Piper's 2nd Palate Repair Surgery

Piper had her 2nd palate surgery June 5th.  I was so scared and nervous only because we had just did this all in January.  I was so scared because I knew what it was like the first time and seeing my baby girl come out of surgery was really hard to see.  My mother in law came with to be with me while Daddy worked.  He was going to leave later and come down and spend the night and the next day with us.  That was definitely what I needed this time around.  I was so thankful for my mother in law's company that day.  It helped having someone there to talk to and be with during our wait.  We had to get to the hospital by 6 AM.  I woke up, picked up Piper out of her crib, and along with her binky and blanket, I carried her to the car.  We arrived at the hospital and I got her all ready in her little gown.  We met and talked to the doctors.  They said that the surgery was going to be 2 1/2 hours.  When it was all said and done it was 4.  We got our hourly updates and she was doing well each time.  When it was time for us to be able to go back, I all of the sudden was not feeling well.  I started getting really nervous about seeing her afterwards and trying to do it all over again.  So my mother in law asked for a snack.  I had to munch because I felt like I was going to pass out.  Once I ate I felt better and then took a few deep breaths and went back.  I tried to prepare my mother in law for what she was going to see.  We went in and my little girl was definitely having a hard time.  The nurse told me that she had attempted to rip out her IV a few times and she was so strong it took 3 nurses to hold her down.  When they handed her to me, she immediately calmed down.  They said it was the calmest that they had seen her.  That just melted my heart.  She knows her mama!!!  She just laid in my arms and she allowed herself to rest.  After a bit, she woke a little and we offered her some popsicle.  She loved the popsicle.  I think she had 3 in the recovery room.  I was impressed.  This was definitely improvement from the last time.

The doctor ended up repairing the hole in the top of her mouth, which was the unrepaired side.  She took all of the tissue she needed from her cheek and used alloderm which is an artificial layer sandwiched between her tissue.  She was so swollen when I went back to the recovery room.  It just broke my heart to see her like that but I know every bit of it is a gift.  That is what my mother in law kept saying.  She is right.  She is here with us and getting the care she needs.  Please pray for her healing and that she would not be in a lot of pain.  God definitely is giving me strength, more than I thought I had.  Somehow I just keep going.