Surgery Week

Well, back to reality after Christmas break.  Homeschooling has resumed and I can't believe we're about half way through the school year!  Everyone is doing great.  I'm so thankful that we decided to enroll Sierra in Liberty University's online-dual-enrollment program.  She earned all B's the first semester (pretty good for a 16 year old) and is all set to start classes again this month.  Slava is even on the verge of reading.  He is actually able to blend letter sounds together and is able to figure out the words, plus he's memorized some sight-words!  We're also back into the swing of weekly Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.  Yes, it makes for a busy week and throw in Jordan's surgery and you have a very tired mom!

Slava, Anna, & Jordan

 I love it when the kids bust out the coloring stuff and the board games.  It blesses my heart to see them doing these activities together.  In a day and age where everything is electronics (yes they do that too), the "old-fashioned" activities are a welcome sight.

Jordan was scheduled for his "routine" rod-lengthening surgery on Monday.  I've lost count of how many times we've done this.  I will say I am so very thankful #618 that we have one of the best orthopedic/spine surgeons (who just happens to specialize in scoliosis) right in our back yard.  And instead of having to traipse to Boston or NYC, we can just drive 20 minutes to Albany Medical Center #619.

Jordan prepping "Ar-Ar" for surgery!

 We're also so blessed by the staff at the Children's Hospital at Albany Med #621.  We always seem to have the same pre-op and post-op nursers who always recognize Jordan and make him feel at home.  Where do you think he got all those medical supplies for Ar-Ar?

Quesadillas for dinner!

 I don't know why my pictures keep posting out of order???  This was Thursday night's dinner.  With 4 kids headed out to Karate class by 5:30pm, dinner must be quick and light.  Quesadillas with cheese and bacon are easy and everyone likes them - win-win for me!

Ar-Ar in surgery.

Medical team:  Nurse Colleen, Dr. Jordan, & Dr. Travis

There was a slight scheduling error so even though Jordan was scheduled for a 9:30am surgery, we had to wait until almost 11:30am.  So, to kill some time waiting around the pre-op unit, Ar-Ar had some major surgery.  Nurse Colleen is one of my favorite nurses.  She was keeping Jordan busy in an empty cubicle operating on his stuffed dog.  They were having such a good time, even a real doctor got in on the fun (he'd been attending to his patient in the next-door cubicle).  I don't think Ar-Ar will ever be the same!
Jordan's surgery went well.  Dr. Carl said they lengthened the rods about a centimeter...and we may only have to do this procedure a couple more times!  We were not expecting to hear him say that!  A boy's torso tends to stop growing around age 10.  Once the torso stops growing, we won't be able to get anymore length out of the spine so there will be no more need for growing rods.  At that point, the growing rods will be removed and permanent rods will be placed and spinal fusion done.  Jordan will be 10 in August, but he is small for his age.  I really pray he will grow much more.  A teenage boy shoots up tall because the legs grow long, but the torso is done growing by the time they hit puberty.  As much as I look forward to this part of the program to be complete, I still want this little guy to grow some more!  But it is good to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We stayed over 1 night in the hospital and came home Tuesday at noon.  I'm so thankful #634 that my daughter-in-law stayed at our house until 2:30pm on Tuesday. I was able to get a much needed shower and nap!  Now we're pretty much all back into our routine.  Hopefully in my next post I'll be able to update you on our orphan ministry "Justice For Orphans".  "Like" us on Facebook.  And our website is in the process of being developed.  So stay tuned for some exciting things planned for 2013.