Sunday, January 15, 2012

"Drew, she's climbing the stairs again!"

Well, it's been over 4 weeks since Mia's surgery and she's impossible to slow down.  Her scars are slowly fading and she's just enjoying life.  No major issues, just a small area on her incision that is having a tough time healing.  It has been leaking a little clear/yellow toned fluid near the small soft spot we were concerned about earlier.  That spot turned out to be an area where the bone had been cut, so it was normal to be soft.  Dr. Good, her pediatrician, was pretty confident that the leaking of fluid was just because of that spot and the deep sutures that were in the spot.  Good news was that she didn't seem to be in any pain over it, she has not run a fever and any leakage would get crusty- all things that ruled out it being spinal fluid.  So, even though it is an ugly looking spot, it does continue to look better each day.
Her hair is slowly covering up the incision which has slowed down the odd glances and whispers in public.  Since they did shave her ear to ear around an inch thick, her hair has always been in two sections- a front section and back section.  The back section is growing straight up right now, so her hair lays nice and flat until about half way and then you see the cutest horizontal mohawk.  Cracks me up. 
She is two weeks away from her first birthday and is in the "learn a new trick everyday" phase.  Her newest?  Every time she sees Belle and Dixie (our dogs), she attempts to bark at them.  Adorable.  Her walking skills are getting better and better, too.  She's about 50/50 right now with walking/crawling.  Her first attempt is always to walk, but once she trips, it reminds her that crawling is a lot faster and more efficient. 
God continues to bless us by bringing people in our lives who have been touched by Mia's story.  I was contacted by a friend who has a co-worker that would like to speak to us because her grandson will be undergoing the same surgery as Mia.  I was also emailed by a high school friend who shared my blog with a friend in Montana who's son will also be having surgery soon.  It has only been 4 weeks and Mia's story is already encouraging so many others.  The coolest story happened this past weekend.  Drew decided to take the girls to play at the mall this past Saturday since it was pretty cold outside.  He sat on the side benches watching Maddie and Mia play when he overheard two women identifying Mia.  He assumed it was a friend on mine, but found out quickly that it was a divine meeting.  The women were a mother and daughter and the mother explained that her other daughter had a soon who also had craniosynostosis and would have to also have surgery.  They had found out about Mia and had been reading my blog!  They just happen to be sitting in the mall when they recognized Mia from her pictures!  Drew was able to talk with them for a good while, and they were tickled to see Mia's progress.  We were so thrilled to know that Mia and her story had been a comfort and encouragement to them!  I absolutely cannot wait to see what else God has in store for us in the future!  This little girl has been an inspiration to me, and I know she will be to others.  God has certainly blessed our family, and we cannot wait to share that with others!