Baptism, birthdays, and more doctor appointments

On July 14 Ashlynn was baptized at our church in Owatonna with our family around us.  Raising our children in our faith is important to us so this was special day.  We are honored that Uncle Pat and Aunt Krystal became Ashlynn’s godparents.  Ashlynn did very well during the brief ceremony.  She likes having her hair done and to look at her pretty self in the mirror so wearing her baptism dress we brought in China was fun for her.  She wasn’t sure what to think when Father Cronin poured the holy water over her head but she didn’t fuss too long.  Her big brothers watched over the whole process very closely.

The Kleckers

The Lanoues

After Baptism, our families joined us to our house for lunch and to celebrate the boys’ July birthdays.  It was a wonderful day!  We are grateful that so many members of our families were able to spend the day with us.  We are blessed with such a strong support system!
In the afternoon, Derek and Mason hosted the first Klecker Brothers backyard baseball game.  The birthday boys were the captain of their teams and each carefully picked their uncles, aunts, and cousins to be on their teams.  Derek and Mason are still debating whose team actually won the game!

Ashlynn and the birthday boys

Derek turned 8 on July 21.  He spent the day in one of his favorite places doing one of his favorite things . . . at Target Field watching the Twins.  Unfortunately the Twins didn’t win but Derek still had a good day.  Ashlynn tolerated the game about as well as any one-year-old.  The warm sun and the lack of a good nap made for a few long innings but she liked walking around the concourse with Mom waving at anyone who would smile at her.   Since it was Kids Day, the boys got to run the bases after the game.  Troy even took Ashlynn around the bases, setting her down to touch her foot on each base.  Her proud Daddy may have enjoyed this as much as Ashlynn!

Monday, July 22 marked the end of Brandi’s 10 week maternity leave from work.  What a wonderful adventure these 10 weeks have been.  It’s hard to believe our two week stay in China and our first eight weeks home as a family of 5 is already behind us.  The first days on our new routine has gone well.  Getting all five of us out the door in the morning takes a bit of organization and some luck but we’re figuring it out.  Ashlynn seems to be adjusting to daycare.  She really enjoys being around all of her new friends.  We are glad the boys will be with her all day for several weeks before they go back to school.
Ashlynn’s doctor appointments continue.  Ashlynn saw ENT which confirmed that her ears are clearing up and there is no concern with her hearing at this time.  She saw our family doctor yesterday and got her first set of vaccinations.  Ashlynn received vaccinations in China but she has a few shots to get her caught up to US guidelines.  She isn't a fan of anyone in a white coat or blue scrubs and this clinic visit didn't help any! 
We saw the plastic surgeon today.  She was pleased with how well Ashlynn lip has been coming together.  She believes Ashlynn will be ready for surgery in September.  Ashlynn also started physical therapy today to help get her gross motor skills caught up.  We are pleased with how much strength she has already gained.  She’s still not crawling but she is finding creative ways to roll, turn, and scoot herself on the floor to get to what she wants (which is usually one of her brothers’ toys).  We are confident she will learn to crawl and walk before long.  And then watch out Derek and Mason!

Thank you to everyone who continues to read our blog and follow our journey.  Please leave us a comment and let us know who is on this journey with us.

Meeting the newest member of the Klecker family, Miss Hayden Renee

Our new normal

Life is returning to "normal", whatever that is.  We are adjusting to our home filled with the energy of three children.  Our days seem to go by so quickly with all our summer activities.  It's hard to believe we've been home from China for almost seven weeks now.  We are so proud of how well all three of our kids have adjusted to this big change in our family. 

Ashlynn's surgery was over two weeks ago already.  The two days following surgery were a little rough.  She developed a fever and was just not herself.  The doctors were unsure if the fever was related to her lip adhesion or infection in her ears but a few days of antibiotics did the trick.  By the end of the week, we had a smiley little girl back! 

Ashlynn was feeling so much better that we took in a Twins game at Target Field together on June 29.  It was our first game of the season and Ashlynn's first game ever.  Her big brother Derek, our devoted Twins fan and lover of anything baseball, was so excited.  He tells everyone that Ashlynn is lucky because she got to see her first home run at Target Field and the major league debut of starting pitcher Kyle Gibson--details she'll likely never appreciate as much as Derek! :)  Ashlynn did pretty well at the game.  Ashlynn, Mason, and Brandi spent a few innings walking around in search of Mason's favorite ballpark treat, mini-donuts, and taking Mason's picture next to every thing he found interesting.  It was a great day at the ballpark!  We're sure Ashlynn will find herself at many more games in the years to come.



July 2 was Mason's 5th birthday.  We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese with Uncle Pat, Aunt Krystal, and Gavin. 

It was a tough day for Ashlynn.  During lunch, Ashlynn's stitches on one side of her lip let go.  It had not healed as well as the other side and was open again.  There was very little bleeding and it didn't seem to cause her much pain.  This was a risk the surgeon had told us about on the day of surgery but since it was over a week post surgery we thought we were beyond that possibility.  We had our first follow-up appointment with the plastic surgeon that afternoon.  She too was surprised this happened so many days after surgery but was very reassuring that it was nothing we did or didn't do.  Ashlynn now has to wear a band across her upper lip that is anchored by adhesive to each check.  This is doing the job the stitches would have done.  It's pulling the tissue of the lip and palate together and pulling down the middle part of the upper lip.  We were so disappointed that Ashlynn went through surgery and all the discomfort afterwards to only have to wear this band but we know it will all be worth it in the long-term.  The band doesn't seem to bother Ashlynn.  She only gets upset when we have to change it every few days.

Ashlynn made her first trip to the Brandi's parent's farm over the 4th of July.  Ashlynn did great sleeping away from home and loved seeing her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  On Saturday, we celebrated the wedding of Brandi's goddaughter, Michele, and her new husband Scott.  It was a fun day and a great chance for Ashlynn to meet many members of her extended family.  Ashlynn loved the music at the wedding dance.  She like to bounce to the music and wave her arms.  We have a dancer on our hands!

 



11 Lanoue Grandchildren

We saw the plastic surgeon again on Tuesday.  She was very pleased with the changes in Ashlynn's lip.  We will see her again at the end of the month when we'll starting planning for Ashlynn's second surgery which will most likely be in September.  In the doctor's office, Ashlynn weight 18 pounds!  She's gained 2 1/2 pounds since we were in China.  

So we continue to find our new "normal".  Ashlynn tags along for the boys' swimming lessons and baseball games.  She loves being outside so she doesn't seem to mind.  This weekend is Ashlynn's baptism and the boys' birthday party with our families.  Another great weekend to look forward to!

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.