Surgery Day

Our day started early.  We arrived at Children's Outpatient Clinic in Minnetonka at 6:15 am.  Ashlynn did really well while the nurses checked her vitals and we changed her into her hospital pajamas.  While playing with some fun new toys, we visited with both doctors (plastic surgeon and ENT) and the anesthesiologist.  At about 7:20, they were ready for Ashlynn.  We were able to hold her while she fell asleep.  She fussed a little but quickly relaxed and went off to dream land.

The entire procedure took just over an hour and we were able to see Ashlynn as she was waking up about 9:00 a.m.  The ENT doctor found her ears to be full of fluid and infection so the tubes were definately needed.  She will need a lot of antibiotic ear drops in the days ahead.  The plastic surgeon said the lip adhesion went well.  "The lip came together nicely".  The best news is that Ashlynn does not need to wear braces on her arms to keep her fingers out of her month as we expected.  The stitches are mostly internal so there is low risk of her pulling at them.  We were relief that it wasn't necessary this time.

Ashlynn was pretty upset coming out of anestesia.  She seemed to be in some pain.  It was a rough few hours but we were finally able to get her comfortable.  We left the hospital about noon.  Ashlynn slept most of the way home and was ready to try some yogert when we got home.  By the end of the day, she was starting to seemed a bit more like the happy girl we know.  Our little girl sure had a tough day!  We are hoping the continued pain medication and a good nights sleep will bring a better day tomorrow.

Thanks for all the supportive messages and prayers sent our way today! And thanks to Aunt Holly and Zach for having Mason and Derek over last night.  They had a great time!

Playing before surgery

Waiting before surgery

After surgery

Bath before bedtime

Happy Father's Day!

We had a great day as we were able to celebrate with all of our dads and grandpas.  We had lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Klecker and Uncle Shawn.  And we had dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Lanoue and Great-Grandpa Leonard.

I love you, Daddy!

3 generations of Kleckers

Ashlynn with Great-Grandpa Lanoue

Ashlynn with Grandma & Papa Lanoue

Ashlynn has officially been a Klecker for a month already.  She was first put in our arms on May 13.  She's such a blessing to our family.  She has fit right into our routine.  She's watched her brothers play lots of baseball, spent the afternoon with Grandpa Klecker and her aunts and cousins at Aunt Brooke's baby shower, went for a play date with friends at the park, traveled to Buffalo for a fun afternoon with Aunt Alisa, Aunt Kim, and her cousins, and spend some great days at home playing with her big brothers.  She enjoys being around all these special people in our life. 

Ashlynn is doing lots of tummy time and putting up with Mom and Dad doing her exercises with her.  All of her hard work is paying off as just yesterday she rolled over from her back to her tummy and then she rolled to her tummy again.  She was pretty proud of her self and she kept showing off her new moves. 

Ashlynn's first surgery has been scheduled for Monday, June 24.  As we previously posted, the plastic surgeon will complete the first step of her lip repair and the ENT doctor will put tubes in her ears.  This will be a "same day" procedure at Children's Outpatient Clinic.  We pray this procedures goes as planned with minimal fear and pain for Ashlynn.  We will post an update on surgery day.

Happy Father's Day to all great dads! 

Good news!

Our day at the U of M was filled with good news.  We started Wednesday morning at the cleft clinic where we saw a number of specialists.  The doctors will work as a team to recommend a treatment plan for Ashlynn's cleft lip and palate including orthodontic, speech, and ENT.  We are waiting for the official report but the next step will likely be same day surgery in the last week of June to start Ashlynn's lip repair and put tubes in her ears (common with cleft palate patients).  Surgery to repair the palate and finish the lip will be 8 to 10 weeks later. 

Our next stop was the International Adoption Clinic.  The doctor felt Ashlynn was doing very well.  She gave us some strategies for increasing the fat in her diet to help her gain weight (can you imagine the doctor telling you to add butter and cream to your food?).  We also met with an Occupational Therapist who gave us some exercises to help Ashlynn meet important development milestones like rolling over and crawling.  Before leaving this appointment, Ashlynn had to endure a blood draw.  They numbed her arms so we don't think she felt much pain but she was upset by all the unfamiliar people in the room holding down her arms.  It was no fun for any of us!

Our last appointment of the day was with the cardiologist.  Ashlynn's PFO (patent foramen ovale or small hole between the left and right upper chambers of the heart) has not closed since it was found by the doctors in China when she was 3 months old.  However, the tests showed no other heart defects so the doctor had no concerns.  She wants to see Ashlynn again at age 5 but Ashlynn's heart is healthy, she will not need any heart related surgeries, and she is cleared for her lip/palate surgeries.  This was certainly the best news of the day!!

While we were very pleased with all the great news, it was a tough day for Ashlynn.  She cried through most of the exams and procedures.  She missed most of her nap so she was exhausted by the time we got home.  She slept almost 12 hours that night!  Hopefully she'll get more comfortable with each doctor's visit.

 

Ashlynn also got her first haircut this week.  After the tough day she had with the doctors, we weren't sure what she'd think of getting her hair cut but she surprised us and did really well.  Thanks, Aunt Holly!  Ashlynn liked looking at herself in the mirror and the little snack that Mom kept feeding her helped too.

 

We have seen such wonderful changes in Ashlynn in the last week.  Each day she shares a bit more of her personality with us.  She charms us with her smiles.  Dad and her brothers have even got her to giggle a few times.  She is getting more comfortable with us holding her.  She has just started to let us hold her while she falls asleep for naps and at night.  This is significant because previously she would cry until we would lie her down with her blanket to fall asleep.  Now that school's out, she is excited to wake up and be greeted by the boys in morning.  She seems to think it's more fun when it's more than just Mom around here. 

 

10 years

Yesterday (May 31) was our 10 year wedding anniversary.  Our life has certainly changed in 10 years! 

We spent the day with our blessings!  We had lunch together with Ashlynn after watching some of Derek's Track and Field Day.  In the evening, we picked up Matthew (our "little brother" through Big Brothers/Big Sisters) and all went out for dinner.  We had planned to then go to Derek's soccer game but it was cancelled due to lightening.  The evening still ended on a good note as we enjoyed ice cream at the Blast (an Owatonna favorite).  All in all, a good day!

Ashlynn is adjusting to her new life with us.  She continues to be a good eater though we wish she'd take in more fluids.  She's gotten her days and nights almost sorted out so we're all getting more sleep.  She loves spending time with her brothers and is excited to see them when they come home from school.  She is happy most of the time.  We do have times when she cries and we can not easily comfort her.  We expect she is missing what is familiar to her.  It's hard to even imagine how difficult it is for her with so much change in just three short weeks.  We hope we will continue to earn her trust each day.  We gotcha Ashlynn and we're not letting go!

 

Look for another update after Ashlynn's appointments at the U of M on Wednesday.