Whooo Hoooo! Rachel is Free!
I called our plastic surgeon's office this morning to check on how long the restraints needed to be left on. Everything I've read online says 3 weeks, however, our discharge papers don't give a time frame, and we don't have our post op appointment until next Tuesday. So I called and asked his nurse. She checked with one of the other plastic surgeons and he said they normally suggest 2-3 weeks and that they could come off today. The nurse assured me that Rachel couldn't undo anything at this point. :)
I laid Rachel down for a nap in her crib, not in her carrier, and without the restraints, she didn't know what to do with herself! She was kicking and squealing in delight that she was a freed girlie! After watching her mobile for a while, she rolled to her side and drifted off to sleep...she's still sleeping and we're approaching 2 hours!!! Yahooo!
Showing posts with label Lip Repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lip Repair. Show all posts
Monday, February 14, 2005
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
The 2 Week Mark!!
We've hit the 2 week mark since Rachel's surgery. We didn't make it to the 2 week mark with her last surgery, so despite this being a totally different surgery, I've been a little nervous, but I think I can relax now. :)
She's doing great!! The past couple of days she's taken her bottles really well. Only maybe one or two episodes of an attitude. Now we just need to get Gramma to feeling comfortable in feeding Rachel again so we can go out for a peaceful dinner! :)
Rachel is continuing to sleep in her infant carrier. I tried this morning to get her to take a nap without it, but the poor girlie just couldn't get comfortable with those darn arm restraints on, so I ended up putting her back into her carrier. Only one more week of the restraints!! Yippeee!
Rachel's incision is looking so good. Some days there is hardly any redness at all. We see the plastic surgeon for her post op follow up in 2 weeks, and I have a list of questions for him in reguards to putting Vitamin E or Mederma on the scar, etc.
We couldn't have asked or prayed for a better post op thus far! I think life is getting back to normal...at least until Rachel's next surgery, in July or August.
She's doing great!! The past couple of days she's taken her bottles really well. Only maybe one or two episodes of an attitude. Now we just need to get Gramma to feeling comfortable in feeding Rachel again so we can go out for a peaceful dinner! :)
Rachel is continuing to sleep in her infant carrier. I tried this morning to get her to take a nap without it, but the poor girlie just couldn't get comfortable with those darn arm restraints on, so I ended up putting her back into her carrier. Only one more week of the restraints!! Yippeee!
Rachel's incision is looking so good. Some days there is hardly any redness at all. We see the plastic surgeon for her post op follow up in 2 weeks, and I have a list of questions for him in reguards to putting Vitamin E or Mederma on the scar, etc.
We couldn't have asked or prayed for a better post op thus far! I think life is getting back to normal...at least until Rachel's next surgery, in July or August.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Rachel and her restraints...
Here's Rachel with her arm restraints on. She's doing extremely well with these things on. Much better than I had anticipated. We can take them off when we're holding her or watching her closely. Last surgery, she was still too small for normal restraints, so we had IV boards that we strapped to her arms and wrapped gauze around to keep in place.These restraints have velcro and are easy on/easy off.
Monday, January 31, 2005
5 Months Old / Recovery Day 5
Rachel is 5 months old today!! She has had quite the experiences in her short 5 months of life...two surgeries and one hospitalization! Last week when she was weighed the day before surgery, Rachel weighed 16lbs and 13oz! She's quite the little chub. We're glad her weight is up, makes it a lot less stressful should she loose a little bit of weight with her eating being affected by surgery.
Rachel continues to sleep through the night which such a huge blessing!! She is such a good and happy baby. She had mastered the art of rolling from her back to her tummy, but for the time being, that isn't being allowed...She can't have anything touching her lip, and that includes her rubbing her face on a blanket!
As for recovering from surgery, she's doing better with each passing day. Still fusing a bit with her bottles. But she's taking between 4-6oz a bottle. We're still using her Habermen feeder which is such a relief as I had read accounts of needing to syringe feed following a cleft lip repair.
