Surgery day...

6:30 am...
Here we go! All checked in and waiting for them to take her down to surgery... Praying she will soon be back in my arms.

10:45 am...
Update... The cochlear implant is in, currently testing device, Dr Lusk will be closing up incision soon then take tube out and should be in recovery within the next hour...



Noon...
Out of recovery and into the room, my arms!! She is sleeping now and doesn't seem to tolerate the IV or the bandage

Think we are ready...

Pre-operation Exam...Check!  Passed!

Pre-operation Physical...Check!  Passed!

We have taken all of the "pre" steps needed in order to stay on schedule with surgery on 

TUESDAY, July 24th...just a few more days.  

A little details about Chloe's surgery:

We are scheduled to be at the hospital at 6:15am with surgery scheduled for 7:45am.  The surgery will be approx. three hours long and she will be kept in recovery up to an hour before returning to her room. Chloe will get monitored for two to three hours following surgery before being sent home. Chloe will wear a bandage for three days to cover the incision, which will be very minimal if you think of the surgery involved. If you fold your ear flat and trace the edge, that's approx what her incision will be.

Activation (turning on external device) is scheduled for 10:00 on August 1st. However she will need an X-ray first thing that morning and approval from Dr Lusk before proceeding. 

Plans are to do the right ear first - second surgery scheduled for August 21 - due to the risks involved with the length of surgery, both ears are not done at the same time.

I will try to give updates day of surgery...let the prayer circle begin!!

3 weeks and counting...

Just three weeks until Chloe's first surgery and the Mommy nerves have already started. Nervous for the surgery itself and the risks that are always there. Nervous for the new journey once her first cochlear implant has been activated. But I'm anxious too to see where this journey takes us and to watch Chloe's reactions as she discovers sounds for the first time. But overall we are ready!! 
(Chloe's ear infection has cleared, we go to the surgeon next week for final clearance and ear check)


The device we have chosen (yes this was a choice we had to make and it is probably one of the hardest choices I had to make) is Advanced Bionics Neptune. Neptune is a fully waterproof device meaning that Chloe will be able to enjoy water activities such as bath time, swimming, rain...while still being able to hear. This was a major factor for us as we considered devices - for me I went against my heart feeling and listened to my mind thinking about how much language learning time there is during bath time. Think of it they are stuck in a tub and can't run from you and you are stuck next to the tub at the same time...so what else is there to do but work on colors, animals, shapes, etc, etc, etc 

Again we are asking for prayers from all of you to keep Miss Chloe Jean healthy so she can have surgery, prayers that God will guide the surgeon carefully during, and prayers that she will recovery quickly and be back safe into our arms.

Save The Date!!!

We made two steps forward today...and this mom is more excited (and a little nervous to be honest) than words can say right now!

Peek A Boo

Let's rewind a little - I woke up today thinking, Day 14.  Today is Day 14 of the 7 to 21 days we were informed it could take to get insurance to approve the cochlear implant surgery.  And little did I know that Day 14 was our lucky day.  We got a phone call today from Boys Town NRH to let us know that they had approved the cochlear implant surgery for Chloe!  Happy Dance (with tears of course)!  It is still a little fuzzy if both sides will be covered as actual paperwork didn't indicate times two, but we are going to take it one "ear" at a time.

Still hadn't had much time to process all of the excitement, items on my to-do list and the second phone call came.  Boys Town NRH called to schedule the surgery.  We have a date!!  As things are scheduled now, Chloe will have surgery on JULY 24 to implant the processor on her right ear.  Happy Dance (with more tears of course)!  Now, things can change from now until then but we are praying that Chloe remains healthy and we are given green light go for surgery.

On a side note, Chloe currently has an ear infection on her right ear - just started antibiotics and ear drops tonight.  The tubes are doing their job and allowing for the infection to drain and not build up and since we have time, I think we will be able to clear things up by then.  

Thankfully the family is busy with all sort of activities - July 24 will be here before we know.

