Our "Hip" Goldenbaby: Procedure Day

This was probably the hardest day of my life. I wanted to just take my little girl and run away with her...but she would still have hip dysplasia if I did that, so that would be no good.
We left for the hospital at 7:45, and the fun began. Katie was in such good spirits, and charmed every person who met her.
She took a nap on me while we waited for the doctor to arrive, and I just held onto those sweet little legs tightly, knowing that it would be a while before I'd be able to snuggle with them again. It was a very emotional morning. Dave and I took turns being the strong one. It seemed that when one of us felt overwhelmed with emotion, the other one would take the practical "it's only a cast, it could be so much worse, this is a good thing for her" approach.
At 10:30 the nurse carried her away...and I lost it. I can't quite explain why a cast being placed on her little body brought on so much emotion. It's only 3 months. She is perfectly healthy. It truly could be so much worse. But yet, this has been a very emotional experience.  The thought of not getting to hold my baby close, give her a bath, or just set her down to play with her toys for three months is an emotional challenge.  The thought of the delays that she may face, not getting to watch her crawl at the same age that her brother and sister did...but I digress.
The hour passed by quickly, and soon the doctor arrived to let us know he was done. As we walked back to the recovery room, the doctor gave us the good news that her hip was not actually completely dislocated like the x-ray had made it appear.  This is a good thing! It was only partially dislocated, with the socket in the shape of a J opposed to a C...if that makes sense. So, her hip has been relocated, and this time spent in the cast is supposed to turn that J into a C, and allow time for the tendons to strengthen. The doctor seemed very optimistic.  There is a possibility of a brace for three months for Katie after the cast comes off. We are praying for no brace. Please pray that the cast does the job.
What followed was the most difficult and most emotional time of the entire day.
We walked toward the recovery room, but before we even arrived we could hear her.  She was beside herself. There were two nurses trying to hold her/console her. She was arching her back and just wailing. It was devastating. Then the immediate realization that I couldn't just pick her up and hold her close struck me. I didn't know how to pick her up. She had this cast on her and I could not figure out how to manipulate it. I finally had her in my arms, and was instantly struck with how hard the cast was, and came to terms with the fact that this was as close as I'd be able to hold her for a while. My heart hurt at that moment.
Holding Katie in my arms I tried to feed her. She was starving, I knew this. She hadn't eaten since 5:30 in the morning. But she was still coming out of the anesthesia, and she was just out of it. She couldn't focus on anything. She would not feed from me. I was kicking myself for not bringing in a bottle for her. Dave went out to the car to get a bottle of milk that I had pumped that morning. In the meantime, a nurse brought some glucose water for her to drink from. It settled her down, and then I was able to nurse her. She also took the bottle after that.  I told you she was hungry! I think it also brought her comfort.
Following that, the nurses then had to tape her cast all around her diaper area. This was to provide a water barrier in case of any accidental leaks. Cue angry child. This seemed to take forever. Katie was beside herself. Dave and I were beside ourselves.  My heart hurt some more.
Finally, that part was done. Finally Dave was able to hold his baby girl. Finally she was able to fall asleep. Poor little girl was traumatized and she found comfort in her daddy. It helped both of them--it was very traumatic for her daddy to see her so upset. He felt very helpless at that moment.
We were able to borrow a car seat from the hospital since Katie will no longer fit in her infant carrier. We will have the car seat for as long as we need it, and then will return it to CHOC. Katie woke up right before we left and was MUCH happier. She was back to her old self, which was very reassuring to her mommy and daddy. My heart started to hurt a little less.
We piled in the car and made our way home, ready (or not) to face day one of life in the spica cast.  We were faced with the fact that Katie would not fit in her exersaucer (I had hoped she would, but alas the opening is too narrow for her new froggy legs), and the fact that sleep in the crib is not going to be easy. We experimented with pillows.  We will see how that works.
So...Day 1 is done. Hardest day ever.  It can only get better.