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Thanksgiving with my sweetie

I put up the Christmas tree while Flor was napping today. When I woke her up I told her there was a surprise for her. When we came downstairs, I turned her around and her eyes got so big and she was speechless!! After a minute she whispered, "Wow.... amazing!"

I wish I could have captured that face on camera.

Then she very proudly helped me put the ornaments on the tree. (I think I am more excited about Christmas this year than she is!!)

cleft team UNITE!

I finally got the referal today from Birmingham. Flor has an appointment with the children's plastic surgeon on December 17th. They've said her pallet is too short and her pediatrician, ENT, and dentist have all mentioned bone grafts, which scares this mommy's heart. Thankfully, her Father in Heaven guides the surgeons hands and hearts and HE is in control. That is my only sanity when I think about it. I'm excited and anxious; looking forward to it and dreading it... all at the same time.

I'll update afterwards.

prayers from angels

I do believe I have a little prayer warrior on my hands!! Yesterday, Flor and I fell running back from the laundry room. Yes, we were literally running... just playing around. We fell on a concrete sidewalk. Not the semi-smooth gray concrete either... it was the kind with little peebles and I fell trying to shield her too. Luckily Flor fell a little more gracefully than I did and she only had a tiny scratch on her hand. I, on the other hand, have a dime sized hole in the palm of my hand, and my hip... and on my elbow. So, last night, out of nowhere, she came over, closed her eyes, and folded her little hands and said, "My mommy not hurt anymore, Amen!" She believed that with all her little heart too.

Just about a week ago, she prayed that I would not cough anymore. Then a few weeks before that she prayed for her Gran's daddy that he wouldn't be sick anymore. All of this comes un-coached. She just prays straight from the heart and it is about the sweetest thing I've ever heard. She's a little angel!

perhaps better than Disney World?

Bright and early Monday morning, we will be on our way to the hospital for Flor to get T tubes in her ears. Should br a quick preceedure, but I'd appreciate the prayers.

We will also hopefully be receiving a referal to a doctor in Birmingham to evaluate her for any further pallet surgeries. I'm hoping the appointment isn't too far out. I'm anxious to get things moving, but I know it is in God's hands and it will all happen in His time.

growing girl

Flor has grown 3 inches since February!! She's now 41 inches and 36.3 lbs!! No wonder she has growing pains!!

Anyone know how to freeze time?

Doctor's visit

So, today was a day for firsts for Flor... and me. We went to meet her new doctor for the first time. She was really excited this morning, even walking in the door... even sitting in the room waiting for the doctor to come in. All that changed after the doctor mentioned the FOUR shots he wanted her to have today. She was all smiles until the nurse walked in with the 5 syringes (one was the flu mist). Panic set in immedietely. The nurse and I did not have enough strength to hold her down. She literally pushed all of my weight off of her with her little arms. The scream was terrifying and I didn't even know her mouth would open that wide. At one point, as if my heart wasn't ripping apart anyway, she leans up mid-scream and kisses me on the lips. It was so hard not to cry. I held it until I got into the car. Flor had stopped crying by then, but she limped until about 5 minutes ago. :/

So, afterwards we went to get a prize, and she picked pizza for dinner, and got an orange coke (Sunkist), which is only for special treats. But she deserved it today, it was a rough one!

So, we have a referal now to an ENT to set up a cleft team for her and hopefully get rolling on any other surgeries/proceedures she'll need before starting school next year. Her appointment is set for October 29th. So, please keep that in your prayers.

7 months

Today marks 7 months since I brought Flor home. On one hand, it has flown by and on the other hand, I can't believe it has been that long and I can't really remember life without her. She is my heart's blessing. She is my answer to years of prayer.

Thanks to all those who gave advice on the growing pains... we haven't had an "episode" since that post.. WHEW!!! Thank goodness!

Flor has been a little under the weather this weekend. She's got a cough that wakes her up. I'm sure it has something to do with allergies/sinus. She was burning up on Saturday night while we were out of town. (doesn't it always happen that way?!?) On the way home yesterday, I could see it in her big brown eyes that she just didn't feel good. So, today I was bound to take her to the doctor. We haven't been established at her pediatrician's office yet, so I went to a walk-in tonight. There was a 3 to 4 hour wait (REALLY?!?!?) so we turned right around and left. Can you believe she actually cried because we didn't get to see the doctor?? She was so disappointed! But she was actually better tonight. Still coughing and has a runny nose, but no fever whatsoever. But the good news is that I found out that I can see her pedicatrician if she gets sick, so I don't have to wait until October 1st. It also pays to have family working in the office and she said she'd get me in first thing tomorrow if I needed to. I'm believing that I won't need it though.

We spent the weekend in Meridian, MS with Chris' family. I thought it was funny that we went to Mississippi to watch the Alabama game that was being played in Atlanta, GA... but we had a really great trip! His grandma, mom, stepdad, brother, uncle, and cousin were all there. Flor had a ball and was the center of attention!! She followed Robert (Chris' stepdad) around like she was his shadow. Sunday we went to watch them play 9 holes of golf. That was a first for Flor and I both, even thought we didn't even get out of the golf cart! Flor was so great all weekend, I was so proud of her. Oh, and ROLL TIDE!!!