Chloe Jean - 9 months

Just in the mood to post and thought "why not" share an update about Chloe's growth and development.  She  had her 9 month checkup last week (in one way I can't believe she is that old already, but in another, it seem like we have been traveling for quite some time) and Chloe is:
Beautiful
Bright
Healthy
Happy

Oh wait, those are the things I tell her everyday, now the doctor gave us:

Weight 19 lbs 11 oz (60%)
Length 28.75 inches (90%)

Chloe has had a big week here lately and is starting show off all her new "tricks"
Waves (when she wants); Blows Kisses (when she wants); Crawls up on all fours, but army crawls when she wants to get there quicker; Starting to pull herself up on toys, and thinks she can stand without holding on (thinking maybe we need to invest in bubble wrap to protect her head); has two bottom teeth

Can't forget Big Sister Sydney...she is amazing with Chloe and can get her to laugh so easily.  Chloe's eyes still sparkle when Sydney comes into the room and sure enough she has to play right next besides her, too big for "baby" toys now.  Sydney is learning how to be "4" and is also teaching her mother patience and trying to see just how far she can push some buttons...but overall, her questions, her responses, her non-stop talking (and/or singing) make me smile and laugh.

Tired girl after weekend of camping

God is truly amazing and has blessed us with two thriving young girls...I don't know what I would do without them.

(( Yes, we are still wating for a surgery date to be scheduled, it should be with insurance now))

We go up, And we go down...

Chloe Jean - 8 1/2 Months

May 22, 2012 - The big day was finally here!!  Since Chloe had that other ear infection and fluid in her ear the week before - she also received tubes in both ears the same day.  Chloe was scheduled for surgery first thing in the morning - and was one of the best patients, if you ask me.  She didn't fuss about not getting to eat right when she woke up - she was too busy studying everything around her - all the new faces that came into the room and all the new toys they had in a nice playroom there.

The surgery for the tubes went very well - we got a report from the Doctor what seemed like only minutes after she left.  However, we waited for what seemed like forever, to hear from anyone regarding how the MRI went.  After an hour, I was one nervous Mommy (and I am sure Daddy was too) and was ready to have Chloe back with me, in my arms again.
Shortly after, the Doctor walked in and told us she was in recovery and...wait for it...

Chloe Jean - recovering

God answered our prayers (and yours too) and we got the positive results we prayed for:  everything looked good - hearing nerve is present, the cochlear (middle ear) and vestibular (balance) system are normal!  

There were many tears of joy from both of us - we are so thankful for everyone's thoughts, prayers and concerns.  I couldn't stop smiling, I couldn't stop crying - We both are ready to begin the next journey with Chloe with the Cochlear Implants...

AND THEN we got a phone call we weren't expecting...Doctor called to report that they found a cyst near Chloe's brain stem.  The unexpected news hit us pretty hard - we weren't expecting this hurdle and thought we were in the home stretch for scheduling surgery.  We had an appointment with the Neurosurgeon on Tuesday (yes, today).

It was one long weekend filled with lots of rides on the emotional roller coaster of our journey.  We didn't quite know what to expect today: worried that this would put us on hold for the CI surgery.

With lots of prayers over the weekend - We met with the Neurosurgeon from Children's Hospital this morning.  Chloe has an arachnoid cyst - and we were told this is nothing for us to worry about.  This type of cyst normally only grows during infancy and if needed, can be taken care of if it causes any harm.  The cyst will be monitored, thankfully by CT Scan and not through MRI (once Chloe has the CIs, she will not be able to have a MRI, even of her big toe, due to the magnets), for the next year.

And now I remind myself to have patience...and let the Cochlear Implant Team work their magic...so our next phone call will carry the news of a surgery date!!

Sisterly Love Always

Just another bump in the Journey

Chloe has yet another ear infection - which the Doctor isn't really thrilled about, neither are her parents.  There can not be any fluid in her ear(s) at time of surgery (if we get there, fingers crossed, prayers said).  So another round of antibiotics and wait until the middle of May to see if she will need tubes or not.

Chloe Jean - 8 months

On another note, the MRI has been scheduled for May 22, 2012 - and if needed, this will be the same time she will have surgery for tubes.  I am excited and yet very nervous for the MRI - she is just so little to be put under, but it is the final piece of the puzzle we have been praying for.  The MRI will confirm whether or not the hearing nerve is present. 

Until then...say a little prayer for a positive MRI report