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This is immediately following surgery-poor baby.

This is the nurse who took her into surgery. Ella Grace was trying to focus on her face under the influence of “happy juice” they gave her in hopes she wouldn’t freak when they took her from me-it worked!

She loved the wagon and had to have her entourage with her at all times-her pink minky, satin pillow and her taggie, her horse, dog, teddy bear, panda, and now her hospital mouse!

Our ticket outa’ here!

Right now, Ella Grace is screaming and Frank is trying to console her this time-we are in between the time when we can give her pain meds and that seems to be the hardest. That said (and I am sure Ella Grace would disagree at this point), we were sooo happy with how things have gone. The fact that the doctor decided not to place the dreaded stitch in her tongue was an awesome blessing. And when I walked back into recovery and saw no restraints on her arms, I wanted to sing the doxology right there in the hospital. As bad as the night was with her hurting, I cannot imagine what it would have been like if those things had been in place like they told us they would. She has only once tried to suck her thumb and she very quickly determined that it was not a good idea. While sleeping is a problem (probably because she consoles herself with that thumb), she has done very well with eating and drinking. She has had moments when she is almost her normal self, playing and laughing. I am so tired and I still have this horrible barking cough, but I just can’t say how BLESSED I feel to have come this far in only 24 hours. Thank you for your intercessions-she, and therefor, we all, have been blessed by you.

Hi All. Robin just called and asked me to update her site. Ella Grace is out of surgery! Everything went well during the operation. She’s even drinking water now. Unfortunately, she’s having a hard time getting use to her mouth not having a cleft palate. That hole in her mouth is all she’s ever known. Furthermore, Ella Grace is currently in a lot of pain from the surgery. The hospital is giving her morphine to reduce the discomfort. Fortunately, she is not bound in arm restraints! The restraints were expected and usually necessary to prevent children from re-opening wounds. Also, they didn’t have to have her stitch tongue. Feel free to leave comments for Robin. I know she always appreciates them. Jason.

So, what goes through a mother’s mind when her baby girl is about to have surgery and hurt? Lots. I don’t like the idea of her hurting. I am worried about them coming to get her from me to take her to surgery. I have certainly thought of the risks of anesthesia more than once. I am wondering how she’s going to handle a stitch in her tongue- a precaution in case they have to pull it out to clear her airway, how she will handle the pain and discomfort, how she will handle the restraints they have to put on her arms to keep her from putting her fingers in her mouth. I am hoping she will eat the first day, enough that we can bring her home and not have to stay there for an additional night.

I am remembering my baby Katy’s surgery when she was only 10 months old and I am thankful that it’s only the hole in her mouth we have to deal with this time. I am encouraged that Katy, now a healthy, happy (most of the time) 5 year old, seems to be none the worse for wear! I am wondering how the fact that Ella Grace is 3 and has only been with me for 5 months will make it different or better or worse.

I am believing that my cold will only get better and that it won’t bother me terribly as I spend the night at the hospital and do my best to take care of her. I am considering how this event will affect my big girls for the next few days.

And, I am in awe of how this whole event has unfolded and how God may use it to impact eternity. How did this little girl from an island in the South China Sea become my daughter?

These are some of my personal thoughts. It is my hope that you, the people who have followed our journey, would use these thoughts to petition The Almighty on our behalf tomorrow. May He be glorified.

We visited Children’s Hospital yesterday for Ella Grace’s pre-op visit and we were seeing the anesthesiologist when the nurse heard a murmur in her heart. She consulted another nurse, who heard it too and then went into the OR to consult with a doctor. The doctor said that, in the absence of more medical and family history, she would need to see a cardiologist before we did surgery. I called Dr. Cook, a pediatric cardiologist in Montgomery, who agreed to fit her in this morning. His conclusion was that she has a very slight, innocent, murmur which will not cause problems for surgery. Whew! What a couple of days.

So, it looks like we will be going to Birmingham Wednesday, Feb.1, 2006 for the repair. It is likely we’ll stay 2 nights. Dr. Grant, whom we met for the first time yesterday and we LOVED, said that if the restraints on her arms drive her crazy we can remove them. That was huge. Please continue to pray for her and for us as we take a big step physically and emotionally with her this week.