week after first surgery

(See more photos on most recent post)

It's been a week of challenging nights for little D.
Days seem to go pretty well...her personality is charging out of her tired body and a very sore mouth and nose. Today she finally made that cute growling roaring "raarrrr" sound we started with her way back 2 weeks ago outside of the White Swan Hotel, in front of the two stone lion statues, where we would play with her while waiting for a taxi to take us to a park, temple, or restaurant.

In an instant, she had a full lip and a new nostril. She can no longer breathe and drink from her bottle at the same time as her cute little hole in her mouth is gone. Her nose has been plugged up, with blood and mucus from healing and fighting a cold. Her ears are plugged with wax and fluid. She has a mustache made of hard glue which covers the incision on her lip and will gradually fall off. It has changed colors along with whatever has come out of her nose. Mostly now it is black, from all of the blood. She wakes up many times during the night thrashing about, arching her back, crying and making short screams we hadn't heard before. On the one hand, we are in the process of repairing her mouth so that she can speak and eat properly, her lip so that she can speak properly and look the best she can within society's norms (though we miss her cute little mouth hole and funny teeth on one side of her mouth). On the other had, leaving China, entering a new world, and having surgery within a 2 week period have undoubtedly caused her no short amount of trauma.

Last night, we woke at 5 AM to find ten palm-sized dark blood stains on the bed where she was sleeping/thrashing, long clots of blood, and her face covered in blood coming out of her nose and mouth. I had awakened to the sound of her strained breathing, a lungfull of air coming out of a pinhole in the lesser plugged nostril. After speaking to the on-call doc, with the bleeding stopped, we relaxed. Turns out it is not uncommon for a child to "tongue out" her sutures. Which it appears she did.

I went back to sleep, anticipating the day ahead, though fell asleep with fears. Tal stayed downstairs with her and they both fell asleep after 15 minutes. She had a fantastic day - very active with her brothers, a long walk with Mama, wrestling with Daddy, new toys, new clothes and gifts from friends and family. Great times at her toy kitchen, petting the kitty and doggy, and - finally - eating three meals (mashed potatoes, apple sauce, juice from a dropper, pudding) Many many gifts and notes received, which her Mama has felt deeply (but has not had time to write thank you notes... alas). Gorgeous, sunny, warm weather helped a lot.

Spending Monday night in the hospital gave me a renewed respect and awe for nurses and doctors. Wow. She slept for a few hours in the afternoon after her surgery (see photo on blog) and then awoke for 5 hours of restlessness. Daddy came up to be with us after a day of work and help. We watched a few cartoons, looked at photos of our China trip on the computer. Ate jello and had a bottle... then severe discomfort, morphine, and sleep from 10 PM to 4 AM... changed diaper, looked at more photos, sleep from 5-6:30 AM. For her. Mama observed far more during the night: a wailing roomate (4 year old little girl) - finally stopped crying after 3 hours at 11:30 PM; she moved out of the room at 2 AM; cleaning staff cleaned the room with full flourescent lights on at 2:30 AM; new roommate moved in at 3:30 AM.

Nurse Jess was amazing. So caring, so helpful. Helped change diapers - which is made difficult with an IV in her foot. Let me stretch my painful legs and back. Gave meds. IV was leaking, brought in another nurse at 3 AM. Very calm the entire time. At 6:30 AM, Dalia pointed to the door; we had her IV unhooked and went exploring around the hall. We were in luck - a lot of action on the floor. Dalia was in her element. People and activity. She pointed to the murals of animals on the wall which we rolled by in a wagon with Dad the night before. She remembered the images and made her animal sounds. We walked down to the Woody Jackson cow -- a favorite of hers -- at the end of the hall and made more noises. Had some strawberry ice cream while sitting on the floor outside the nurses' station.

Dr. Laub and team came by and were quite impressed that she had eaten jello, taken a bottle and had ice cream. Definately - time to go home! The med students, residents and one attending came by again at 9 to do rounds. One student named Kai, a woman from Burma, "presented" Dalia's chart, Grey's Anatomy style. I had tears in my eyes as Dalia was alert, making connections with all of the docs (15 women), smiling, pointing, reacting. One Doc pointed out her Mongolian spots -- not bruises -- my little Appaloosa. Kai came back to check on her a few times before we left.

When I drove out of the hospital, she immediately fell asleep. I felt incredibly worn, and immensely grateful. There were many, many kids in that hospital who need to be there longer, or more frequently, with diseases, some frightening and unsolvable. I truly counted my blessings for her and for myself as we slowly drove south on Route 7 back home.

Thanks to friends and family for checking in on her!