How's Hudsyn??

This surgery was definitely different from the previous two. When we got to go back and see her she was NOT a happy camper and it took quite a while to get her pain under control. She had lots of draining and bleeding from the site which was obstructing her airway and causing her O2 levels to decrease. She had to be suctioned several times because she was still so out of it and wasn't swallowing or spitting those secretions out - that was rough! She was kicking and flopping and flailing and crying, and coughing, and pulling at wires...she was so mad! It was hard to hold her because she was being so wild. In recovery she was getting IV Meds every 10 minutes and still seemed miserable. Her poor little eyes looked so distant and weird when she would open them for a few seconds at a time. It has never been fun seeing her after surgery but this one was definitely more difficult than the others. 

After she settled a little and wasn't quite as wild we were taken upstairs to a regular room where Hoot, Honey, big brother, and Aunt Jennie met us.  Poor Hudsy girl still was not a happy camper and Barrett wasn't sure what to think about that.... but he hung out and played cars, read books, or watched someone's phone or his kindle all day - with no nap! 

The night wasn't great, but it definitely could have been worse! We had awesome nurses and care all the way around. When Hudsy woke up around 4 she did quite the turnaround! I got a little smile for the first time and she started "talking" a little bit. We were also able to get some formula down her which was huge!! Then, the next time she woke up She drank from her sippy cup! Yay!! Progress! 

She stayed awake for 45 minutes or an hour and played peek-a-boo and stuff with me... and then slept some more. 

While we were in the hospital she sassed every single nurse as soon as they walked in the door and made sure they knew she was the boss! She pulled out her IV last night.... so she is 3 for 3 when it comes to IVs! Every time she has had surgery she has managed to get her IV out before the nurses were ready for it to come out. Little turkey! But hey, at least she's consistent! 

We were discharged around 10 this morning and are on the way home now! She slept for the first couple of hours and then ate and had some medicine. Now she is just staring at me... probably about to doze back off. 

She's a trooper - that's for sure!! And we are so proud of her for being so big and tough through all of this. God is good!

This is what Hudsyn's Palate has looked like her entire life. It is open directly to her nasal passages.

I've been trying to get a good picture of it for almost a year now and was finally able to get this one. 

The way I understand it, the fact that she has a double cleft (some bone in the middle rather than one giant opening) will be helpful for the surgeon when creating the Palate today. He will make incisions in the skin attached to the bone and pull it away. Then he will stretch the skin and stitch it together to create her new Palate! The surgery is scheduled for 1:00 and is supposed to take about 45 minutes. We appreciate all the prayers and kind thoughts! 

So... we learned a few things at pre-op today:

1. We will not be eliminating the milk and nor other liquids/foods coming out of Hudsyn's nose entirely with this "palatoplasty" - but maybe when she has the bone graft at age 8 or 9. :)

2. Just when you psych yourself up to get up super early in the morning to be at the hospital they surprise you and "let you sleep in" (like there is such a thing when you have a 3 year old and an almost 1 year old who can't have formula after midnight).

3. Not all planned surgeries are scheduled early in the morning - despite the angry screaming baby in the office who will likely still be screaming tomorrow when she arrives for surgery at 11.

Needless to say... mommy needs (has) wine, Hudsy needs (can't have) formula and we all need patience to get us through the next 11ish hours :). Guess we will just have to have a dance party :). 

My tiny princess is about to have her third surgery. Three surgeries in less than a year and still look at that sweet, contagious smile! She is spunky and feisty and if anyone can do this she can! I know God chose her because he knew she was strong enough, he knew she was brave enough, and he had a plan - but it sure is hard on this mommy's heart. She has no idea what is coming. And while that is likely a good thing... I can't help but feel bad. Maybe that's why my anxiety is through the roof? I'm having it for both her and I?? I was anxious before her first two surgeries but this one has brought me to an all time high... I've also done quite a bit of reading and have learned that most children have a really hard time with this surgery simply because they are old enough to be REALLY mad. It's not so much the actual procedure as the fact that they don't want to be still or want anything to hold them back. I have probably gotten myself all worried about that... but I am SO nervous! But my Huddy girl is so tough and resilient I know she will bounce right back! 

She is so full of life and I often wonder what she would say if she could talk... but most of the time I think it is probably best that I don't know at this point.  Some of the looks she gives me strongly suggest that this wild child is going to have no filter....

Her friend Camry is her favorite and, as you can see, she lets her have whatever she wants.... 

She has NO fear.... 

And likes to show everyone that she is "So Big"

She's such a ham! 

It is so weird to think that she has lived her entire life with no Palate. She has no idea what it's like to have a roof of her mouth. But when she wakes up from surgery on Wednesday she will have one! It will probably hurt... and it will take some getting used to... but she will have a Palate! It is so crazy what surgeons can do. No more baby food or formula coming out her nose... at least not to the extreme it has been! No more digging out pieces of cookie wrapper her dad and brother left laying around that she's had stuck in her Palate for who knows how long, no more avoiding big people food for fear it will get stuck or she will choke. I know she will feel like a brand new girl once she is all healed up... but I also know we are gonna need some prayers to get there! 

I cannot believe that my baby will be 1 in a few days.... it seems like just the other day we were meeting her for the first time and now we have been through so much together. I'm so thankful God chose me to be her mommy!!