Amelia's Surgery

Sweet Amelia had oral surgery today.  Her tongue was attached to the floor of her mouth improperly which caused a variety of eating and speech issues.  Normally, our pediatrician would send us to an ENT for this type of surgery, but since Eric works with many oral surgeons, he was able to choose a surgeon that he works with regularly.  Dr. D treated us like family, and it made all the difference in the world for me.  He was so sweet with Amelia, very patient and understanding with this anxious Mama, and could talk oral surgery nitty gritty with Eric.  It was the best situation for all of us.

 

We headed to the Children's Hospital at 5:30 AM with Amelia, and we had a wonderful experience every step in the process.  Obviously, it is geared for children, but it also handles the parents with a little extra TLC.  Amelia was not a fan of these little scrubs nor was she a fan of the no breakfast rule.  However, some stickers seemed to cure her ailments. 

 

 The nurse anesthetist whisked Amelia off before I could hardly blink, and in the end that was probably best.  She apparently was smiling as he walked through the halls and was waving to everyone.  It's times like this that make me so happy my girls do not have separation anxiety.  Amelia knew we would be back for her, so why not go with this strange fella.  Dr. D was able to take care of business with no problems and only one little stitch.  It was much easier than he originally thought.  Whew.  He also said he's never seen a little one like Amelia react so well to anesthesia - when she woke up, he was standing over her waving, and she just smiled back at him.  He sat with her in recovery until Daddy was escorted back to her.  She was  a little groggy, in no pain, and hungry!

Back in the room waiting to be released, Amelia was happy as a clam reading books, intermittently sucking on her paci/rubbing loveys, and playing with Minnie Mouse.  She scoffed down 2 or 3 cups of juice, a Grape Popsicle, and two cups of applesauce.  Poor girl was hungry and thirsty!

She napped well and ate well.  Soft food diet flew out the window since she was eating anything that wasn't nailed down for dinner.  We thought it was a great sign that food, chewing, and tongue movement didn't seem to phase her.

The day after:

Amelia, "at home resting with Daddy"
(aka driving him nuts while he's trying to work because this procedure was nothing but a thang to Miss Amelia)

 

Of course!  I kept all the surgery attire for our dress up trunk!  (I did wash it first!)  Look who discovered it and LOVED it! 

 

Introducing, Dr. Madeline Stewart

Cuteness!  This sweet big sister asked Grandma to stop at the flower shop on the way home from school so she could bring flowers to make Amelia feel better.  Madeline did very well with Amelia's extra attention, and she was a very sweet big sister to love on her post surgery.

Amelia has figured out something is different as she is doing lots of lip licking and putting things into her mouth.  She's experimenting with her tongue movements, and she seems quite pleased with herself when she discovers a new sound.  We couldn't be more pleased with how all of this rolled out.  We're extremely blessed to have Amelia in the hands of such good medical people.  We re-visit her speech at her three year well check and go from there.

Phone Dump (serious) & More (not as serious)

I was going through our phone pictures and came across these little gems.  I'm not sure words can explain them, but I am going to try to do so.  I'm a little nostalgic looking at my mini Grandma Folz (Madeline Grace), so the explanation is probably way too wordy, but here goes: 

 

My Mom's Mom, "Grandma Folz" to my brothers and I, had cancer many years ago (not long before I was married and had children), and she passed away many Thanksgivings ago.  I will never forget that Thanksgiving meal when my Mom got "the call" from her sister.  But, anyway.  Bless Grandma's heart - she was girly, smelled good, always had a proper manicure, never without her earrings and necklace, cooked THE.BEST.FOOD., and always had a hot meal/delicious snack waiting regardless of the time of day.  My cooking skills may have been dormant for MANY, MANY years, but when they emerged, I thank my Grandma Folz every.single.time. I can pull off a recipe or a meal thanks to my Grandma Folz's instincts!  That lady could flat out cook.  At any rate, I absolutely get my girly girlness from my sweet Grandma Folz.  That woman NEVER went without her once a week hair salon (even when she was sick) appointment, way too rosy pink "blusher"(as she called it),  her red lipstick, and her perfectly manicured nails.  Think Leave It to Beaver (June) - that was my Grandma Folz.  Of course, when she had cancer and received chemotherapy, her hair loss journey began.  She wore a wig that exactly copied her "real do". 

Now, to the point of the pictures: My mother has given my Grandma's costume jewels, furs, make-up basket, wigs (yes, a little weird to me too!), and various other items for Madeline's dress up trunk.  Madeline donned my Grandma's wig out of the blue one day.  Holy Moly.  It's a young Leona Folz (my Grandma), and even more so, a young Carol McCarthy (my Mom) which probably means

 

THIS is ME when I decide to try on a wedding dress over my frog jammas with grey hair:   

 

 

WOW!  I'm so thankful I truly knew the lady that my daughter resembles so closely in so many regards (Grandma Folz), and I'm even more thankful that the other lady Madeline takes after is here with us to be such an important part of Madeline's upbringing, my Mom, otherwise known as just plain 'ol Grandma.

 

More Phone Dump

that is not so serious :) 

 

On a lighter note, Amelia is 100% attached to this Minnie Mouse.  Amelia LOVES to wear socks on her hands now because Minnie has white gloves on her hands.  Oh my gracious.

 

Sisterly love in the midst of Amelia's black eye healing process.  Now you see why we decided upon the "Happy New Year" card.  That little shiner got worse before it got better...oh my.

Shiner and Big Sister are still cute as EVER!