All Done!

Miss Alice had her surgery yesterday.  She was a champ!  We arrived at the hospital at 6:15, just like we were told.  And we waited for an hour to have our pre-op interview.

Playing while waiting, waiting, waiting...

They asked the same questions as the other day.  Then we went in another room.  And they asked the same questions as the other day.

In "holding" waiting, waiting, waiting...

Her hospital gown.  It also had shorts.  I'm thinking when she's 8 she should fit into it!

Then we went into "holding."  We were "held" for another hour.  She fell asleep.  I almost finished the book I was reading.  Erin read a good chunk of his.

They finally came and got her to take her back for surgery.  I hurried to find food.  I was HUNGRY!  A fruit bowl and rice crispy treat later (breakfast of champions, I tell ya!) I hurried back for Erin to have a turn.  Almost as soon as he left, they called me up to the front.  They were done!  I called him on the phone and he rushed back.

When I got to her side 3 nurses where standing over her.  I was afraid something was wrong.  Nope, they all thought she was SO cute.  One of them asked if they could take her home.  I smiled and said something cute, I think.  I just wanted to hold my baby.  She was awake and chewing on everything.

They taped her eyes down.  That's why they look bruised.

They let me give her a bottle.  She was hungry too!

The doctor came by to talk to us about how the surgery went.

She said...there was NO fluid behind her left ear and only a little bit behind her right ear.  I just sat there, stunned.  Why did we do this, then? I thought.  Why did we subject her to surgery for nothing? I thought.

Good thing Erin was there, because I had stopped listening to her.  But she went on to say that now when she fails her next hearing test we'll know for sure that it isn't because of fluids.  The only way to know for sure was this surgery.

I don't know how I feel about it all still.  It seems rather extreme.  But, I'm trying not to focus on that and let time tell.

She came home super hyper.  She didn't stop moving all day!  But, she is doing really great.  Like nothing happened.

Thank you for prayers and kind words.

First USA surgery...

Sweet Ali girl is having tubes put in her ears tomorrow morning.  After failing 3, yes you read that right 3, hearing tests I finally found an ENT that would put tubes in my baby.  The first 2 doctors were "uncomfortable" operating on her because of her having Down Syndrome.  So, here we are 5 months after I first started trying to make this happen...it's happening.

The surgery coordinator called to ask some questions.  Was she full term?  Don't know.

Has she ever had surgery?  One that we know of.

Was that surgery done at Texas Children's?  No, in Ukraine.  Pause.

Was she adopted?  I can't tell you how much I wanted to say "no."  But, I didn't.

Is is up-to-date on her vaccines?  Beats me.

Is there anything in your religion or culture that pertains to surgery that the doctor should know about?  Um, just don't kill her.  That got me a chuckle from the lady.  Ma'am, it's a 15 minute surgery.  She'll be just fine.  Well, I thought, you asked!

Her surgery is scheduled for 8:15 in the morning.  I'm so excited to see what sort of difference this makes in our sweet girl, if any.  I know she can hear.  I hope this makes her hear clearer and softer sounds.

Although, in all honestly, there aren't many clear and/or soft sounds in our house.

Hi...My name is Alice

And I have decided that naps are for suckers.  Since I'm not a sucker, I'm not going to take them any more.  So, even though I may sit and cry, I'm not tired.  I may yawn and rub my eyes.  But don't lay me down for a nap.  I won't take one.  Unless I have speech therapy this afternoon.  Then I shall fall asleep mere minutes before Aunt Laura comes and when you wake me for our session...let's just say I'm gonna make everyone unhappy.

I've also decided I can feed myself mashed potatoes.  I am not sure that getting it all inside my mouth is a high priority.  So, maybe...maybe not.

And I think that folded clothes are put on this earth for my enjoyment.  And it brings me joy to toss them on the floor.

And I had my first hair cut.  I think I make this cut look gooooooood!