Monday, June 17, 2013

Thank You Ladies

I would like to take a moment to share a few things. I want to take a moment in which I can give words to the immense gratitude for the women in my life. I am not going to list names for I will inevitabley miss someone and I would not want anyone to think I have forgotten them or how they changed me.
This post will be about the gifts they have given me, how they have changed me for the better, every single one.

For making me laugh when I forgotten what it was like to really laugh. Tears streaming down your face, stomach hurts laugh.
I thank you.

For forgiving me when I did not deserve it
I thank you.

For extending grace when I made mistakes and say things out of fear or anger
I thank you.

For coming along side me in suffering and NOT pointing out the silver lining
I thank you.

For simply yet perfectly saying the right words to me during an unending winter...I am sorry to see you suffering, I am here for you
I thank you.

For listening to me even when I become extremely verbose
I thank you.

For listening to my worries over and over again and not growing tired of me or least pretending not to
I thank you.

For joining in on my sometimes ridicoulsy, sarcastic and inappropriate sense of humor
I thank you.

For not judging me when I share the ugliest parts of my heart
I thank you.

For encouraging me to pray and when I fail to, praying for me
I thank you.

For reminding me how my Father sees me and when I forget reminding me again
I thank you.

For encouraging me to join in and actively pursue this beautiful and maddening thing called life
I thank you.

For reminding me spring is coming when I have been chilled to bone
I thank you.

For reminding me to look beyond my own pain and comfort others
I thank you.

For helping me take some of my biggest life altering leaps
I thank you.

For being my friend
For just being marvelous you
No one has come before you or will after you who is just like you
God did that on purpose
And I am thankful for you.

Friday, June 14, 2013

The Last 48: Recap Style

My little girl is a brave cookie. I am sure that most parents believe this of our children. But again and again Myla amazes me. I also believe that if Myla had a super power it would be stubbornness. After morphine, benadryll, Tylenol with codeine she would not sleep for more than 10-30 minutes at a time..wait we did have an hour and a half where she surrendered and let her tired and wounded body rest. The poor nurse was baffled and in effort to add humor to the situation she told us " Good luck with her as a teenager. " The following day they eventually gave something to calm her anxiety and nerves and expected she would be mellow and sleepy in no time. Well...Miss Myla become more happy and energetic. She was walking up a storm.

Earlier that morning Myla wanted out of her hospital crib. It was 5:00 a.m. A few nurses offered to play with her while I laid down. I guiltily said okay and slept for about 30 minutes. Apparently during that time she made several friends. Greeting people at the desk. Playing and eventually falling asleep in a nurses arms. Of course they tried bringing her back into the room and her crib but after 10 minutes she wanted up again.

When dad came in (Jared had to care for our dog Spunky who has been ill, sigh) she was so excited. The combination of super dad and the medicine helped her back to more of her old self. We continued to take her on walks and rides in the wagon all the while greeting people as we went.

Eventually we were discharged and headed home. Myla feel asleep almost immediately in the car seat. We quickly zipped on over to grab some tasty Bahn Mi sandwiches to eat on the way home.

Once again I am humbled by the blessing of healthcare, the amazing staff at Gilettes and the prayers of family and friends. We are so thankful. Now the road to recovery, let's hope it starts with a good nights sleep.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Myla's Palate Surgery: part two

This is definitely the harder of her last two surgeries. But first of all, everything went well. Her hearing is good!
The surgeon was pleased with how her palate repair went as well.

Now we have been in her room for four hours. Effects of anesthesia and pain have made it hard for her to relax and sleep. She gets a couple minutes of sleep/whimpering then will cry and flail for awhile. This is the cycle we are in right now. The nurses have shared with us that most kids are groggy and sleep....no Myla. It is hard to help her through this but I know it is even harder on her.

She did drink a few ounces of her bottle which is good news. However is refusing more. She may need a new IV. Her old one got a clot in it so they wanted us to see if the bottle route would work well enough.

Myla's Palate Surgery: part one



Myla just was taken back to the OR to begin her palate surgery. She will also be undergoing a hearing test today.
She had a good time in the play area and was having a blast in pre-surgery, especially when one of the family care staff was blowing bubbles at her. Myla was chasing them and smiling her sweet smile. And then came...the tears. In her exuberant delight while trying to get out a toy car she took a spill. Bloody lip/nose and lots of tears. We felt horrible. Of all the times for this to happen. We were able to calm her down all the while three nurses and the anesthesiologist came in to examine it. We felt like we had quite the audience for a bad parenting moment. Sigh.
Poor Miss Myla. It did not help that I shouted Jared's name as it happened in alarm for everyone to hear. Sorry honey.

Below is a quick summary of how a palate repair works. The information is taken from a blog of another mom who has two kids go through this surgery before...
"In non-technical terms, to fix a cleft palate the surgeon takes/detaches the muscle and tissue from around the cleft and attaches it over the cleft.  There are arteries running in this area, allowing the newly placed tissue to thrive and grow.  Once the materials are moved, there looks almost like channels in the area the tissue was taken from.  Amazingly, this tissue grows back."

Stay tuned for more updates...hopefully I will be able to post again this afternoon.




I'm not sure how I feel about this