On Our Way

Hi, everyone!  I wanted to give a quick update to all of you who still follow along on our blog.  Sophie is doing great since her surgery at the end of September.  She has healed beautifully and is now back to her sweet little self.  She stayed out of school a week while the drains were in, but she was so excited to get rid of the them and back to school to all of her friends, playtime, and lots of popsicles! 

Speaking of popsicles, they have to be Sophie's all time favorite food at the moment.  She asks for them All. Of. The. Time.  Of course, she is not allowed to have them whenever she wants, but we try to oblige as much as possible.  Popsicles helped get Sophie motivated to wake up and out of the hospital after her surgery.  The nurses were great to bring as many to her as she wanted, which showed us she could eat and everything was working as it should so that we could be released to go back to the hotel for a little R&R (rest and recovery). 

While Sophie was waiting to go to surgery, the wonderful staff at the hospital gave Sophie the sweet little puppy, Cooper (which also happens to be the name of one of her best buds from school), you see below.  It was love and first sight!  Cooper got to go to surgery with Sophie, and everything.  They have been just about inseperable since. 

We are two fills into this round of expansion, and everything is going well. I was worried about doing our first fill at home, since it had been several months since we last did one. Everything went well, and Sophie is now sporting 160ccs in her back expanders and 120 in her belly.  The pics below were taken before we did her first fill at home.  Each back expander has 120 ccs and the belly has 80.  As you can see, she is already expanding quite a bit, so we can only imagine what November and early December will bring us.  We are praying for lots of healthy skin!  Thanks for checking in with us, and stay tuned for more updates!

 

Round 2!

Here we are back in Chicago for Sophie's second round of expanders.  She is getting 3 this time.  Two on her back, and one on her lower abdomen.  Dr. Bauer says the two on her back will be 1000ccs each, while the one on her tummy will be 500.  Holy Cow!  That is even bigger than the last time!  Well, if bigger expanders mean one less surgery, then we will take it!

We will be here until Monday, so please pray that Sophie does as well this time as she has the other two.  We are sure she will, but one can never have too many prayers being said!

A Few Videos

Earlier this year, Sophie started singing "Jesus Loves Me"

while playing the "drums".  I tried and tried to record her

performance, but she was having no part of it. 

Finally, one day I talked her into letting me

 record her singing.  As you will see, she obliged, but

when she was done, she was done.



It's so sweet to see Sophie saying the

Pledge of Allegiance.  She doesn't realize

it yet, but those will be some of the best words that she

will ever speak.  Also, Sophie wants to say the

blessing by herself before meals. It seems like yesterday

that we were just teaching her to say it.

I managed to get Sophie singing all of "God Bless America".

It's amazing what little sponges they are.

Quickly taking everything in. 



Last but not least, we have a new cheer for 3K.

It was supposed to be 2 Bits, but it turned into a cheer

for what Sophie loves to do most....play!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sophie!

On August 23rd, our big girl turned 3! 

It is SO hard to believe that she is so big and 3 already!  She is changing so much physically and developmentally.  I know I told y'all a while back how she could say anything she wanted, but now that comes in complete sentences and much clearer.  We have many of the words that you expect from 3K, both good and bad, but we are taking it in stride.

 We started out with a birthday party at 3K with all of the kids. 

Baba, who is quickly becoming known as "Daddy",

 and I took muffins, fruit, and Capri Suns to school for everyone. 

All of the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to Sophie, and then

Mrs. Cindy got a big birthday hug before everyone went back to the class.

 

There, Sophie's class sang to her again,

Mrs. Cindy gave Sophie birthday "licks",

and Sophie got to sit in Mrs. Cindy's chair and

open the birthday gift of her choice.

She had a great time, and all of the kids were so sweet!

After a birthday dinner of Sophie's favorites,

fried chicken, corn on the cob, rice, and butter beans,

Sophie opened the rest of her gifts.

She loves music, so she was very excited about the

keyboard that Nana and Pawpaw gave her.

She also loves to play in the water and sand, so

this water/sand table was a big hit too!

We wound up the birthday celebrations with a Kai Lan

pool party with friends and family.  Everyone had a great time,

and we appreciate everyone making this birthday such a special one!

Sophie Starts 3K!

I can't believe that I am writing this....

Sophie started 3K at Monroe Academy, my alma mater, on August 11.  She is officially a Volunteer. 

She has the cheerleader uniform to prove it!

I wanted to get some pictures of Sophie before we left home, but lately we have been into making some really silly faces when Mama is trying to take pictures,  

 so we started out like this....

then we got the really big grin....

 

and I'm not sure exactly what you would call this,

but we finally were able to get a decent picture. 

Believe me, the angelic look is very misleading.  Ha!  Kidding...

She is very sweet, but very mischevious!

