HOME!

 We're home!!!

And she is so much happier to be here.  We've come so far.  The last night at the hospital was tough. She was weary.  She didn't sleep well either night, what with interruptions for blood pressure and meds.  The last night, she cried in our arms begging to go home.  It was so hard to leave her there and come home to the others.  Randall stayed, but she just missed the security of home.  Her tears rolled big and round down her little cheeks as I left.  Dad got some good snuggle time in, though.

I wish you could've seen her face when she got home.  Just this sweet peaceful smile.  We set up camp on our bed.  She and Mia quietly played with their dolls.  We had some rest time with books. Then we enjoyed a Disney movie.  We got her into bed with a big pan to bang if she needed help at night.

Using the walker yesterday resulted in big tears.  it HURT.  Now, this girl is strong so you know it had to be bad.  definitely having the leg down is painful.  She would NOT use it again after doing her OT yesterday.

Today, however, was a bit better.  She used it on her own several times and was able to sit in the kitchen for a bit with her leg up to enjoy some art time.  She's still wearing out quickly so we balanced some table top activities with another movie.

This afternoon, a candy gram arrived!

She was delighted!  We've never had one of those at the house before so it was exciting for all and, of course she shared.  We had to make her pick first.  She has such joy in giving.. .reminds me of Joseph.  8)

We'll be staying home from church tomorrow to avoid germs and just to continue to rest.  Poor Randall could use the rest too, but someone has to work around here!

(He's my hero "sleeping" there each night)

The other kids have been incredibly sweet and helpful.  The big boys help with the lifting so I don't hurt my back.  Joseph even helped me get her hair washed tonight.

We're so thankful for friends who have brought a few meals.  While Violet's appetite has been small, the teenage boys still EAT and this mama may have just resorted to some unhealthy take-out if not for the kindness of others!  We always feel so sad when we read about people who adopt who don't have the support of friends and family.  We are so BLESSED.  We literally shake our heads sometimes at the love of others.  The church in action rocks!  And our family??? They're incredible!  Tomorrow we're ordering Chinese food courtesy of grandma and grandpa in MASSACHUSETTS so that Violet can enjoy some comfort foods now that's she's feeling more like eating.  8)

We'll be taking Violet back to Shriners  on Monday so they can do a wound check.  She'll have the cast removed and most likely be casted again.  Hoping to get back into a new "normal" around here after that.  We got some lessons in for the other G's last week, but one particularly ten year old needs a bit more structure to his days!

Enjoying her American Girl Surprise

Day Two at the Hospital

I came back to the hospital this morning bearing gifts...hot coffee and an egg and cheese sandwich for the handsome husband saint who "slept" on the fold out chair "bed" and for Violet?  A suprise from my mom...an American Girl medical set!

I know the dolls are overpriced, but I'll tell you what...you see that little purple in the picture?  That is  a cast that perfectly matches the cast on her foot.  I've not seen another little doll set like it.  Also included are crutches, an ice pack, ace bandaging, and an arm cast all doll-sized.  For a little one who was so break-your-heart sad about coming to the hospital and going into a surgery that might end in an amputation, this kit brought a HUGE shy smile.

Thanks, mom!

With her flowers from Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Rachel by her side and her new toys and Winnie the Pooh on the TV, she is one very happy girl.

Oh and  medically?  The girl hasn't used pain meds ONCE since her initial drip.  And all of us who know her say, "Of course not."  8)

She's bleeding a bit today into a wound vac.  That's not so beautiful and she is not a fan.  Please pray that it remains in the manageable stage.  If so, there is a rumor from docs that they might release her tomorrow!!  We'll be back here first thing Monday morning for a wound check and recasting.  The cast is huge and fiberglass.  So heavy that she'll be wearing a little belt to help support the weight.  Poor thing.

The bio kids are doing great.  Noah was blessed with some amazing prayer time at school yesterday.  One of the things we love about his Christian school is that if the need arises, the teachers will just stop and pray.  Yesterday, one of the kids was wrestling was some hard things and the kids ended up praying for each other for an hour.  Awesome!!  Please pray for Noah.  We often find personally that spiritual growth is often accompanied by attacks and temptations from the devil.  Pray that the Holy Spirit in Him kicks some spiritual booty in the heavenlies.  :-)  

That's it for now.  Thanks so much for the supportive texts, FB messages, and prayers!

Surgery Results

Violet is out of surgery and we have both good news and disappointing news.  Praise to God first!  The surgical team was able to protect her foot!  As long as it heals well, she will not need an amputation.  Yeah!  Go prayer warriors!  Another praise is that her bleeding was controlled beautifully by her pre-meds.  We'll be going home with doses to give her through the weekend to continue the protocol.

The sad news is that the surgical team was surprised to find that her foot was not filled with the kind of tissue they expected.  Instead, it was filled with very dense, fibrous type of tissue that was nearly impossible to cut.  This meant they were able to reduce the size of her foot, but not down to the same width as her leg.  She will only be able to fit a certain type of prosthetic and it not be the most esthetically pleasing.  At this age, she may not mind that.  In fact, she might find comfort in the fact that her foot has a similar shape as it had prior to the surgery.  But someday, this might bother her a great deal.  The chief surgeons suggest we wait until she is substantially older to address the issue further.  In the next few years, new technologies may develop, new surgical tools may be invented, new prosthetics may be created, that provide a better way to achieve better function and form.  She could also choose an amputation herself (when she's older).  

At this point, she is sleeping soundly, still quite under the influence of the anesthesia.  She will dosing her own pain meds through a handy push button device once she wakes.  

Randall will stay the night here on a lovely pull out chair-bed.  I'll tackle the other four at home.  Tomorrow, I'll drive up with Mia and Gabe and switch with Randall.  He'll bring them home and work from home during the day tomorrow while I stay with Violet.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!  She had no fear at all today.  In fact, she blessed us with the most amazing smiles.  The care team here marvels at how far she's come emotionally in a year and a half.  We are so lucky to be her parents!!