LIP AND GUM SURGERY ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY

SAMUEL AND ANNA PLAYING EARLY THIS MORNING

We are exactly one week away from our second surgery in Anna's journey to repair her cleft lip and palate. We go to Chattanooga next Tuesday, August 19 to see Dr. Cox and have him make any final adjustments to the Latham device in her mouth. Then, we will go the next morning, August 20, to T.C. Thompson Children Hospital to have Dr. Larry Sargent perform her lip and gum repair.

It has been a long month. I appologize for not posting any updates this past month. I am very tired and trying to get rest after being sick for a few weeks. Trying to pump milk, taking care of Anna with occasional feeding challenges and the lack of sleep that can bring, plus trying to be a decent mother and wife for Samuel and Mark has kept me busy. I am surviving...The Lord has really helped me the past few weeks and I have encountered strength only He can give. I was especially ministered to by the book "The Bumps are What You Climb On" by Warrren Wiersbe. I read it the past few weeks and it was a great encouragement. I have been blessed to have Mark's mom come two days each week to help with the kids so I can try to accomplish needed tasks around the house through the week. Mark has really pitched in with Samuel and helps with Anna when he can (in the evening and during the night when she chooses not to sleep or when she is just restless.) My family and church members have been such a help and encouragement, too.

Anna has been sick with sinus problems for the last few weeks but is much better now. We go back Friday, August 15, to our local pediatrician to make sure that they feel that she is healthy enough to undergo the surgery. The pediatrician is keeping her on an antibiotic until the surgery so she will not get sick from exposure to anything else...we are keeping her out of crowds, not taking her to church the last two weeks, etc. to make sure she stays well and does not get sick. She is really growing and changing. She is reaching for things, holding things and she is smiling so BIG now...it is hard to imagine her not being able to smile for a few weeks.

ANNA SITTING IN HER BED...ALL SMILES!!!

We will have 2 1/2 weeks to recover which means no bottle (tube feeding with a hand-held bottle we squeeze, giving her small amounts of liquid at a time) and Anna has to wear "No-No" elbow restraints to keep her from bending her elbows for two weeks to avoid tearing her stitches and sutures (which I am sure will make her very mad). So, I covet your prayers that I get through these few weeks. I especially ask you to pray that she will eat well. I plan on having my mom and mother-in-law help with Anna and will probably send Mark away for a few days with Samuel to take a mini-vacation so that Samuel does not get upset if Anna is really fussy and irritable for the first few days home...he does not like his sister crying. He has been eager about her getting her "Boo Boo" fixed, as we have talked about the hospital and the doctor with him the last few weeks. He has a book that he reads called "Miffy Goes to the Hospital" and he tells us about the doctors fixing Anna's lip when we get to the page with the hospital on it. It makes you wonder what he thinks and how much he understands...I think he will be amazed when the lip has healed after a week or two.

SAMUEL READING A BOOK...ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO DO!

We will stay in the hospital until about Friday, August 22 and then come home for the weekend if all goes well. We will then return to T.C. Thompson for another day surgery on Monday, August 25, for them to remove her stitches. They will have to put her under general anesthesia again for a brief time to remove the stitches, not wanting to damage or scar the lip. They will cover the area with Dermabond glue adhesive and allow the area to continue healing for the remaining 2 weeks. We should not have to stay in recovery for more than a few hours for this procedure and be able to come home that evening.

We will keep you posted during the next few weeks and try to update you throughout her recovery following the surgery. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS! The Lord has been a refuge-we could not make it without Him.

The Carr Family

Mark, Sheri, Samuel, and Anna