Bandages are off!!!

The bandages are off and the hair has been washed...whoo-hoo!!! The ear is still VERY swollen and hopefully over the next few days the swelling will start to go down even more and the ridges of the ear will start to show through. Remember we are ONLY 1 week post op. Nathan is sooooo happy to have that bandage off, and I don't blame him one bit. He is pretty impressed by his ear.....this first picture of him, he looked at it with me and was all smiles about those 2 (count 'em..1,2) ears.

Please pray for continued healing and a successful skin graft! And also add to that prayer list that the swelling starts to subside soon.

A Little Peeky Peek........

Into our Christmas 2009!!!!

We are so very blessed, is all I can say. Not only with what Santa brought us but most importantly with family, friends and the best gift of all....our precious Lord above. I hope this post finds all of you enjoying this holiday season and remembering what CHRISTmas is really all about......with all the toys, food and chaos that comes with this time of year, I know I am guilty of sometimes letting the "big picture" slip out of sight. But what a great day to celebrate a special birthday.....Happy Birthday Baby Jesus! Enjoy some pics from our Christmas morning.

Nathan's new pride and joy, The Green Machine III!

Wilson got that "monster truck" he has been asking for..........EVERYDAY!!!

We then headed to Nina and Papa's for a yummy Christmas brunch and more presents.

Look at this little love bug........My little B.B. (a.k.a Baby Bradley)

Stirling: "Hey Wilson, whatcha got over there?" These two were a hoot.

Then back home to enjoy those Santa gifts!


This is definitely not part of the Dr's orders but we had to let him test it out!

Christmas Cousins!!!

Last night was not our "traditional" Christmas Eve...............we usually have dinner with my family and either go to our church's Christmas Eve service before or after with everyone. But sometimes you just have to have a little change in your life............with Nathan just 2 days post surgery, awful weather, and my mom (Nina) under the weather we decided to play it a little low key. The Wilsons came over for a pizza dinner and Christmas cookies. The cousins had a BLAST..........I don't think I have seen Wilson and Stirling play so well together. It was so cute and the night was perfect! We missed you Nina and Papa! Hopefully next year we can ease back into that wonderful tradition that we all love. Merry Merry everyone!!!!

Nathan and Bradley

The two rascals...........Wilson and Stirling!

The ONLY picture of the four of them that was worthy of posting :) Rascal 1 and rascal 2 were not quite cooperative! Silly is a better word :)

"Night, Night everybody..............Santa is coming to town!!!"

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Cookies, anyone?

The little patient started off pretty pitiful today......this was so different than the other times, but you take what you get I guess. The only thing I can compare it too is a bad hangover (no mom, I have never had one of those *wink,wink* ). Imagine if you drank a fifth of liquor on a completely empty stomach.....you would feel like crap the next day. Well, remember he is 6 yrs old and only weighs 43 lbs, so imagine how bad he feels after all that strong medicine.

After he laid down and took a short nap this afternoon, I promised him that if he felt like it we would do some Christmas cookies --- in preparation for Santa tomorrow night. He got up and was a little bit more like my Nathan, so we pushed on with the cookie baking. He started out helping with the rolling and cutting but quickly decided he would just wait until the decorating part came around.................

This was more like it................

Wilson even got in on the fun.....check out that tongue......total concentration!

So as you can probably see below, I really let Nate take the reigns on the decorating of the cookies.........LOOK AT ALL THAT ICING and SPRINKLES!!!! If Santa doesn't have diabetes, he will after he leaves our house tomorrow night!!!!! Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

All Tucked In!!!

The first picture is how we started the recovery process................and look at that forced smile even through tears.
And this is how you can find him now!!!!!!!!!!! Now if I can just wake him to get the bed all turned back for us.

Actually, right after I took this picture he jumped up and SPRINTED to the bathroom............that's right, nauseated and sick (for the 2nd time, first one was in the car-9 miles from Auburn- dang it, we almost made it!). I don't know what is different about this time than the others, but the 1st two surgeries we never experienced this. Oh well, it comes with the territory so I just hope it is short lived. Please pray for a speedy recovery and GREAT results!

Round 3!!!!

Well, so far today has felt like de' ja vue...........but I guess that is to be expected. We should be total pros by now, but like last time, it doesn't get any easier sending your baby off with strangers all dressed with masks for surgery. The only thing we did different today was that I went back to the OR with Nathan, per his request. This was a little different for me, considering I am usually the person hooking up the patients and helping to take care of them.....this time all I could do was hold my baby's hand and tell him it was all going to be okay. He did good and I got through it with out any tears-----until I left the room. I stood with him and talked to him and as they put the gas mask on him, kissed him on the cheek and watched him drift off to sleep........it was something I will never forget. That image will be with me forever!

Now all we do is wait......he went back to the OR at 12:30 est time and Dr. Jones got started on the procedure around 1:30. He told us to be prepared for a 3 1/2-4 hr surgery. I will update as we receive news. Until then, enjoy some pics from yesterday and this morning.

Nathan and Rod showing off Nate's artwork/pics that are displayed in Dr. Jones's office.

The whole display----from Dr. Jones's pediatric patients with microtia! (Christie, look in the top left corner and you will see Nicholas's pic)

Waiting!!!!

And MORE waiting!!!!