Surgery Day

With a 6:00am arrival time....it was certainly nice to be a block away!  We had to stop and say "bye" to Ronald.....well, maybe it was Ronald saying "BYE" to those sweet curls!

Fancy clothes, socks, and a new toy.

It's about 7:30am and off I go!!

The wait began in the same day surgery waiting room....lots of coffee, tea, and chairs.  We opted to go down to the cafeteria and bring back breakfast.  SO it was bacon, omelet, and a biscuit for me.  The lady at the desk told us about the Ronald McDonald House Family room upstairs....so at 9am we will go there when it opens.  Apparently, it will be quieter and more comfortable.

9:00AM - WOW, yes i'd say.  this is a mini-house here in the hospital.  There is a full kitchen with goodies, coffee machine, tea, etc.  An outside patio, quiet room, living room, restroom, etc.  They had donuts delivered from the Donut Lounge lots of gourmet goodies!!

Ronald McDonald House Family Room - Children's Mercy

9:56AM - Just got the first update....Dr Goldstein just started the procedure.  It apparently took them a little longer than expected to prep him.....  Maybe I should've reminded them that the lab used an ultrasound to find his vein last week.  OOPS.  I guess the 2.5-3hrs starts now.  UGH, Long morning.

11:55AM - Update call from the nurse.....things are going great.

12:00PM _ Dr. Grabb, the neurosurgeon, just came in.  He finish his part of the surgery. (which was basically cutting the back of Bubs' skull...like taking a quarter of a ping pong ball).  He said the distractors went in easily and Dr. Goldstein is finishing up....lots of stitches to go...so it will still be a while.

1:30PM - Lunch was actually delivered to the RMH room and so we had great burritos, rice, and corn for lunch!  That was a completely unexpected blessing as we don't need to buy lunch or wonder away from the phone.

2:17pm - Dr. Goldstein came in.  Everything went great and Bubs is in recovery breathing on his own.  Apparently he may have a "business in the front and party in the back" hair-do now!  LOL

3:30pm - Settled into the NICU room.  should be here for 1-2 days....then move to a regular room. A little swelling but looking pretty good! (Even Ellie the Elephant went to surgery)

Surgery #1

Technically, I suppose this is his second major surgery....but the first one I'm around for.  He had a g-tube placed while in NICU and also had an intestinal twist fixed.

Anyway, we arrived at Ronald McDonal House this afternoon.  WOW!! What a blessing this is.  I had stayed at the RMH in Long Beach but this is even better!  I am amazed at the accommodations available to families.  There's the typical room, family areas, nightly dinner proved, and there is a huge pantry, coffee & snack bar, a pop machine with $.25 cokes (can't even find the cheapy walmart brand anymore for that!), and shuttle service back and for to Children's Mercy (anytime day or night).


We have an arrival time of 6:30am in the morning so it is nice to be able to relax a bit this evening and not have to drive all the way here in the morning!!!  I have been doing fairly well at not thinking much about this surgery.  It is the first cranial surgery - posterior expansion and we will have distractors placed.

Home Away From Home

Dining Area

Pantry that I, and many large families, would love to have!!

OVERCOMER

I anticipated this book (OVERCOMER) for many reasons but I would have to say the primary one is how I came to “know” Dorsey.  You see, my very own surprise blessing was born June 2015 with Apert Syndrome.  His condition was a total shock to his birth parents, who like Dorsey’s didn’t want to give up on him.  However due to the society in their home country, they know they couldn’t parent him and give him the medical care he would need in his life.

So, fast forward a few months, I saw Dorsey on the Apert support group and couldn’t wait to be able to see how a boy became a wonderful man of God traveling and doing ministry.  They other ‘funny thing ‘ is we are part of the same denomination.  Just separated by 1200 miles. So, I jumped at the opportunity to get a copy of the book to review.

The day it arrived I sat eager to see what life was life for him and what to expect for my son.  Now, I have always felt that God has a plan for my little man and that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.  I also have known, that disabilities and differences only mean different ability…not inability.  That goes back to my childhood and my good friend that grew up with cerebral palsy doing everything we did, just sometimes differently.

So, onto Dorsey.  It was really refreshing to see how this man has faced over 60 surgeries in his life not become bitter but rather a vessel for God to use.  He could have easily given up when adversity came at him.  In fact his life was being attacked from the moment he took his first breath.  From doctors telling his parents they should just sign him over because he’d be brain dead soon anyway.

Dorsey does an excellent job reminding his readers of God’s word and Truth that comes in seemingly simple moments in life,  that life is not easy….and God never promised that.  He promised He would work all things for His good and His purpose.  If we will just listen.

I highly recommend this book for everyone.  Weather you are facing a small challenge in life, have a child with special needs, or if you need a reminder to re-find your purpose and calling.  It is going to be an encouragement for everyone that takes the opportunity to read it. 

Lastly, I am a foster/adoptive mom to several children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and one with autism.  As a single woman embarking on this challenge I was told to give up many times.  I felt like I wanted an boost to keep going.  To keep listening to God’s call, even when I stumble and fall, say things I shouldn’t, or have a bad day.  This was great encouragement that I will surely pick up again from time to time for reminders in the future.

Oh and yes, I know a little of what my son faces in the future.  A chance to listen to God call, opening the doors He wants open and following Him throughout life and what it may bring!

WOW....I just "had triplets"....they are 11, 9, & 8.  Two boys and a girl!  YES! YES! YES!  They judge removed Iron Man, Little Bit, & L'l Miss from the state's custody and placed them with me for adoption.  Paperwork will be filed in 7-10 days and we will be having a finalization by the end of April!!!


Oh the relief of it all....my kiddos will have a momma by Mother's Day!!!


God is so GOOD!!

The Greatest Gift

I love this photo....not just because my little peanut is 6 months old....but because of his little face.  He is in awe of the tree.  What a picture of the anticipation of our newborn savior.  Merry Christmas.

Today is a day after many that I've been so disheartened by our system. Not only have a seen families torn apart, heard of foster families refused adoption of their long term placements, watched kids be retraumatized....and now I am at a major crossroad with my own long term placement.  My plan when I began this journey 3 years ago was foster care but was asked by the GAL to adopt.  So I began to consider it.  I already loved these kids....so why not!  So I have thrown myself into this.  We have traveled the US and Caribbean as a family. I have promised my love and support to them...and they have claimed my family as theirs.  But all of this is not good enough.  I am dishearten that I have been denied as their adoptive resource and have tried to figure out how to fight for them.  Kids in foster care haven rights. Foster parents have no rights.  I may ask the court for direct placement....but now i have been told the plan is to move them as soon as possible.  I just can't believe in this system and all we know about trauma and attachment that a major disruption like this is whats best.

Trick or Treat

One of the drawbacks to foster care is not being able to show faces....so if I can't share theirs...why share mine!?

Happy Halloween!