Half Done

From the x-rays of Cicilys jaw on Wed. it looks like the distractors are turned 1/2 of the full length. This means we are 1/2 way to completion of turning the screws!! If all goes as planned we will continue turning 3 times a day and then Dr. Singh will remove the external arms (the portion of the device that hangs down from her chin) on Aug. 5.
The turning is becoming painful for Cicily. I try to turn while she is in a deep sleep for at least the night time turn, but when she's awake it takes Chris holding her arms/entertaining her in order to get them turned correctly. So turning is not the exciting occurrence that it was in the beginning; I think of it more as torture three times a day. It is worth it though. We can see a HUGE difference in the position of her mandible. Her chin looks like Jay Leno's to us! And, I can now see her uvula for the very first time. Something most people take for granted, but I've never been so excited to see a uvula- what a great thing!
From the laryngoscopy Dr. Mancuso saw improvement in her airway. He didn't have to thrust her tongue off of her trachea like before. He is optimistic that if we can achieve the full 30 mm of mandibular growth, then Cicily could be decannulated. So, we're a few major, precarious steps away from that still, but the optimism is nice.

I was attempting to get a picture of Cicily NOT smiling to post as a progress shot. She was not complying- she smiled for every single picture I took that day! She makes this all so much easier. This picture was taken Monday (5 days ago).