Pre-op

Ugh I am beat, we had another day in Denver.

But Cav got to show Mr Terry how phenomenal he is doing - again this is so amazing to have a double amputee who still has NOT gone to physical therapy (due to insurance and the fact there is 1 person here that knows what to do with him LOL!)  We see the PT for the first time for an eval on Friday - she is expecting a little boy creeping along with a walker heehee!

On to FeiFei's preop - got stuck in Denver traffic, I was frazzled to say the least, and we were late.

Once we finally made the appt here was what I learned ~

She can have an early breakfast at 7 am YEAH!!
She can have a fun clear drink until we get to the hospital YEAH!
We don't have to be there until 1 pm YEAH!
They think she is as darling as we do YEAH!

Surgery will last 4 hours
They won't have to open up the Dura which will help prevent headaches, nausea etc after
They have a great drug regiment to keep her comfy.

I was surprised she will go directly to the PICU (so glad I am staying the first night)
She will have to stay a mandatory 2 nights but up to 7 (ugh I gotta figure out the other kids schedule)
There are an awful lot of people praying for her!

And a funny - I heard Cav and Fei discussing surgery int eh back of the car.  Cav told her - you go to sleep, get a little owie, but you wake up feeling better.

Of course her only experience with surgery is Cav's so although we have discussed extensively that Fei's legs are good, they work and her surgery is her neck BUT we will be painting her toenails during preop jsut to reassure her.

Thank you for praying, for our sweet girl, for our family.  

Fei's Surgery

AS I sit and wondering about the timing of the events of the previous week, I stand assured that He does have a plan, jsut as assured as I do NOT understand why.

The HIGH of HIGHS watching this little man of ours take his first steps, has been also overshadowed by FeiFei's impending surgery.

This past week, month, summer have been a lot.

I am starting to feel drained, and I can't even get to the cleaning out nesting phase to get ready for little Griffen.  I have put on weight, I can barely finish a phone call (which I can barely answer), the house is a wreck ugh.

Ok enough about my pity party.

So - FeiFei's surgery.
It scares me. . . I know we jsut went through amputation surgery which I was fine with,
but this scares me.

Her surgery consists of removing the extra bone at the base of the skull that is currently compressing her spinal cord.  This bone is removed on either side.  Then from what I understand the first 2 days are critical in preventing swelling.

This is where her brainstem is, so the room for error is minuscule.

Her surgery is this Weds at 3pm MST.

Please will you pray for our sweet little angel.

Sunday Snapshot - {For I know the plans..}

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

In the craziness of our week, month, and current life,

I totally missed it.

Until today ~

As our Pastor came and asked if Cav could walk up the aisle with him,

and the congregation gave our son a standing ovation (and God of course.)

I looked at the praise card and it hit me

There was the plan, and I almost missed it.

Our boy received his legs on the 12th!

Hello, the 12th. . . how could I have missed it.

Exactly,

9 months

TO

THE

DAY

He became our son 12/12, 

he received his legs 9/12!

Only God could have written this plan,

Only his timing!

And my little man, who cheers his brother 

eventhough it is hard to share the limelight!

Cav walks!

OK you know my post jsut about an hour ago LOL!

Well, scratch that.

With a little help bribery (cuz who are we kidding) from the chocolate chips he decided to let go!

My biggest boy in the background was 16 mos and we had to bribe him with M&M's LOL!  who says they aren't related LOL!!

Again please forgive my annoying voice and messy kitchen - this was so unexpected . . . and well we all know how much I hat the stupid walker LOL!

Cav update

THanks for all of the emails checking in.  We have (as in I) a bit of a learning curve but all in all Cav is doing great!

I compare it to when your baby is jsut getting ready to walk and you know they can BUT they don't have the confidence to let go.

He has this stupid walker which he will lift up and move while standing on his legs LOL!

I haven't gotten very many pics of him, mainly because I am usually standing next to him making sure he doesn't fall.

Everything he has to relearn (or learn) from how to get in and out of a shopping cart to how to seat.  He is a fast learner and this has more to do with me having to rethink through everything.

Truthfully, this part I was't prepared for.  But then again it's Cav.  He somehow got himself UP the stairs when it was naptime and I was trying to beat dinner into submission the crockpot.  BTW that dinner will be on the table tomorrow LOL!  Naptime is jsut not enough time to make pulled pork LOL!

EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE cheers for him - way cool!

We went to the park yesterday and he loved being on the swings.

Note to other parents, um holding your child upside down when he has prosthetics doesn't really work. Yep, pop off one came and I luckily caught him LOL!

I'll get better pics of his legs but they are super cool.  The longer (more metal) is tools on wood and the other one is screws (although it looks like cheetah from far away.)  

Makes a great conversation piece for new friends.  

Dawn

a year of paperwork,

9 months of becoming a family,

2 surgeries,

9 weeks,

an ebay wheelchair,

and now a walker,

9 casts,

and tomorrow morning this boys life will change forever.

his dream will come true.

Thank you for your prayers,
your love, and your support ~ 

there were days I didn't think I could do it,
days I wanted to hide under my covers,
but then I would receive a word of encouragement,
a simple note and I took one more step forward,
and now I stand in awe of His grace.

Sunday Snapshot - {First Steps}

It has been a very busy week but although we have celebrated many firsts and birthdays - Cav's new legs and his very first steps EVER has been the highlight!

Very photo heavy but it was a pretty incredible day!

I think I love this photo the best -

The pure innocence as

 Cav checks out his new leg, 

& first pair of shoes EVER!

Daddy got light up shoes - we thought he MIGHT need an incentive - we were wrong LOL!

Another favorite - waiting!

I can do it!

Momma, you see!

See Momma!

Other side

SO excited he is up!

Stand up straight big guy!

AS you saw in the videos in my last post, I quickly realized the camera needed to be put away and the video used instead - our boy waited his whole life for this, and he was off!

We had to go over to Children's after to x-ray and see our favorite Dr.  Just a slight adjustment needed

BUT Cav was tall enough to play with the busy beads and he was so thrilled with himself!

We still have to learn how to sit and get up!

Canon 5D - 50 mm lens since all their rooms are dark interior rooms.