A New Look!

We are 12 days post surgery and Colby has a whole new look. I have added a picture of before the surgery and then several from the days post surgery. What a major change his little face is undergoing! The doctors say it will continue to change in the months ahead as the swelling goes away and his face grows. His appetite is back (Yea!), he is smiling and “talking” to us. Now if we can just get him to sleep a little more each night we will be set. I keep trying to get pictures of Colby's new smile, but he is becoming camera shy. We will have to work on that! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

3 days prior to surgery

5 hours post surgery

2 days post surgery; Very swollen and sore :(

4 days post surgery. Now we are getting there......

7 days post surgery. Heading out for a walk!

Surgery and we are home!

We’re home! Colby’s lip surgery on Thursday was a success!! He was such a rock star…..I am still in amazement at how good he was. Let me start at the beginning…..

We arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday evening to stay the night since we were going to need to be at the hospital very early for the surgery. We were not sure the best place to stay, but were recommended the Days Inn out by Ocean Beach. It was a short drive to the hospital but right next to the SF zoo and 3 blocks from the ocean. We will have to remember this hotel when Colby is old enough to enjoy the zoo! We did however take a walk down to the ocean. Wow, I didn’t really picture SF having a beach and waves like what we saw. It was a beautiful evening. This was Colby’s first look at the Pacific Ocean. We ordered a pizza for dinner and began feeding Colby every 2-3 hours since he was going to have to fast from 1:30am until after his surgery. I was dreading this part…..he can go 5-6 hours overnight but usually when he does wake up in the morning he is super hungry.

We headed to the hospital at 6am and began the check in process. Colby never made a peep….he looked at all the pictures, people and things going on and didn’t seem to mind that he wasn’t being fed. Finally they called our name and we headed up to the surgery preparation room. We met with the anesthesiologist, surgery nurse and finally our surgeon. While we were waiting, God really answered our prayers, Colby drifted off to sleep and when it came time to hand him off for surgery, he was still asleep. They said he went under so perfectly! Thank goodness because his mama was so worried about that part.

After the surgery was complete we were called back up to the recovery room to meet him. He was already awake from the surgery and looking for us. The doctor said the surgery was a success and went well, however they did have to surgically place his premaxilla and remove a small portion of bone in order to make it fit. The surgeon said this would cause more pain since it was cutting bone. We were moved up to the pediatric floor and placed in our room. And let me tell you, it was more like a shoe box. But luckily we were only staying one night. Colby was comfortable through the night and we were released Friday at lunch. This was much better for all of us. Luke and I are more comfortable caring for him at home and here he has his swing, his own bed and of course his doggies!

We are slowly getting back to normal. Eating is still a challenge. We are fighting with an upset belly from the anesthesia, upset belly from pain meds and the pain and awkwardness of learning how his new lip is supposed to work. But we are getting there. We are still praying that feeding will get easier and that his little belly will be comfortable. He surgery has really changed his smile and features. I do miss his wide little grin, but I know I will come to love his new smile as well.

The three of us at the beach.

Colby in his new football beanie....thanks Joni & Caleb!

Chillin in our pumpkin butt costume on Halloween.

2 days before the surgery.


At the hospital waiting for surgery.

4 hours post surgery.