12 April 2009

New Lips = New Words: The Marvel of Willow's Surgeries

Peek-a-boo. Hanging out in the back yard, down at the river's edge.

Here is a picture of the dock which floats along the shore of our back yard (water level pretty high right now). Our neighbors dock their pontoon here during the summer.


Willow learns about Chloe's favorite thing: belly love (i.e., rubbing her tummy).


Kissing Chloe. So gentle (most of the time)!




Willow sketches the tree branches, before leaf-out.



Really happy or really sad: there doesn't seem to be many "inbetween feelings" this past week. She's changing a lot; growing emotionally (this includes running headlong into the terrible twos).



We made our first attempt at pre-school (Early Childhood & Family Education classes provided by the state of Minnesota). Parent's stay, which is important for Willow right now.



Willow had her 2-week post operative check-up (see also, blog post below). Greeting Willow, above, is a picture of the PNP for the Cranio-facial Specialty Team at Gillette Children's Specialty Hospital.



Here is a picture of the "allergic reaction", though in this picture it is already starting to moderate. Willow's surgery is perfect (except for the increased redness and swelling). I may have mentioned this before: the surgeon has cautioned us that it will begin to look worse over the next month or two; then, over the year, it will start to look better again. She now has a beautiful little "cupid's bow"on her top lip, thanks to the skill or her surgical team, but it is hard to see because of the irritation.




Daddy and Willow hard at work on their laptops.



Willow, Chloe, Gus, and Mom go for a walk (self-portrait).
New words: March 31st, just a week after surgery ... out of the mouth of babes' came something that sounded like 'ma ma'. I watched carefully, and her lips were moving together; this is something she was unable to do before. But, she hasn't really tried to articulate the letter "m" again. She is making lots of new sounds, including "clicking" with her tongue. She has found her voice (screaming, just for fun); I occasionally see her feeling her top lip, with her tongue. She stares at herself in the mirror, as she did before surgery (what does she see?)
She also says "oy, oy, oy" in rapid succession. As of this past week, she has started saying "hi", using it in context (and for goodbye). Happy Passover. Happy Easter.

3 comments:

andih said...

Great photos, meryl--i especially the like the laptops photo :)

Donna said...

Thanks for the update and the pics. Willow has a beautiful new smile!

Barbara G said...

Great to see you all from the distance! What an amazing opportunity to watch her grow into her self as she develops new abilities you were able to provide! What an amazing process you've embarked upon with her and your family! Thank you so much for sharing with us all!