Rachel is on two medications...antibiotics four times a day, and Tylenol with coedine every 4-6 hours for pain. And boy, it was sure easier to give her medications when she had a cleft in her lip to squirt it through. LOL. Now we have to wait for her to cry in order for her to open her mouth. Despite the difficulty, we love having her lip fixed. It's amazing how quickly you forget what she looked like not even a week ago!!
Rachel is tolerating her arm restraints. Poor girl has had all her comfort techniques taken away from her for the next 3 weeks...she's a side sleeper, and she can't do that in prevention of her lip rubbing on the sheet, she likes to have her fingers in her mouth and likes to suck on her palm of her hand, can't do neither of those things. She's getting held a lot, because if you lay her down, she still trys to turn over even with the restraints on! We laid her under her floor gym this morning for a few minutes with her restaints off and boy did she ever love that!!
It's so hard to believe she's already 5 months old! This time last year, we had just found out we were expecting!! Boy time flies....
Rachel continues to sleep through the night which such a huge blessing!! She is such a good and happy baby. She had mastered the art of rolling from her back to her tummy, but for the time being, that isn't being allowed...She can't have anything touching her lip, and that includes her rubbing her face on a blanket!
As for recovering from surgery, she's doing better with each passing day. Still fusing a bit with her bottles. But she's taking between 4-6oz a bottle. We're still using her Habermen feeder which is such a relief as I had read accounts of needing to syringe feed following a cleft lip repair.
Rachel is on two medications...antibiotics four times a day, and Tylenol with coedine every 4-6 hours for pain. And boy, it was sure easier to give her medications when she had a cleft in her lip to squirt it through. LOL. Now we have to wait for her to cry in order for her to open her mouth. Despite the difficulty, we love having her lip fixed. It's amazing how quickly you forget what she looked like not even a week ago!!
Rachel is tolerating her arm restraints. Poor girl has had all her comfort techniques taken away from her for the next 3 weeks...she's a side sleeper, and she can't do that in prevention of her lip rubbing on the sheet, she likes to have her fingers in her mouth and likes to suck on her palm of her hand, can't do neither of those things. She's getting held a lot, because if you lay her down, she still trys to turn over even with the restraints on! We laid her under her floor gym this morning for a few minutes with her restaints off and boy did she ever love that!!
It's so hard to believe she's already 5 months old! This time last year, we had just found out we were expecting!! Boy time flies....
Friday, January 28, 2005
First Night Home
Rachel was discharged from the hospital around 4:30p yesterday afternoon. And were we ever ready to get out of there! The room Rachel was in, had a wall dividing us from the other room, but only half way. So at any given time of the day or the night, there were potentially 5 other babies/toddlers crying, screaming, or alarms going off. It was enough to drive you crazy!
Rachel's first night home went well! Rachel has to have arm restraints on for 3 weeks and cannot have anything rub her lip. And because she has become a side sleeper, we had to strap her in her car seat and have her sleep in that. She did it though! She slept the night through!
As for eating, she's a little fussy. But who wouldn't be?!?! We're thinking she is having to learn how to suck, swallow, and breathe all over again, so her bottles are making her easily frustrated.
Other than that everything is going great! Her wide eyes are back and she's smiling!
Rachel's first night home went well! Rachel has to have arm restraints on for 3 weeks and cannot have anything rub her lip. And because she has become a side sleeper, we had to strap her in her car seat and have her sleep in that. She did it though! She slept the night through!
As for eating, she's a little fussy. But who wouldn't be?!?! We're thinking she is having to learn how to suck, swallow, and breathe all over again, so her bottles are making her easily frustrated.
Other than that everything is going great! Her wide eyes are back and she's smiling!
2 Days Post Op
Rachel has discovered something new...her tongue! She's always stuck her tongue out a lot, but since her surgery, it's funny to watch her cause she keeps feeling her new lip.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
A New Look....
Here is Rachel after surgery and after being released from the recovery room. Doesn't she look totally different?!?!?
Rachel's Surgery!!!
Praise the Lord! God is so awesome!!!
All of our prayers for today were answered and then some.
