On November 15th, shortly after Laura & James celebrated their 10-year-wedding anniversary, Adelyn had surgery to place a G Tube. While under anesthesia, she had a low profile button placed that allows us to pump breastmilk and medicine directly into her stomach. The surgery was successful and straightforward, though her recovery was not. The anticipated three-day hospital stay stretched into five days as we and Adelyn's medical team worked hard to manage her pain and help her tolerate the new feeding process.
What complex emotions surrounded this event.
There were clear benefits, like a semi-permanent solution to getting our baby nourishment, and thus the invaluable ability to keep her alive! It was also wonderful to be rid of the NG Tube that was a constant source of irritation and discomfort. How we love seeing our baby girl's face without tubes taped across her sweet cheeks!
On the flip side, there is our disappointment that she is refusing to eat by mouth, the pain of watching her go through another surgery, the frustration that she continues to experience discomfort during meals, and the exhaustion of a feeding routine that is so time consuming.
As it has been with each new scar, it was a shock to see the plastic "button" protruding from our sweet baby's belly for the first time in the hospital. Despite the hundreds of conversations and pictures and demonstrations to help prepare us, it was still an unwelcome change. How can Laura, as her mother, describe that feeling to you? The beautiful, smooth skin that we once kissed and blew raspberries upon is now obstructed with a constant reminder that our child is dependent upon a machine to eat.
HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS
Holidays have been both sweeter and more challenging with Adelyn's medical needs. It has been strange to find ourselves in the hospital for doctor appointments on the eve of major holidays, or to have to figure out alternative therapy times to Christmas Day. You have heard it said that moms don't get sick days. Well, Adelyn doesn't get a break from having special needs either.
Nevertheless, celebrating Adelyn's firsts as a family has been precious, and perhaps even more so because we are constantly reminded that each of her milestones and every day of her life is a miraculous gift.
James' parents came from California in late October, and Owen took costume inspiration from Durham's Life & Science Museum for our evening of trick-or-treating. Adelyn went as a Monarch butterfly, Owen as a ring-tailed lemur, James as a red wolf, Laura as a museum employee, and Dave & Joy as astronauts.
For Thanksgiving, Laura's parents and brother traveled to us and took over the Chlebouns' house (while they were out of town) and cooked a feast! We probably would've eaten at Pizza Hut had it not been for their labors of love in the kitchen.
Today, December 28th, Adelyn is eight months old! Adelyn has cut her first two teeth, has begun to hold her head up independently for longer periods of time, is log rolling across the floor, is adding new consonants to her babbling, and is practicing sitting up in a specialized chair. Her shrieks of excitement and laughter (what paralyzed vocal cord??), her fixation on books, mirrors and lights (several tentative vision diagnosis have recently been removed from her list of problems), and her ability to play with her toes, grasp toys, and chew and suck on her paci (initial motor skill development goals met!) have us cheering daily. If ever we feel discouraged, we turn our eyes upon Christ and give Him thanks for all the ways Adelyn is a precious part of our lives and exceeding expectations.
FUTURE PLANS
Since our baby girl's birth we have hoped that there may yet be a chance that our family could return to our lives and work in East Asia. At the same time, Adelyn's health and growth is our first priority, and we will not overlook the wellbeing of any member of our family as we consider next steps. While we feel reluctant to step off the eight-year toehold we have chiseled out overseas, it is evident that we must explore options closer to the medical care Adelyn currently needs. One of the opportunities we are considering is working with international students on one or more of the campuses nearby. This would allow us to use our language skills and cultural knowledge locally, while maintaining those gifts in the event that we could one day return to our international work.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for Adelyn Gray and our family:
1. Upon hearing Adelyn's feeding therapists and nurses complain that it seemed like she still has a tongue tie, we scheduled a follow-up with her ENT specialist. (Adelyn had her tongue tie clipped while under anesthesia for a catheterization procedure several months ago.) The specialist confirmed that the revision was unsuccessful. Because we desire to avoid another full-fledged surgery, she will have her tongue clipped (AGAIN) with local anesthesia on January 3rd. As she is slightly older than normal for this to take place as an office procedure, pray she will be cooperative and not experience any undue pain!
2. As we gear up to introduce Adelyn to solid foods, please pray that her tongue heals quickly, that her gag reflex becomes desensitized, that she develops a taste for purees, and that she enjoys these new aspects of eating as they are introduced to her! Also pray that her acid reflux discomfort and feeding intolerance issues diminish.
3. Please pray that her brain continues to grow and develop healthily.
4. Pray for Adelyn's strength and development! Ask that she would continue to make strides in holding her head up and sitting upright.
5. Please ask that Adelyn will continue to qualify for the programs, therapies, equipment, and nursing she needs to thrive at home, and that these services will be covered by insurance. Pray for the excellent nurses and therapists and doctors who assist in her care.
6. Praise God that Owen seems fully recovered from his concussion! And also that he is such an awesome big brother. Please continue to pray for him as he navigates big feelings around sharing his parents, fear of "babies dying," has unsatisfying answers when he asks about when we'll "go home to China," and all the other challenges that come standard to toddlerhood.
7. Please pray for God's provision in all the Rosenbergs' needs. Pray we would clearly hear God's voice as we seek His direction and will for our lives.
