Happy Halloween

The Family Party

Yes Naomi's birthday was over a month ago.  I just ran across these pictures from her family party.

Made me happy because my girls smiler is broken.

Naomi loves her Ye Ye

and feeding baby Lucy

her cousin Emily is super cool and fun to hang out with. When your 5 you gotta be right by her side at all times.

2 BEAUTIFUL birthday girls.

This little girl of mine LOVES her people.  REALLY REALLY LOVES them.

Uganda Beauties

PLEASE . PLEASE . PLEASE Help me find these two beautiful girls a family.

This beautiful girl is 3 years old and is HIV+

Imagine her with a sweet smile on her face.  Oh how she needs the love of a family.

Don't forget about little 2.5  year old Zucchini.

I'd bring both girls home if I could.

If you would like more info contact my friend Myriam at Agape Adoptions

Coping skills

My girl is not 100% her nose and mouth still hurt but most of all she is frustrated.  She won't can't smile, her speech is harder than normal to understand she has to eat soft foods and has to have her nose cleaned .  She is fiercely protective of her face.

So today at school (her first day back) a "boy" was looking at her for longer than she was comfortable with . . . apparently when you are out of coping skills and you are Naomi you just smack said "boy"  I don't blame her one bit.  But don't worry we had a talk about how hitting is not O.K. even when you are feeling sad or uncomfortable.  

The day of surgery - looking back

This is a very LONG post.  

So I want to post about Naomi's surgery mostly for us to remember but also for other families who might be considering a cleft kiddo or who have not walked down the surgery road yet.  

We sent Naomi to preschool the morning of her surgery.  At first I thought no way would I send her to school but after chatting with a friend and her teachers we decided it might actually be a good thing.  Keeping it "normal"  We did pick her up early, before snack time considering our girl could not eat.  

Speaking of snack and not eating.  Our girl has her routines and likes her food but she not once complained about not being able to eat.  Rock Star!!

After school we took the special bath with the disinfectant soap that the hosptial gave us.  It made her cry I think anything "surgery related"  made her anxious. 

I wanted to snap a picture of her cleft gumline before she went in.  They ended up closing the hole via her nose basically the floor of her nose was closed but not her mouth.  Though it should still close up the hole and help with speech.

Once we got to the hospital we waited then waited a bit longer.

She finally went back just before 2pm.   She got her loony toons gown on and I got my marshmallow suit on.  We walked out the doors then down and around the long hall into the O.R.  She clung to me like a baby monkey.  It was time to lay her down on the table.  She screamed  I fought back tears then she screamed "I need you momma" over and over.  Oh my heart.  We put the gas on it took a bit but she was out and I was escorted back down the hall.

We got a few updates saying everything was going well.

We finally got our girl around 8pm.  She was still very out of it.

Then the vomiting started, all the blood that drained down the back of her throat was coming back.  Oh poor baby!!  That lasted until about 2am.

We were admitted to an old exam room (hospital is remodeling)  so the bathroom was down the hall.  Try getting the oxygen censor off and IV poll ready to take down the hall . . . Good thing I brought extra panties.

I got to "sleep"  with my sweet girl.

The next morning she felt well enough to watch me put together her legos "play" legos.

She loved getting the gifts that were sent. You can't tell because she can't smile yet.

We got home around 1pm then next day.

It is hard to see your baby feel so YUCKY.

We are about a week and a half post surgery.  She is very protective of her nose and mouth,  she won't look in the mirror, needs big necked shirts that won't touch her face when getting dressed or undressed, we are looking at soft foods for 6-8 weeks, stitches are out but nose stints in for hopefully a full month, she is still very needy.

Speaking of needy.  For the first few days I fed my girl she just looked at me like a baby bird with her mouth cracked open, took her to the bathroom, dressed her, held her, just loved on her.  It was kinda like those first few months home from China.  Great for attachment and bonding.  A hidden gift.

Being my girls mommy for this surgery was PERFECT really the only way I would want it.  So many grateful moments mixed in with the pacing and worry.  Last time she had surgery was in China with no mommy probably no pain meds.  I am so incredibly blessed to have this girl.

Please Help - Zuchini

This precious two and a half year old girly needs a family of her own.  She currently lives in Uganda.  I kinda fell in love with this sweet face.  Look at those big ol eyes.  She is pretty dang cute.

Help me find her the family she so desperately needs.

Naomi and I pray for sweet Zuchini often.

If you are interested in learning more you can contact  Myriam

In our Arms 8:30

In recovery - 7:45

Still have not seen my baby but word is she is doing fine.  WAITING . . .  WAITING

Update - 5:25pm

My girl is stable and things are going well.  The Dr. just began sewing her up. Apparently he is slow and meticulous (I like that when we are talking my girl) the nurse is guessing another hour or two.  

Can't wait to hold my girl. 

OR

My precious girl is in the hands of Dr. Tse and his team.

It is hard laying your baby on the operating table especially when she is holding on to her momma for dear life.

We got an update a bit ago . . . they are working on her lip and all is going as planned.

If all goes as scheduled she should be out around 6pm.

Keep praying please.

P.S.  this sweet thing only asked my for food once today.

Loving that I get to be with her today, that I get to be her mommy.