Summer

It's been about 13 weeks now since Haiyan had her foot surgery. She did really great and was able to get her cast off after 3 weeks. Even though she got around well with her cast, she was able to move much more freely with it off. She still uses her walker to get around when we're out, but mostly she just crawls around the house because it's faster. Or she hops on one foot. She's getting REALLY good at hopping on one foot; I've never seen anyone do it better! She hardly had any swelling, so she was able to get molded and measured for her prosthesis a couple weeks after having her cast removed. She was healing pretty quickly at first, so we thought she might be able to start wearing it 8-10 weeks after her surgery.

The doctors told us that she could take baths and go swimming, so we did a lot of that for a few weeks. We visited Indiana for the 4th of July, and I stayed the week, so that Haiyan and Joshua could meet all their Tanner cousins, who were all visiting Gary & Shelley that week. The girls had so much fun in the pool, and Haiyan really liked swimming. She wasn't at all scared the first time she went. They had fun playing at the Tanner's during the day and staying at my parents' at night.

The prosthetist had Haiyan's foot made in a couple weeks and we went to pick it up and try it on. We had talked to her a lot about seeing her new foot, so when the time came to see it, we could tell that she was really excited. But she sometimes withdrawals when she's really happy, and she kind of did that for awhile when she tried it on for the first time. She walked around a little, holding onto bars and people's hands. It was awkward though, because she hadn't put any weight on that leg for a long time. She wasn't really excited to put it on again right away, because she thought she could get around faster without it. So, we took it home, but she was not supposed to wear it regularly until her leg is fully healed.

So, now it's been 13 weeks, and she still has a small area that is not fully healed yet. It's getting smaller and smaller, but going VERY slowly. We stopped letting her sit in the bath or go swimming, because we thought that soaking in the water was setting it back. So, it's been really hard to have to stay away from the beach and pool for the past few weeks! She's been trying her foot on once in awhile and we let her walk around to get used to it. She loves wearing it now, because she knows that she can do so much more with it on! It's so hard not to let her wear it all the time though. One day this week, she put it on when she got dressed, and I felt so bad that I had to make her take it off.

So, we're praying that she will fully heal quickly so she can be more mobile. Lesley, the kids, and I went back to Indiana about a month ago to see my cousin Kim and her son Micah. They live in California, so it was so nice to be able to spend some time with them! And this week we went to the beach, I couldn't stay away any longer! I wrapped up Haiyan's leg, and it seemed to be okay. Also, there is a picture of Joshua eating cereal for the first time. Of course Elizabeth and Haiyan had to help feed him!

Post Surgery Update

Haiyan winks before surgery

Haiyan is doing very well.  Her surgery lasted about two hours.  The nurse said she woke up so nicely from surgery that we were able to get her earlier than expected.  They said she never cried (of course she was completely knocked out, but still...).

Right after surgery she was a bit out of it, but eventually started to be herself.  We put her in a wagon, pulled her to lunch, and then pulled her around the outside playground.  She really enjoyed the swing (I'll post a video of the swinging once I get back home).

We are so thankful for all of your prayers.  We are also very thankful for Shriner's Hospital.  It's hard for me even to believe a place like this exists.  

Haiyan's Surgery Tomorrow

James & I took Haiyan to Shriner's Hospital in Chicago this morning. She's spending the night there for her surgery tomorrow when she'll have her left foot amputated. James has explained to her what is going to happen and that she will be getting a new foot, so she's really excited. She was excited to pack her suitcase this morning and excited that she got to stay with Mommy and Daddy when we dropped off Elizabeth & Joshua with friends. We are so thankful to the Springers, who kept Joshua all day and the Walters, who kept Elizabeth.
Within a few minutes of getting settled in her room, we went to the snack cabinet, and she was really excited to be able to pick out her own snacks and drinks.
Shriner's Hospital is so great and they do a great job at making the kids feel comfortable. They have huge play areas inside and outside, and Haiyan would have stayed outside all day if she could have! Different doctors and nurses were in and out all day to check her out for her surgery tomorrow. She's healthy and ready to go tomorrow morning at 7:30am! 

Elizabeth, on the other hand, got sick at the Walter's and was running a temperature today! We don't know what was wrong with her, but she's feeling better tonight and doesn't have a temperature anymore. So, hopefully whatever she had isn't contagious! 

I got lost on the way home from the hospital. So after I picked up Elizabeth, we didn't end up getting home until 8pm. Lesley picked up Joshua after she got off work and brought him home. And my parents are here now from Indiana to watch the kids for the next couple days. So, I'm hoping that things go smoother tomorrow than they have today!

We're so thankful though, that Haiyan was feeling happy and comfortable today, because it's going to be a rough day tomorrow. James is staying with her tonight and I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 am tomorrow if I want to see her before she goes in for surgery.

Thanks so much for praying and thanks so much to our family and friends who are helping us out!

Easter time

The girls with Joshua. They like him to be in their room at night when we read their stories. Elizabeth has asked if he can sleep with her because he's "so cute".

At our church Easter Egg Hunt. The girls had a great time, and Haiyan really liked looking for eggs. Even more, she liked eating the candy. We eventually had to take the eggs from her so she would stop shoving jelly beans in her mouth.

