Healing at home

Well, we are thankfully on the 'other side' of Glory's lip and nose healing ....for the first time.  It has been over 2 weeks now since she had her lip/nose/partial palate surgery at Children's hospital.

 

(This was Glory's favorite waiting room activity-playing through the fish tank with people )

 Everything went as planned and the medical staff were just so kind and patient with us, i mean Glory...=0)  she did great there and even slept... a little. Between Dan and i sleeping even less, makes me realize we are not getting any younger!! It is harder to catch up on sleep than the all-nighters one pulls in college to study!  Thankfully we were at a hospital in Seattle which means there were TWO Starbucks IN the building!=0) So seriously, if you don't call THAT a blessing i don't know what is!=0)

The surgery itself took about 3 hours and then they brought Glory to us in our room.  Hopefully next time i will think enough to take more pictures in the room and hospital just for anyone that might be reading this that will be there or is interested.

(I am quite sure mom was more nervous than Glory!- this was her last smile before it changed.=0)

Meet Dr. Jay-Glory likes him-That's all that matters, right?=0)

(Poor little one, this was so hard to see her so swollen and sore and teary and exhausted. We're not sure if she was so tired and crying from the pain or the weariness, or just not getting to eat all day.  She likes food! It was actually one of the hardest things that i hadn't expected, was not being able to give her food or drink most of the day.  So she was pretty excited to get that first bottle post surgery! This was one of the only times she has let herself fall asleep on me. It was a treasure!)

Glory is recovering well.   I think the thing that surprised me was just how large the stints were that they put in her nose. They will stay there at least until we go back in February. Right now they are so sore she will wake up in the night crying so hard- we are pretty sure she rolls over and rubs her nose on the bed on accident.  It is pretty darn tender and drippy but seems to be healing like normal.  Dr. Jay said when we went back to have her stitches taken out of her lip.

  It is so funny how tiny her mouth seems now that it is sewn together. Her whole face looks tinier. We are so thankful that she will be able to close her mouth all the way to be able to drink better and form words to talk,  but will miss that big smile and toothy grin! We can't decide which smile is cuter! 

The boys are still so sweet with her that we are counting it as one of THE biggest blessings of this transition and story in our family.  Zeke will rush over whenever we have to do the dreaded cleaning and medicine on Glory's face and talk to her and try to make her laugh.  Reed is making pictures for her almost daily and hiding them the little dresser in her room for when she is older to look at them.=0)  And Judah loves to be the first one to come in her room in the morning ringing with the most adorable drawn out 'Good MOrrrrning Glorrry' you ever did hear.=0)
Thank You Lord.
Just to be honest- we've ALL had 'our moments' but oh are the days filled with smiles and surprises to be sure. We can't wait for all the adventures awaiting 2013 with 3 mighty little warriors and one princess!

And a Happy New year to you!

May you have 'eyes' to see ALL His blessings on you this year!

And if you have any trouble at all finding them, perhaps writing them down in a 'gift list' from God could surprise you how many there are! 

For a JOYful start to your new year take a quick look here....

http://www.aholyexperience.com/joy-dares/

and may God bless you!