Spica Cast Tips

It's been awhile since I've given some tips to living with a Spica Cast.  Since we are finishing up that stage I thought I would go over a few things and add some pictures since it's been awhile. 

I've found that umbrella strollers work nice for the cast.  Also the Baby Jogger City Mini stroller also works nicely.  You need a stroller that the sides don't stick out further than the seat.  I must say in general I really, really love the City Mini stroller. You can get lots of cool add-on's for it (like a little cooler just perfect for sippy cups or bottles).

Standard Costco Umbrella Stroller

Harlow in the Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller while we were at the beach.

We've discovered that sponge bathing next to the kitchen sink is much easier & more fun than a boring old sponge bath on a towel on the floor.  Harlow loves to lay next to the sink and splash around in the water.  She thinks it's the next best thing to a real bath.  She always asks for "tubby on sink".  Being able to rinse her hair with the sprayer on the sink is also much easier and cups full of water.  

Spica Cast Version of "Tubby Time"

 I'm so happy I found this booster seat at Target.  I was picking up some Organic fruit packs in the baby department when I stumbled upon the My Booster by Soft Gear.  It works perfect for the cast.  She can use it on the floor, on the stools at our table, on a chair/booth at a restaurant, anywhere really!  It is really awesome. It's a Spica Cast must!

Ready for Dinner! Sitting in her My Booster by Soft Gear.

My most important tip!  Just because your child is in a Spica Cast doesn't mean the entire 12 weeks (or however long) has to be miserable.  We've had good days & bad days, but the good days really outweigh the bad days. I feel like everything I've read on the Internet whether it's been blogs or information sites always make it seem like this is going to be such a hard time and your child isn't going to be comfortable or happy.  It's really not like that though.  Don't get me wrong we've had sleepless nights, screaming fits, painful knees, & some other problems, but we've had many more good moments.  She is happy 98% of the time.  The cast is part of her life.  She acts like it's always been there and she doesn't let it stop her from doing what she wants to do.  She learned to crawl in the first week. She learned to sit up it. She learned to pull herself into her bed.  She's been trying to stand on it (although she's not allowed and we don't let her).  If you're reading this because your child needs a Spica Cast do not go into it thinking it's going to be the worst time of your life and your child's - It's NOT going to be.  You will have a lot more work and it will be harder, but it's not going to be sad & miserable, unless YOU make it that way.  I mean do these pictures look like a miserable 2 year old a Spica Cast or a 2 year old who is happy & silly?

Who says a Spica Cast has to be miserable?

"My Spica Cast hasn't stopped me from being silly!"





Shopping

Today we went shopping.  Harlow got to pick out new bath toys and new sneakers.  I don't keep bath toys more than a few months because of them getting icky from being wet and all, so when Harlow got her cast on I threw away all her bath toys since they wouldn't be used for so long and they would just get gross from hanging in her frog toy pod.  She picked out some dolphins that you try to throw through rings, 3 little turtles that each have a different feature but they can connect together, alphabet & number foams, & catepillar cups.  Now she just has to wait for her first bath on Monday evening to use them! Then in the afternoon we went to look for new sneakers because she outgrew the ones she had prior to surgery.  She picked out some of the Skechers that light up and then a pair of pink/gray Nikes.  They are both super cool ;-)

Less than 36 hours till the cast comes off!

Winnie-the-Pooh

Today we went to to see Winnie-the-Pooh in the theater.  It was a cute movie.  Harlow seemed to enjoy it.  She, however, isn't a child who sits down and only watches tv.  Even in her cast she doesn't just lay around, watching tv, & doing nothing else.  She is always doing something.  She played on her iPod Touch a little bit, but for the most part she watched it...while bouncing around, eating a snack, & pointing things out about the movie.  

Last weekend for the cast!  Only 3 days left!!!  I'm cannot wait until Monday!  I'm ready for this dirty, icky cast to be gone for good!  Harlow doesn't realize that her cast is really coming off for good finally so I can't wait to see her face when it comes off.

10 Days...

Only 10 days left until Harlow gets her cast off!  Hip-Hip-Hooray!!  She will get her brace on the same day the cast comes off, but she will be able to walk and take a bath in the bath tub! Right now she thinks taking a "bath" by laying next to the kitchen sink and splashing around in the water while I sponge bath her is so fun.  When she can actually take a real bath again I may never be able to get her out.  Although, once the cast comes off she may not stop running around (once she builds the leg strength up) for days on end too. 

