Home

We were allowed to come home with Addison late last night. The surgery went well, even though we got a really late start. We were told that Addison's surgery was scheduled to start at 10am. We arrived at the hospital at 7am. Then we waited and waited and waited. Finally someone came to tell us that her surgery had been pushed back for one hour. So we waited another hour, then another 45 minutes, then another 30 and finally at around 2pm the surgeon met with us. Apparently the scheduling dept. messed up his schedule for the day and all along the sugery wasn't suppposed to start until 2. He was very apolgetic and annoyed at the people who gave us the incorrect info. We were very frustrated since Addison hadn't eaten since the night before nor had she really had anything significant to drink since 6am.

The surgery took about four hours. The ENTs put the tubes in her ears. They said she had a lot of fluid but they cleared that all out. The plastic surgeon then closed her palate and did the lip adhesion. After the surgery the surgeon told us that Addison had the widest cleft he had ever repaired. He went on to say that he felt that he did a good job, but that there was still a risk for her forming a fistula since it was so wide.

Addison had a pretty rough night. She was fine as along as she was lying in my lap on a recliner. By mid morning she was close to her old self. The surgeon finally came and checked up on Addison at 6pm. He seemed happy with the way she was doing and sent us home. We had really great care at Children's and the patient rooms were incredible. The new rooms have only been used since the end of November. We had a single room with bed for the parents and a private bath plus a flat screen tv.

I have posted a couple of pics from before the surgery and right after. I am going to try to get some new ones up tomorrow since the swelling is finally going down. She is doing pretty good. She is just so frustrated by the fact she can't eat whatever she wants and has thrown a few tantrums. It is only for three weeks, I know she can do it.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!

Surgery Tomorrow, Excitement Today

I was hoping that we would have pics of our family before Addison's surgery tomorrow. We planned on taking some last minute shots, but Nathan decided to change that. He had been sick all last week. Well today at noon he started having difficulty breathing...bad enough to warrant a call to 911 and an ambulance ride to the ER. They did xrays, bloodwork, breathing treatments, etc. and determined he had pneumonia. After being there a few hours he started to perk up. Since we have a mini hospital at the house the Drs. allowed us to come home. He needs around the clock neb treatments and antibiotics, all stuff we can do here.

We are thankful that they allowed us to come home because I am not sure how we would have worked it out having two kids in two different hospitals spread across the city. So we hope Nathan does well tonight and that Bob and I will be at least semi-rested for tomorrow. Thankfully my mom is here and has been very helpful in watching Addison. She will be home with Nathan tomorrow ---- as well as Nathan's nurse. He will be in good hands.

Addison thankfully is very healthy and blissfully unaware of what is going to happen tomorrow. We think Nathan was jealous of all the attention and wanted to remind us that he is still here. So we ask for prayers for both our kids and the Drs. who will be working on Addison tomorrow.

I don't think Bob and I would know what to do without stress in our lives. I am sure after things settle down we will need a vacation!!

We will try to update everyone as soon as possible. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

Update

I know everyone has been waiting patiently for an update --- I think the pic of Addison explains why I haven't had time to sit down for more than a minute in the past few weeks:-)






Addison continues to blossom. She is trying to say a few more words. Usually if we sing it a little song she mimics the words back to us. A lot of it is not clear, but it is a good sign she is trying. We are hoping that after the surgery her speech will take off. Right now the surgery is scheduled for the 28th of Jan. The surgeon will do a partial lip adhesion and close the palate. The ENTs will place tubes in Addison's ears so that the fluid behind her ears will be able to drain. Right now her hearing isn't normal but we are hoping that once the fluid is cleared up she will hear within the normal limits. Please send prayers and good thoughts that she will stay healthy up to and through the surgery.

One big downside of the surgery is Addison will have to wear arm braces for three weeks so that she doesn't accidentally stick something in her mouth that will harm the repair. She will be able to move her arms up and down, but won't be able to bend them. She loves to get into EVERYTHING and I know she will be so frustrated with the no no's on. Most parents say that their kids adapt and we are hoping the same will be true of Addison.

Nathan continues to do well. He is really enjoying school. Thankfully he has been healthier this year. I think in part it has to do with our visit with the immunologist and catching things earlier.

We have also been busy with visitors. My sister and parents are visiting. The good news is that Addison is doing really well with all of them. She is still a little hesitant around my Dad, but she is that way around all men. She has asked him for "sugars" which is a great sign.

I will post more pics later this week. Thanks for checking the blog. I love to read the comments - so please feel free to post them!

Merry Christmas - by Third Day

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
and we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
and prepare a place for us
so we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

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We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Last year (and several years before) Bob and I longed to hold our another child in our arms. This year our dream came true. God couldn't have done a better job in choosing Addison to be our child. She is so full of love and life and Bob, Nathan and I look forward to spending the rest of our Christmas' with her.

A day at the Park

Today we took the kids to a park in Mclean, VA. The park opened about a year ago, but what is really neat is that the park is completely handicap accessible. There are wheelchair ramps to all the equipment, full support swings and cushioned trails. We had taken Nathan there before and he had a great time. It is wonderful that there is a place kids like him can play along with their peers. Addison was a little less enthusiastic about everything. She didn't like the swings or the slides, but she liked to run along the cushioned trails.

Family Love

Addison's First "Professional" Haircut

Yesterday we took Addison to Cartoon Cuts to get her first "real" haircut. The orphanage haircuts are often very short and uneven and we were hoping to add a little shape to Addison's hair. I am not sure that the lady did much better than the orphanage. I guess it is more even, but she cut it really short! Addison didn't fuss too much - but it may be because the lady did it less than 3 minutes!