Tuesday, September 3, 2013

8 week old ear

Tuesday September 3, 2013
8 weeks post-op Right ear
7 months post-op Left ear

Today we are 8 weeks post-op for the right ear and 7 months post-op for the left ear. Hopefully Dr. Reinisch will think the ears are still healing nicely! 

right ear

right ear

   
right ear

left ear

Ella is 3!

August 31, 2013

Ella turned 3 today!  We had a family party plus her BFF, Ruby and her family.  When we asked her what she wanted to eat at her party she said, "Salad, cake and "black" olives!"  So we went with a taco bar and salad finishing with a 3 layer purple cake!  
Happy 3rd Birthday to my fun, spunky, loving girl!


This girl loves cake!

Ella and her friend Ruby


Ella goes to Preschool

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Today Ella started preschool in the 3 year old class wearing a crown and carrying a wand! 







First Day of School 2013

August 27, 2013
First Day of First Grade

Today Samantha starts First Grade.  I have to admit, this was harder on me than her going to Kindergarten last year.  Kindergarten felt like such an accomplishment for both her and me.  Kindergarten was such a magical year for Samantha.  To me, First grade means she is really growing up...I mean she has a real desk and will start homework!  Samantha loves school, so she is super excited to get started.  








7 week old Right ear

Tuesday August 27, 2013
7 weeks post-op Right ear

We are 7 weeks out and we saw Dr. Reinisch in Palo Alto today.  We so fortunate to be able to see him in person so often.  Even though the appointments are 5 minutes long it makes me feel so much better for him to see her ears in person.  






Giving back

Sunday August 25, 2013

Today we had a garage sale.  Sam has been asking me for months to do a lemonade stand, so I told her that when we did the garage sale, she could set up a stand.  As the garage sale date approached, she came to me with an idea all on her own.  Instead of selling lemonade, she wanted to bake and sell cookies and give the money to the Small Wonders Foundation.   Small Wonders is a foundation established by Dr. Reinisch.  
Small Wonders Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance, information, help and encouragement to families of children with congenital and acquired deformities of the face and body. Started in 2005 to support the work of world-class pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. John Reinisch, Small Wonders Foundation has so far changed the lives of children born with microtia/atresia and large facial birthmarks.
Children born with facial deformities or birthmarks are oftentimes the subject of teasing and ridicule and may have low self-esteem due to being treated differently. Sometimes it gets in the way of their learning or ability to make friends. Dr. Reinisch understands the emotional as well as the physical needs of his patients and their families. Small Wonders Foundation, working with Dr. Reinisch and the patients' families, seeks to provide these children with the opportunity to live full and happy lives.

We were so proud of her and understanding the importance of giving back.  We ended up giving her the earnings from the garage sale to add to her cookie sales.  She was able to send $250.00.







6 week old Right Ear

August 20, 2013
6 weeks post -op Right Ear


Here we are 6 weeks post-op and the ear is looking good.  Dr. Reinisch is happy with the healing thus far.  The ear still appears to be a bit more projected than the left side, so most likely Dr. R will do an adjustment in the Spring.  This can happen when doing both ears.