Birthday

Overall I was having a normal (not so comfortable) typical pregnancy. Of course all I could think about was our near future with this little one and how it would all pan out. Would he really be healthy otherwise? Would the palate be involved and to what extent? Would we have a hard time feeding, breathing, or hearing? Just so many questions! For weeks I was feeling the onset of labor and thought "today is the day" with nothing to show for it. Then finally two days before our due date I was having real contractions. We went into our scheduled OB visit with high hopes. Sure enough I was in early labor and ready to admitted! I get to my room and the beautiful, blonde nurse sets me up on monitors. We start talking about my pregnancy etc and I casually say, "his name is Lucas, it's a boy! And he has a cleft lip and probably palate." You know those times in your life where you are put in the presence of someone and it's meant to be?? Well, this was it for sure! She exclaimed, "I was born with a cleft lip! And my daughter too! The doctors thought for sure she had cleft palate as well, but she didn't!" This nurse was gorgeous and you would never know she was born with cleft lip until she said it. We bonded right away and exchanged information to keep in touch after he was born. She wanted to come visit him in the hospital the next day and I of course welcomed her! Unfortunately this was the end of her shift and I would be with another nurse during the next 12 hours. My labor and delivery were pretty much unremarkable. It went by quickly with a few expected discomforts. Lucas was born 12/31/16 at 2:43 am 8lbs 8 oz and 21 inches. He was perfect. Blue eyes and spiky blonde hair! The NICU nurses were there to evaluate him and determine if he could stay with us or needed further attention. Thankfully he was 100% healthy with an apgar score of 9. I was watching them and listening as they were checking him out and I heard one nurse say, "His palate is completely intact, just a cleft lip." That was music to my ears! I cannot tell you the relief I felt for him to not have to deal with cleft palate. Although, just like the lip, it is fixable and completely managable...But it is quite a few more surgeries, therapy, and feeding/hearing issues etc compared to lip/gum which is only 2 surgeries and no other treatments. I held him and we nursed...Something I had already put in my head we weren't going to be able to do. I was in LOVE. Our hospital stay was great with no complications. He passed hearing tests 100% among everything else. Now it was time to come home! Our sweet nurse did come visit and got emotional when I told her his palate was intact, she knew exactly how I felt and the implications had things gone the other way.  Enjoy the pictures below of after birth and sweet brother moments! Next on the agenda...SHANDS to schedule surgery and NAM device fitting (Much more to come on this subject)