Yes, we're still here.....

Sorry to all for not updating after Bella's surgical consultation.  I've had some health issues going on, to start with had to have an ambulance come in get me when I passed out on the floor from being in so much pain.   To make a long story short, I had a cyst rupture on my ovary and in the mean time got really really sick.  I think on top of that I had a really bad stomach bug and I test positive for H Pylori, which is a bacteria that really messes up your stomach.  I may have brought a little more than I bargained for back from China.  I'm on medicine and doing well and getting back to normal.  Thanks to my wonderful husband for going above and beyond taking care of me, taking care of the kids, and working.  Thanks so much to my mom and mother in-law for taking care of the kids when I couldn't do a thing.

Now about our consults, we went to see Dr. Argenta in Winston Salem for Bella's cleft lip/palate.  Turns out he'll be retiring in about a year, so we're gonna see Dr. David, she's Dr. Argenta's partner.  Very nice doctors and staff, seem to really care about the kids.  We were on the verge of doing a retainer that would be worn like for 23 hours a day for 3 months to help close the palate some to limit some surgeries.  After studying up a little more we decided to fore go the retainer and move along with surgeries.  The retainer is used in infants and not 2 year olds, it really just seemed in humane to even do.  She'll have to go through enough.  They did an ear test on her to see about fluid in the ears and it came back that she could possible have to have tubes in her ears.  This is very common for cleft palates.  The ENT said her ears actually looked pretty good a little dull, and he's not so sure she'll even need tubes.  We'll just have to see during her surgery.  As for the surgery, the big day will be on March 5.  We'll go down on the 23rd of February for pre-surgical  appointments.  We'll go down on March 4 and stay overnight, hopefully at the Ronald McDonald House. We've decided to make Aidan a part of this process, really so he can see and have a better understanding of what his little mei mei (little sister) is going through.  After surgery she'll only have to stay in the hospital for the day/night and then we'll be able to go home.  Oh yeah this surgery will be fixing the lip and nose, which are the most noticeable deformities.  You know one of the sweetest moments is being in the waiting room and seeing other kids that have gone through surgeries already to fix cleft issues, they're the sweetest kids you'll ever meet.  They get so excited to see Bella and are so sweet to her like they've known her forever.  It's like these special children have an instant bond, just talking about it brings a tear to my eyes.  So for now here we are and I'll get pictures up of Bella now, she has to wear a kind of tape across her lip which keeps them closer together so after the surgery, there won't be so much tension.  Tape is fine, she really doesn't even mess with it.  She's a trooper and we're so blessed and moved to have her and to see how strong she is.

Getting Ready For Our First Consult Appointment

First regular doctors appointment under our belt and all the blood work came back completely normal, she had all the antibodies for the vaccines.  Big sigh and big hurdle.  This week we head out to Bowman Gray to see Dr. Argenta for our first consult appointment.  One step closer to starting our Cleft Repair Journey.  It's kind of bittersweet, I feel for her and all the pain she'll have to go through, but I know she'll be so much better once everything is all fixed up.  I will keep this blog updated with all her surgeries and I will post pictures.  I was a little hesitant about posting pics, but this is part of her process and also if this can encourage anyone to adopt a special needs child, well then it will be so worth it.