Life in a Spica Cast

Four more weeks of Sammy in this lovely cast. I'll repost the whole story of how he got his cast a little later if you missed it. But for now, let me just say that this cast stinks! Literally, it's all I can smell now, I imagine the smell in my sleep, his room smells and my hands smell after holding him. It's probably not so bad to everyone else, but I'm with him a lot more than everyone else. The cast is now starting to get wet from sweat, (hence the smell) but it also means that sweat leaks out of the cast, onto whatever he's sitting on or if I'm holding him. Just wonderful, but the cast isn't all bad, there are some actual perks...

1. I often feel like all I spend the day doing is trying to keep stuff out of Sammy's reach and putting it away once he does get it. Not anymore! It took less than a day in his cast for us to stop using baby latches on doors and leave all sorts of stuff out on the counter. It's been pretty nice, but I better watch out 'cause he is starting to crawl in his cast and it's only a matter of time...

2. Lately, we've been unsuccessfully trying to transition him to a toddler bed. I'm hoping that once he's back on a regular sleep schedule (he's still not used to sleeping in his cast, we've had a lot of sleepless nights) we can stick him in his toddler bed and since he can't crawl out, he'll have to sleep there! This is just a guess right now, I'm hoping it actually works.

3. It's hitting the 100s outside and since I'm 33? 34? weeks pregnant (I can't keep track anymore,) I certainly don't want to be outside with Sammy. Lucky for me he's grounded and we can just lounge in the AC for the next few weeks. I'm not saying he enjoys it, but we don't have much choice!

4. This isn't really a perk, but I think it's kind of funny. Changing diapers is quite a process, the docs instructed us to start with a maxi pad, put a newborn diaper on top of that and stuff the edges into his cast. Then we put an extra large diaper on top of all that and over the cast. This should prevent most leakage but the cast will still get some wetness in it and start to smell, lovely. Now we've also started using panty liners to fill in rough gaps that are irritating his skin. Personally I can't wait to tell him when he's about 13 yrs old that not only as a toddler did he love to play in my drawer of feminine products, but he also wore them while in his cast! He, he, he:)

5. This is as good as Christmas for Sammy, he's getting all sorts of new toys. Thank you to all that have sent care packages his way. He certainly needs things to occupy his little hands, now if only I could get him to watch something other than Curious George all day long!


"I want to watch George!"