I just spoke with Emmaline’s surgeon, Dr. Rinsky, who said her surgery went exactly as planned for repairing the right hip. To my resourceful and creative wife’s credit, he spoke glowingly of how clean the cast was. He said, amazed, “I have no idea how you did it, it must be in part because she’s potty-trained.” We had integrated our experience from cloth diapering our kids in caring for the cast, including the use of fleece liners and a cloth diaper cover. In addition, a relative had provided a pair of forceps (akin to six-inch-long tweezers) with which to safely squeeze her diaper deep into the cast to prevent any urine from stinking it up. We’d actually been told to expect it to get a bit nasty, so that all the more accentuates the excellent job that Lois did. Kudos to you, dearest.

I’m now waiting to see Emmaline, whose surgery completed at around 11:45am (went into O.R. at 8:10am). It’s just a matter of waiting for her to wake up from anesthesia. No doubt she’ll be grumpy. Pray that she’ll be a little more cheerful than last time, and that she’ll be willing to drink and eat, however minimally.

Thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf. This past year has been a whirlwind, and we continue to face many challenges. Emmie’s circumstances have been but one more of many unexpected difficulties. Please remember Lois — for endurance and encouragement — as she endures these trials:

• Caring for Emmaline in the cast
• Helping our 2 1/2 year old Andrew to adapt to the tornado of family changes. For example, he hasn’t slept through the night but a few times in the last six months.
• Our four year old, whether acting out or not, has been more a hardship than a help of late. Pray for him to be given grace to begin serving his family and not just selfishly acting up. Pray for Lois that she might be given patience to suffer his very “boyish” (a.k.a. wild) behavior.
• Calissa and her needs as an infant are always there as well. Though she’s relatively “easy,” she still needs to be nursed four times a day and held a lot.

Next up for Emmie? In about 4-5 weeks, she’ll be put under general anesthesia for an arthrogram to verify proper healing and a new cast. Then 6 weeks later, she’ll be free, except for a removable plastic brace.

I’m told by the doctor to expect that it will take her a couple of months before she actually reverts to a normal stance. Three months in a frog-like position takes a little time to undo.