First Swim Meet {Phantoms}

Abigail joined the swim team at our local YMCA this year after encouragement from Livi's swim teacher.  They have a large group of 8 and unders and its a mixed bag of skills!  The goal really is to beat your previous time and become a better swimmer.  Her first meet was Saturday about 30 minutes from home.  We arrived and were ushered into the auxiliary gym to wait for her events.  Glad we listened to the pros and brought our chairs, snacks and blanket to sit on.

 
We played cards, we ate munchies, the girls played in the play area and finally, event #55 - yes, #55, rolled around, which was Abigail's first event.  She did the 50 freestyle, then the 25 breast and ended the night day with a freestyle relay as the very.last.event. 

 {on the block}

 {Ab's feet going in}

{scoreboard - I won't tell which is hers}

SEVEN hours later, we were on the road to home, exhausted but happy! 

After getting over her nerves, she did an awesome job!  Let me just say there is no where to go but UP from here ;)  How cute those little ones are and what a long nice day we had...we are very proud of Abigail!

An Update {The Thumb}

Olivia's surgery took about three hours on Friday.  The wait wasn't horrible until that last 15 minutes or so, oy vey...Anyway, we finally got back to see her and talk to the surgeon who was VERY pleased with himself how things came out.  He shared a couple pictures, one of which I will post at the bottom for those who don't care to see...its not really graphic and its an awesome sight to behold.  We are very hopeful that it will function just as it is meant to!

 {so sweet}

{waiting patiently for the dr. to come take her back}



Livi's pain was high on Friday and Saturday but I am telling you, this girl is a rock star! 

{in recovery, safe in daddy's arms trying to wake up}

{literally an hour after coming home, reading cards from her classmates}

By Sunday she was up and about, taking only ibuprofen and on Monday, we girls all went to lunch and shopping, and she did great!  I think she just forgot about it.  So I felt it would be okay to send her to school Tuesday, as she seemed fine.  Got a quick note from her teacher that she was indeed doing well and there was no complaining. Not even a mid day need for meds. 

She can wiggle her three fingers AND her thumb, everything is pink and pretty and we have high hopes that this will be a huge success!  Stay tuned!

{her thumb is below, how awesome is THAT?  God is good}

{Before - see where her thumb was removed previously}

{After}

Another Surgery {Pollicization}

Well summer is over, school is on and the leaves are changing nicely here in Ohio. 

Our little girl, Olivia, is scheduled this Friday (tomorrow) for her second surgery.  This one is called pollicization (see below), where they rotate her index finger and drop it down, making it into a thumb.  Then they will also remove her rod, which was inserted back in February to help strengthen and straighten her arm.  The hope is to give her use of her right hand, which she has very little of at this point.  My gut tells me she is a lefty by default and will begin to use her right hand once its healed and ready to go.  And if you know Livi, she will do it with a smile on her face!

Clinical Example: Pollicization of the index finger for thumb reconstruction

Pollicization is the surgical creation of a thumb from a finger, usually the index finger. There are several techniques, but they have in common steps to shorten, rotate, and reposition muscles to achieve a functional and aesthetic result.

Its amazing what can be done in this day and age!  Would you join us in praying for Livi's comfort and for the surgeon's hands to be guided?