MIRACLE SURGERY! Warning: Last two pictures are a little graphic...

Thursday, June 4th:
End of year School Beach Party and Pre-op appt.

We first started out the day with Charlotte's end of year class party. They threw water balloons at targets and each other. And they had a water gun fight. Charlotte had a BLAST with that one. We had yummy food to eat and gave presents to the teachers. Charlotte's teacher, Miss Natalie, was leaving Sound Beginnings for other opportunities and we will miss her dearly. She is a person that changes lives. We were so gutted she left because she was such a wonderful person. She was a teacher that cared, was good at what she was doing, helped us more ways than one and well, she's just plain perfect. I could go on and on and on but I won't. She seriously is someone we will never forget.

Charlotte just threw a water balloon on the ground. Can you see the spatters? And ugh, I hate this picture. Thanks Wade. ha ha

Aaahhhh, the water gun. Took her a bit to get used to. Actually aimed at herself trying to get that thing to work. ha ha

Miss Natalie. Dang it! I want to cry. She was seriously amazing. I think she deserves to be teacher of the year!

L-R: Shalane with Reagan, Jenny with Luke, Me and Charlotte (yeah, I know you know who we are...he he)
These girls are my lifesaver. Reagan and Luke are the other toddlers in toddler class. We've had the best year together. We have talked about everything and laughed and laughed most of the time. The student teachers probably got sick of us not paying attention but hey, we needed adult conversation! ha ha. They are awesome. I'm sure going to miss seeing them every week. Charlotte's graduated with Reagan to the regular preschool class. So no more parents in the classroom! I think we need to get together and make crafts once a month. What say ye, ladies?

Later that day, we headed to SLC for a visit with the surgeon. It was kind of a long day because it took over an hour to finally get to see the surgeon who was tied up with some other patient. And then we were with him for at least a 1/2 hour. But he just went over everything and marked Charlotte's ear to make sure he was doing the implant on the right ear. And then we headed back to Logan. We had originally planned to stay the night with some people but they had something come up and we didn't want to stay at their house by ourselves. Kind of awkward and it was too late to re-invite ourselves to Wade's uncle's house and we thought, well, we never ever get a good night sleep at someone else's house so let's just head back. And so we did. The surgery was scheduled for 10:30am and had to be there at 9am so it was nice we could get up at a normal time too.

The surgeon told us some interesting things: They developed the ability to see the cochlea nerve with the MRI at University of Utah hospital and they thought they had all things figured out until Charlotte came along. She doesn't have a cochlea nerve visible on the MRI. (He told us when she was 18months old--when we first looked into a CI--that we were making things up, that it was physically impossible for Charlotte to hear. We debated, argued really,with him that she can. So she had an EABR at the University of Michigan that proved she did in fact have a cochlea nerve and that she could hear.) Dr. Shelton said that once Charlotte came along, all those tests went out the window. Well, not really. But they have weekly meetings with the radiologists and Charlotte's case has come up many times because her case is so different. We thought that was incredible that Charlotte is making a difference for someone else that might have the same problem.

June 5th, Surgery day!

We headed down to SLC again at 7:15am. Got there in plenty of time. Checked in and waited in the waiting room. Primary children's is awesome because no matter where you are in the hospital there are a bazillion toys for the kids.

Charlotte and Jack waiting and playing in the waiting room. Charlotte knew something was up the minute we got to this room.

Charlotte just changed into the hospital clothes. I gotta smile and normal eyes in this picture!!! They checked her temp, heart rate, respiratory rate, etc. in here. Had to feed Jack his bottle in here too because they said it would be hard for the kids to see someone drink or eat since they would be starving. So once he finished, we headed to the other surgery waiting room.

They had wagons and cars outside the next waiting room. Charlotte just LOVED them. Mostly the cars. Kept getting in and out, in and out, in and out. It was fun to see her relax a little.

Here she's testing out the blue/green car

And here she's testing out the red car.

Now, playing inside the waiting room. I thought it was funny when Jack joined Charlotte. She was loving it...

While waiting for time to pass, nurses came by to "teach" the kids about what will happen to them. They get a white doll, get to color a face and then the nurse shows all the equipment that they'll see during their hospital stay and also to help them not be so nervous. The stethoscope was Charlotte's favorite. She kept checking the dolls heart, my heart and her heart. We also got to pick what sort of flavored gas she'll smell when she was put under. We picked strawberry. Too many choices!

When we first got to the surgery waiting room, they told us the surgery was postponed til 11am. She got the relaxtion medicine at 11:15 am and finally was told they were ready at 11:30. We carried her until a certain point and then the anesthesiologist took her back. I was crying off and on until that point. As soon as she was taken I just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. I didn't know what was going to happen with her. So many risks. It ended up being a LONG 2 1/2 hours. And thanks to Chris and Shalane's suggestion we headed to the cafeteria. That really helped. Especially gorging my face in delicious food. YUM. I just love food. About an hour after they took her, a nurse called us and gave us an update about Charlotte. The facial nerve was safe and she was doing well and vital signs were good. Let me tell you, WHAT A HUGE RELIEF! I rarely cried after that point. After 3 hours, the surgeon came and talked to us about what had happened. Which was WONDERFUL NEWS! When I finally saw Charlotte, the flood gates opened again but I knew things were okay. It's always hard seeing your child in pain. But it was over. THANK goodness!

Charlotte had to be doped up a bit more on morphine. She is a fighter and she lets you know she doesn't like what she's been through. So we had to relax her a bit more. She was telling the nurses she wanted me and once she saw me she was signing and telling me that she was all done with everything. She kept saying it over and over too.

Charlotte finally relaxing.

Not as much hair was shaved as we once originally thought. We can't take off that white tape until Friday. Have to keep everything dry until then. So yeah, it's gonna get gross. ha ha. once in awhile Charlotte will touch her ear and sign/say "owee". Poor thing!

This surgery went far better than we ever could have hoped. Really a miracle. The facial nerve was never nicked and the surgeon was able to place all of the electrodes in the cochlea. (Hers is underdeveloped. And the surgeon was hoping to get 8. There are 22 in total). Seriously, a miracle for us. We will be forever grateful for all the prayers, fasting and support you have all given us. THANK YOU!