Oh wow! It's been 2 months since
my last post, almost to the day. And it was 2 months before the last one too. We've just been over the top busy!
An Alara update! Back in August little bit fell off a chair and broke her good wrist. 4 weeks in a cast, was a challenge for our little monkey. But just as much as she's met and exceeded our expectations, living one handed, she double those living in her cast. She got the all clear from the ortho, a few weeks ago. "Wonderful healing. Can't even tell where it broke."
We took advantage of the last appointment, to ask about her nubby. We've never taken her in just for that, we didn't see the point since we've decided, for our little girl, to wait on a prosthetic until She wants it (or absolutely needs it). And she's learning to do everything her own way, so again at this point, no need for any therapy or referrals for it. But we did have a few questions, for the future. Mainly if in the future, when,or if, she asks, will she be able to use a prosthetic? I've seen many for upper arm amputations, but other than Captain Hook's famous hook, no hands. The doctor confirmed she will be able to use one, and explained a bit how basis ones work. The more intricate ones, that work with electrodes, the doctor indicated, may not be covered by insurance, or be, financially, out of our means. I'll never rule them out, and it's nice to know they are an option for her, even just someday.
I was also interested in knowing exactly where her growth stopped, bone wise, which bones in her hand she has. But without X-rays, which just with her broken wrist she's come to hate, you can't tell. Looking at all the bone diagrams and posters, had me fascinated. I've never really thought about the bones that make up our wrists and hands.
One unanswered, and unasked, question I had, and kick myself a bit for, could she be living in constant pain we don't know about? I've heard of children similar to Alara, that developed bone spurs, and other painful issues. But after being told the doctor's opinion about qualifying for a prosthetic, I felt a bit defeated, and unsure about her as a whole. We're moving from here soon enough, and will find another orthopedic doctor to ask.
But her broken wrist is healed, and she's back to her old monkey self.
It's amazing how she learns, and problem solves for herself. Watching how she undresses herself, getting her right arm out first, then lifting her shirt over her head, one handed. Other kids either take both arms out and then use both hands to pull it off, or use both hands to pull their shirt over their head and then take their arms out. She's just learning, and is frustrated easily, but she always gets it on her own, never wanting help.
And she may not have a hand on her right arm, but man is she able to grip with it. She grips with every part of her body, almost like she's double jointed. And she won't let go until she's ready. She learned to climb the rock wall at the playground on her first go! We encourage her to figure everything she wants to do, in her own way, on her terms. She'll have to for life. I may have fears (like when she decides she needs to stand in the middle of the kitchen table, or climb out of her crib), but she doesn't. She will not be undone by anything. But she just may be my undoing.
As she masters large muscle activities, I need to up my game on small muscle. We work on her left hand with coloring, sorting games, and painting. Soon I'll have to add scissors, when developmentally appropriate, she doesn't need to loose an eye!, but maybe we'll do tweezers first. Playdoh, too.
Never a dull moment here!