Rachel was cleared for surgery 15 minutes before her scheduled time. When her plastic surgeon came to talk to us prior to her surgery, he was almost certain he could do the complete repair and had us sign consent for it. Once we passed the one hour mark of her being in surgery, we knew then that she was getting the complete lip repair!!! Because of that, she was admitted overnight. Steven is staying with her in the hospital tonight, he can sleep just about anywhere. :)
Rachel is doing awesome! She’s eating her bottles well and keeping those down. She had a bit of a fever this afternoon that spiked, but the Lord has already touched her and her temp is back to normal. Assuming she continues to do well through the night, Rachel will come home tomorrow.
I cannot put into words how overjoyed and full of thanks my heart is tonight. All day yesterday and into the evening, and even on the way to the hospital this morning, when we were unsure if Rachel would be able to have her surgery, I just kept saying over and over again..."I trust you God". If sugery was denied, I was still going to trust God, for he had a reason that surgery shouldn't take place today. It didn't mean I wouldn't be disappointed. But I trusted God, and He answered all my prayers for today.
A while back, I posted a list of prayers I have been praying for Rachel. One of the prayers was when we first learned that Rachel's lip was so wide it would take two surgeries to repair, was that the Lord would touch her and the surgeon would discover that once in there, he could do it in one surgery. God didn't answer that prayer that day. And yes, to be honest it was frustrating. Even more frustrating and upsetting a week later when that surgery became completely undone. A wise woman (my wonderful mother) shared with me last week, that prayer I prayed of desiring her lip to be repaired in one surgery wasn't answered at that time, but perhaps God would allow her lip to be totally repaired in one surgery...today's surgery. And He did. He answered my prayer that her lip would be repaired completely in one surgery!!! I am so thankful, excited, and overjoyed beyond belief as to how God heard my prayers. Not only did He hear my prayers, he answered them.
The Bible says in James 4:2 "...You have not because you ask not". Well tonight I have...because I asked, in His perfect timing, and not in mine!
All of our prayers for today were answered and then some.
Rachel was cleared for surgery 15 minutes before her scheduled time. When her plastic surgeon came to talk to us prior to her surgery, he was almost certain he could do the complete repair and had us sign consent for it. Once we passed the one hour mark of her being in surgery, we knew then that she was getting the complete lip repair!!! Because of that, she was admitted overnight. Steven is staying with her in the hospital tonight, he can sleep just about anywhere. :)
Rachel is doing awesome! She’s eating her bottles well and keeping those down. She had a bit of a fever this afternoon that spiked, but the Lord has already touched her and her temp is back to normal. Assuming she continues to do well through the night, Rachel will come home tomorrow.
I cannot put into words how overjoyed and full of thanks my heart is tonight. All day yesterday and into the evening, and even on the way to the hospital this morning, when we were unsure if Rachel would be able to have her surgery, I just kept saying over and over again..."I trust you God". If sugery was denied, I was still going to trust God, for he had a reason that surgery shouldn't take place today. It didn't mean I wouldn't be disappointed. But I trusted God, and He answered all my prayers for today.
A while back, I posted a list of prayers I have been praying for Rachel. One of the prayers was when we first learned that Rachel's lip was so wide it would take two surgeries to repair, was that the Lord would touch her and the surgeon would discover that once in there, he could do it in one surgery. God didn't answer that prayer that day. And yes, to be honest it was frustrating. Even more frustrating and upsetting a week later when that surgery became completely undone. A wise woman (my wonderful mother) shared with me last week, that prayer I prayed of desiring her lip to be repaired in one surgery wasn't answered at that time, but perhaps God would allow her lip to be totally repaired in one surgery...today's surgery. And He did. He answered my prayer that her lip would be repaired completely in one surgery!!! I am so thankful, excited, and overjoyed beyond belief as to how God heard my prayers. Not only did He hear my prayers, he answered them.
The Bible says in James 4:2 "...You have not because you ask not". Well tonight I have...because I asked, in His perfect timing, and not in mine!
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Surgery - To Have or Not to Have?!?!?!?!
UGH! It's been a trying day.
