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
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