All Good And Perfect Gifts Come From Above

This has been our anthem since the beginning.  This song has remided us that God is and will always be in control of Audrey's situation.  God has a purpose for Audrey.

Chris Tomlin — Our God (Is Greater)

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we Rise
There's no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/chris-tomlin-our-god-is-greater-lyrics.html ]
BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

Scars



Audrey's trach scar.  It's been 3 months since it was removed.  It has a rash under it that won't go away. 



Audrey's feeding tube scar.  It has been about one month since it was removed.

Audrey's tongue after surgery, 7 months later.  You can see that one side it "missing".  This side still gets very red and blisters.  She may need further treatment.  It is uncomfortable when it is like this.

Audrey Now: 7 Months After Surgery

It's been 7 months since Audrey's surgery.  We are at point now where the doctors are watching her cysts to make sure they don't continue to grow.  She is not receiving and sclerotherpy because the cysts she still has are too small to treat.  Her tongue still protrudes (just a little).  She will need speech therapy so she can learn to form words properly.  She is talking up a storm!

Just one of the girls

Full Freedom

In February 2011 Audrey had her feeding tube removed.  She is allowed to eat regularly now.  This is tricky because her teeth aren't coming in normally because her tongue was preventing them from coming in.  She has teeth on one side of her mouth and her front teeth, but not all of her teeth on the other side.  A therapist is working with her to teach her how to chew and use her tongue.  She is very picky about what she eats.  She mostly mashes her food in her mouth.  She will only eat soft foods.

Audrey's tongue protrudes just alittle, but she can keep it moist on her own.  No more scabs or beeding.

On the Run

Audrey wasn't walking when she had her trach.  She was pulling up on things for a long time, she just wouldn't take off.  Shortly after her trach was removed (a couple of weeks maybe) Audrey FINALLY began to walk.

Look what I can do!

Extraordinary Little Girl

The best part about having Audrey's trach removed was hearing her voice again.  You don't understand how precious that cry is until it's gone.  It brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard her voice.  She was excited too - she was so loud and crazy and LOVED being able to make noise.

I love this picture because Audrey's truely being silly and sticking her tongue out on PURPOSE!

Our Christmas Wish Come True

Our wish was for Audrey's trach to come out by Christmas.  When we said it it seemed very unrealistic.  However, just a few days shy of Christmas, Dr. Morgenstein gave us our wish. After almost 5 months Audrey had her trach removed.  In fact, Dr. Morgenstein gave me the honor of doing it.

Best goal EVER!

 

About a week before her trach was removed we went down to Riley and Dr. Morgenstein put a smaller trach in.  During the day we kept the trach plugged and we took the plug out at night.  This was a special time - we were able to hear Audrey make noise.  It wasn't quite her regular voice, but it was still music to our ears.

Audrey gets a smaller trach

Then we went back down to Riley.  First we stayed overnight and they "plugged" Audrey's trach overnight to see if she could breathe ok on her own.  She was just fine with it plugged so the very next morning Dr. Morgenstein came in bright and early and had me take out her trach.  This was kind of weird.  I thought this would be a BIG deal or procedure or something.  I mean, it was such a big deal going in, I thought it would be the same way coming out.  WRONG.  I took it out right there in our room.  The nurse covered it with a little gauze and they watched her overnight again to make sure she would be ok.  She did a GREAT job so we got to go home - trach free just in time for Christmas.  It was the best gift anyone could have given us.

Trach free baby girl