God has his hand on our family

Aric's pain pump being removed

Pain pump gone;chest incision healing well & cleanly...the bump is stored cartilage for future surgeries...I will explain below.

Day 3...more bruising

Backside...can see indention  that will be top of ear ridge.

I have definitely been blessed in many ways. The Lord has given me many great friends and wonderful family who have helped orchestrate this season of our lives either through prayer, support or by helping me lay out the foundation for this surgery. Tonight I was reminded of this while eating dinner here at Ronald McDonald House. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner are donated and prepared for the families and staff by various groups. Tonight it jus so happened to be Century Products. During dinner a gentleman asked if he could sit and join us. Through the conversation guess what I found out? John is a Corpus Christi native who moved to Dallas to go to school and now is part owner of the century company that produces chemicals for restaurants for cleaning. See the good Lord knew I was homesick :) Since we have planned this surgery, The Lord has placed strategic people in our lives. We were blessed by a mom on Aric's baseball team who happened to know someone in the hierarchy of Ronald McDonald house that was able to make sure our accommodations were a done deal instead of on stand by. Only to find out through later conversation with Aric that His friend at school is also this persons son.  Talk about God strategically placing people in our lives for a reason :) we don't always get to see the Lord's handy work so blatantly but when I do, it humbles me. As I have always told my children in life we have to walk by faith; not sight. God is all his glory provides exactly what we need when we need it most...hallelujah ! 

Now for the update on this cartilage business. I believe I finally have all the facts in order :) I may learn a little more later. Aric did not have enough big pieces of cartilage to carve the ear all at one time. There is no rhyme or reason as to why Aric did not have as much cartilage as other children with his syndrome. So the slivers of cartilage from the pieces that were carved were put back into his body in that balled up area that u see in the above picture. What happens next, I find truly amazing...the cartilage pieces form themselves back together to make one whole piece of cartilage...cool huh?

Aric and I ended our night playing fooseball( not sure if I spelled that right). Aric was stoked that he beat mommy finally :) Until tommorrow ...Goodnight.