6 days post op

I need to order some rope to tie him down.
He only needs ibuprofen for pain, now. And if he didn't still need a nap I might be tempted to send him to school. But I think we should probably play it safe and keep him home for the rest of the week.

He looks good though! Only a little swelling left!

Monday night

Rowan had a great day today. Connor came to play this morning, and Robbie came over this afternoon. He's a little sore tonight from moving around too much, but I swear I would have to tie him down to keep him still. Isn't that wonderful?
Tonight's swelling pic, with most of the color taken out because the light was so bad.
He's starting to look more like Rowan!

And a few of you keep wanting to know about what his hip looks like. I was surprised at how small the incision was. It is healing very well.

Monday morning

We had a small breakthrough last night.
Rowan willingly looked at himself in the mirror on his way to bed. He has been avoiding all mirrors, and would hold his stuffed tiger over the lower half of his face when he went in to use the bathroom so he wouldn't have to see himself. It's been very sad to see, but I understand. He just doesn't look like himself too much, and he didn't want to see that.
He also willingly looked at the stitches on his hip - something else that he's been avoiding.
He's feeling much better. I've had to say something to him this morning about trying to run (awkwardly).
"Rowan, don't run. It's too soon for that."
"I'm not running, Mom. I'm just jogging."
"Well, don't jog either. Not yet."

He's back!

Quickie update

Rowan is doing very well. He's still very swollen. I realize that all of you are wondering and probably don't want to wait for me to get my ducks in a row and write about it. Sorry, I forgot to consider that.
So here is Rowan, playing Wii yesterday (2 days post op) and having some jello this morning (3 days post op)

2 days post op


3 days post op

2 days post op

He's doing very well. Dr. T. was able to get enough bone to fill in all his gaps, and he also removed 4 teeth.
Rowan came home from the hospital yesterday, and was very low for a while. He didn't sleep well while there, and I think he was a little afraid of falling asleep even though he was home. He was very weepy and sad.
After he took a nap he felt MUCH better. He ate a whole can of spaghetti-os and he and John traded beds for the night so I could sleep with him. He got a great night of sleep last night, and has been moving around pretty well today. He's figured out a way to walk that looks really funny (like he has to pee) but it's working for him and doesn't hurt.
He is VERY swollen and does not like to look in the mirror. I am taking pictures, but have not taken the time to write it all out here as I usually do. That will come later when I have a little more time for it.
I think he's doing very well though. He's not in very much pain, and we are making sure to keep on top of those meds for these first couple of days. I'm so proud of him. He's handling everything like a champ.

One last thought on the night before

For me, in all of this, the waiting for surgery is the worst part.
Once we get to here, to the night before when we're doing things like having Mom here and doing the crunchy party and packing --
when I can finally DO something about my situation...
That's when I even out and do okay. That's when life becomes livable again.
I'm still prone to weepiness, but it's not fear driving it. I know in my heart that God will hold him and guide his doctors' hands.
It's just that he's my baby.
It's the main reason why I keep this blog, network with the parents, and work with cleftAdvocate and AmeriFace... Doing something changes things. It keeps it from being something that happens to us and turns it into something that we're working through.

So thank you all, for being there with me. For caring about my boy.
I'm going to be leaving Niall and Eleri here with my mom tomorrow.
You might want to say a few prayers for her, too.

WE ARE READY!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRR!