new lip for our girl

Dalia is sleeping in my bed in her hospital room. Sleeping. What a relief.

Dr. Laub said the surgery went really well. He was pleased with how the repair of her lip went, especially. He also positioned her left nostril, "I did the best I could", and repaired her hard palate. He commented that the gap in her hard palate was fairly wide, most likely due to nutritional deficiencies early in her gestation.

I went to the recovery area and had to hold back my tears and harden up a bit. It took her another fifteen minutes to come out of anesthesia. When she did, she flailed around a lot, pulled off her arm restraints, wouldn't be held even by me, cried and yelled. Blood dribbled out of her mouth and nose. But, she was fine, and she looked SO different - even in this bruised up swelled up state. Eventually she settled down, and actually took her bottle. Watched some blinking light toys and a Fisher Price plastic aquarium with bubbles and plastic fish moving around in circles to a lullaby.

Moved up to her room and laid down on Mama. Ate a cup of jello. Drank 6 oz of formula. Dr. Laub said this is "ahead of schedule."

Everyone at Fletcher Allen has been so helpful and kind. Doctors and nurses of all kinds stopping by.

Here's a photo of her, post-surgery.

Dina