After Surgery/Before Surgery

Ari had her second surgery which went well, except for the news that followed. She had her adenoids taken out and was going to possibly have her airway dilated again and a cyst removed from her airway, neither of those occurred. During her last surgery her airway was dilated to a 5.0 airway, her airway was 3.0, normal airway for a child her age is 4.5-5.0. Her airway should have stayed dilated, but there was a chance it wouldn't and it didn't. It went back to 3.0 size. The dr. was also unable to remove the cyst without compromising her airway even more. So they will be performing reconstructive surgery and removing the cyst in the beginning of September which will require she be in the hospital for the whole month. She will be on a ventilator for 1 week while the swelling goes down, and will be sedated that week. After that week they will monitor her activity for 3 weeks. If the surgery fails, she will require a trach. We were kinda shocked to hear this, but as usual went into 'prep mode.'

We have been trying to figure out how that month will work for our family. My mom has graciously offered to take the other kids for the month, just not sure that's what God would have us do. We've been working on homeschooling preparation for the kids. I will probably just live in Philly that month.

Ari has recovered well from the adenoids being removed, a little cranky but understandably so. I'm actually trying to get her back on a schedule and trying to get her to put herself to sleep. It's hard because we are either concerned or feeling sorry for her. I remind myself that I love her and am not harming her but doing her good. Daddy on the other hand...just struggles with letting her cry (period). Otherwise Ari has been her happy...active self. That makes it a little harder, she just seems so normal, like nothing is wrong.

Pray for our family that we would just hear from God on how September should go. Pray for the kids to adjust and stay on track. Pray for me as I've been feeling guilt ~ maybe if I hadn't let my blood pressure get high she wouldn't have come early and wouldn't be going thru this. For Carlos that he would have peace during her crying before and after surgery. Pray for Ari ~ God can heal her before surgery and if that's His will, may it be done. If not His will, pray for success in her surgery and quick recovery, and if a trach is His will, that we would all be prepared. We hold on to the truth that God is in control and holds us all in His hands.