Surgery number 6 but who's counting?

Since Jolie's been home, she has had several surgeries for cleft palate. In fact, I had lost count, but she asked the other day and we tried to remember them all and we think she has had a total of 6. With the sixth one being last week. 

Awaiting the "loopy" drugs prior to surgery at CHOA

We have had the bone graft surgery on the calendar for a while now, and last week she had that surgery with a little nose revision and previous scar clean up. She knew that she was having the nose and scar revision but didn't realize that she would wake up with visible stitches and swelling and such. I thought she realized that, but she was shocked when she woke up to see the stitches in the mirror. 

She did great though, and even learned to swallow pills after this surgery which is an awesome accomplishment!! It has been a week and most of the swelling is gone, but the stitches are still visible so she won't allow any photos. We look forward to the stitches going away because in one month she will be a flower girl in her big brother's and soon to be sister in love's  wedding. 

Jolie's cranio-team visit intsagrammed-- favorite photo Friday

Today was the annual visit to the Cranio-doctor team. The last time we had this team doctor appointment it took fah-evah!!  When I realized that our appointment was at 11:10 am and on a Friday, that maybe just maybe, they would work fast to be done with us by lunch....and I was right, but at first we were off to a slow start. SO Jolie entertained herself by discovering the room and I entertained us both by taking photos. AND daddio, just watched us and chuckled.

She climbed on the examining table, and was fasinated by that paper on top.

She made herself comfortable and told us that she was going to take a nap on that "wrapping paper." She still has Christmas wrap on the brain.

She started posing here, and said, take my photo mom and POST it.  LOL

This was our last photo before the room filled up with the whole team at the same time. I was right, we were their last patient and they wanted to finish, YIPPEE. Jolie let them look in her mouth, answered their questions, and said all of the speech words for the therapist and surgeon. She's come a long way baby, with her participation with doctors checking her out. Praise the LORD. It was determined that she is doing good. We will continue with speech therapy and have a speech review in 3 months, we will see the dentist again in the summer, and see the surgeon in 1 year. Jolie will possibly have her next surgery around age 5 for nose revision and possibly lip and scar revision. Although he said her lip revision was really awesome.

After that big appointment baby girl said I want some chick  fil a ...and that's what she got!

Surgery next WEEK

Here's a photo of Jolie taken just a few days home..and she is having one of those big wide mouth  laughs here. In this photo, one can see her un-repaired palette. She will have surgery next Wednesday to repair this.

  We are  going to the Braves game the night before, to hear the group Zach sings with at college. They will be singing the Nat'l Anthem and it's also his 19 birthday. Didn't want to miss that...and hoping the little field trip will be a good distraction for the surgery the next day.

PLEASE pray
1. that the surgery goes well.
2. that there are absolutely NO complications
3. that it closes,
4. that she will be calm and peaceful during the whole ordeal
5. that the ear tube thing goes well
6. JUST PRAY that all the rough places are made smooth.
7. Please pray that she gets an EARLY surgery time, because baby girl likes her milk first thing and to have to put her off ...well, just pray hers is early.

I am looking forward to getting this surgery  behind us, but not looking forward to the pain she'll have...so pray that the pain is minimal.

We've been trying to prepare her, by telling her that she's going to get the top of her mouth fixed, and that when it's over, Dad will bring her some balloons, a Ni Hao Kai Lin Doll and a big band aid...all three of her favorites.

Thanks for your prayers...as I type this, Jolie is looking at this photo and smiling just like she did in this photo...it's hard to believe how much she has grown in the few months home.