Rachel started coughing last night. Her coughing was still present when she woke up this morning. She had a pre-admission appointment this afternoon for the nurse practioner to check her over and get cleared for surgery. Upon his assessement, he felt it was best to postpone the surgery. When he learned of the importance of having this surgery because the plastic surgeon is leaving and who knows when we'd get in to be seen by another, he called his attending physician and together they decided to go ahead and have us come in tomorrow morning as scheduled and they would re-evaluate her cough then and decide whether or not to proceed with surgery. So as it is right now, we have to check in at the hospital at 7:00am with a 9:00am surgery time.
I'm trying really hard to be positive about all this. But it's hard. Not a single thing has been easy in this journey...not a single thing. I had such a struggle last week in making sure we had insurance authorization for this surgery. Long story short..they kept trying to get authorization from two services in which we aren't even eligible for!!! Grrrr. I've done more praying today and in the night than you'd believe. I know, I know, I know if Rachel can't have surgery tomorrow, she'll get fixed. And for some reason, it wasn't the Lord's perfect timing for this surgery. But why?? :) Oh, so many questions I have in my head in regards to how rough this road has been...but God has His reasons. There's a purpose in all of this.
So here's to a good night, hopefully cough free, and a great outcome at the hospital tomorrow morning.
Rachel started coughing last night. Her coughing was still present when she woke up this morning. She had a pre-admission appointment this afternoon for the nurse practioner to check her over and get cleared for surgery. Upon his assessement, he felt it was best to postpone the surgery. When he learned of the importance of having this surgery because the plastic surgeon is leaving and who knows when we'd get in to be seen by another, he called his attending physician and together they decided to go ahead and have us come in tomorrow morning as scheduled and they would re-evaluate her cough then and decide whether or not to proceed with surgery. So as it is right now, we have to check in at the hospital at 7:00am with a 9:00am surgery time.
I'm trying really hard to be positive about all this. But it's hard. Not a single thing has been easy in this journey...not a single thing. I had such a struggle last week in making sure we had insurance authorization for this surgery. Long story short..they kept trying to get authorization from two services in which we aren't even eligible for!!! Grrrr. I've done more praying today and in the night than you'd believe. I know, I know, I know if Rachel can't have surgery tomorrow, she'll get fixed. And for some reason, it wasn't the Lord's perfect timing for this surgery. But why?? :) Oh, so many questions I have in my head in regards to how rough this road has been...but God has His reasons. There's a purpose in all of this.
So here's to a good night, hopefully cough free, and a great outcome at the hospital tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Pre Op Appointment with Dr Lehocky
Rachel had a pre op appointment this afternoon with Dr Lehocky. It was more for our benefit as we had questions and needed to sign a surgery consent. But upon his seeing her, he thought her cleft lip didn't seem as wide, and that perhaps taping her lip the past couple of weeks has been successful! He also said that because of that, there is a possibility that he might be able to do the complete lip repair on the 26th and not just a lip adhesion. He won't know for sure until he gets in there and gets going. Needless to say, we're gonna keep taping her lip in hopes of it continuing to be successful!
With that said, we'd sure appreciate prayers for her surgery date...January 26th. Also that once Dr Lehocky gets going, he'd be able to do the complete lip repair rather than just the adhesion. Thank you! Thank you to all of you who check this page regularly and are so committed to keeping up and following Rachel on this journey.
With that said, we'd sure appreciate prayers for her surgery date...January 26th. Also that once Dr Lehocky gets going, he'd be able to do the complete lip repair rather than just the adhesion. Thank you! Thank you to all of you who check this page regularly and are so committed to keeping up and following Rachel on this journey.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Rachel with her mouth taped...
Here's a picture of how Rachel looks once we put the tape on. Dr Lehocky, Rachel's plastic surgeon, says this will help stretch those muscles out and bring her separated upper lip towards one another which will hopefully make the next surgery successful.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Follow Up with the Plastic Surgeon
We saw Rachel's plastic surgeon today. And just as we thought, we're back to square one, Rachel's lip adhesion will need to be redone. Dr. Lehocky needs to get with his surgery scheduler to determine whether or not he can work Rachel in sometime in December, if not, her surgery will be in January.