Sophie has been really been excited about going to her "new school", as she calls it, and we are so glad!  We had no problems getting her ready to go.  I, on the other hand, got more and more nervous the closer the time came for us to leave home.  I kept telling myself all the way there that I couldn't cry, because if I got upset, then she would get upset.  I just about lost it as we were turning into the parking lot, but I held it together.  I told Sophie to look at all of the cars and kids.  She exclaimed, "Wow!  My new school!"  We walked in, and I could tell she was a little apprehensive, but we saw a couple of friends from daycare and found something to play with, and off we went!  She LOVES it!  We are so happy!

Lily, Sophie, and Molly (her daycare buds)

When I ask her what she did at school, she tells me all about playing outside on the playground.  She tells me that she has to wait her turn to ride the merry-go-round or the see-saw, and she loves to swing.  Mrs.Cindy, Sophie's teacher, found out very quickly how much she LOVES to play outside.  This child would live outside if you would let her!  I hope she will begin to like school work as much as she does playing outside.  If she doesn't, we may be in BIG trouble!



Summer Wind Down

I know... 

I am so far behind posting on the blog.  I tried to stay caught up, but we've just been having so much fun enjoying life that the blog took a backseat to everything else.  We have enjoyed several trips to the beach, time at the pool, and playing at home.  Sophie loves playing in the sand and water at the beach and the pool.  At the beginning of the summer, Sophie was a little afraid of the water, but now, she's doing much better.  She is still not too keen on going underwater, but every time we go, she gets better and better.

We made a trip to Birmingham for Sophie's one year check-up at the International Adoption Clinic.  The wonderful staff there told us that she is doing great and not to come back until Sophie gets ready to start kindergarten.  We were SO pleased by this!  We thought she was doing great, but it's music to the ears to hear it from the professionals!  While we were in Birmingham, we got to see our friends Rhonda and Hannah Grace.  We met for lunch, and sweet little Hannah Grace asked us to come along for dessert at the yogurt shop.  We were so glad she did!  We LOVE yogurt (especially Baba)!!

Sophie has been so excited about going to her "new school".  She is going to attend 3K at Monroe Academy, my alma mater.  She received a letter in the mail from her teacher telling her how excited she was the Sophie was in her class.  Sophie loves to get mail, so this was extra special!

We hope that everyone had a great summer!

What Happened to June?

Has anyone seen my June?  If you find it, please send it back!

I couldn't believe my eyes, when I opened the blog to see that it had been a whole month since I last posted.  I don't know where the time has gone, but it flew by.  I guess we've just been enjoying our expander and surgery free time so much that it just whizzed right by us.

We have had a very busy month full of family reunions,

trips to the beach,

Father's Day,

playdates,

and just hanging out at home.

Sophie's favorite place to hide ~ under the dining room table.

 

Sophie is getting to be such a big girl now.  She is potty training (I will spare you the photos :-)) and sleeping in her big girl bed.  She loves getting ready for bed because we read books to her and then she "reads" to us.  Even though she is going to be earlier, we get more cuddle time in bed with her before she falls asleep.  We LOVE that! 

Sophie's favorite book is Good Night Moon,  

and her favorite cartoon is Ni Hao, Kai Lan. 

Here she has her "safari" hat on while acting out part of a Kai Lan episode and going shopping.  She is such a funny little girl and has quite the active imagination.  It is amazing how much Chinese language and culture she is picking up from Kai Lan.   It is definitely educational for her and us! 

I promised to post some post-surgery pictures of Sophie.  Here they are.  It is remarkable to me that she has healed so well so quickly.  Dr. Bauer is a genius, and we are so thrilled with the job he has done so far. 

We have scheduled Sophie's next round of surgeries.  We go September 30 for another round of expanders, and then have another surgery to remove part of the nevus on December 15.  I know it sounds crazy to plan surgery so close to Christmas, but having it then means that she will be back to full speed by Christmas, and it will give her all of Christmas vacation to recoup before school starts back in January. 

Thanks for checking in with us.  We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Rio

While in Chicago last week, we tried to find things to pass the time and keep Sophie (and us) occupied.  On Sunday, we decided to go to a movie.  Sophie had never been to a movie before, and we weren't entirely sure how long she would sit for one, if at all.  I quickly searched online to find an age appropriate movie.  Rio was the only movie available at the time.  I watched the trailer for it, and it seemed cute enough, so we decided to go for it.

We arrived at the theater and made our way to the ticket counter and paid for the tickets.  As soon as we began to walk off, the ticket guy pushed 3 pair of 3-D glasses into Bo's hand.  I was shocked!  I had totally missed that this was a 3-D movie!  Bo and I looked at each other like "This won't last long because Sophie will never keep the 3-D glasses on for the movie...", but we had already paid for the tickets so we made our way to the theater.  We made it in just in time for the movie to begin.  We put on our glasses and helped Sophie with her's and settled into our seats, which were conveniently located near the back of the theater just in case we needed to make a quick exit. :)

Well, I am here to tell you that we were completely wrong!  Not only did Sophie watch the whole movie, she kept her glasses on the entire time! 

