2 Weeks Post Op

It's hard to believe it's been 2 weeks since Rachel's surgery. Needless to say, we're sure happy to have that behind us and be on this side of it all.

Please look beyond the messy hair and the chocolate residual around her mouth. LOL. She's about had it with me taking pictures of her. But I just want to document her progress for our own sake, as well as for our cleft affected friends who will endure this 'adventure' in the next few years. She continues to look better and better each and every day. The redness around her nose is subsiding and so far there's been no swelling that Dr. Martin mentioned could happen after the removal of the stents. She has a few scabs in her nose, along with dissolvable stitches, but it's all looking great for just having had it all done 2 weeks ago.

Rachel returned to school as planned this last Monday. We had been on break since November 10th and Monday was the first day back to school. So Rachel has missed NO SCHOOL due to surgery or her recovery. Praise the Lord!

She has a special backpack that is packed with new coloring books, crayons, and some other activities to do during her PE, and recesses. Sitting out is simply a precaution to her getting hit in the face, nose bonked with a ball, etc. But so far, she's doing well and she has quite the following of friends who sit during their recesses and keep her company and color with her. Upon returning to school on Monday morning, Mrs. Thompson let me talk about Rachel's off track adventure of her surgery and spending the night in the hospital and what the things in her nose were (nasal stents) and most importantly how we need to be careful to not bump her, hit her in the face, etc. When I visited Rachel at lunch, her classmates shared Rachel's story with other kids who came to the table to see what the crowd was about. It was cute how they were so caring about her and concerned that every one knew not to bump her. There's been no negativity from any of the kids about Rachel and her 'new look'. It makes my heart smile to know she's surrounded by such loving and caring kids.