Our big surgery experience through pictures.....

Saying goodbye for now...

In pre-op loving on our little girl, she was so good the morning of her surgery.  We anticipated that it would be difficult considering she had not eaten anything since 3:30am and her surgery didn't start until 10:20am.  But she was perfect.  She woke up happy at the hospital and didn't seem too hungry.  She cooed and smiled, and when she got a little aggitated we held her in her favorite position, "leopard on a log" style, and paced or swayed and she accepted this as calming.  She even fell back asleep for a little while.  Really the only time she cried was at the point when we handed her over to the nurse who took her away to the operating room.  It truly was the hardest moment.  

      

Last Picture of her original smile.......

Waiting...

Family waited in the waiting room and talked, read Kindles, played on iPads, texted with friends and ate goodies to make the 2.5 hours pass.  We even met a great couple who's little one went in to have the same surgery just before Paige.  It is nice to be able to talk to people who understand what we are going through....My sister and I colored mandalas to stay relaxed and get by.

Seeing....

First moment seeing our little girl post op......an incredible feeling of relief, while wanting to see her new mouth and nose and seeing that it looked good but so different. It really was hard to take in at first.  The cords and tubes were a little off putting as well.  We wanted to scoop her up and see her eyes open, but it was difficult because she thrashed and cried when she finally did.  The nurse had to give her Demerol to calm her down and she fell back asleep peacefully.  

Rosebud Lips with a Cupid's Bow......

something so many take for granted.

Dr.  Sundine did an incredible job

Family...

The nurses allowed our whole family to come back and see her.  I'm interested in how each person felt when they first saw her and she looked so different....

Feeding...

This was the moment we tried to feed her but she kept kicking her legs and arching her back and thrashing...never even opened her eyes and didn't really drink.  We were so worried about damaging the doctor's work or hurting her.  The nurse told us to use our hand on her forehead to keep her from rubbing her face on anything.

   

First time her eyes opened a little after Demerol. They were little slits with dazed wide pupils inside.  At least we knew she wasn't hurting.  It was also the first moment when we thought she looked like her cousin, Lily.

Wearing her "No-No's" to keep her from touching her lip and nose stents she will have to wear for 6 months to help keep the shape of her nostrils even and open.

      

First moment eating calmly..... 

Moving...

Her surgery was done at the St.  Joseph's Outpatient Surgery center and then she was transported .2 miles in an ambulance to recover in a room at the regular CHOC.  She wasn't a fan but mama got a kick out of it.......

Getting through the night...

They brought in a cot that fit both of us. Paige slept a lot throughout the day and had eaten with increasing ease each time she tried. She was still on IV fluids so she wouldn't get dehydrated. It was tough to sleep and when she was awake she was very fussy and uncomfortable.  It was difficult to hold her with all the cords but she wanted to be held and cuddled.  We got better and better at holding and feeding her without worrying about hurting her.  

Actual updates in the middle of the night:

 "She is sleeping a lot. Has opened her eyes a little but is grumpy when she does. She mostly eats with eyes closed and half asleep. Got Tylenol with codeine around 6:30. I miss her alert happy times. Gunna take a few days."

"Slept a little...Phil took one extra upsetting shift around 2:30am. She settled again after meds. She is resting sweetly, giving first smiles but only in her sleep."

"We share a room with a rambunctious 3.5 year old with no boundary inhibitions who has been here since Saturday. He wanted to play doctor with Paige. Had a mask and gloves on. So his family is currently taking him for a wagon ride..."  

"Noisy roommate slept 10pm-7:30 so that was ok. He is a happy screamer and squealer. And really is interested in "the baby" and me."

Morning after.....

First smile...

in her sleep but still so sweet.

Hospital view of Angel's stadium.

Going home...

We stopped off at Paige's Great Grandma's so she could be reassured that our little girl was doing well.

Thank you all for the hundreds of thoughts and prayers from all over the U.S. and many parts of the World.  We are blown away by the loving support of so many.  I truly think we have made it as far as we have, because of those who uplift us and are going through this journey together.