Curious Georgia Paige MacDougall

Today was a beautiful fall day. The air was crisp and cool with a slight brisk wind. The trees are starting to change all different colors. I love the transition seasons (spring and fall) and only wished they lasted longer anymore. Soon winter will be making her way into Chicago so we figured we better get out and enjoy this nice weather. Your dad and I have always wanted to go to The Morton Aboretum in Wheaton and we talk about it every year but never go. Today we are going and you are coming with us!

We arrived at the aboretum (which is 1,700 acres of land and nature) and deceided to go to the Children’s Garden first thing. They have lots of fun things for kids to see and learn about nature, plants, water, etc. There was a lot of tents outside of the garden where you could buy fall themed items or food and there were a lot of children dressed up in their halloween costumes.

You’ve been walking now for about a month and are getting around quite well. Of all of the fun things to do and people to see at the Children’s Garden, all you wanted to do was walk. You loved to walk on all of the different types of surfaces they had there: paved, gravel, soft, stone walkway, mud, and wood. You loved the inclines and at times just wanted to keep going up and down the same walkway. First you wanted to hold my hand but then you were off on your own not even looking back for mom and dad. You didn’t want to stay still to play with any toys or exhibits they had, to get your picture taken, have a drink or to even just rest. Whenever we picked you up to go to another area, you cried. When it was time to leave, you cried. (Is this the same baby who was having separation anxiety this whole week?) You just wanted to keep exploring and walking. We didn’t see much (well really nothing) at the arboretum but we let you lead us and show us what you wanted to see.

In the end, we all had a great day. Nothing would have ended the day better than a cup of hot coco or hot apple cider. You’re still a bit young for that. Maybe next year.

I wanted to give you all an update from Georgia’s follow up appointment with the pediatric orthopedist this morning.  Overall the appointment went well and no immediate concerns noted.  Due to Georgia’s new development of separation anxiety she either cried or held onto me like cling wrap throughout the visit!

The doctor took a couple x-rays and then took a measurement to determine if the bone is developing as it should be.  A normal angle for a child Georgia’s age is 20% or lower.  Georgia’s is between 24%-26% (the measurement cannot be exact due to movement in the x-ray).  One hip is a little better than the other and the socket is started to curve.  This doesn’t overly concern the doctor and he doesn’t recommend that any form of intervention be done at this point.  Abnormal is 30% or above and at that time he would put Georgia in a brace.  According to him, there is no good research to suggest a brace is effective for where Georgia is at. He kept referring to her as borderline and states most kids in this range improve.

So she does have hip dysphasia which he referred to as a silent disease thus we will not be able to notice this in Georgia’s development or walking in any way.  Basically it means her hip isn’t growing as quickly as it should be.  If it does not continue to grow as it should then the hip socket will not become rounded (they are a flat angle at birth) and problems wouldn’t become evident until adulthood (probably arthritis).  The doctor is hopeful that her growth is slightly behind but will continue to improve.  He wants her to come back at 2 years for another x-ray to compare and determine how the bone is growing.  Worse case is if the bone doesn’t grow as it should by age 3 or 4, then the doctor will take her into surgery and round out the hip socket so she wouldn’t have any future problems.

Thanks for those of you who were praying for Georgia and just keep in her in prayers at times throughout the next year that her hip is continuing to grow.

Georgia had her 12 month visit with the doctor today and it went well.  She didn’t like the shots but that is to be expected I guess! Here are her stats:  weight: 22lbs 12 oz (75%) and height: 30 3/4 inches (90-95%).  The doctor still heard the click in her hip but said it was stable.  She has a follow up appointment with the pediatric orthopedist next week so hopefully we will know more then.  Just pray she doesn’t have any hip abnormalities.  The doctor said she indeed does have a cold but her lungs sound good.  We just have to ride it out.  She said Georgia is too young to diagnosis seasonal allergies.  She said Georgia is contagious as long as she has cold symptoms but can be in the general public.  I told her about you Bonnie and she does not recommend that you are around Georgia while she has any cold symptoms.  She got a flu shot and we have to go back in 4 weeks for a flu booster shot (they give the first one in smaller doses). They even have a chicken pox vaccine now and she got that today too. Georgia got to ride in the car today forward facing in the car seat.  It was like a whole new world for her! She is still happy as can be and parts of two molars have broken through.  Her gums have been bleeding some and the doctor said that is normal.