HI Guys

Leesha - Good Luck. Stay Strong and just know everything will be fine. You might miss the 'old look' for a while - we did - but it is also so lovely looking at them and for them (for all the reasons you commented on above) to have a great look after the op.
Toni I agree with you about the Karma .. learning a lesson etc and I feel this has taught me HEAPS - another thing that was said to me that I truely appreciated, is that special children are given to special mothers and I do believe that. Even if it is just that we can give them the love and attention that they need - and not sure if I am harping now but as much as I wish no child had to go through this - I would not change him for the world.

We just came back from Brissy where we had our second op - soft palate repair. Honestly, all the hard work, frustration (for us all) and heartache was rewarded when Alex started sucking from a sippy cup attatchment for the first time - I cannot describe how excited and proud I was of him. The arm splints were a b^&%& but we got through it .... he is a little spoilt now but he deserves extra cuddles etc anyway Cleft pals here said to put splints on prior to op but I just couldn't do it to him - and I don't know that he would have liked them anymore anyway. He also decided to REALY teeth on the day of the op so no sucking or chewing was a real you know what but we got through it and exactly 2 weeks after he is now the happy baby I have always had ..... only he can eat and drink like everyone else - what a great Chrissy present and really not a long time (just have to wean him off the custard in the formula which he has taken WAY too much of a liking to ..... although it was a God send .. for swallowing in first week or so after op.)

CHeers

Adele