delayed {surgery day 1, evening}

Some of John Paul's test results were not ready in time for him to get on Tuesday's surgery schedule.  The surgeon we want is not available Wednesday.  So the surgery is moved to Thursday.

The surgeon (Dr. Stone) is a Chinese man who comes very highly recommended as "one of the finest cleft surgeons in all of China".  He is well connected in the cleft surgery world, on the board of directors for a major international cleft NGO and travels extensively.  We had no idea he lived and worked in our city when we accepted John Paul's referral.   And we will wait for him to do the surgery!

There is much to be thankful for.  Today could not have been smoother.  We waded through gobs of paperwork and pre-tests and evals in record time.  John Paul was a trooper - it helps that the cleft ward has a play area that is perfect for him, lots of room to get all his climbing urges satisfied.

We have our bed assignment and, at least for now, no roommate.  (It's a two bed room at the very end of the hall.)

At one point this morning an attending doctor said "oh yeah, I can hear he doesn't pronounce his 'g' sound right, he's overcompensating using the back of his throat, he'll need speech therapy to correct that."  And I could feel the mama-bear in me come creeping out of her den!  All my defenses on alert, and the internal dialogue started.  "Of course he doesn't pronounce it right, that's one reason we are here.  I know he'll need therapy.  He'll do great, don't you worry, he's smart as a whip and the cutest kid in the whole hospital so just back off lady cause this is my son you're talking about and he's gonna run circles around the "g" and every other noise in the book, ok?"

I kept the internal dialogue to myself, just smiled and nodded.  But really it's one of the highlights of my day.  I was so glad to have that mama bear come out of her den for John Paul.  It felt like a good step for us.

So now we re-juggle schedules and work out a few new kinks for our other children.  We have to be back at the hospital tomorrow morning early, then home again for the afternoon and evening.  Starting Wednesday morning John Paul (and always at least one parent) will be full time at the hospital until discharge (ideally, hopefully Saturday morning).

And an early bedtime.  Wowsers I am wiped out.

Thanks for praying for our little family.