Merry Christmas!

Everyone knows how hard it can be to get a good picture of little ones on Christmas because they are always on the go! Isaac loved the brightly wrapped packages with their ribbons and bows. We celebrated on Christmas Eve because Dad has to work today and by the time he gets home Zoe has to go spend Christmas with her Mom. I've never celebrated early, but it was nice. As everyone warned us Isaac's favorite "gifts" were the boxes his toys came in and the wrapping paper. He was very excited about the airplane that he opened up as his first gift, it's the same one he got to play with while in the hospital and he really likes it.

At our post-op appointment on December 23rd we got the all clear to give Isaac soft foods like the stage 2 baby foods. At first he wasn't too excited about it, but yesterday he ate six containers and several sippy cups of formula. Poor little man, he loves to eat and feed himself and we can't wait until he gets the all clear. The doctor said that things are progressing very nicely and to keep up with the no-nos and restricted diet until we visit on January 7th.

How do you teach a child his name? When we went to the ENT Isaac had hearing test with the audiologist and we discovered that his hearing was pretty bad. She said it was like he was hearing everything underwater because he had so much fluid in his ears. The doctors said that we would notice a dramatic change once he got his tubes on the 15th when he had his palate surgery. I have noticed that his walking improved dramatically even when he had wires attached to his one foot, so maybe it helped improve his balance. He started spinning in circles with his arms out yesterday like little kids have the habit of doing. We call his name but he doesn't respond. He will look when we're talking or when he hears other sounds, but doesn't seem to respond to his name. Very odd. I guess no child has ever started school not knowing their name and it will come in time.

Surgery & Recovery Update

Well, all I can say is that it has been a very long six days! I had found a computer in the waiting room near Isaac's room in the hospital, but posting on blogger was blocked. Then when I got home and had full access to a computer I have been too tired to get online for longer than a minute here or there to catch up on e-mail or find answers to my post-surgery questions. Dr. Ruiz said that Isaac did better than excellent in surgery and that things are going well. This first picture is in the pre-op area where we waited for about 90 minutes before Isaac went back for surgery. They gave him a cute little teddy bear (hiding behind the drum) and a beautiful quilt with whales on it (behind Isaac) when we were checked into our room. The quilt was made by a lady in Christmas, Florida who makes them to donate to the children in the hospital. It was so nice and made us feel special.

As if the waiting during surgery wasn't excruciating enough we had to wait for a very long time to see Isaac after he came out of recovery. It took him over an hour to come out of the anesthesia well enough for him to be moved into his room. As they wheeled him around the corner he reached for me, but I couldn't hold him until we were in our room. It was so hard to see his little face all swollen up and his little body hooked up to IVs and monitors. He loved to be held and still mainly wants to be snuggled as he recovers.

Kids must be pretty resilient because the next day he wanted to play with toys. The people from the play room came and brought Isaac a few toys to play with. He really loved the airplane and we are trying to find one to give him for Christmas. Still swollen, but starting to look more normal.

Who doesn't just love Pluto!? Isaac was so excited to have a visit from Pluto. By Wednesday we were SO READY to leave the hospital and our wonderful nurse Norma let us out to go for a ride in the wagon to visit the playroom. While we were there Pluto came to the hospital to visit the kids. Isaac was so excited and hugged him and pulled in his whiskers. I was so shocked that he was willing to visit Pluto. They also gave him the softest little tiger that we have affectionately named Arnold after the hospital.

Well I have to run, he's starting to wake up and it's time for the next round of meds. Please continue to pray for our little guy. Next time I'll try to post about how our little Houdini tries to escape from his no-nos.

Just a Couple More Hours

When you see this picture remember to pray that Isaac will do well in his surgery and recovery, and to keep things out of his mouth. I am a nervous wreck, we need to be at the hospital by 6 o'clock am and he is scheduled for surgery at 7:30. We're down for the night and can't have any more formula to drink after 12:00 or anything to drink after 2:00. I hope that he isn't too cranky in the morning when we can't feed him breakfast. Hopefully he will go back to sleep since it's way before he usually wakes up. Please pray that Mommy & Daddy will be calm and able to reassure our little man, and that Isaac will keep his little fingers and toys out of his mouth. Mostly we pray that God will help prepare his mind so that he can not be so scared when he wakes up at the hospital and when the doctors and nurses are all around. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow. I hope that I will be able to get some sleep tonight.

4 more days

Only four more days until Isaac has surgery to correct his cleft palate. We will meet with his surgeon today to find out the specifics concerning his surgery. I hope that it is early in the day on Monday because I don't think my heart could take not giving him food as we waited to go in. Please pray Isaac will do well with his recovery. He just loves to put things into his mouth, hands, toys, whatever... and I am worried that he is going to have a difficult time. They have little arm restraints ("no-nos") but I can't imagine having to leave them on until he recovers. He is so quick with a thumb or a toy I just don't know how we can keep them out of his mouth. When he first joined our family on October 13th he only wanted to drink his bottle or eat very soft foods. In the past eight weeks this little guy has developed a taste for everything and anything. I worry about his restricted diet, but know that it is the best thing for his recovery and plan on following doctor's orders to the letter! I'll be home with him until after Christmas vacation so I hope that his recovery goes well so that I can return to work after the break and not have to take any more time off this year. In addition to worrying about Isaac I do worry about my kids at school. They have had and will continue to have some great substitutes in the room, so at least the time is productive.

T

He ran to me!!!

This little cutie pie was standing at the end of the hall and I was so excited that he was standing on his own so far away from any objects that I got excited and decided to try to take a picture. The next thing I know, he's running down the hall towards me and I barely got the shot before he was too close! So, what's a Mommy to do? I got Daddy to carry him down the hall so that I could try to get a picture of it the second time. Actually the picture of him walking on the right was take 5 or 6. :o) I am so excited that our little man is starting to walk. He actually had to walk about 10 steps to make it all the way to me. This is a record! I think our old record was 4 steps! Way to go Isaac!!!! Mommy & Daddy are SO excited!!