The Goodwins

Today our little family was once again in Chicago and Ella is a little lighter in the head, missing her surgery hat and drainage tubes… however, she is also a little heavier as Kirk and the nurse injected her expanders with an additional 35ml of saline (15 in the front and 20 in the back). Her head is officially taking on a strange shape and the haircut from surgery isn’t quite in style – especially considering all the detangling that was required after 10 days under her surgery hat… dreadlocks are in right? But her smiles are still so beautiful!

Kirk and I are very thankful for our friend from church Karen, a nurse here in St Joe. She met us in Chicago with her husband and two sons in tow (they went to the zoo) to learn the injection procedure with us so that we’ll have a backup here in town. We have had so many blessings along the way and Karen has been added to that list!

Once again Ella was a trooper – she did cry, pretty hard, but I am attributing that more to the lack of a nap before the appointment than to any real discomfort. She was really mad about the numbing cream rubbed on the injection ports; maybe it was cold? But once the gel was in place she played happily for about 30 minutes while we waited for it to kick in and while the nurse was reviewing the procedures with us. And she did not cry during the actual injections so we know that she should do fine when we are on our own. Kirk was amazing to – he is an incredibly loving father and while it hurts his heart to push a needle into Ella’s head, he is strong and steady; instilling confidence and faith in both his girls!

When we came home I walked into our kitchen and smiled at the beautiful vase of flowers brought to me earlier by my friend Miss Barb (Ella’s part-time therapist, friend, and now babysitter – if she’ll come back after Ella’s afternoon of tears this week!) It lifted my spirits, and I needed that!

Ella did finally get a good nap on the way home and she ate a big dinner – bigger than she has all week! Maybe the medications upset her tummy? Or maybe it was just all her struggling to avoid taking them that messed with her appetite. But luckily now that the drainage tubes are out she no longer has to take them, and Kirk and I (mostly Kirk) no longer have to wake her at 1am to force them into her.

After dinner we took a short family walk and Ella laughed and smelled all the flowering bushes in our yard! She giggles when we laugh at her efforts to snort air in and out her nose! We shared some ice cream, and gave Ella a bath… at long last we have washed her hair! That made mom feel better too.

So now Ella is sleeping peacefully, and Kirk and I are relaxing together, happy knowing that all is well with our beautiful girl!

Every time I talk about exercise and getting “back in shape” my mom sighs and says “I wish you’d dance again.” And while that always sounded like fun, who really wants to pay for classes unless it’s leading somewhere. So Kirk and I finally caved in and joined the YMCA, and they actually have an adult jazz class that isn’t filled with college students and teenagers! So I signed up, and even got a new pair of dance sneakers as my jazz shoes were falling apart (and out of style after 17 years!) I’m really enjoying the movement of the class and my brain picks up on the steps as easily as I ever did, however, when I look in the mirror I have to wonder who that chunky, old(ish) woman is looking back at me. What happened to the girl who could eat anything and never gain a pound… darn my changing metabolism. I have to say my reflection yearns for the days when fitness came naturally and my diet consisted mainly of Mountain Dew (not diet) and a bag of barbeque chips as my roommate Lori and I road tripped to anywhere.

Ella is out of surgery, sleeping restlessly in her hospital bed. Kirk and I are sighing a bit of relief but still feeling very somber. Hopefully she will wake up and give us one of thos beautiful smiles soon. All three of us are drained and exhausted, but we’re all here together!

I can’t believe how many people love our little girl! Kirk and I have been receiving so much encouragement and so many prayers from everyone that it is almost overwhelming… in a good way that is! It’s as if our little family is living in a giant hug! I’ve always known how precious Ella is to Kirk and I, and our close family & friends, but it is heartwarming to see how far her laughter extends into the world. So with a much lighter heart I send you all one of Ella’s loving smiles and a handful of her kisses! B.