AVA'S SURGERY -UPDATE!

First of all....I'd like to thank everyone who said a prayer for Ava and I, that her surgery would go well and that her Mama would get through it.




My sweetie the morning of her surgery before we left for Sick Kids Hospital

Ava dressed in her jammies and hugging "Boo" ready for surgery.

The whole process went amazingly smooth. No hysterical crying and thrashing about everytime a medical personel came near her....unlike the surgery for her lip! She willingly let them take her vital signs, weigh and measure her , listen to her chest and heart...no tears ....no fuss! I was shocked....but I guess all the practice with the doctors kit helped. As well , having more time to bond with mom and grasp the English language, I'm sure was a great help...as she was able to understand what I was telling her was going to happen prior to it actually happening. The only time she started to cry was when I sat her on the OR table and the anaethetist held the mask over her face...but I was able to calm her down just by talking to her...I still can't believe it.

Showing me "Boo's" medical bracelet....the same as hers.

Playing in the OR Playroom waiting to be called into the OR

Ava and "Boo" playing in the OR wagon(some children like to ride the wagon into the OR room rather than walk or be carried)

In Recovery Room, still well sedated.

That evening in the "Special Care Unit" where she had to spend 24 hrs so they could keep a close eye on her airway...because of potential swelling. That is also why she is in "cool mist" tent...she isn't actually receiving any o2, it is just a cool mist to help keep the swelling in her mouth and airway down.

Post Op Day 1

Was transfered to a regular room today. Continued to sleep most of that day as she was still receiving quite a bit of Morphine for pain. She will have to wear her arm splints again for three weeks(keep her from getting her hands into her mouth)

Post Op Day 1

Post Op Day 2

What a difference a day makes! Playing in the Play room, already dressed, just waiting for the Doc to arrive to sign us out.

Saying goodbye to her hospital crib

Presents for Ava

The flowers and card are from Nanny and Papa, the snowman and snowman book are from Sherri, Ava's godmother and the other book is from Mama.

Post Op Day 3

Home but not feeling too great! Have had a low grade fever since during the night. Alot of crying, whining and fussing going on today...just not quite herself! Not sure if the fever is from her ears(also had tubes inserted), just a cold or the start of post op infection. She is already on ear antibiotics...so will have to keep an eye on the fever...may need some systemic antibiotics as well. For now we are watching and waiting...fever hasn't gone above 38.4C.

The only thing that she was happy with today was watching "Signing Time"...thank god for those videos!

PRAYER REQUESTS PLEASE!!

Ava is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow to repair her cleft palate. We are asking , if anyone has a few extra prayers could you send them our way. Thanks.

2.5 YEARS OLD TOMORROW!!!

• at last weeks doctors visit Ava was 22lbs(9.97kg) and 82.5cm tall. Still well below the 5th percentile, but her growth is following the proper curve on the charts.


• just now in a size 4 diaper. Size 4 shoes or boots. Clothing pretty much a size 18 months unless it's a big make then she can still wear a size 12 months. "Super Centre" brand clothing she still wears size 1(12 months).


• favorite activity: JUMPING!...she will jump off of any elevated surface she can find...be it a toy, a step, the curb etc...or if nothing is available, like when we are walking through the parking lot heading to the grocery store...she'll just jump on the spot...you'd think I had a rabbit attached to the end of my arm!


• she can independantly do a wooden puzzle with eleven different shapes...but is more likely to do it if you tell her it's time to "clean up" than if you just asked her to "do the puzzle"...performance anxiety I guess!


• according to her preschool teacher she has very good fine motor skills...holds a crayon/pencil, spoon, fork as an adult would. She is able to copy a vertical line or circle


• intially had no interest in TV or videos, but about a month ago I put on one of her "signing time" videos and the girl is now an ADDICT! Everytime I turn around she is signing that she wants to watch "signing time". By the way her favorite sign right now is "Friend"


• ever since we started graduated hours at day care, this is the conversation I hear over the monitor every night: "Iliana friend, Jacob friend, Katie friend"... the names of the kids in her day care.


• other than a few stomps of her feet the first day, she willingly goes to day care and thoroughly enjoys the kids and all the activities of the day.


