Frustrated

I'm trying to look on the bright side, but I am still frustrated. Many of you know that Abbey's surgery was officially cancelled and rescheduled today. The fever that she had over the weekend was an automatic cancellation. The bad thing is that the first available date to reschedule it isn't until the beginning of January. The surgeon wanted to do it between ten and twelve months. Now it will be at 14.5 months. (If the weather or another fever doesn't postpone it again.)

I am frustrated and concerned about how this will hinder her speech and language development. In the past month and a half I could already tell that she was making more and more sounds that are characteristic of children with clefts. So, she will have to unlearn the bad habits that she picks up in the next two and a half months.

Plus, they were going to put tubes in her ears. People with a cleft palate can't maintain proper ear pressure, because their eustachian tube doesn't work correctly. So, they often have fluid in the middle ear that interferes with hearing. At times, I can tell that this is happening to her. She doesn't react as quickly to her name or other sounds. So, now we have two and a half months more of her not having normal hearing.

But, I trust the Lord is in control. His plans and purposes are higher than mine. I know that and trust it, but my heart still hurts for my little girl. Plus, I don't want to have to go through this waiting and anticipation again. Please pray for me, Abbey and the rest of our family. Thanks!

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go

The clothes are clean and put aside, the instructions written out, the quarantine almost over, the teachers notified, the reservations made, the departure date approaching, and...Abbey has a fever. Last night she was warm and it was only 99.8, so not technically a fever. I thought it was probably the two new teeth that she is cutting. :o) But, this morning it was 101.4, so not likely the teeth. Plus, her appetite is dropping off, she is a bit fussier than usual and she has a runny nose.

So, I called the hospital and talked to the charge nurse. She said that if Abbey gets better quickly and never really seems that sick, then there is about a 20% chance that they will go through with it. We have to wait until Monday to talk to the nurse practitioner.

But, l know the Lord is in control and we will have the surgery in His timing. Like one friend said, maybe the person that is going to encourage us, or vice versa, won't be having surgery until later. We will see.

By the way, Abbey is all dressed up for her birthday!! She is one today. I can't believe it. It has been a wonderful year. We are going to have a little celebration later this afternoon. I hope to have pictures and thoughts up soon.

Exciting News and Bad News

The exciting news is that Caroline took her first steps. Actually, she took them for Jack. He said he saw her take a step yesterday. Then, last night, she took three for Ed and me. Today she took four for me one time. Yea for Caroline!

Now, the bad news--Jack has a low fever. He has had cold symptoms, and this evening he has complained of an earache. We are supposed to leave for Chicago in just over a week. Of course, Abbey can't be sick, but I am sure they won't let Ed or me in the hospital if we have cold symptoms. The Ronald McDonald House said we have to be completely well to stay there. (I haven't been feeling well either and am not sure it it is allergies or a cold.) So, please pray that Jack will heal quickly and that the rest of us will stay well.

That's our update for now. Thanks

Jack's First School Project

Jack had to pick an animal, research it and create a 3D representation of it in it's habitat. He also had to show it's food. He chose a tiger. Thankfully, we had a lot of orange and black playdough from Halloween last year.



He wanted the tiger to be eating a wild boar. He also wanted some snakes for fun. He had the idea for how the grass would look.



He also had the idea of having the tree on the back of the box so that it would stand up when the box was opened. Isn't he creative and handsome?!

Chicago Plans

Well, the plans are coming together to take Abbey to Shriner's Hospital for her palate repair at the end of this month. This morning, I talked with our local Shriner and firmed up the travel details. They are going to reimburse us for our gas, and Ed is going to drive us up. This takes a bit of the pressure off, as we don't have to worry about an upset baby making the trip miserable for two other folks (if she cries, that is). It is a nine hour drive without stops. We have no idea what it will be like trying to drive back with her after the surgery. It could be a nightmare, or the pain meds could make her sleep most of the way.

Ed will be a saying at a Ronald McDonald house for all four nights. Abbey and I will be with him the first night and then in the hospital the other three nights. I am really amazed at the Ronald McDonald house. The photo tour of it looks so nice. It only costs $10 per night and volunteers often bring food for supper. You can bet I'll be putting my spare change in the collection bin next time I am at McDonalds! Our local Shriners are going to pay for Ed's lodging and for my meals in the hospital. So, we shouldn't have very much out of pocket expense.

Both my mom and Ed's mom are planning to come help care for the other three kids while we are gone. This is a huge help to us and our family. Originally we were planning for Ed to stay home, but the compassionate elders at our church encouraged Ed to go with me and Abbey. From what I have read about other moms' experiences with the surgery, I think that was so wise of the elders. It is a huge relief to me to not have to deal with the emotional stress of it all by myself. So, Mom and MaryAnn are going to drive from SC and be here a whole week.

Our family started a self-imposed quarantine last week. If Abbey even has the least little bit of a cold, then we will have to reschedule everything. So, we want to do the best we can to stay well. Jack is still going to school, of course, and Molly gets to go to her ballet class. We are cutting out everything else and staying home as much as possible. I did get out to eat lunch with some other pastor's wives last week and I have a women's meeting at church on Tuesday, so I'm not going stir crazy, thankfully. I am not feeling great, though. I hope it is just allergies and not a cold or the start of something else. I'd love it if you'd pray for the health of our family--especially Abbey, Ed and me. Thanks.

Cedar Hill Farms

I really don't feel like writing a lot right now, but I know some family has been eager to see pictures from our outing to the pumpkin patch. We didn't really go to the "patch," because we spent most of our time enjoying the other fun things that Cedar Hill Farms has to offer.

Ed and Jack loved the corn cob shooter.



Molly had so much fun riding the pony that she used Jack's ticket and rode twice.



The corn box was novel fun. I even got in and enjoyed it a bit.



Jack and Molly were king and queen of the hay fort.



I was super surprised that the spider-shaped corn maze was the main thing that Jack wanted to do. He and Ed were able to answer the spider questions and find their way out fairly quickly. Did you know that spider blood is blue?



The girls and I waited outside the maze and had fun taking pictures. Caroline was glad to receive Molly's affection.



Aunt Weez sent the cute outfits. We decided it was the perfect day to wear them. Poor Abbey, on the right, probably won't get much more festive this season, as we will be traveling back from her surgery on Halloween.



We all rode the tractor-pulled "train." Abbey sat with Molly and me.



Caroline hung with the fellas.



Even though we didn't get them from the field, we did leave with pumpkins. Even the littlest Eubanks (Abbey) got a pumpkin.



Maybe next year Caroline will be able to join in more of the fun. Despite going during their nap time, both babies did really well.

Finally

For the past several months I have been thinking it would happen any day. This is the day! Caroline finally has a tooth poking through the surface. I haven't been able to check Abbey's gums yet this morning.

Also, this week is the week for first words. Caroline has said "mo" for more and "ba" for bottle. Most of the times it has been an imitation of my question, "Do you want more?" or "Do you want a bottle?". This morning, I think that she initiated "mo". Molly's first word was "crack" for cracker and "coke". What is it with my kids and food words? :o)

One of the girls (Abbey, I think) was babbling in her crib this morning and said, "muhmuh". Now, I think she was calling for me, but I'm not sure. So, I won't claim that one, yet.

I think we are headed to the pumpkin patch this afternoon. If disobedience doesn't reign and we really get there, then I'll post some pictures.