Amy and I were hopeful, nervous, excited, and bearly containing ourselves as we went to her appointment with the orthopedic doctor on Thursday afternoon. We were carrying a box full of 50 braced bears in bags with information about Higgy Bears and notes of encouragement from kids to kids and parents to parents. We had assembled these bags several weeks ago and were excited to donate them to the doctor so he can hand them out to future scoliosis patients he sees. As luck would have it, there was another Higgy family at the hospital for their checkup at the same time we were there so we got to visit before and after Amy’s appointment. And… Amy can begin weaning off of her brace!! This is the news we wanted and expected but didn’t let ourselves relax into until we heard the doctor say it. What a huge moment. Amy can finally see the finish line for bracing after two and a half years of wearing it 18-22 hours per day.
Sarah’s school week had several little rough moments so on Friday I offered to be on standby in the parking lot again. I was all set to enjoy my day of reading in the car when I got a call from her teacher. By 9:30am we were heading home. Sarah was very disappointed because she loves going to her Friday job, but had been stressed in a class she goes to before her job and her teachers deemed it a good idea for me to get her. I was disappointed too, and it took a long time for me to feel better. Mainly I felt upset because if the parking lot parenting that I thought was the solution is not actually the solution, then what do I do now? How do I help her get through the day? Can we somehow limp through the remaining two months of school? I thought things were supposed to be getting easier now.
Things are at least getting springier now. Yesterday was gloriously warm. My stepmom and brother are visiting for the weekend and we have been enjoying hanging out while eating good food or sitting on our porch. Our timing for getting ice cream was impeccable as we got home a minute before the heavens opened. Carl was the last one out of the car and stepped onto the shelter of the porch a second before the downpour. Meanwhile, Amy had dashed upstairs to get into a swimsuit so she could play in the rain.
It’s never too early to start celebrating birthdays so Amy and I have already been celebrating, especially with the excuse of having family visiting. We had fun wearing matching gift bows on our foreheads, opening presents, and eating cake.
Wishing you cake that you can have and eat.
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