{11 weeks}

Ok, my bad.  I previously posted this picture as 12 weeks.  It seems I have completely lost track of time.  My little man is a mere 11 weeks old, not 12!

1st grade

Somebody is a little excited for 1st grade!  

I am sure it doesn't help that his best bud, Colin, is in his class!
Watch out Mrs. Conklin... Here they come!

PS.  For the record, I am not suite sure how I came to be the mother of a first grader already.

A day...

That's all it is right?  A day.  So why do I feel sad?  

We got Graham's surgery date and I am having mixed emotions.  While I am excited that the taping, the NAM, the fighting to put it in, it's all going to end.  But to do that, my little baby has to go into surgery.  Being a nurse I know what that means... IV's, sedation, intubation, pain.  It scares me.  It's just one more thing that my sweet little baby has to endure.  It's hard to think that there is anything that NEEDS to be fixed.  Graham is beautiful, his cleft is who he is.  I actually can't imagine him without it.  Will he look like a different baby?  Will he still look like Graham?  All these questions are floating in my head.

I know this is the right thing, but that definitely does not make it the easy thing.  

We met with Dr. H and some plastic surgery fellows on monday.  Funny thing is, the fellow that will be working with Dr. H is actually the plastics fellow that I insisted come to the ER to stitch up Alex's lip the month before G was born.  Dr. H is very happy with Graham's progress and a little surprised that it went so fast.  They rarely are ready to do surgery before 4 months of age on clefts.  We may have been able to do it even sooner but the risks of putting a baby under 3 months under anesthesia are far too great for an "elective" surgery.  We will have one more adjustment of the NAM with Dr. K prior to surgery to get just a bit more lift to his nare.
Wow, I just can't believe we are already here.  It seems like yesterday Dan and I were sitting in the office, just having gotten the diagnosis, waiting to meet with Dr. C.  Now, the consent paper have been signed and our sweet little guy is ready for surgery.

September 22nd, 2011
Keep us in your prayers.

Graham {10 weeks}

This week G is 10 weeks old!
He slept through the night twice, found his hands, started cooing, took a bottle and napped in his bed... all in one week.  Phew, what are we going to do next week?

Life with a 6 year old

"Mom, where was God buried?"

...the questions never end.

NAM week 4

The last two weeks have been relatively uneventful with Graham's NAM process.  We have seen Dr. K twice.  He has adjusted the NAM, each week providing a bit more shape to his left nare, and sends us on our way.  Graham is tolerating the whole process exceptionally well.  He hasn't had any of the dreaded mouth sores, nor has he been irratable or fussy due to the NAM.  For this I am grateful.  It makes doing all of this to him just a little more tolerable.  He has, however, figured out how to get the tape off and the NAM out.  I have woken up twice to find him with the NAM hanging off his face, only attached by one side of his taping.  He tried to demonstrate his abilities for Dr. K this week at our clinic visit.    

While this process is going well and Dr. K is very pleased with our progress, we are still in waiting to hear about surgery.  We will meet with the surgeon on monday and hopefully develop a plan.  This will help immensely as I am trying to plan my return to work... which I am not crazy about.

While the NAM process has seemingly gone well for us, it hasn't been without it's bumps in the road.  We were told at one of our prenatal visits that the entirety of this process would be able to be billed under medical as even though we are being seen by a dentist, it is due to a medical condition.  Well, after 2 months we have finally received a statement showing a dental claim.  While it is fine for the time being, it's not going to be fine when we hit our very low maximum and then have to start paying out of pocket. So now begins another journey in all of this... fighting the insurance companies.  After doing a little research this seems to be a common issue with cleft lip treatment.  However, in the end, after much time, energy and bickering, the medical insurance should cover the cost of his "dental" treatments.  I don't see why it should take all of this though.  I can say from first hand experience that the parents going through this have much more important things to spend our time and energy on.

2 months

2 month stats:

10 pounds 10 ounces (25th percentile)

22.5 inches long (25th percentile)

Graham Baby,

I am not quite sure where this last 2 months has gone.  You are a complete joy and have quickly made your place in our family.  We couldn't imagine life without you.  Like you brothers were, you are generally a pretty easy going baby, despite all you have to endure.  Daily taping, the NAM, weekly doctor's/dentist appointments, reflux, two older brothers, none of it seems to phase you.   

You continue to nurse well and tend to eat about every 3-4 hours.  Night times are a little more tough because once you eat, usually around 2 am and 6 am, we have to replace your NAM, which always seems to wake you up.  Thus far we have you sleeping in your bouncy chair in our room but Dr. C wants us to put an end to that.  This is something I would have never done with your brothers.  I guess I have softened in my old age.  We are starting the transition to the flat co-sleeper so hopefully the move to your room (once it's done) will be a little easier.  During the day you are still very much a sleeper.  You spend about an hour to hour and a half awake before dozing off to sleep whether it be in the car seat, swing or in my arms.   Your fussy times are usually solved with a good swaddle and a binky. 

You are all smiles and I LOVE it.  As long as you are well fed and well rested you dole them out freely. You have even started to give a little coo in the past few days.  We got your play mat out last week and although at first you were not a fan of being put down, I think you are beginning to warm up to it.  You get your little legs and arms going like you are going to take off.  I could sit and watch you for hours. 

You have graduated from newborn diapers to size 1!  Mommy is also in the process of putting away your newborn clothes and moving you into your 3 month clothes.  You have just about grown out of your "coming home outfit" and it makes me sad.  But I do love seeing all the new things you are doing.

You have finally discovered your brothers.  You could sit and watch Alex for a whole 5 minutes.  He moves so fast you sometimes have a hard time keeping track of him.  He loves you though and showers you with loves and kisses, whether you like it or not.  

In your short 2 months you have had your fair share of travels.  At 4 weeks we headed out to Suncadia for our family vacation.  You were a champ and loved the constant attention.  This weekend we are spending it relaxing on Camano Island with the Hirst family.  You seem to like the changes in scenery. 

 

We love you G baby.

Thank you for being you!