"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters
compared to what lies within us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, May 25, 2012

Dressing

Unfortunately, I am not talking about the Stove Top Stuffing kind of dressing. Today was the day we took off Francesca's casts. We didn't really have a choice, since she stuck her cast in the dog's water bowl.


We tried a different technique this time. Instead of unrolling the casts, we cut them off. Francesca was not impressed with either method. 



Thank goodness Carol was there to help. I was getting a little squeamish. I kind of had to blur my eyes so I couldn't see everything that well.




 The gauze was really stuck, so we popped her into the bath. Her skin was really raw. 


Victoria was really happy that it wasn't her turn yet!


Once we got the gauze off and she finally looked at her hands, she was amazed. She had such a look of wonder on her face.


I know I will never take my hands and feet for granted again!


                                           


I think they look pretty amazing! I can't wait to see her using them. She doesn't have the middle joint, so she will be a little bit limited, but knowing her, she will be snatching things off the table in no time.


Here's what her hands used to look like.
                                  


 Eventually, when she is much older, she will need a surgery to straighten her thumbs, but for now, she is done! You've come a long way baby!


She had to keep checking to make sure her toes were still there.


She bravely started walking right away.


 She just couldn't get over that she has fingers and toes!


Then, it was time for the dreaded dressing. We prepared ourselves for a screaming fest. I almost felt sick about thinking of how much pain she was in. We decided to bring out the big guns right away: chocolate chip cookies and ring pops. The other key was to sing the "ABC" song over and over. I am not looking forward to pushing the gauze down into the crevices of her fingers for five weeks, but she sure was a trooper so far. Much better than last time.


She was amazingly well. Such a sad little face. Hopefully she will be more comfortable and sleep well.  As for me, I am going to bed and taking a big bag of candy with me!





37 comments:

  1. YEAH!! Beautiful fingers and toes for a beautiful little girl!

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  2. WOW! Love the look on her face! She is so amazed at her own hands and feet! So excited for her and her new GRASP on life!

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  3. They look AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Poor baby, but I know it will be SO WORTH IT!! How amazing that she has 10 fingers and 10 toes now!! I love the pictures of her looking at them in amazement. Like she can't believe those are hers. <3

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  5. Wow! I love that look of wonder! Congratulations to Francesca!

    So happy for her and for you all.

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  6. I love it!! How exciting for both of you!!

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  7. Such a brave girl! I really enjoy watching Francesca and Victoria's progress and those sweet smiles. Thank you for sharing it all with us.

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  8. Her hands and feet look AMAZING!!!! What a precious little Angel!!!

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  9. INCREDIBLE. All of you! That's just awesome!

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  10. Ten fingers and ten toes! Wow! That's simply amazing! I had to call my husband in here to see this.

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  11. Truly amazing! I know it was hard mama, but wow oh wow! praying for continued for healing and peace!

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  12. Aww Bless her little heart. That is truly amazing. So happy for her.

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  13. It must be strange to see your own body and think "where did that come from?" She looks great and you are such a BRAVE woman!

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  14. How absolutely, amazingly wonderful! A beautiful sight. Wishing her well in the continuation of healing and finally grabbing, pulling, grasping whatever she wants!

    God bless you all!

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  15. I'm SO happy for her that this surgery went so well and the results are amazing! You sure have a sweetheart there. :)

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  16. I have happy tears in my eyes!

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  17. I am amazed at how good her hands and feet look! I too enjoyed seeing her in awe of her fingers and toes. That is wonderful that she began walking already.

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  18. I just love the look of amazement on her face!

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  19. It amazes me how much I love those little girls that I have never met. I feel proud and happy for Francesca! :-) Thanks so much for posting updates. It gives me something to look forward to while my kids are busy trying to eat each other.

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  20. Wow, that is just amazing what a wonderful job they did! And the look in that sweet little girl's eyes when she sees she has fingers and toes is just PRICELESS--brings tears to my eyes and DEFINITELY reminds me not to take anything for granted!! Francesca and Victoria are soooo blessed to have a family that is sooo loving and supportive--that can make those hard decisions even though it means more work and some pain and struggles along the way. You guys are doing awesome!

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  21. She looks AMAZING! and I love the way she's looking at her fingers and toes! I know one day she's gonna be very thankful that she was able to have this surgeries!

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  22. You need to make sure you have gauze in between ALL of the digits at least every other day (not just the immediately post-op ones) or you may inadvertently end up with refusing of digits from the first surgery.

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  23. I LOVE the way she is looking at them. Awesome to see her with fingers and toes!

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  24. So incredibly wonderful and so incredibly worth everything you have been through!! You are one strong Momma and your little girls are blessed beyond measure to have all of you loving them!!

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  25. Don't you wonder what she is thinking when she is looking at her fingers? I like the picture with her leg crossed over and she is looking at her feet. How mystified she must be but oh how lucky she is. She and Victoria have just come alive with you all and the love you have for them. Watching the changes come to these two makes me realize I have witnessed a miracle. Thank you for giving life to these two precious ones. It is great seeing how your other cildren like to help and play with them. You are certainly a wonderful, caring family.

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  26. having 10 fingers and toes is not an easy thing!

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  27. Just think of all the stuff she can get into now! Go Francesca! :-)

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  28. Just Amazing! There will be no stopping her now! :-) Also love to see how Victoria is keeping herself entertained. I had been wondering how you were able to change her diaper but those pictures showed her casts much clearer. I'm sure you have had to get very creative with things. You are a very strong person and seem to take things in stride.....I was going to say you have some very lucky children - but looking at how beautiful they all are - I'm thinking you are pretty lucky too! :-)

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  29. That look of wonder on her face as she gazed at her new fingers and toes, brought tears to my eyes! She is a beautiful little girl and yes, she is so blessed to have you for a Mommy! :)

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  30. wow - what lovely fingers and toes! Congratulations Francesca! and to her mum and dad for getting her there!

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  31. She looks awesome, and her reaction to it is truly precious!

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  32. Oh my goodness..........her little fingers look so amazing!! I remember holding her in the orphanage and how soft her beautiful hands were. Shes truly one sweet little girl!

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