who knew a hip could get infected?

Lyza and her dad. Getting checked into the ER at Primary Children's

Who knew a hip could get infected? I sure didn't! However, after our adventure last weekend I will now never forget that YES a hip can and did get infected.

On Saturday morning Lyza woke up and told me that her leg was hurting her. I chalked it up to either growing pains or the fact that she usually likes the extra attention she gets when she is hurt. (mother of the year right here!) She was babying her right leg and limping a bit but I thought it would go away after awhile. I even made her go to her primary activity that morning which by the way was the "Reinactment of the Pioneer Trek" were they actually walked 2 miles. (Did I mention mother of the year?)

By Sunday morning when she woke up Lyza could barely put any pressure on her right leg. My fantastic neighbor (who is a pediatrician) graciously stopped over to take a look at her leg. She laid Lyza on the ground and showed me that when she forced Lyza's legs straight her feet didn't line up. Her right leg was about 1 inch longer then her left leg. (It was crazy to see that and a bit sad.) She recommended that we go to Primary Children's right away.

I guess with infections in the hip you pretty much don't mess around with them. Our personal pediatrican (who makes the best house calls by the way) said that the infection in the hip socket can become septic to the blood stream very quickly.

So instantly we were off. Steven scooped up our little Ly Ly, we met my mom to give our Sethy to her, and made our way to Primary Children's.

Lyza with her Child Life Specialist at the ER.

Primary children's hospital is AMAZING! They have these specialist who come in and are there with you the entire time you are there. They work directly with your child to make sure they are ok. Lyza got a doll (she named Molly) that she got to color a face, hair, fingers and toes on. The Child Life Specialist's even put an IV in Molly's arm to show Lyza exactly how the IV would go in her arm. They were amazing!

Even after seeing "Molly the doll" get her IV, Lyza was still NOT thrilled when it was her turn. The worst moment of being a mom is having to physically hold your child down while she is screaming your name, so the doctors can put an IV in her. After I held it together while they were putting the IV in, I had to excuse myself so I could "lose it" in the hallway without Lyza seeing. It completely broke my heart. Lyza hated that IV in her arm...it bugged her the entire 10 hours we were there.

Lyza after she had woken up from surgery. Eating a popsicle.

After blood work and ultrasounds, it was deteremined that the Orthapedic Surgeon was going to need to be called in for a little thing we call surgery. They put Lyz to sleep and then took the infection that was in her hip socket out laparoscopically. She was completely hilarious when she was coming out of her anesthsia. Which was good because her mom was having a hard time seeing her little girl go through this whole situation.

Lyza made us proud and had the entire nurses floor in love with her by the time we left. She was so brave and the nurses even let her take her own IV out of her arm. Something her mom didn't think she would do....but she did!

After about 10 hours at the hospital the doctors released us and sent us on our way. We were tired, but happy that Lyza was already on the mend.

I am so grateful for healthy children and also for fantastic doctors and nurses who can help us when they are not so healthy.

THREE CHEERS FOR LYZA AND FOR PRIMARY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL!