Expecting Perfection

With little to no complications during my pregnancy and delivery with Matthew we expected things to go the same way with Thea.  However, when Thea was born, her temperature was low both while I was holding her and when she was under the heat lamp while getting weighed.  The nurse took a screening of her glucose and it too was low.  While she and I had no risk factors for problems that would cause a low blood sugar reading, she was given formula to get her sugar up right away and then she was taken to the Infant Special Care Unit (ISCU) which is like a NICU.  She was there for several hours for more formula and observation.   She was back with us around 12:30 that Thursday with a report of good health, but for those hours it was upsetting.  Your mind starts to go.  Despite being told that she is "probably" going to be fine, you think about if things are not.

This happened again at her one month appointment...We were told that she was 9lbs, 10oz (had gained 28oz in 18 days and at the 75th %ile).  She was 22in which is also at the 75th %ile (Note: can you imagine growing almost two inches in a month?  I can.).  Her head circumference was at the 50th %ile.  Checking in at normal.  The doctor and I talked about how things were going while he continued to examine her.  At one point he asked if she was breech.  No.  And then at the end of the appointment he said..."she has a hip click."  A what?  Yeah, her left hip clicks when manipulated.  Thus, we were told to schedule an ultrasound for two weeks from then in order to assess for hip dysplasia.  Once again, we were told it's "probably" nothing.  Worst case scenario, Thea will have to wear a cloth brace and it should correct itself.  Our doctor told me that early diagnosis leads to it being quite easy to correct.

When things go perfectly, you begin to expect perfection.  So with these hiccups in our path, we are now readjusting to knowing there will be obstacles ahead with our children's health and life in general.  And it will all "probably" be okay.  That's gonna take some getting used to.