Abbey has done great today. She has been happy and not too slow to warm up to all the strangers she has seen. We’ve interacted with several nurses, a nutritionist, the social worker and the nurse practitioner. Everyone has really focused their attention on her and given her time to warm up to them. There is no rush to see her and move on. They are giving great personal care.
We have gotten to play in the play room and around the playground. Ed has even gotten to do a bit of Wii bowling. We have eaten our meals in the cafeteria, and they have been helpful in providing food that suits Abbey’s tastes.
We get the double occupancy room to ourselves, since she is an infant. I’m not quite sure why they do it that way, but I am glad we don’t have to worry about her cries bothering a neighbor. Plus we have room to spread out. Sadly, I don’t get to use the extra bed that is sitting empty on the other side of the room, but am consigned to the pull out chair.
Tomorrow things will start around 6:15ish. Thankfully, she is the first on the schedule. The plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist will each come to check in with us. We will have to sign consents. They will probably take her to be prepped at about 6:45. They said that she will be prepped and ready to begin surgery by about 7:30. It should take 2.5 hours or so.
They will be “freeing up the muscles and tissue” that she already has. They will repair the nasal mucosa (tissue that is the floor of the nasal cavity), reconnect the muscles of the soft palate, and repair the oral mucosa. She will be in the ICU tomorrow night.
We will keep you updated. Thanks so much for your concern, love and prayers!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Ronald McDonald House
All I can say is put your spare change in the box next time your are in McDonalds. I'm sitting here on the queen sized Select Comfort bed at the Loyola Ronald McDonald House. I couldn't be more impressed. The house is so nice and comfortable. They have all kinds of food that volunteers have provided. Everything is so clean and organized. They have anticipated our needs, and we are able to relax. Although our stay is short, many stay a long time. We met a family who is going on their fifth month here. I can't imagine having to deal with that kind of medical circumstance, but I know that this house would be a bright spot in a difficult time. Ed will be staying here each night, and I will stay with Abbey in the hospital. (At least that is the plan.)
So, we are thankful for this organization. We are thankful for a safe trip. We are very thankful that Abbey only had one major meltdown. (She got fussy a few times but books, snacks and my entertainment staved off too much crying until the last 30 minutes.) We are thankful the snow ended earlier in the day, so we didn't run into road trouble, either.
Here's hoping for a good night sleep in preparation for all of the preop. stuff we will endure tomorrow.
So, we are thankful for this organization. We are thankful for a safe trip. We are very thankful that Abbey only had one major meltdown. (She got fussy a few times but books, snacks and my entertainment staved off too much crying until the last 30 minutes.) We are thankful the snow ended earlier in the day, so we didn't run into road trouble, either.
Here's hoping for a good night sleep in preparation for all of the preop. stuff we will endure tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lots
Well, lots has happened since I last posted a bunch of pictures. We had Abbey and Caroline's birthday; my sister's family came for their first Memphis visit and got to meet the twins; there were many Christmas festivities; and we are still deicing from our big winter storm. But, there has been lots of other stuff going on to keep me from posting the pictures and stories from all of this fun stuff. The two main things are that Abbey and Caroline have learned to walk and that both my iphone and laptop computer have broken. So, now I only get snippets of time to come upstairs and do all of my computing.
In addition to all of that, we have had lots of appointments to schedule and attend. Jack's attention and anxiety problems may be serious enough to merit some sort of intervention. So, Ed and I are getting some help with making those decisions. Also, he has had several dental appointments with more to come. He is in the process of getting braces on six of his top front teeth and the first of two expanders. He will get the expander for the lower teeth first. Then he'll get the upper one, just like Molly had. Right now, he has spacers, and his appointment for the braces and lower expander is in the next few weeks.
Abbey has just entered the Tennessee Early Intervention Program. This morning I worked on creating a Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with her care coordinator. (Thankfully, that professional comes to our home.) Abbey is delayed in four of the five areas they test: adaptive, speech, motor and cognition. Of course, speech is the main area of concern. In a month or so, she will have a early interventionist come to our house on a weekly basis to work with her, and she will probably also have a speech therapist coming, too.
Caroline still has a flat spot on the back of her head. If it is severe enough, then it could hurt her brain growth. The pediatrician thought it was borderline, so she referred Caroline to a specialist to be sure. We have an appointment with the neurosurgeon on Thursday. If the neurosurgeon feels like it is significant enough, then Caroline will probably have to wear a helmet to correct it. Hopefully it will be fine, and we will be done with this issue after the one appointment.