• language has exploded over the last 3-4 weeks...she talks constantly and will repeat everything I say...but then again I am pretty well the only one who can understand the majority of what she says. She gets the intonation and syllables correct but the word itself is sometimes difficult to make out.


• didn't have much interest in crayons so we tryed markers(tip from Tiffany) and she loves them...now if I can just get her to colour on the paper instead of the tray on her high chair!


• Ava has taken on the evening chore of feeding our two labs. She is so proud to carry a cup full of food for each from the kitchen to my bedroom where their food bowls are...and if she isn't distracted by some toy enroute, bending over to pick it up, all the kibble actually makes it to their bowls!


• over the last couple of months she has initiated signs of affection in the form of hugs, kisses and signing and saying " a uv oow"...translated to "I love you"


• she will now actually sit through a story to its finish instead of trying to turn the pages before I get the first few words out.


• I had NO CLUE how much work and how hard being a mother would be! Ava you are my world and I love you more than life itself...the good days way outnumber the rough ones!

MY LITTLE JUMPING BEAN!!

SANTA CLAUS PARADE....A DOUBLE HEADER!!!

Last weekend we headed to...not one...but two Santa Claus Parades. In the morning we went to the parade in the town next to where we live. The theme for this years parade was:
"Christmas Around The World". They had floats representing every ethnicity, including several Asian ones. I thought that was a very appropriate theme for Ava's first Christmas Parade.
It was one of the first really cold days...so we were all bundled up pretty good! And Ava complete with Santa Hat!

Ava, myself and Shauna, Ava's surrogate Jie Jie!

Ava had the best seat at the parade...but Mama's back payed for it!

One of several marching bands...Ava especially loved all the music!

And of course...Santa Claus!!!

The second parade was in our city and was held after dark as all the floats are lit up.

Even the marching bands have Christmas lights on their instruments! Sorry my cameral battery died after taking these two pics. Ava... all bundled up in her personal chair...waiting for the parade to begin, and Ava with Nana and Papa.

SUNGLASS FIXATION!!!

AVA IS A CANADIAN CITIZEN!!!

I received Ava's Canadian Citizenship in the mail today! She officially became a Canadian Citizen on October 29,2007. When I sent in the paperwork for her Canadian Citizenship back in May 2007 they told me the process would take about a year...so I was very surprised but happy to receive this in the mail today...just over 5 months later! So we're off to the passport office tomorrow...hoping we can get a trip in somewhere South before I return to work in late January.

DIGITAL SCRAPPING TRIAL!

HALLOWEEN WEEK IN REVIEW!

After Ava's first day at preschool last Friday, we headed over to Nana and Papa's to carve our pumpkin. At first Ava didn't like the feel of the pumpkin guts on her hands(she likes to keep them pretty clean) but with some encouragement she cleaned out the whole pumpkin.

This is the end result!

She wasn't too interested in the carving part or posing to get her picture with the pumpkin...would rather jump on Nana's couch!

Not sure if it's typical 2 1/2 year old behaviour...but for the last while she will not look at the camera...will look everywhere but!

Getting Jessie and Abbey all decked out in their Halloween gear!

Fixing Jessies hair just right!

Jessie is such a tolerant dog!

My little "Ladybug" out for her first "Trick or Treat"! She looks a little off balance there...made her carry her own pumpkin full of loot....and it was getting pretty heavy! Can you believe she even got a can of Coke!! Not that she knows it , but all that candy is being dropped off at my work the next time we go to visit. She doesn't get candy or much junk for that matter...has only had a few licks of a sucker twice...once when she had her initial blood work done(10 vials) to stop her from howling and when I got her ears pierced, so I don't think she'll miss what she has never gets!

We started out the evening by visiting Nana and Papa's house, then dropped by to see friends Jan, Shannon and Lauchlin. Went back home to cruise through the neighbourhood and ended the night by dropping in on the Halloween partying at Sherri's place.

Me and my little ladybug

Ava didn't want to get too close to "Mr Pumpkin"!

Opening her loot bag from her godmother, Sherri

Along with some sweet treats was this adorable Boyd Halloween Black Cat!

Giving her cat a hug.

Posing with Sherri's 16 year old son Jaimie who was partying with a bunch of his friends in the basement.

Ava then ended the night by joining the guys upstairs for a game of poker!