We asked him his opinion of using a NAM (Nasal Aveolar Mold) or another molding device that would help in bringing her palate closer together. They don't use such devices at Loma Linda, but he did recommend using a special medical tape to bring the two sides of her lip together. The purpose being to stretch those muscles and bring them closer together. So he showed us how to apply it and that's the route we'll go in preparing for the next surgery. She looks different just with the tape bringing her lip together!
Other than the appointment news, Rachel continues to eat well. We increased her bottles this week and she's not having any problem in finishing them. She's continuing to sleep well, and it's safe to say she definitely sleeps through the night! She's smiling lots and is making cute little noises and cooing. She's defiantely starting to show her little personality.
Thank you once again for those of you checking this page regularly, and for your thoughts and prayers for Rachel. We sure appreciate them!
We asked him his opinion of using a NAM (Nasal Aveolar Mold) or another molding device that would help in bringing her palate closer together. They don't use such devices at Loma Linda, but he did recommend using a special medical tape to bring the two sides of her lip together. The purpose being to stretch those muscles and bring them closer together. So he showed us how to apply it and that's the route we'll go in preparing for the next surgery. She looks different just with the tape bringing her lip together!
Other than the appointment news, Rachel continues to eat well. We increased her bottles this week and she's not having any problem in finishing them. She's continuing to sleep well, and it's safe to say she definitely sleeps through the night! She's smiling lots and is making cute little noises and cooing. She's defiantely starting to show her little personality.
Thank you once again for those of you checking this page regularly, and for your thoughts and prayers for Rachel. We sure appreciate them!
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
A Bump in the Road...
:::sigh::: We've encountered a bump in this road of Rachel's journey. This morning her entire repair split. Rachel's cleft lip is once again wide and her nose is flattening out again. It's not as wide as it was prior to surgery, however, we can see up into her nose and see the incision site.
I know this can be fixed, but it's so discouraging. I'm trying to be strong, but I have to be totally honest and share that today has been a really been a rough day for me. I've tried to keep busy most of the day, but in the still moments of the day, I can hardly stand it. I had accepted this journey that the Lord has given us, but I don't like the bumps we've encountered. I'm not quite sure why the road couldn't have been smooth, but God knows. I know in my heart, and my head, that Rachel's going to be just fine, and the Lord still has His hand on us, it's just been one of those days where I am sad we have this journey to endure.
I know this can be fixed, but it's so discouraging. I'm trying to be strong, but I have to be totally honest and share that today has been a really been a rough day for me. I've tried to keep busy most of the day, but in the still moments of the day, I can hardly stand it. I had accepted this journey that the Lord has given us, but I don't like the bumps we've encountered. I'm not quite sure why the road couldn't have been smooth, but God knows. I know in my heart, and my head, that Rachel's going to be just fine, and the Lord still has His hand on us, it's just been one of those days where I am sad we have this journey to endure.
Friday, November 12, 2004
With her Cleft Bear
Isn't she cute?!?!? Gramma and Papa brought Rachel a gift the morning of her surgery, it was a teddy bear with a cleft lip that has stitches. Gramma found it and ordered it through http://www.cleftline.org.
Day 5 After Surgery
Taken 5 days after her inital lip repair. Still needs some work and perfecting, which will take place when she has her final lip repair in February, but the difference in her appearence from this surgery is simply amazing!
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
The Day After Surgery
I know many people must be wondering how our night went last night and how today has gone. Rachel is doing extremely well. She continued to eat her bottles well yesterday following surgery, had some pain medication at 7:00pm, her last bottle at 9:00pm, and slept the night through, in her crib, with her arm restraints on, until the glorious hour of 5:30am!!
Today has been a great day. We're very quickly becoming used to her "new face" and are in complete awe of the changes. It's hard to believe her face looked completely different just yesterday morning! She's been so pleasant and just her normal self, like she hasn't even had surgery! Praise the Lord! Again, we know it's because so many people are praying for our little Rachel. And if you're reading this, THANK YOU! :)
Today has been a great day. We're very quickly becoming used to her "new face" and are in complete awe of the changes. It's hard to believe her face looked completely different just yesterday morning! She's been so pleasant and just her normal self, like she hasn't even had surgery! Praise the Lord! Again, we know it's because so many people are praying for our little Rachel. And if you're reading this, THANK YOU! :)
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