Good News and Voting Results

We got some very good news at Marissa's follow-up appointment for her T & A. First, she is healing very well from this latest surgery.  We were able to discontinue pain meds all together about a week afterward.  She was also able to tolerate her PMV (speaking valve) all day long about a week and a half afterward.  Currently, she seems to not be affected by the surgery in any way at all.  Yippee!

Second, the narrowing of her nasal passage has cleared up significantly.  At birth, one of her nasal passages was 70% blocked, possibly requiring surgery at some point.  During this last scope, the doctor determined that the passage is only slightly narrow.  She said it was so slight of a narrowing, she would not even assess a percentage to it.  She said it definitely will not be requiring surgery.  Marissa grew out of it!  Yippee again!!

Third, I asked that Marissa's case be transferred to Dr. E when Dr. P is out on maternity leave, and she wholeheartedly agreed.  Dr. E is the doctor that followed Marissa from the day after she was born till we transferred her care to Dr. P in November of 2007.  Dr. E is the one who placed her trach, so both Dr P and and I have every confidence he will work with us during her absence to help Marissa progress as much as possible.  I think when Dr. P went on bedrest, Marissa's chart was handed to Dr. K without anyone reading it first. She's not just a kiddo with tubes in her ears or chronic sinus infections.  She is a little more complicated than that.  So she needs a doc who is familiar with her as well as a little more experienced with her types of issues.  Of course, we would not be so worried about this if we weren't trying to get rid of this trach very soon.  :)

Lastly, Dr. P is going to allow us to downsize Marissa's trach so she can have a better chance at capping.  This is huge!  I was really stressed out about this because, in the past, Dr. P has always said she is not comfortable with downsizing, but encouraged us to try capping anyway. Marissa has not been able to tolerate the cap for more than an hour at a time because the tube in her throat is just too big for her to breathe around.  We need to make the tube as small as possible. I likened it to telling someone that they are going to learn to drive a car, but there is going to be a brick wall in front of them.  There is no way to move the brick wall, no way around it, they just have to learn to drive with the brick wall in front of them.  Impossible.  I came fully prepared to argue my case for Marissa, and it turns out all that was not necessary.  Dr. P agreed to downsize the trach without any argument at all.  After this last scope, she said Marissa's jaw structure has grown significantly enough, plus the tracheomalacia and subglottic edema are completely gone, so there is no reason not to downsize. 

What, no fight??  Bummer!  ;)

So, on May 19, we will be going back to Dr. P's office to downsize in the clinic so she can see firsthand how Marissa will do.  We can pulse-ox her, let her run around and get a good feel of how she will do with a smaller trach.  I feel really good that she will do well and we can get on with capping and getting this trach out!  Woo Hoo!

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OK mom, you don't have to wait any longer...

Without further ado, the results of the Rissa Photo Shoot Hairstyle Vote are in!!!

The top three are as follows:

With 13 votes ~ #1 on the list ~ 1/2 up, 1/2 down, two piggy tails

Also with 13 votes ~ #4 on the list ~ The Teddy Bear

And with an overwhelming majority, coming in with 24 votes ~We have our winner! 

The Train Wreck!!!

Wait... hold on, hold on everyone... This just in:

Due to some unforseen voting machine malfunctions, some ballots that were not filled out correctly, people unlawfully voting in a state in which they are not registered, some hanging and dangling chads, and one person voting multiple times (sorry Chelle, I know I said it was OK and this is my blog, but who am I to change the rules of the democratic voting process?), we have conducted a recount.  Who knew there could be such controversy on my little blog??  ;)

It turns out that this may not be a democracy after all.  Mommy Vote overrules all and the REAL winner is:

#1 ~ 1/2 Up, 1/2 Down, Two Piggy Tails!!!!

Sorry guys, but I warned you, I reserve the right to go with a style of my choosing.  Jeremy voted for this one also, so that works for me.  And to be honest, I chose the hairstyle that tied for second, so I think everyone wins!

Thanks for participating and I will post the pictures as soon as I get them.