Mehta Cast for Scoliosis

Wyatt {and mommy} love Smoothie King!

Well, I've been trying to write this blog for a couple of weeks now and haven't been able to do so.  I don't want it to be true so I've procrastinated until I can procrastinate no more...

Jumping in the bath before I can strip him down.  

Tomorrow (Thursday) morning, Wyatt gets his scoliosis cast bright and early.  We are due to be at Scottish Rite at 5am and his procedure begins at 7:15.  

Please Pray.

I've not struggled with something this much with anything God has placed in our paths in a very, very long time.  Like years and years.  And I'm going to be totally honest, I am STRUGGLING.

Wyatt likes to drive mommy to the swimming pool!   

I absolutely KNOW in the depths of my bones that God is good and he's got this amazing plan for our family, Wyatt especially and He WILL absolutely be glorified through every second of this, including my struggles.  But my goodness, when does this kid get to catch a break!?!  When do we all get to sit back and breathe?  God is good and he keeps his promises and answers our prayers.  We will all get through this and He will be glorified, no matter my reaction.

Wyatt playing at Speech Therapy.

I think one of the reasons this has been so difficult to accept is because we've never taken something he knows and loves away from him.  He didn't eat before he got the g-button.  He had no clue anything was wrong with his heart.  He didn't know what going to do things with other kids was like or having play dates was.  He did lose them because he didn't know them.  But he knows the sound of the bath water going and he stops whatever he is doing to go to play in the water.  If I'm not quick enough, he's in there clothes and all before I can strip him down.  He loves the pool and is totally brave in exploring the waters.  {Mom's had a few heart attacks because of this fact}  I hate to take them away.  I know he'll adjust and so will I but I'm just having a hard time swallowing it down.  I'm pretty sad about it all.  But I'm praying and talking about it and hopefully soon, I'll see the good.

Daddy and Wyatt having giggles at lunch. 

Here are some of the details so that you can pray over them.  God is in every single one of them.

The smile Wyatt gives when you talk about Princess Pea from Super Why! 

Wyatt has a 32* curve in his spine.  The doctors believe it is a result of his Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH).  And as I was told today, because it's a result of the CDH, it can be more difficult to correct. Arg...

Our second home the last couple of weeks, the pool! 

He will go under anesthesia and be put on a ventilator for the duration of being sedated.  As they pull him out of sedation, they will attempt to turn down the oxygen and take the tube out.  If I know my son, the second he comes to, he's not going to wait and pull that tube out on his own.  I'll let you know.

He will have a partial body cast that will basically look like a tank top.  It will have a hole for his belly and g-button.  He is hard and tight and CANNOT be taken off until it is cut off.  It cannot get wet.  It will get dirty.  It will start to stink.  And it will be gross.

He cannot take a bath, got to playgrounds with wood-chips, sand or dirt.  Obviously no swimming.  We will have to give him sponge baths and wash his hair in the sink.  He will have to wear a giant bib while eating so that we can prevent food and vomit from getting on the cast or going down inside of it.  GROSS!

He will get a new cast every 2.5-3 months.  We already have a date scheduled for November for #2.  Thankfully, the way scheduling is going, it is in our favor.  He'll have to have a cardio appointment in that time which means we'll have a day and a half with NO CAST.  But normally it's removed, he's bathed and he gets another one.  He will be sedated and put on a ventilator each and every time he gets a new cast.

Look Mommy, No hands and it's deep waters! 

Once Wyatt is awake after the procedure, he'll come back to his room and he might or might not have to stay the night.  I have no idea.  They'll tells us tomorrow so Wyatt and I have a bag packed just in case.

Wyatt and I spent 5 hours up at TSRCH today meeting with everyone except the kitchen sink for "pre-op" (it's not really an operation, PTL, but that's what they call it so we're going with it).  A good friend of mine joined us for a little but since James had to work.  That was such a blessing, she is a true light in my life.  Thank you friend.

Chatting one second and out the next, what 5 hours running around a hospital will do to you! 

Then we come home.  We do life like we always do and adjust accordingly.  That's how we roll.  We really don't have much choice in the matter.  I am praying Wyatt adjust quickly.  I adjust as quickly as he does and James I think has already adjusted.  lol.

Wyatt post "professional" haircut.  

This should go on for about 18 months.  Wash.  Rinse. Repeat.  Once Wyatt's curve reaches 10* or less for three cast in a row, we are finished and will be followed to ensure (and hopefully) that it doesn't go back to something worse.  The doctor also mentioned that if after a few cast we see no progress then we will stop.  At that point, I don't know what happens.  Maybe he gets a brace that just helps maintain the current curve or surgery.

I feel like I'm usually so "strong" in situations like this.  I know we've had our fair share the past few years.  And God has given me a lot of strength.

A nearby splash pad.  

But I must confess some of it has absolutely not been strength.

It's been me "sucking it up" and swallowing it down and bottling it up.  Totally not dealing with the emotions that come with some of these things.

Playing in the waiting room at TSRCH.  

We are continual works of progress and I am no exception.  God is working in me, even when I think He's forgotten about me, He is hard at work.  He is revealing a lot right now.  He's exposing my weaknesses and I am thankful.  I don't want to sit in my sin.  I want to grown and learn.  So thank you Lord for never forgetting about me.  Thank you for making me yours.  I am yours.  Always.

Thank you so much for praying for our family.

The last twos Wyatt and I have basically lived in our neighborhood pool.  And we took him to get his first "professional" haircut, which we will probably continue with the cast since I make the biggest mess cutting his hair.  I am NOT a profession and they have this cool vacuum that's connected and it just sucks the hair away.

Cranky Wyatt makes for a funny Wyatt!