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14 years ago
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
3 Months
Brennan is a little over 3 months post-op! People say, "3 months already?"... but really, with everything going on, it has been the hardest and longest 3 months of my life.
But, we are surviving!!!
Here is a recent picture of his ear canal! His skin graft site is completely covered by hair now and healing great!
Many people have asked about his "little ear" being in front of his ear canal. He was born with his "little ear" slightly more forward than the actual postition of where the "big ear" should have been. So, when he gets his new "big ear" it will be behind the ear canal, just like his other "normal ear."
Close up picts.
Brennan's next surgery is set for March 1st, exactly 5 weeks from today...yikes. B has his pre-op appt. on Feb 9th... this is a big day because we will be meeting with the doctor and she will go over every detail of the surgery. We have done so much research about this surgery but it will hit home to us when we go in and meet with the doctor and she talks with us about Brennan's procedure.
We are planning to do the Medpor surgery the way we have researched. In a nutshell: It's an 8-10 hour procedure where they will remove his "little ear" and use parts of it for his "big ear." She will use two pieces of medical medpor plastic and create an ear out of it and attatch it to his skull around his ear canal. She will then use a large piece of living membrane under his skin (scalp) on the left side of his head just over his "little ear" and place it over the medpor plastic. Finally, a skin graft site from either under B's arm or upper thigh area will be used to cover the ear. It's a very detailed and delicate surgery.
I am now learning of a new technique the Dr. is using for the skin graft site. She is doing a new technique that uses a balloon product somewhere on the patient's head near the ear and place it in during a surgery. The balloon product will stay in for a month to stretch the skin. Then, the skin that is stretched will be used for the skin graft site during the medpor surgery, one month later, instead of using skin from the arm or thigh.
We are not sure if that surgery is even an option for B. We will find out everything on the 9th.
Having just learned of this new technique, I am stressing out a bit since it changes all our plans. It would mean 2 surgeries about a month apart instead of just 1 surgery. Although, obviously if this new technique is better for Brennan in the long run, we will decide to do it.
So please keep us in your prayers for Feb. 9th when we discuss everything with B's surgeon.
Thank you so much!!!
But, we are surviving!!!
Here is a recent picture of his ear canal! His skin graft site is completely covered by hair now and healing great!
Many people have asked about his "little ear" being in front of his ear canal. He was born with his "little ear" slightly more forward than the actual postition of where the "big ear" should have been. So, when he gets his new "big ear" it will be behind the ear canal, just like his other "normal ear."
Close up picts.
Brennan's next surgery is set for March 1st, exactly 5 weeks from today...yikes. B has his pre-op appt. on Feb 9th... this is a big day because we will be meeting with the doctor and she will go over every detail of the surgery. We have done so much research about this surgery but it will hit home to us when we go in and meet with the doctor and she talks with us about Brennan's procedure.
We are planning to do the Medpor surgery the way we have researched. In a nutshell: It's an 8-10 hour procedure where they will remove his "little ear" and use parts of it for his "big ear." She will use two pieces of medical medpor plastic and create an ear out of it and attatch it to his skull around his ear canal. She will then use a large piece of living membrane under his skin (scalp) on the left side of his head just over his "little ear" and place it over the medpor plastic. Finally, a skin graft site from either under B's arm or upper thigh area will be used to cover the ear. It's a very detailed and delicate surgery.
I am now learning of a new technique the Dr. is using for the skin graft site. She is doing a new technique that uses a balloon product somewhere on the patient's head near the ear and place it in during a surgery. The balloon product will stay in for a month to stretch the skin. Then, the skin that is stretched will be used for the skin graft site during the medpor surgery, one month later, instead of using skin from the arm or thigh.
We are not sure if that surgery is even an option for B. We will find out everything on the 9th.
Having just learned of this new technique, I am stressing out a bit since it changes all our plans. It would mean 2 surgeries about a month apart instead of just 1 surgery. Although, obviously if this new technique is better for Brennan in the long run, we will decide to do it.
So please keep us in your prayers for Feb. 9th when we discuss everything with B's surgeon.
Thank you so much!!!
Friday, 21 January 2011
Bling!
A fun project that I couldn't wait to finish... making Faith's "new" shoes!
I saved Brennan's old shoes and turned them into cute girly shoes for Faith.
I just added a little bling!
It took a while to add each rhinestone one by one and I had a "glue headache" after I finished, but they are just so cute!
Talk about recycling!
Faith wears these Converse shoes right now. They are getting snug on her, I'll be sad when she can't wear them anymore
Brown Converse with 2 tones of brown rhinestones
Grey Converse with grey and black rhinestones
Black Adidas with grey, white and pink rhinestones
I saved Brennan's old shoes and turned them into cute girly shoes for Faith.
I just added a little bling!
It took a while to add each rhinestone one by one and I had a "glue headache" after I finished, but they are just so cute!
Talk about recycling!
The first batch...
Faith wears these Converse shoes right now. They are getting snug on her, I'll be sad when she can't wear them anymore
Brown Converse with 2 tones of brown rhinestones
Grey Converse with grey and black rhinestones
Black Adidas with grey, white and pink rhinestones
Cute huh?!!
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Family Pictures!
Here they are!!!
We spent time in Arizona for Christmas with the WHOLE family on Joel's side! We decided to surprise Joel's parents with family pictures!
Finally a good picture with my man!
Our two cuties!
