Has it Really Been a Year?

It's hard to believe it was a year ago that we returned from Peru with Cecilia. We spent spring break in Kentucky and thought you'd like to see some pictures from our trip. As I was looking through pictures I couldn't help but realize how much she's grown since last year.

The girls enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at the cabin. Isabel won with 13 eggs. Cecilia found 12. Needless to say, Isa let Lia find the easiest ones!

After the tour of the cave Lia and Isa stopped for a picture with the park ranger. Isa became a Junior Park Ranger while at Mammoth Cave.

We hiked out to a beautiful little spot in Mammoth Cave National Park. The girls had fun wading in the water of this little stream.

Thanks for your prayers for our family. We really appreciate them.

Merry Christmas from Cecilia!

I thought you'd want to know how my surgery went. I have a new smile! If you look really close you can tell that I have a different profile. I think my new look is fabulous, don't you?

Overall, I can chew more efficiently because my teeth line up better, but I will still need braces in the future. (My older sister is jealous, because she thinks braces are really cool!)

On the other hand, before I went in for surgery the doctor had warned us that she might not be able to close the palate completely in one operation. My most recent appointment confirmed that the hole is much smaller, but still not closed completely. A little disappointing, but we are taking everything one day at a time. We have another appointment set for December 22nd. they will remove the 4 inch pin that has been in my nose to hold my bones together. I'm not looking forward to it, but it will be great to have that pin out because it's really annoying.

Anyway, my parents wanted me to tell you about a hat sale we are having to help take care of the costs. I'm kind of expensive to have around. (I keep telling them, "Just wait till I'm 16!")




So if you're interested in a genuine alpaca wool Peruvian hat brought all the way from my homeland, just let me know. They are $12 each. I'll hook you up. We'll ship them nation wide! We've got them in lots of sizes, styles and colors. You see how cute I look in one?

We have some gloves and a few scarves as well, but my parents got really carried away with the hats! Email my mom at isabeljanet4@gmail.com if you're interested. You can also pay through paypal using the same Email address.

The sticker...

Here's an early picture just after we were able to see Lia. I'm sorry I don't have a better picture for you at this point. I just keep hearing Lia's 16 year old voice in my head... "Dad! I can't believe you put that picture of me on the internet for the entire world to see! I looked terrible!" So I'll leave it at this one.

On the other hand...

Here is a picture of what the surgeon found in her nose! (Not the dime... that's just for perspective.) It's a sticker that looks like it came off a new pair of shoes! As you can see, it was the size of a stamp. She had to have put it in her mouth and it went up instead of down. We won't be having that problem again. (I'm hearing that 16 year old again, so I better stop.)

She is already drinking juice, which means we should be home by tomorrow afternoon. She is talking and copying facial expressions. She is on a steady diet of Tylenol, Motrin, and Nickelodeon. It's amazing how TV can make kids glaze over!

Thanks for your prayers. Words can't express how greatful we are...

Wow... It's really strange to look at her and see a new face! Even more importantly, the gaping hole that connected her nose and mouth is no more! We realize that this is not the end... it's only a beginning, but a really important beginning, and Lia's life will be infinitely better.

If you have followed this blog at all, I think you will discover an ongoing theme... Lia is a survivor. She opened her eyes after the surgery, looked at Luciana and in the weakest little voice said, "I'm fine."

I'm going to eat... I give more details and let you know what the doctor located in her nose later... Now you know you'll have to check again.

A New Profile

It's hard to believe that Cecilia's face will look different in a couple of hours. We are sitting here in the waiting room while the surgeon is rearanging the inside of Lia's mouth and nose. We were told today that they may not need to remove a piece of her rib in order to close the palate. We are praying that this is the case.

What you don't know from this picture is that Lia was just throwing a fit that could have been measured on the Richter scale with a seismograph when they came in and gave her, what they were calling, "joy juice." It worked like a charm! (Could I get some of that to go?)

We'll keep you updated as we find out more.

Cecilia is Home...

From the time we left this morning to the time we returned tonight was only 12 hours. Exactly 12 hours, and yet it was so much more. Let me try to explain...

Before I begin, I have to confess I am extremely tired. This turned out to be a lot more than removing a few teeth and inserting a couple of ear tubes. So if I don't make complete sense, or if I tend to ramble, bear with me...

Cecilia is two years old. We have said over and over through the past couple of weeks, that she is acting like a normal two year old (which is a good thing.) The antibiotics have been working and she has been so much more enjoyable to be around recently.

You see, Lia has been living with constant ear and sinus infections. These infections have been controlling her behaviors. I mean, just think about it. Have you ever gotten water in your ear and been unable to get it out? On more than one occasion, I'll admit, I have been caught jumping up and down on one foot, head tilted to the side at the public pool, with no regard for who might be standing by watching. It is a miserable feeling. Now multiply it by both ears, and sinuses, throw in some pain and the inability to make yourself understood. I think that is how my daughter has been feeling for most of her short life.

So recently, due to the antibiotics, Lia has been a normal two year old. She is becoming more loveable all the time.

So at 3:07 pm when we saw Lia after her surgery a pit in my stomach hit like a brick of despair. “She looks like the little girl I met on that first day in Huaraz, Peru.” I couldn't put my finger on it, but the tears welled up from deep within. It wasn't until later that Luciana said her thoughts, response, and reactions were exactly the same. Lia looked lethargic and her face swollen. All we can figure is the swollen face in the orphanage must have come from the rampant infection that we have not been able to eradicate, but at least keep under control.

So when we brought her back to the house this evening and turned off the car, I said “Lia, you're home.” I guess I said it as much to myself as I did to her. Today's twelve hour trip took me all the way back to that orphanage in Peru. Back to that strange little girl that scared me the first time I set eyes on her. Back to my own fears of incompetence.

We are home...more home than ever before. Thanks be to God.

For those who want the details...

We found out today that Cecilia will probably need hearing aids. The tests showed mild to moderate nerve damage in both of her ears.

Lia's next surgery will be on November 10th. At that time they will close the palate and reconstruct her upper jaw. The surgery we faced today was simple compared to what we will confront in seven weeks.

Thanks for your prayers.

mbp

For All The Angry Blog Followers:(

I know, I know… we have been totally delinquent bloggers. Life comes before computer in our home and just keeping our heads above water has been enough of a challenge these days. But I do apologize.

Tomorrow we take Cecilia for her first surgery. It’s hard to believe after six months we have finally arrived at this day. The surgery is minor compared to what she will be facing about a month from now, but I still thought we should inform you. She will have three teeth extracted and ear tubes inserted. The teeth will be removed so that they are able to close the palate without any obstructions next month. The tubes in her ears will help to take care of the constant infections and improve her hearing. No more excuses for not coming when called, or handing over a dangerous pair of scissors (Except of course, that she is two years old!)

We will post more after the surgery tomorrow, but I just want to leave you with a few recent pictures. Actually, I was told by my wife that people don’t want a post without pictures.)Look Who's in the driver's seat. Not a big surprise if you know her personality!