Julia's beautiful smile!!

We went back to our plastic surgeon today and they removed the stents in Julia's nose and took off the steri-strips.  It is like seeing your newborn all over again!  The emotions are CRAZY!  You know that this is your daughter, but it doesn't look like your daughter, at least not the one you brought home from the hospital.  The most difficult part of the past week was her "no,no's" she had to wear on her arms so she would not touch her face.  She hated them!!!!   She has started drinking from a regular bottle, which is pretty cool.  It feels weird now because we worked up to this day that we waited for since the day she was born and now it's over.  That is it.... the doctors have repaired her lip and nose and that is it.  It is just weird, I can't really explain it.  I guess we just love her and kiss her and spoil her until her next surgery which they have scheduled for February 18th, if they decide she needs it. We will find out for sure on December 16th at our Craniofacial Team Meeting.  Until next time:)

We are home-

We brought Julia home yesterday morning.  She did very well in the hospital with eating and pain control.  She slept most of the day yesterday and didn't eat all that much.  She struggled this morning to eat again, so we are going to have to watch her with that.  Otherwise, we are very pleased with the results of the surgery.  She is still pretty swollen around her nose, but it looks amazing.  The doctor came by before we left the hospital and changed her bandage on her lip and it looks incredible!!  It is unbelievable what these doctors can do.  I truly believe that their hands are guided by God.  We go back next week to get the stitches out, stent out of her nose, and she can take those horrible "no, no's" off of her arms.  I will keep everyone updated.  Thanks to everyone!

It is finally over!!

I can't believe I am sitting here watching my angel sleep after her operation.  She looks amazing!  She has woken up once and drank 5 oz of pedialyte in record time and is now back to sleep.  I guess I need to enjoy the peace and quite now, because I am sure she is going to be a bear when she finally wakes up.  Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

Less than a week a way!!

Wow, it is amazing how your nerves can get to you.  I know Julia can tell when I am stressed, but I sure hope she can't feel that I am scared out of my mind for her.  I guess as parents this is part of who we are.  She is sleeping so peaceful in her swing, while I am here typing and feeling like at any moment I could vomit!!!  I know we are doing this to help her, but it sure doesn't feel like that right now.  I just thought I would put this out there and I am sure there will be more to come over the next several days.  I will be posting the day of her surgery... I call that my therapy.  Take care-

Genetic Appointment

Well, we had our appointment with the Genetic Doctor at UNC this week.  I knew it would be a long appointment, so I had to plan for Julia while we were there.  The appointment took about an hour and a half.  We covered everything from what I took during pregnancy to the family tree.  Anyway, the biggest thing about the appointment is the doctor feels that Julia does have a "cleft palate".  What she possibly has is actually called a submucous cleft palate.  I really don't know how to explain it, but when you look in her mouth she does not have an open palate you can see, it is under the tissue in the roof of her mouth.  We will know more when she has her lip repair on the 18th of August. If you want to know more you can go to this website  http://www.cleftline.org/publications/submucous  

I will keep everyone updated.  Take care-