We're finally settling into life with three kids! I'm feeling fine now from my surgery, and Joshua is on somewhat of a schedule. The girls love him and want to help with him. I'm getting used to taking all three kids out with me during the day. I thought it took a long time to run errands with Elizabeth; that was nothing compared to now!!
We have an update on Haiyan's foot too. We had our appointment with Shriner's Hospital about 3 weeks ago. The doctors that we saw agreed with the first surgeon; that Haiyan's "foot" should be amputated and that she should have a prosthetic foot. Everyone has agreed that the foot that she has is not functional and she does not have an ankle. They said that she could have surgeries to straighten the foot and lengthen the leg, but in the end, she will still not be able to walk/run easily. The hospital called a few days later to schedule her surgery, so the date is set for May 20.
We are very sad that she has to have an amputation, but at the same time, very happy that soon she will be able to do everything that other kids do. The brace that was made for her in China allows her to walk and kind of run, but it's very noticeable and it bends her foot inward, making her walk crooked. Since we've finally been able to play outside lately, she's been tripping a lot more when she tries to keep up with Elizabeth running down the sidewalk or in the yard. That breaks my heart to watch (even though she doesn't seem to mind!), so, I'm really looking forward to getting her a new foot. The doctors said that once she has her prosthesis, she'll be able to run like other kids and play any sport she wants, even soccer!
We are so thankful that Shriner's Hospital in right by us in Chicago and that they have taken Haiyan as a patient. They are the best hospital around dealing with pediatric prosthetics and everything they do is free! They don't even accept insurance. So, this is a huge answer to prayer that we were sent to Shriner's and that we now have a plan of how to help Haiyan with her disability.

Yes, We had our Baby!

We've been a little busy lately, so we have not been able to do any updates! Joshua James Tanner finally arrived on Wednesday, March 4 around 5:45 am. I went into labor, but ended up having to have an emergency c-section because of where his umbilical cord was. It was kind of scary for a little while, but then the surgery went very quickly and Joshua was born healthy and safe. We're so happy that everything ended up okay and that I went to the hospital when I did the night before. And we were thankful that my doctor was on call that night.
Joshua weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz, 20 1/2 in long, and had lots of dark hair.
He looks much like Elizabeth did when she was born, same dark hair and round face. So, we're wondering if his hair will eventually fall out and come in red like Elizabeth's did??






We were so thankful to have family here to help us with the girls while James & I stayed in the hospital. Jared & Lesley stayed with them when we left for the hospital on Tuesday night. Then my parents arrived in the middle of the night to take over so Lesley & Jared could go to work. Haiyan did great, which was a huge answer to prayer. I was really worried about how she would do with James & I being gone. She never cried when we left for the hospital, and when she woke to my parents being there the next morning, she didn't seem bothered at all. I was so glad, because the only time she had seen them was in the airport when she first arrived here from China. So, the girls had lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa, and Haiyan followed Grandpa around a lot. They brought the girls to the hospital to see us every day and to see their new brother. They were really excited to finally meet him and be able to hold him!

James with Joshua.

Grandpa finally gets a boy!

The day after we came home from the hospital it was Haiyan's 3rd birthday. We celebrated with my family (luckily my mom and Lesley were here to help get gifts and throw the party together!) and James' parents came up too. Haiyan was happy to see them and remembered them from their trip to China. She was really excited for her cake and to sing "Happy Birthday" and to blow our her candles!

The next weekend, James' parents came back to visit, along with his sister Kathy and our nieces, Tanner and Taylor. Elizabeth was SO excited to play with her cousins from North Carolina, and we were excited for them to meet Haiyan and Joshua. We had a great time with them!

Baby Joshua is due today! But has not arrived yet.

Elizabeth "reading" to Haiyan.

Today was my due date, but baby Joshua has not shown up yet. I've been to the mall twice in the last 24 hours, hoping that walking around would speed things up! Elizabeth is excited for her baby brother to get here, but not sure that she wants me to have to stay in the hospital. But she is excited because she knows that when I go to the hospital that Lesley & Jared will stay with her right away, and that Grandma & Grandpa will be here as fast as they can drive from Indiana! James has explained the baby to Haiyan, but I'm not sure how much she really understands.

We're grateful though that we've been able to have so much time with Haiyan before the baby arrives. She's adjusting so well to our family, and we've seen a big improvement in her when she's around our friends and family too. We've been able to leave her and Elizabeth with Lesley & Jared a few times and she's only cried for about 5 minutes before calming down and having a good time. It's getting much easier to communicate with her too, because she's picking up so many English words. Our social worker was shocked when she visited 2 weeks ago and Haiyan put 3 English words together. She said that doesn't usually happen for a few months! So, we feel very grateful that God has given us a good transition, especially during this time at the end of my pregnancy when we're preparing for so many changes and my patience is getting very worn out!

We also found out a couple weeks ago that Haiyan was accepted into Shriner's hospital in Chicago. The surgeon that we originally saw got us in at the hospital; we never even had to fill out an application! This is the best place around for children with leg/foot deformities and they are up on the latest orthopedic technology. So, her first appointment is on 3/31.

Haiyan and Elizabeth are getting along great, it's so nice for Elizabeth to have someone to play with. Although they sometimes fight (we've had a few physical fights and a chopstick up the nose), they really love each other. They love to color, play in the kitchen, and play doctor. Elizabeth loves to "read" books to Haiyan and tell her things that she should be saying in English. Haiyan likes to repeat everything Elizabeth says. Haiyan often tells us that she loves us, and Elizabeth comments a lot that she's sure that Haiyan is so happy to have a family!

Behold the Power of Hannah Montana