Post Operative Pictures...

One of the things we found most helpful when trying to anticipate Mary's surgery were the pictures other parents shared of their children's healing progress. We didn't know exactly what to expect to see when Mary cam out of surgery, or how the healing progress would go. So to help Mary understand one day what she went through, and to help other families that are about to undergo this process, here are the first few days after surgery for Mary's bilateral cleft lip (third surgery). 

Surgery Day, just after arriving back from the recovery room and having a nap beside Mama...

 One day after surgery, our little Rocky prize fighter. There were actually fingerprint bruises on the left side of her face...

Two days after surgery, swelling is going down slowly, you can see how her left side is still more swollen than the right...

Three days after surgery (finally at home!)...

Four days after surgery, this is Mary trying to say "Cheese"...

Since this is our third go around, the surgeons have told us that we can start relaxing one week after surgery. I am counting down the days until Tuesday. I think one of the hardest parts for me right now (besides the most obvious - seeing your baby in pain) is the fear. The fear that she might develop another infection, the fear that the surgery site may not hold, the fear that she might have to go through this all over again. We check her surgery site throughout the day and night so ensure everything is as it should be. When the kids got up this morning I had to ask Cory to look for me and report back, I was just too anxious to even see. Mary was in the hospital those extra couple of days to be on IV antibiotics and she is continuing with oral antibiotics at home now to prevent the development of an infection this time. Continued prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated and welcomed.