Hospital Week - 7

Week 7.... Maddison received her Citizenship Certificate, .Dave's 50th birthday, Maddison's first holiday with us, our second trip to Portland, and surgery.  Sounds like a busy week.  It was.  Here are  some pictures from our journeys. 

NOTE:  Surgery went well!!!!!  Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!

Maddison became a citizen the moment we returned from China and landed in San Franscico. Now the paperwork has arrived.  She was not in the best of moods when we brought in the mail.  She was more interested in eating than taking pictures.

Dave showing Maddison her paperwork.

Showing off some new clothes - Thanks Great Aunt Carla.

 Travel Pictures:
 In our house, getting ready for a trip is always challenging with this little one.  This time I got smart and asked Grammie and Grandpa to come over and keep a little one busy.  Packing was much easier with helpful baby sitters.

Some of the beautiful scenery along the way to Portland.  God blessed and there was no snow across the Cascade Mountains in November.  We had a wonderful drive.  The distance of the trip is around 700 miles.  Yes, 700 miles in winter in the west was a blessing. 

Once we got closer to Portland it started to rain.  It was really pretty with the low clouds. 

Maddison found some new ways and a few old ones to pass the time.

Enjoy that finger.  It will be quite a while till you can do that again.

Mama has some really interesting pillows!

"My feet fit through this hole."

A good belly laugh in the rain.

"Has God made blue sunflowers yet?"

puppets

A puppet show using only your feet.

Dave's birthday:  Not a real exciting 50th birthday.  Sorry, Honey!!  We spent the day driving from Ontonio, Oregon to Portland. We stopped at Multnomah Falls in the rain to take a few pictures.  All the rain that the area had been receiving made the falls very strong and beautiful.  We found a great pizza restaurant right close to the hotel.  Poor guy, he did not even get a cake.  I had planned to have an ice cream cake, but our hotel room did not come with a fridge.  How do you keep an ice cream cake cold without a fridge.  We did give Baba extra hugs that day and Mama packed the cards and his present. 

Happy Birthday, Baba!!!!!!

Pre-Op visit on October 31st, Halloween:  
We received instructions on the surgery and had a chance to trick-er-treat in the hospital.  Here comes that cute little pumpkin again.

A beagle named Pete we met in the waiting room.

 Maddison's favorite toy in the waiting room.

"Now how does this thing work again?"

"Oh, I am so excited to be here....not."

 "A girl needs a pocket book even if she is wearing a costume."

Nest Maddie got weighed and measured. 

After all the medical stuff, we had the privalege to do some trick-er-treating around the hospital.  Everyone loved the little pumpkin!

the kitchen staff

Visiting with other children.

November 1.......surgery day:

Waiting for it all to begin.

The nurse brought a special crib just for Maddie.  We had to get a good look.

Who is more worried...Maddison or Baba?

Msaddison showing off her pretty bracelet.

Modeling the latest in hospital attire.

 Just spending time with Mama and Baba before surgery.

Notice Maddie's pink and white "gloves."  The nurses were warming up her hands so it would be easier to put in the IV.  Does this little hot box need more heat?

The Nurse taking Maddison off to surgery.

Surgery lasted four hours and all went well.  Views of Portland out the hospital window while we waited.   Yes, it was raining and I could not get over the trees.  WOW!!!

Recovery and spending the night in Shriners Hospital:
They decided to keep Maddison over night since we were from so far away.  We had a couple of absolutely wonderful nurses and aides.  Nurse Debbie was the best!  She brought Maddison a little wagon and we toured the floor and even slept in it for a little while.  Asile was the best aide.  She was from the Philippians and just loved Asian kids.  Maddison did not feel good at all.  One of the night nurses tried to take Maddie off her heavy pain meds cold turkey and just give her tylonel. WELL............. The result was a very uncomfortalbe little gal who screamed and kicked me for a couple of hours.  I finally got the gal to give her the big stuff and finally peace and sleep was reached. 

Peace

One of her monitor attachments that was placed on her finger.  I  called this her Rudolf finger. 

Hanging out in the little red wagon.
 

They put a couple of stitches in her tongue and then left the string taped to the side of her mouth.  The reason for this is that they could get her tongue if she swallowed it.  Oh, my poor baby!!!!

Asile, Maddison, and Nurse Debbie

Nurse Debbie took Maddie for a walk.  Notice the arm restraints on Maddie's arms.

Nurse Lea and Maddie

All this and she can still play stacky cups.

On our wagon tours, we always had to pass these pictures of puppies. 

 I have been teaching Maddison some sign language and puppies was about the only word she would use in the hospital.  She really missed her puppies on this trip!!!

 Notice the arm restraints on Maddison's arms.  They are called "No-No's." She hates those things with a passion!!!!!

Stitches were just snipped.  Tongue is free!

Nurse Debbie gave Maddison a piano.  It was exactly what a "button pusher" needed to help her feel better.

 

Dr. Nguyen trying to look inside her mouth.  He said it looked good.

Here is our wonderful doctor, Dr. Nguyen  (Dr. Wen).  We were so blessed to have him do her surgery.  He talked about God and church.  Our Lord is so very good to give us a special doctor. 

Maddison was dressed, loaded (pocket book in hand), and ready to leave the hospital.  Notice the "No-No's" are at the foot of the wagon, not on. 

On the way home:
For the first week, Maddison received just about everything in a syringe...medicine and liquids.  The hospital told us she needed pureed food for a month.  Oh, yippy!

Thank you for all the prayers!  We appreciate each and everyone that was sent up to the Father.   God is so good.  We are so blessed to have this little gal in our lives and apart of our family!!!   Thank you Lord for our child!!!!!!

~ Robin