Surgery Update

We met with Lydia's surgeon and she has a fistula (hole) in her palate. We already knew because you can see it in her mouth, but he explained that unless it causes issues with speech or eating they will just leave it for now and fix it when she's older. Before the surgery her palate was completely open, now there's just a hole in the middle with most of it closed. We're a little disappointed but it is what it is.

Typically fistulas happen because there isn't enough skin to close the palate. When she's older they will take some from the inside of her cheek. The surgeon had already mentioned that she would probably need her lip revised to remove some of the scarring so unless there's a reason to do it earlier he will do her lip and fistula when she's older.

Then and Now

Adopting Gabby has brought so many wonderful people into our life. We met Stacey and Dave at our adoptive parenting class as they were waiting to bring home Harper from China in 2005.  They traveled with Denise and Steve who were bringing home Audrey at the same time. We happened to meet them at a Little Gym class.  Since then this little trio of girls have been fast friends and our families have become each other's extended family.  Tonight it was Gabby's turn to host the sleepover and as I snapped pictures, I couldn't help but remember one of their first posed photos so long ago in the same spot in our house. 



Gabby and her friends Audrey and Harper (aka The China Girls) during one of their first summer playdates. Still in diapers, sippy cups and princess outfits.

Now they are first graders, watching Barbie "A Fashion Fairytale" movie and big enough for sleepovers. Long hair, missing teeth, but still dressed up in princess outfits within 10 minutes of arrival.

How quickly they grow up.  How lucky we are to have such beautiful, amazing girls as our daughters. 

Happy BERTday to our Nanny

Hope you have a wonderful day Nanny!  We miss you!

A visit to the pumpkin patch

It was a beautiful day on Saturday and we went for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, only this time with our little Lydia in tow. Double the fun!

 

Getting ready to explore the hay maze.

Big sister leading little sister through the maze.

A girl is not complete with out a pink heart painted on her cheek!

Playing in the corn was so fun!



Leave to us to find the ONE pink tractor in the place!



Watch out when it's time for us to drive!

These horses will have to do, the real ponies were running late that day.

We are ready for Halloween!

After much debate and discussion, Gabby has finally decided what she will be for Halloween.
It couldn't be a princess cause some kids in her class think princesses are for babies.  But she knew she wanted a dress that had pink, purple and blue. I was trying to steer her towards the fifties dress or Dorothy from Wizard of Oz.  But then she came across an outfit called Harajuku Cutie ( kind of a Japanese punk rock girl)  that had all the colors she was looking for and it was no longer up for debate.   After we got home and did the makeup and hair to match,  I  quickly realized that the days of simply dressing as a ladybug or  black cat are over.  Of course when Gabby was getting dressed up, Lydia began to strip down too, so we got out Gabby's first Halloween costume...the ladybug princess which Lydia looked adorable in.  When it came time to put on makeup...Little one was right there in line for the lip gloss!  Poor Rob...the teenage years are going to be lots of fun for him!



Adding the finishing touches to our costume.



Not even two yet, but quickly has learned how to pucker those lips for the gloss.

A girl can never be too sparkly!

Too cute for words.





Mirror, Mirror...

Well it's not a mirror exactly, but Lydia sure had a good time with her reflection she found in the oven door.

Looks like another sassy girl in the house has been created!

The first video she is telling off her reflection, saying no and pointing that finger

 (whereever did she learned that one?)  What cracks us up is her expression as she walks away, a mad smirk on her face, she is ready for her Oscar anyday now!

The next two she was playing peek a boo and cracking herself up. 

She was very aware of the camera at this point.

Four days post surgery

It's been four days since Little One's surgery. To see her play and run around the house you'd never know she'd been through anything.  She is sleeping well, generally happy to have the drops put in her ears for her tubes....not so happy when it is time to take her pain medecine.  We look back at the pictures we didn't post right after her surgery and see how swollen her face was and how sore her mouth looked it is amazing how well she is healing.  She's eating more each day but drinking is almost nonexistent. Luckily we can "count" melted ice cream and thinned down pudding as liquids, but we scrutinize each wet diaper and keep track of what she is able to drink and eat. 

 She still likes watermelon which we chopped into tiny pieces and noodle soup so she's getting fluids with her food but we'd like to see her drinking. Everything we're giving her is the extra-sugar type - no 'no sugar added' apple sauce for her, and even the Carnation instant breakfast drinks to get her calories in.  Anything to motivate to put food in her mouth that is still so raw and sore. 

 We made the mistake of giving her a melted fruit juice bar that must have been really high in citric acid.  She began to point to corners of her mouth first that are sore from the device they used to hold her mouth open during surgery, and then she began to cry really hard and point to her mouth.  It all ended with her throwing up what little she did eat which we know had to really hurt coming back up.   Never occurred to us that our choice would cause her pain.  Then we began to think of the pain one gets when peeling an orange with a papercut, and realized that the whole inside of her mouth is filled with "papercuts".... so that has been at the forefront of our minds when we taste things before giving them to her.

It'll only be a three weeks and then it's back to her normal diet (I'm sure some Chinese crackers will be first on the menu).  In the meantime we are enjoying our time at home with our Little One.  She is having fun playing with her doctor kit which must take on new meaning now for her.  She is enjoying slurping up strawberry ice cream (her new favorite flavor.)  Meanwhile, Gabby had a great time over the weekend at the balloon festival in Forest Park.  Many thanks to Nana, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Scott for taking her so she could shock us all by climbing a rock wall!  Brave girl!

It will only hurt for a minute Mr. Panda...

Mmmmmm...ice cream

What's so funny?

Our daredevil Gabby!