next week, so we have had to re-schedule her procedure to February 9th!***

So Naomi's procedure is scheduled for next Friday, January 29th. We have to be at the hospital by 6:30am. (Oh joy!) The hardest part, in all honesty, is going to be that I won't be allowed to nurse her any time after 1:30am. Given that she's been used to waking up every 3-4 hours to nurse, this will be a challenge for us. But we're going to pray that she sleeps straight through and doesn't desire to nurse at all!! :)

When we get there, they will prep her for surgery (IV's and all that good stuff). Then they'll take her away and put her under general anesthesia. After she's out, they'll inject a dye into her hip and conduct an arthrogram to see how much space is left in the hip socket as they try to re-position it where it should be. If it goes right back into place, and the doctors are confident that it'll stay that way, then they will set it and put her in a cast. If there's too much space between the ball and socket, then they will have to go in and surgically remove anything that may be in the way. And then they'd put a cast her on.

We are hoping with everything we have that she does not require surgery, as it would mean a lot more pain for her...as well as a MUCH longer recovery time. Either way, she'll be in a cast for a total of 12 weeks. The cast would typically go from her chest down to her ankles. However, since she also has metatarsus adductus in her left foot (severely turned inward), they are going to extend the cast all the way to her toes on that side to correct that as well.

If surgery is NOT required, then she'll come home with us that day. Otherwise, we'd be staying at the hospital for up to 3 days. Again, we are really hoping to bring her home with us that same day!!

Being in a cast is not going to be pleasant or convenient, but we're hoping that little Naomi just takes it all in stride. She is SUCH a happy baby and we pray that she continues to be just as joyful despite these circumstances. Having such a large, nearly full-body cast on cannot be comfortable for her. So we're trusting God to comfort her throughout the next few months!

It also poses challenges for us that you may never even think about. For instance, the hospital will provide us with a special carseat, as she will not fit in her normal one. She will no longer fit into ANY of her adorable clothes. We are looking into special clothes made for these type of casts, but they aren't cheap. She also will not be able to get a bath for the next 3 months! We will have to take care to not get her cast wet at all. And then there's the issue of diapering. If the cast gets urine or feces on it at all, it can lead to infection. So we'll to have to be super diligent about frequent diaper changes.

She won't be able to move from her trunk down...at all. That means no sitting, standing, crawling...nothing. She won't fit into her exersaucer or jumparoo or baby swing or bouncer seat. Nothing. So we're going to need to get creative with what we do for her so she doesn't grow bored and frustrated. She also won't be able to sit in her high chair for feeding or a stroller for walks or the baby bjorn for carrying. :) Like I said...we're going to have to get creative! :)

Despite all of the inconveniences this will bring, we know in the whole scheme of things, 12 weeks is not THAT long. Before we know she'll be toddling around, wrestling with her big brother. :) We would sincerely appreciate your prayers!! Please pray that she will NOT require surgery. And that the Lord would comfort her as she is "stuck" for the next 3 months...that she would remain joyful in the midst of the inconvenience. Pray also for patience and diligence for Kevin and me...that we won't grow weary in taking care of her special needs.

And more than anything, our biggest prayer is for TOTAL restoration of her hip!! The doctor eluded to the fact that this is not always successful. Many times, children may require MULTIPLE surgeries to correct this. We don't think this will be the case with Naomi, but it does point us to the need to pray for COMPLETE restoration of that hip! We hope that after her cast is removed in 12 weeks, that she will be completely healed! :)

Okay...I think I've covered everything! I'll update when I know more!