A GREAT Monday!

~ **WOW!** ~  

It's not often I feel great about a Monday ... 

- especially in the last couple months - 

- especially when Monday is "Clinic Day" - 

... but, Friends, let me tell you ...

... TODAY was a GREAT MONDAY!!!

It started off with this!

Will you just take a look at that smile?!

Rees has been in such a splendid mood lately; he is definitely feeling a lot better!  He has been just talkative, affectionate and simply precious!  

Oh, LORD, You are so good to me!

Today was the day that Jonah got his orthodontic appliances placed.  This was a very long appointment and I am amazed at how calm and well-behaved BOTH Jonah and Rees were.  

Here's Jonah prior to the start of his appointment ... all ready to go!

He paid attention to EVERY single detail, watching everything the Technician did, putting his head up and eyeing each time she grabbed a new tool or appliance.

There were a couple moments that allowed for a break so Rees would help to take Jonah's mind off of things for a bit.

Jonah really did a great job even though after about an hour and a half in he could already feel the strain on his teeth.  

Jonah has full orthodontic applicances including expanders on both the top and the bottom.  The top expander will not be utilized until after the jaw distraction is complete.  The bottom expander is automatic, meaning it does not have to be manually turned by us.  Over time, it will automatically expand to widen his lower jaw.

Jonah's surgery is still scheduled for next week and all of his appointments with the surgeon and orthodontist for the first three weeks after surgery are in place.  He will need to be seen three times a week during those first three weeks when the jaw distraction is occurring.  Whew!  That's A LOT!  But... the sweet thing is ... his lower jaw will be moved into position IN THREE WEEKS!  

We are simply amazed at the things that can be done!

Please keep Jonah in prayer that he remains healthy for the surgery and that he is able to tolerate the discomfort.

And back to this little man ... his appointment was this afternoon as well.  

This photo is a "close-up" of the first photo in this post.  I zoomed in to show the differences in his skin and the granulating tissue.  The triangular portion near his forehead area has now created a layer that is protecting the tissue and you can see the more red, circular area between his eyes ... well, that is newer granulating tissue.  That area continues to seap drainage so Dr. Denny used a 'Silver Nitrate' stick on the area at today's appointment to help dry up the area and/or speed up the healing process.  

Interesting new thing I learned and I am reading up further on 'granulating tissue' ... but, when the Silver Nitrate touches the wound, it turns the area black and it immediately became dry.  Now the tissue may continue to granulate so they gave me some "sticks" to use this week in the event the area turns "meaty" again.  Yep, that's the word they used ... "meaty' ... and it made perfect sense to me.  That's basically what it appears to be ... "meaty".  

I am just so pleased that the area is really confined now to just that small space!!

Dr. Denny even said that we can just use a band-aid to cover it instead of the large pieces of gauze and tape we've been having to do.  

This is definite IMPROVEMENT!!

THANK-YOU, LORD!!

It really was a good Monday ... the first in a long time ... and I'll TAKE IT!!