Post Op Visit

Dear Our Sweet Julia-
The three of us traveled to Birmingham today for your follow up visit.  We always try to make it as fun as we can.  We stopped at Cracker Barrel at the half way point.  We spent some time playing in their toy section.  We all got back in the truck.  Mama sat in the back with you.  We got there about 12:20pm.  You picked out your wagon and away went to Clinic 1.  While we were waiting, we met a little girl named Ella who is just reaching one year with her forever family.  You two played in the waiting room.  She had an Elmo doll.  She would leave it on the floor.  You would go pick it up and give it to her.
Once we were called to the back, we took you in the wagon.  We waited in the room for a while.  The audiologist came to take you back to check your hearing after you got your tubes.  She did a test.  Then, looked in your ears.  She went to get Dr. Real.  He walked in the room with two other people.  One thing at the Childrens Hospital, it seems like people travel in groups when they visit. Dr. Real looked in your ears.  The left tube looked ok.  The right ear was bloody and the tube was clotted off.  He thought it was clotted with a blood clot.  He wanted us to come to his office.  When he realized that we were from Atlanta, he tried to remove the clot in the audiology office.  You were so brave.  Mama just held you tight.  I know it hurt.  The doctor said that he was sad that you would never like him again.  I asked him if he wanted us to follow up with our Atlanta ENT.  He said the ENT that is his friend in Atlanta's last name is Golde.  I could not believe it.  I knew him.  Mama said "Andy?"  He said "Yes.  He works at Northside."  Mama works there.  So, we had a plan.  We would put some half strength Hydrogen Peroxide and Antibiotics in your ear for two weeks.  I would then get an appointment with Dr Golde for follow up.  You were so over the ear people that they tried to test your hearing and you just barely responded.  I just held you.  The Audiologist just said that we do this later.
We went back to our same room.  Dr. Grant came in.  He looked at your palate.  He said that it "LOOKED GOOD".  We were thrilled.  He said that you could start eating more than soft food at day 29.  We would introduce things slowly back into your diet.  His plan for us is to come back in three months for a speech eval with his therapist.  We would continue to work with ours.  He said that you should just saying different things.  Your palate would become a new toy to you.  The visit with the speech therapist would just make sure all is working well.  Then, we will visit Dr. Grant twice a year.  In the meantime, he wants to make sure life goes on as normal kid's life should.  We have no problem with that!!  This stuff does not define who your are at all.  They are experiences that will help you grow into a stronger , gentle, more beautiful young lady.  You will take something from all of this that you will be able to touch other's lives.
I do want to tell you how cute you were tonight.  Daddy was going to go to the store for a minute.  As he walked out, you yelled, "AHHH-EEEE"  You almost have the letter D down but it comes out  "Ahh  EEE".  Daddy comes back around the corner.  You pucker your lips- like what are you thinking leaving without kissimg me.  He comes over and kisses you.  Then, you point to Mama.  Daddy kisses Mommy.  He then said "I will be back in only about fifiteen minutes."  I think he floated to the grocery store.
We love you baby girl!!!  You make every day special for us!!!   As always, we are so proud of you.
Love , Mama and Daddy