Joel's sister Beth and her husband Keith and kids, Jessica and Gunnar
Joel's brother Tommy and his wife Kim, and their kids Anna, Isaiah and Amaya
Joel's grandparents Floyd and Edith
Joel's parents Tom and Sharon
Parents and kids
Siblings
The whole gang!!!
Tom and Sharon and grandkids!
Kids with their grandparents and great-grandparents!
Cousins!
Love this one!!!
We spent time in Arizona for Christmas with the WHOLE family on Joel's side! We decided to surprise Joel's parents with family pictures!
Finally a good picture with my man!
Our two cuties!
Joel's sister Beth and her husband Keith and kids, Jessica and Gunnar
Joel's brother Tommy and his wife Kim, and their kids Anna, Isaiah and Amaya
Joel's grandparents Floyd and Edith
Joel's parents Tom and Sharon
Parents and kids
Siblings
The whole gang!!!
Tom and Sharon and grandkids!
Kids with their grandparents and great-grandparents!
Cousins!
Love this one!!!
..............................................................
***Please keep us all in your prayers as we continue to trust God through Joel's dad's ALS diagnosis and his difficult journey with it.
Thanks!
Friday, 7 January 2011
Stressing and Learning
Here we go again... I find myself laying wide awake in the middle of the night thinking about B's next surgery. It's been such a blessing to have been through the first hard step and come out with such great results. I thought that I would feel much better and more relaxed about the next surgery since we have been through a tough one already. But, the opposite is true. My doubts start to creep in all over again. I find myself questioning again. Questioning God's decision to give Brennan this birth defect. Questioning our decision to help correct it.... It's an endless amount of doubt setting in. We've been through a lot recently and I'm feeling vulnerable with my negative emotions. It's placed me literally on my knees and crying out to God to get us through this next step. I've felt so beaten down with our recent trials and I'm emotionally drained to have to go through this next process.
B is developing so much everyday. I can literally have a full conversation with him now! It's so much fun. 3 1/2 years old is such a fun age! The stuff he says is hilarious. I laugh all the time at the things he comes up with. He is such a good big brother to his little sister. He is so protective of her at the playground. He is getting so much better about sharing his toys with her. He breaks out into a dance move whenever he hears music. He LOVES smoothies. He is such a great sleeper at night (yes!). He's great at puzzles. Randomly throughout the day he comes up to me and hugs me and says, "I love you Mommy." ... He melts my heart. And it breaks my heart to know that we have to put him through another surgery.
I know my emotions will be up and down for the next 7 weeks. I can't wait to get it over with. And I can't wait for the long recovery road to be over with too.
I sit and think about all the things I have learned and how much I have grown in the last 2 1/2 months since his last surgery. I have learned more to appreciate all the little things in life. I have learned to lean closer to Joel as my support and partner in this. I have learned to cherish every moment with my kiddos. I have learned the true gift of giving to others (as others have shown me by helping us financially, through cards and emails, through meals delivered to us...) I have learned the contentment of staying home with my family more and not being such a 'busy body' being out and about with them all the time. I have learned the beauty in true friendships and support systems. I have learned to appreciate all the things I DO have and not obsess over the things I "wish I had." Above all else, I have grown closer to my Lord Jesus Christ. So, as hard as the next step will be, I do look forward to all the new lessons I will learn along the way!
B is developing so much everyday. I can literally have a full conversation with him now! It's so much fun. 3 1/2 years old is such a fun age! The stuff he says is hilarious. I laugh all the time at the things he comes up with. He is such a good big brother to his little sister. He is so protective of her at the playground. He is getting so much better about sharing his toys with her. He breaks out into a dance move whenever he hears music. He LOVES smoothies. He is such a great sleeper at night (yes!). He's great at puzzles. Randomly throughout the day he comes up to me and hugs me and says, "I love you Mommy." ... He melts my heart. And it breaks my heart to know that we have to put him through another surgery.
I know my emotions will be up and down for the next 7 weeks. I can't wait to get it over with. And I can't wait for the long recovery road to be over with too.
I sit and think about all the things I have learned and how much I have grown in the last 2 1/2 months since his last surgery. I have learned more to appreciate all the little things in life. I have learned to lean closer to Joel as my support and partner in this. I have learned to cherish every moment with my kiddos. I have learned the true gift of giving to others (as others have shown me by helping us financially, through cards and emails, through meals delivered to us...) I have learned the contentment of staying home with my family more and not being such a 'busy body' being out and about with them all the time. I have learned the beauty in true friendships and support systems. I have learned to appreciate all the things I DO have and not obsess over the things I "wish I had." Above all else, I have grown closer to my Lord Jesus Christ. So, as hard as the next step will be, I do look forward to all the new lessons I will learn along the way!
Sunday, 2 January 2011
This NEVER happens here...
SNOW!!!
Poor Pnut is sick and was taking a nap at the time so she didn't get to go outside and enjoy it. B got to go out a couple times (we had to come back in the house to thaw out a few times).
It was freezing, but totally worth it! B and I had a mini snow ball fight!
Just starting to come down
More snow!!!
And More!!!
Cold!
Showing the snow on the car
Backyard
Front
Cheese!!!
Poor Pnut is sick and was taking a nap at the time so she didn't get to go outside and enjoy it. B got to go out a couple times (we had to come back in the house to thaw out a few times).
It was freezing, but totally worth it! B and I had a mini snow ball fight!
Just starting to come down
More snow!!!
And More!!!
Cold!
Showing the snow on the car
Backyard
Front
Cheese!!!
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