Surgery # 4...

Avery had surgery on January 30, 2012.  The speech therapist evaluated her back before Christmas and decided that her soft palate was not long enough so he suggested we contact the plastic surgeon to schedule surgery.  After a visit with the surgeon he agreed that she needed surgery. This surgery will help improve her speech.  The type of surgery Avery had was Pharyngoplasty 
They extended her palate, removed her tonsils and she had dental work done as well. It's never easy to watch your child go through surgery. The Sunday before surgery I was very anxious and felt very overwhelmed all morning, I don't think I have ever felt that much anxiety in my life, I felt like it was right in my chest and I was going to cry any minute.  During church Phillip and I went to the alter to pray and it was during that time I turned it all over to God that I felt immediate peace.  I am so thankful that God is right there with me ALWAYS!!!!!!  When we arrived at the hospital on Monday we had a GREAT support team with us we had 14 people waiting with us during Avery's surgery...WOW that brings tears to my eyes!...our church family and neighbors are AMAZING!!!!  Thank you to those that spent almost ALL day at the hospital with us!!!  Avery pulled through surgery, she's a fighter!!!!  We spent one night in the hospital and then home the next evening.  We had a rough few days, but Phillip and I make a great team!!  On Thursday my dad, mom and sister came to visit...they are the BEST!!!!!  We are so thankful for their help, prayers and especially their love!!!!  Avery had it rough but my mom finally got her to eat after 4 1/2 days...that was  a THANK YOU JESUS moment!!!  Thanks mom for all the WONDERFUL meals. Daddy thank you for always thinking about us when you go get grocery's and for driving over 600 miles to get to us, Aunt Jenn thank you for all the laughs the support and watching over Avery when she rested!!
We want to thank everyone that brought meals and called to check on Avery.  Our church family is the BEST!!! Avery received so many gifts and cards from church.  Our card ministry at Newton Baptist is the GREATEST without it who knows where Phillip and I would be today, it was because of that card ministry that we found our church family back in 2003.  Praise the LORD!!!!!  
Avery if feeling so much better finally eating and I think she eats better now then before her surgery.
Thanks again to everyone!!!!  We are facing another surgery soon...Avery needs to have tubes put back in her ears...I will keep you updated!!!!

 Before surgery right after they gave her the "feel good" medicine...(look how big she looks)

 Right after surgery...breaks my heart

 Day after surgery...

 Aunt Jenn was able to get Avery to play a game...Thanks aunt Jenn!!! Aunt Jenn is good medicine for Avery!!

 Daddy, Pap Pap, Mimi, momma (taking picture) and Aunt Jenn took Avery to the park she rode in her wagon she was so pitiful.  Fresh Air is good for everyone!!!!!

 Avery's get well cards from church family and family friends... what a blessing!!

Avery and her daddy....she is felling much better!!!  The 2 loves of my life!!

Tony Dungy...Adoption Awareness

This makes me smile...So many children need love and commercials like this just bring more awareness!!  Thank you Dungy family!!!!

A Princess Everyday!!!...

 "My Princess"... It's crazy how one day Avery doesn't want me to take her picture and now she will just say "mama, take my picture". sigh

A Day at The Museum...

 We took Avery to the Children's Museum in Macon last week.  We have been the Children's Museum in Atlanta and we loved it, thought we would try the one in Macon...it is a work in progress.  We had a great day spending family time together!!! 

 I told Avery to look at me and smile...this is what I get!!  : )

 I don't know who had more fun playing the drums...daddy or Avery.

 This picture cracks me up...we had to get something for Avery to stand on. 

 Our little Princess!!!

Christmas 2011...

 Christmas 2011 was amazing!!  Avery enjoyed everything from opening gifts, baking cookies and waking up in the morning looking for our adopted elf "Jack".  Santa visited us in Georgia first and then we traveled to WV to visit our family and Santa made another stop Christmas morning at pap pap and mimi's house.  Christmas brought several milestones...Avery got her ears pierced, my mom retired from her job after 14 years and for once we were not rushed. We had a shopping day with Aunt Jenn and was able to spend time with her without being in a rush!  We love you pap pap, mimi and aunt Jenn!!!

 Our Tree after Santa left...

 My favorite picture...she ask for rain boots and a Jessie doll (from Toy Story)

 Avery and Mimi at Mimi's retirement...

 Avery took a ride in the State Farm car...

 Rolling pin ready for cookies...

 I LOVE this picture...Avery's hands and my mom's hands...PRICELESS!

 

 Cookies for Santa...Avery told us Santa needed coke and milk to drink and then she licked Santa's choc. chip cookie.  LOVE IT .  My little southern girl gotta leave Santa coke to drink.

Pap Pap made breakfast Christmas morning...reindeer pancakes.  Thanks Pap Pap.

 Avery helped everyone open their gifts... helping Pap Pap and Mimi...

 Our best gift of ALL!

 So tired after opening all those Christmas gifts...time to take a nap!

Went to Uncle T's and Granty's house Christmas night. Avery just had to sit on Uncle T's new bike. 

 Her is a picture of Avery in her new pj's with her matching baby doll.  This also shows her new earrings...she now has her ears pierced...growing up so fast. : (

 We also had fun with our elf "Jack"...her are just a few pictures of where we found Jack.  Great tradition to start!

Santa Visit 2011...

Avery visited Santa last night.  We had the opportunity to spend a family evening out last night at The Oaks Golf Course.  The Oaks Hosted a Christmas Extravaganza benefiting The Miracle League of Newton County. We had a fun night decorating Christmas cookies, giving Santa our Christmas list, (not a word spoken by Avery : ) we enjoyed a hayride through the golf course looking at lights and even roasted marshmallows. Last year Avery wanted nothing to do with Santa and Phillip told her she didn't have to go see Santa if she didn't want to, so we didn't go last year (broke my heart).  This year Avery tells us everyday I want to go see "Ho Ho" so she finally seen "Ho Ho" and didn't make a sound until we walked away and she told him "Merry Christmas". 

 This picture cracks me up...Phillip handed her to these guys and she never moved.

 Making cookies...Avery loves M&M's and as you can see she put one on each corner of her star cookie.

 Roasting marshmallows. 

I had to add this second picture with Santa...look at her face...she won't look at Santa but she will look at him out of the corner of he eyes.  LOVE IT!!!!

  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and lets all remember what Christmas is really about...

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and The Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty GOD, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this"
(Isaiah 9:6-7).