Back from San Francisco, yet again!

As most of you know, we made the treck to San Francisco this past week for PJ's Spina Bifida Clinic, despite the weather over Donner Pass.  This is our 3rd trip since he's been born that we've had to go to San Fran, yet God has provided for us the means to make it there and to not have to worry about how we are going to get there.  We were anxious to get there because PJ has been in his Rhino Cruiser brace for 6 weeks and we were hoping and praying that there had been great progress.  The trip also included a little fun for Daniel since we had just celebrated his 5th birthday!  I can't get over the fact that we have a 5 year old child, who will start kindergarten this year. GULP!  I'm not going to talk any more about that because the lump in my throat won't allow me!  As you have read from the last post we took Daniel to the Exploratorium...and oh-my-goodness...how much fun!  I think we were there for a total of 4 hours!  It was a blast and Daniel enjoyed every second of it.  It is the best feeling to see your child happy.
Friday, the day of SB clinic, started off with a hip x-ray followed by a short walk down Irving to go to our favorite hole-in-the-wall sandwhich shop called the Yellow Submarine.  We walked in the rain, umbrella in tow and enjoyed our lunch before the long afternoon waiting for us.  When we got back to UCSF we went and took PJ to get an ultrasound of his head to see if the fluid had increased between his ventricles.  We hold our breath every clinic awaiting the news as to whether his levels have increased or not.  Once we were done with the ultrasound we took up up to the 2nd floor to clinic.  Keep in mind Daniel is with us along this journey.  And if I do say so myself, he did really well.  He just played his leapster and watched movies the whole time.  He was very behaved! Praise the Lord!  The first person to see was Dr. Shalet, who is with the nuerosurgery team.  He said that PJ's levels have remained the same and his soft spot feels great!!!  What amazing news to receive!!  NO SHUNT SO FAR!!!  The longer we make it and the older he gets w/o needing one is a miracle!  Dr. Shalet said that most kids get it by 6 months and a few between then and a year.   We have a quite the ways to go because he is only a mere 16 weeks old, but we are trusting God and holding hope that whatever happens is in God's plan and we will be ok with it.  The next person to see was the physical therapist, Monica.  She's awesome!  She said that he looks great, but encouraged us to do more tummy time, but we reminded her how impossible it is to do much tummy time because of the massive brace he's been wearing.  He holds his head up great when sitting up, but his core muscles need some work.  She also prescribed us braces for him to wear on his feet at night time.  When relaxed his feet should be at a 90 degree angle and they don't point up as much.  Also, his big toes look like they are flexed, like he's curling them down.  We've been massaging them during diaper changes, but the braces should help straighten them out as well.  What's another brace, we've already been through 3 of them already!  Next dr. to see was Dr. Delgado.  This is the biggie.  She is the orthopedic surgeon who has been monitoring his hip and prescribing the braces for his hip.  We went to another room to view the x-rays and it was like someone's puppy had died.  There was his x-ray, chunky thighs obvious, and his left hip completely out of socket.  The brace hadn't done anything for him.  HOW DISAPPOINTING.  We honestly were shocked because we thought we saw a difference in the way his leg was positioned.  It had become more parallel with his right leg so we thought there had been some difference.  So, then she proceeded to tell us the next step.  He will have to undergo a little "procedure" where they put him under and cut a tendon in his hip area.  The tendon has become tight and shorter which prohibits his hip to go back in.  Along with that they will put him in a Spica cast.  This is the WORST part for us.  The cast goes from his chest all the way down to his ankles.  His legs will be in the wish-bone position as well.  Of course there will be an opening for diaper changes...but that will be an adventure in itself.  How do you keep a cast clean on a baby who manages to have explosions like no other?!  The dr. said that parents get creative with saran wrap and tape....hmmm....I'm going to have to do some researching on this one.  The cast will remain on for a total of 12 weeks (I just want to cry!) with a cast change at 6 weeks in.  I just can't believe it still.  It's funny because we'll forget about it for a while and then it hits us like a ton of bricks.  I just hope that he adjusts to it.  If he can adjust to it then I'll be ok, but if this is something that we have to suffer through, I just don't know.  I know this is best for him.  The dr.'s said that it's our choice.  If we were to decide that we didn't want to do it, one leg would grow longer than the other, he would need special lift shoes, and then it would become painful.  Of course we don't want that!  That will take place in the next couple weeks.  Yes, that means we have to go back to San Fran.  One thing I know is that God has a wonderful plan for our PJ.  He has great things in store for him.  Can you imagine his story in 20 years?!  I'll be honest, it's hard to have a good, positive attitude right now.  I guess I just want to get this all started so we can get through it.  Proverbs 3:5,6 and Jeremiah 29:11 right?!  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  I am praying for strength!  Sometimes it's hard to remember that 12 weeks isn't that long in the grand scheme of things, but thinking of all he's been through already, it's tough.  God will be glorified through all of this, there's no buts about it!  Please pray that this procedure will work and that PJ will adjust to it quickly.  If you're a mom, you know that there's nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and there's nothing you can do about it.  God has shown His power and His love for us so much, so I know there's no need to worry.  Maybe I need to read Matthew 6 again...
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and your encouraging words.  They mean SO much to us, words will never be able to express our appreciation and thankfulness.