Thankfully, Molly isn't seeing any specialists. Nevertheless, her growth and development have been on my heart and mind and in our discussions lots recently. Ed and I have decided to put her in kindergarten instead of first grade next year. She is doing great with homeschool kindergarten, so that isn't the reason. We just feel like she will be at more of an advantage down the road if she is one of the oldest in her class, instead of one of the youngest. Also, we think it will be better for both her and Jack if they are two grades apart. She won't be immediately following behind him, which will be good for both of them. This has taken a lot of thought, but we have decided it will be best.
Finally, there is me. While I don't have appointments of my own, I have been in transition with my work. I was getting canceled over 50% of the time with my old speech job, so I have branched out. I will still be working some days for Baptist Rehab, but I will be putting in the majority of my time at HealthSouth Rehab. in downtown Memphis. So, I have had several meetings and orientations with them. Ironically, I was unable to make it to my first real day on the job at HealthSouth this past Saturday, because of the ice storm. They didn't cancel me , but the ice prevented me from getting there that day. I am wondering if the Lord is trying to tell me not to trust in my ability to make extra money for the family. :o)
Thankfully, Ed isn't taking on anything too new. He always has meetings and appointments that fluctuate, so we are used to his busy schedule.
So, sorry for the lack of posts and pictures. I haven't given up on blogging. I doubt I'll be able to get caught up on what I've missed and that makes me sad. But, hopefully, I'll be able to get back on track. As you can see, though, we have had lots going on.
In addition to all of that, we have had lots of appointments to schedule and attend. Jack's attention and anxiety problems may be serious enough to merit some sort of intervention. So, Ed and I are getting some help with making those decisions. Also, he has had several dental appointments with more to come. He is in the process of getting braces on six of his top front teeth and the first of two expanders. He will get the expander for the lower teeth first. Then he'll get the upper one, just like Molly had. Right now, he has spacers, and his appointment for the braces and lower expander is in the next few weeks.
Abbey has just entered the Tennessee Early Intervention Program. This morning I worked on creating a Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) with her care coordinator. (Thankfully, that professional comes to our home.) Abbey is delayed in four of the five areas they test: adaptive, speech, motor and cognition. Of course, speech is the main area of concern. In a month or so, she will have a early interventionist come to our house on a weekly basis to work with her, and she will probably also have a speech therapist coming, too.
Caroline still has a flat spot on the back of her head. If it is severe enough, then it could hurt her brain growth. The pediatrician thought it was borderline, so she referred Caroline to a specialist to be sure. We have an appointment with the neurosurgeon on Thursday. If the neurosurgeon feels like it is significant enough, then Caroline will probably have to wear a helmet to correct it. Hopefully it will be fine, and we will be done with this issue after the one appointment.
Thankfully, Molly isn't seeing any specialists. Nevertheless, her growth and development have been on my heart and mind and in our discussions lots recently. Ed and I have decided to put her in kindergarten instead of first grade next year. She is doing great with homeschool kindergarten, so that isn't the reason. We just feel like she will be at more of an advantage down the road if she is one of the oldest in her class, instead of one of the youngest. Also, we think it will be better for both her and Jack if they are two grades apart. She won't be immediately following behind him, which will be good for both of them. This has taken a lot of thought, but we have decided it will be best.
Finally, there is me. While I don't have appointments of my own, I have been in transition with my work. I was getting canceled over 50% of the time with my old speech job, so I have branched out. I will still be working some days for Baptist Rehab, but I will be putting in the majority of my time at HealthSouth Rehab. in downtown Memphis. So, I have had several meetings and orientations with them. Ironically, I was unable to make it to my first real day on the job at HealthSouth this past Saturday, because of the ice storm. They didn't cancel me , but the ice prevented me from getting there that day. I am wondering if the Lord is trying to tell me not to trust in my ability to make extra money for the family. :o)
Thankfully, Ed isn't taking on anything too new. He always has meetings and appointments that fluctuate, so we are used to his busy schedule.
So, sorry for the lack of posts and pictures. I haven't given up on blogging. I doubt I'll be able to get caught up on what I've missed and that makes me sad. But, hopefully, I'll be able to get back on track. As you can see, though, we have had lots going on.
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