The Mercer Munchkins: Christmas!

Hi all, here’s an overdue update!
We’ve been busy with all of the holidays and despite the new fracture, it’s been pretty wonderful! The timing was also not the worst as I didn’t have to take any extra time off work and we were already planning to stay home and not host anyone. We were able to rest at home with no pressure or plans. We got Suzie out of the house on Christmas Eve for our tradition of hot cocoa and looking at Christmas lights. She didn’t want to be moved but once she was in the car, she was comfortable and loved the lights and would clap at the “pretty houses.” It’s so helpful that she fits in her car seat, high chair and wheelchair despite the big cast! Casts are not usually preferred or needed after rodding surgery (since the rod provides an internal splint) so this may be her last Spica cast ever! 🤞🤞🤞

We all enjoyed a low key Christmas and Suzie got the hang of presents (which she calls “pie”) very quickly. She would ask for “more pie please!” 😆We stayed in jammies most of the day then we’re treated to a feast at the home of some dear friends. Although a little snow would have been nice, it’s much easier hauling a wheelchair around in dry conditions!

Suzie got a doll with a wheelchair and cast and Addie drove it around with Suzie for most of the day. She’s such a good sister! Sure they have siblings spats and get annoyed with each other but Addie has impressed me so much. I now trust her more with Suzie than most adults. She’s seen first hand how easily she can break and has a heightened awareness of her safety and what to watch out for. They spend hours taking selfies and videos with funny filters and giggling together. Yesterday, during Addie’s birthday sleepover, Addie & her friends played hide and seek with Suzie in her wheelchair. They pretended not to see Suzie as they searched nearby rooms and it was hilarious to watch Suzie slink down in her chair and explode into giggles as they kept missing her and she would call out “peek a boo” so they could find her. It was too good!

We leave this week to go to the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. She has the OI clinic and pre-op evaluations this week and then surgery on 1/15. They were unable to move up her surgery due the holidays and a booked solid schedule. Her femur may have to be rebroken (an osteotomy) if it is starting to heal, but I anticipate that they will have to break a few areas to straighten out her bones.
I am coming back prior to the surgery to be with the big kids and Brian will stay with Suzie and drive her home. He is more than capable, but I’m still nervous. Since her recent break, she has reverted back to wanting me the most and has been extra clingy and needy. She also has pretty bad medical trauma and anxiety. A specific prayer request is for her to find comfort from Brian while at the hospital and for her trust in us to keep growing. This is our first elective procedure and she doesn’t have the capacity to understand what is happening or why. We are more than ready to have this surgery done and start the recovery process!