We will definitely be going to another movie very soon!

The Most Special Mother's Day Gifts

During the many Mother's Days that came and went while we waited for Sophie, I often imagined all of the sweet Mother's Day gifts that Sophie would make for me one day. On the Thursday before Mother's Day when I picked Sophie up from school, she was holding a little gift wrapped in tissue paper that had a tag on it that read, "To: Mom From: Sophie". I couldn't wait to open it, but knew that I had to wait until that very special day. The next two days passed very slowly, as I walked by the little gift numerous times. Finally the day arrived, and look what I found inside!

A sweet MOM magnet for the refrigerator

and a precious card that Sophie made for me



with the sweetest poem and Sophie's handprint inside.



The poem is a little difficult to read in the picture, so I will post it below.

Thank You, Mom

Thank you for reading me stories

And taking care of me.

Thank you for tying my shoes

And putting bandages on my knee.

Thank you for tucking me into bed

And kissing me goodnight.

Thank you so much for all your hugs

And holding my hand so tight.

Thank you for being my mommy

And that's not all I have to say.

Thank you so much for all you do

And have a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Thank you so much, Sophie, for the great Mother's Day gifts!!  I love them and you so very much!!

Meeting Members of Our Nevus Family

While in Chicago for Sophie's surgery, we had the opportunity to meet other Nevus families from various parts of the US.  On Thursday, we met the Nagel's for breakfast at our hotel.  Beth and I met on Nevus Outreach.  They are from South Dakota and their son, Sully, had had expander insertion surgery on Monday.  This was his second round of expanders.  He is such a cutie and a little trooper!

 Sophie and Sully

While at breakfast with the Nagel's, there was another Nevus family from Vermont having breakfast, as well.  Their 10 month old little girl has a scalp nevus and was having her first round of expanders removed and nevus excision on Thursday.  I pray everything went well for them. 

Today while at Dr. Bauer's office for Sophie's checkup, we met a family from Washington, D.C.  Their 6 month old daughter has a scalp nevus, and they were their for their first expansion.  Mom was very anxious, and understandably so.  I hope that she was encouraged to see how well Sophie has done and that they have a complication free expansion and surgery.

After Sophie's appointment, we met the Melton's, Adam, Christine, Katie, and Josh, from Phoenix, Arizona for lunch.  Christine and I met on Nevus Outreach.  Their little boy, Josh, has a nevus like Sophie's.  He had surgery to insert his second round of expanders on Monday.  He had many complications after his first round and never even got to have an expansion, but Dr. Bauer still managed to remove part of his nevus anyway.  I keep telling y'all how amazing Dr. Bauer is!  We are praying for great, problem free expansions and healthy skin for Josh and his family.  We are looking forward to meeting more nevus families!

Josh and Sophie at lunch

So sweet!

Nevus moms with our nevus babies

The Reveal.

We are so excited to share the first before and after pictures of Sophie with everyone!  Dr. Bauer is amazing.  Simply amazing!  Sophie is doing so well after her surgery and is just about completely back to normal.  This is great for her, but not so much for us, as she is supposed to have quiet play for the next 3 weeks while the skin flaps adhere to her body and the incisions heal.  We are going to have our hands full!  Sophie was jumping up and down in the doctor's office today.  Mim, one of Dr. Bauer's wonderful nurses, said that she was so glad that Dr. Bauer was not there to see it!

In the picture below you can see that Dr. Bauer was able to remove the nevus from Sophie's lower back and to a point below her waist.

Unfortunately, I did not get any side view pictures of Sophie before the surgery, but in the top picture in the collage below, you can tell how much the nevus came up on her sides.  Post-surgery, she has clear, nevus free skin on both sides. 

Once we are home and Sophie no longer has the drains, I will take some more pictures of her standing.  This will help to see her sides better.

Where do we go from here?  Sophie will have the drains at least until Friday, or until the incisions stop draining.  We will do dressing changes daily and she will be wrapped in an ace bandage for the next 2 1/2 - 3 weeks.  The ace bandages help hold the skin flaps in place so that they can heal properly.  Lastly will be the most challenging part of the healing process, keeping Sophie quiet for the next 2 1/2 - 3 weeks.  Like most 2 years olds, quiet and still is not a normal thing for her. 

We would like to thank you all again for your prayers.  They were certainly felt, and we could not have made it through this first round without them.  Please continue to remember us and all of other families (there are many) who are going through this with their children (some as young as 6 months old) and other family members.  They will be greatly appreciated!

I will close with a few pictures of Sophie before and after surgery.

Excited about the stickers, crayons, and coloring books from the hospital staff.

On the "Happy Juice"!

Sporting her "no-no's" and opening her cards after surgery.

That sweet smile is back 24 hours post-op!