I'm trying to think of really fun to do or get for Harlow right after her cast comes off...I only have 10 days I better think fast :-)

Our Trip

I wrote a post on our way home yesterday, but as I was posting it it somehow disappeared...boo!  We had a great trip.  The only downfall is it ended up being hotter than the forcast said the day before we left.  It wasn't too hot on Sunday, but Monday and Tuesday were too hot to take Harlow out with her cast.

Sunday we got up and went to the outlets in Rehoboth Beach.  We got lots of great deals. My favorite purchase was a new Coach bag and Coach sneakers.  I saved $300 off the regular price!  Yippee Skippee!  After our outlet adventure we headed back home and got cleaned up.  Harlow stayed in with her Gram & Pap for the evening while Derek & I got to go enjoy the town together.  We went back up to Rehoboth Beach (we stay near Fenwick Island).  We had a nice dinner, walked around and shopped some stores.  We then went to the arcade. Ok juvenile I know, but it was my idea and it was so fun!  They have a cool arcade. Although I didn't win an Angry Bird, Derek won Harlow two stuffed crayons (which she loved).  We had a great time.

Monday, it was just too hot to really go anywhere for more than a short time.  If Harlow gets too hot than she gets a heat rash in her cast which hurts and is a pain to get cleared up.  So we basically stayed at the house all day and just hung out.  We did have a picnic inside with the a/c, lol.  Then I took her down to the park for a little.  We got to swing, slide, and go around on that little spin thing (you know the metal on that the kids sit on and someone pushes it around).  She wanted to stay longer but it was just too hot.  She saw all the people swimming in the pool and said she wanted to get in the "tubby", lol. When we got back I let her get in her tubby...the kitchen sink.  She likes to lay alongside the sink and play in the water.  It's her version of a bath right now. When she gets her cast off I may never get her out of the real bath tub!  After the bath we walked down to the canal and watched the 4th of July Boat Parade.  It was kind of lame actually, like 6 boats.  The first boat was the best, but the 3rd boat had bubbles, which she really liked.  Shortly after that a thunderstorm rolled through which, thankfully, cooled things down a little.

Since it cooled off right before evening we headed up to Rehoboth again.  Did a little more outlet shopping and then made it in town right as the fireworks started.  We didn't make a big deal out of watching them because Harlow is terrified of them.  She rode in her stroller while covering her face with her blankie.  Once or twice I caught her peeking out going "Ohhh", but when a really loud on went off, she hated them again.  We decided to take her for a "special treat", as she refers to it - ice cream!  That helped get her mind off the fireworks.  After that we walked around a little and then headed home for bed.

When we got up Tuesday morning, we decided just to head home that way we could get home and get everything unpacked and cleaned up and we would still have Wednesday to enjoy before Derek goes back to work.  All in all things went great. I can't wait to go back in October! 

Only 12 more days until Harlow gets her cast off - That's less than 2 weeks!!!!

We are headed to the beach! I drove the first half & Derek is now driving the last half. I think we have less than an hour! Thankfully we didn't hit traffic...yet. It's supposed to be in the upper 80's the whole time, so ?I hope Harlow's cast doesn't bother her too much. I have some fun things planned to keep her busy :-)


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Location:On our way

Vacation

I'm bad, I know. I'm sorry. It's been a week since I've written. It's been a busy week. Like right now I should be sleeping, but I'm not. Derek isn't home and I really don't like going to bed without him. I'm tired and I have to get up early, but I'm trying to wait, so I'll catch you up.

Last weekend we finally got to see my niece Raegan for the first time. She is so cute & tiny. Harlow, my Mom, & I went to see her, her big sister, & my brother on Friday night. I wanted to see her sooner but she was born right around Harlow's first surgery so it was crazy. We also went to a picnic at my parents on Sunday. That was fun too. Harlow had blast with my cousin Sarah & she also loved the chocolate cake.

This week I've been getting ready for our vacation over Independence Day weekend!! I've been gathering supplies, cleaning, making lists, packing, organizing, etc etc lol! Before we go away I always end up cleaning and organizing things I've been wanting to do for awhile. Like today Derek cleaned up our porch & I reorganized my clothing and cleaned out my closet - fun!

We are going on vacation for the first time in 2 years. It's not super easy for us to get away so I'm super excited. I have been busy researching things Harlow can do since she can't go on the beach or swimming. I just hope it's not too hot and that she sleeps well down there.

Only 18 days left until the cast comes off!!! I promise not to go missing for an entire week again :-)



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