Anyka is GLUED to her new Signing Time DVDs! SHe is totally in love. she is still not speaking, but thanks to rigorous work on all our parts, Anyka is learning signs, with a current active sign vocabulary of over 125 and a passive vocabulary of about 300 more. We're so proud of her!

Anyka saw Dr. Wang today, who pronounced her palate in excellent shape. A week from Friday, she can start having hard food again! There are no holes though, and her stitches looked good.

Anyka came home today. She is supposed to be in her restraint 24/7 for the next 4 weeks, but there is no way! So we are just watching carefully. I will be home for the next week with her.

Anyka is doing better today. Visits from Vincent, Blake, joyce from Any Baby Can, and Oma have helped. She has several new Elmos and is watching Signing Time practically non stop. She seems to be hurting less though there is still significant swelling in the back of her throat. We'll be here at least one more day. She has no interest in dringing but has begun eating - ice cream, jello, popsicles...

Anyka remains hospitalized after having some pain and breathing trouble related to the swelling in the back of her throat. After arguing with the PICU docs, we managed to get her some pain meds (they were giving her TYLENOL!) and so she could rest better. we will see what the next few days bring.

Anyka is having surgery today to repair (again) her cleft palate. She is expected to be out by noon and home tomorrow afternoon. Dr. Wang and Dr. Garza are performing the surgery, with Dr. Olomu doing the anesthesia. We're very fortunate, since Dr. Olomu is no longer scheduling other than heart patients - he agreed to come in on his day off for her procedure!