Good News!

We got 2 pieces of good news today regarding Annika and her surgeries:

1- She is done for at least 3 years with surgeries!

2- We will not need to stay overnight tonight; instead, we can go home this afternoon!

Annika went into Surgery at 7:30 this morning. We had been here since 5:30, and she played so nicely during our wait. She was not so happy (okay she was REAL mad) about having to be given to a stranger, but they took her back, gave her some sleepy medicine, and began their work. Surgery itself took about 4 hours, and Dr. Mann came to see us at about noon to tell us he was pleased with how things went, and that we would be able to go home today.

Right now, we're still waiting to head home. We are in a recovery room waiting for Annika to be awake, comfortable, and drinking a little liquid. Ross and I are getting a little antsy, so I'm aiming to leave here in an hour or so, but we also don't want to rush anything.

Pictures to come sometime this weekend!

The benefits of being a teacher

There are a lot of reasons I became a teacher, and I would be lying if I said the summer vacation had no bearing on my decision. Having 3 months off during the best weather Michigan has to offer has always been an enjoyable part of my job, but this summer proved to be the best summer yet. I was so blessed to be able to watch Annika become a little person, with a new, adventerous and curious personality. We spent our mornings running errands, going to the farmer's market, and having coffee with Aunt Katie. We visited the splash pad, went shopping, and played at parks. The afternoons were relaxing, as Annika (and sometimes I) took a nap. It was an ideal summer.

This summer also allowed me to focus my attention on starting Annika on new foods. God's timing is always perfect, and that was clear as Annika was able to start eating solids the week school ended for me. I'm guessing we will have a picky eater on our hands, but she has progressed so well! At times in the last year and a half, it was hard to imagine her being able to eat and even begin to talk like her peers.

Now that summer is officially over, we are making some changes again. Annika left the little tots room and the best 2 daycare teachers I could have imagined, and she is now in the toddler room. Even in the 2 weeks that she has been there, I can already hear new words and phrases that she is putting together, and new things she likes to play with. I miss not being able to experience these things more throughout the day with her, but she is learning so much while I'm away that I have to remind myself we are both where we should be right now.

Another change we are making will come next week, as Annika will have her 4th and final surgery (for awhile at least) next Friday. This surgery will make her upper lip more full and natural looking. It will also cover up her middle gum area more. We went to her pro-operation appointment yesterday, where the details of the surgery were more fully explained. We won't know the time of the surgery until next week, but it should last roughly 3 1/2 hours. I will post the time of the surgery once I find out.

For now, please pray that Annika stays healthy up to the surgery. She's been sick off and on this past week, and we're hoping she will stay healthy . Also, if you haven't seen Annika in awhile, and want to see some more-than-cute pictures, you can take a look at her 18 month pictures that my dad took in August. Just click on the link below.

http://animoto.com/play/X9vGa7sB3QPxsTzzsmYTaw