ANNA RECOVERING FROM SUTURE RUPTURE

ANNA WHEN SHE WOKE UP THIS MORNING, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9...I'M A HAPPY LITTLE GIRL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!
SAMUEL EATING MY SOUR CREAM AT RED LOBSTER ON NANA'S BIRTHDAY!

Anna's lip and skin where the sutures ruptured looks much better than it did one week ago. I wanted to show a picture so everyone could see her progress.

Anna went to the doctor Saturday, September 6 because she was leaning her head and ear into her left shoulder and rubbing it. (She is still having to wear the "No-No" arm restraints, so she is unable to reach her ears with her hands). She had drainage and the pediatrician was unable to see into her ear, so we are treating it with Ciprodex drops as well as the Amoxicillin she was already on for her lip infection. We took her back today to have her checked again. Her ear has cleared up so we are hoping to be competely well in a few more weeks. Thankfully, the tube that was placed in her ear has not come out. She looks so different now that her skin above her lip is healing and is no longer infected. She is very happy and playful...just spoiled where we hold her all the time!


We received some encouraging cards from a church member and former pastor Mark served on staff with. Their scriptures were a blessing to us.

Acts 17:28
..."for in Him we live and move and have our being..."

Lamentations 3:22-24
"Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!”

What a blessing to have brothers and sisters in Christ uplift you with the use of their spiritual gifts!

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."
I Chronicles 16:34

FOLLOW UP VISIT AFTER SUTURES RUPTURE

We went back to Dr. Sargent's office on Friday, September 5th to determine if Anna's infection had cleared up in the area where surgery was performed on her lip. Dr. Sargent felt like it looked much better and should continue to heal after continuing the antibiotic and cleaning/treating the area. He explained to us that the skin should contract over time and that it should heal on its own without attempting to restitch it at this time. We are unsure if the area will completely close and reattach, but we go back for another follow-up visit in 2 weeks and may know more at that point. He said that we should be on schedule to continue the other procedures as planned (palate repair on December 3rd and columnella lengthening next year). He may decide that it is necessary to do some repairs to this area at those procedures-He will make those decisions as we get there.

Anna is still having to wear the elbow restraints and eating through the Soft-Sipp bottle for another two weeks to try to ensure that the area does not tear any further and that no other damage is done. She is also still sleeping in her car seat, which is the most annoying part of her recovery. She prefers to sleep on her side and would love to be able to play and sleep on her belly, but will have to wait a few weeks to get back into this routine. I have been placing her car seat in the play pen to keep Samuel from touching her face for the last few weeks, and this is how she has been sleeping, as well. I heard her wake up this past week and start to cry. When I went to get her, I noticed a musical toy was turned on that was hanging from her play pen. A button has to be hit in order to turn it on and it is out of her reach, which was quite puzzling to me. When I looked down, she had her legs kicked up in the air and was practically standing on her head where she had scooted down so far in her car seat. She had used her little legs to kick the toy on and her head was laying where he bottom normally rests in the seat. Needless to say, I am no longer able to sit her in the car seat without strapping her in because she is such a "little wiggle worm."

She has done well with all of these precautions and has not been very irritated by the confinement. Please pray that she will continue to heal and keep the happy spirit she has had through all of this.

We will keep you posted and update you with pictures of her progress in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone for all the visits to the hospital and the phone calls to check on her progress. It means so much to have the care and concern that has been shown by friends and family members. We were especially moved by the number of former church members at Hixson First Baptist that dropped by to check on her during her operation and hospital stay in Chattanooga. God has been so gracious to us through this whole process.

I will close by sharing a verse I read this morning in my devotion....it is one Mark and I have come across numerous times through this journey. May God complete the work He is doing in us and develop the patience in us that He desires. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

DR. VISIT FOLLOWING SUTURE RUPTURE

ANNA WITH "NO-NO" ARM CASTS TO KEEP HER FROM PLACING

HER HANDS IN HER MOUTH...RUPTURED SUTURES ABOVE HER LIP

We went to see Dr. Sargent, Anna's surgeon, on Tuesday, September 2nd. He removed the "scabbing area" from Anna's skin just above her lip and told us that the area was infected. We are continuing to clean the area and applying Neosporin. She is also taking an antibiotic to treat the infection. We are hoping to see some improvement by Friday and I have an appointment to see Dr. Sargent in Chattanooga again this Friday to have him look at the area to see how it is healing. The area is very swollen, red, and irritated. Dr. Sargent felt like we may be able to attempt a repair when we do her palate surgery in December, but we definitely have to get the ruptured area to heal before he can attempt any repair. We are just following his advice in seeing that the area heals and know that we have another step towards the repair to her cleft.

Thanks for your continued prayers for Anna and especially for her infection to go away!
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I had the following quote and scripture in my flip devotional I keep at the kitchen window sink: (It was a great encouragement on the day that we realized Anna ruptured her sutures.)

I need a faith that nothing can shake. Emphasis on NOTHING. Even when I do not know why, I can endure with a faith like that-even if I never find out why! -Growing Wise in Family Life p. 247

Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6