Cleft Lip and/or Palette

[FionaJ]

Great idea about the acidophilus powder, where do you get it?

Good news that things should settle down cleft wise I had my cleft clinic follow up yesterday and they said they'll see us in 6 months which is a nice break from things. Also said they wold not fix his microform and brancial sinus for 1-2 years. Neither are bothering him so happy about that too.

Did your bubs do a lot of "ga ga" since his palate op, lots of back and voice sounds, ba, wa mum, ga, ra, u, huh etc. makes sense as these are the loudest and they reverberate in his head. Did they need speech therapy? No "da da" yet to DH's disappointment.

We have to work on getting him keep his hearing aids in, keeps pulling them out from under the pilot hat and chewing them .

I do have a wonderful, supportive husband who has handled the older 2 boys (6&3) fantastically. I kept Mr3yr in day care 3 days as he gets realllly bored and up to mischief. He also regressed and took 6 months to toilet train which we started just before bubs was born. Mr6yr was going to school and has stepped up and been pretty helpful if only he would stop fighting with Mr3yr.

My folks have been amazing they live only 10 min away and close to Mr6's school. They would help when I had so many appts, mum's not working. My MIL has also stepped up for a change she lives even closer, been nice even. FIL died suddenly last year when I was 7 wks pregnant and it does cross my mind that the stress did not help bubs.

Must admit Westmead Hosp overall has been wonderful and organised which helped. I could not have coped without DH and my parents. There have been times where I thought I would lose my mind, often over Mr3yr and not getting enough time to myself. Always felt tired, kept getting colds, trouble losing baby weight, hard to get into a routine etc.

My GP has helped too but waiting for hours to see her even though we had an appt did not help. I am so keen to cut down on Dr's appointments, be nice to go a week without one, I think next week will be a first one for some months.

Nice to know I'm not alone in all this experience, although I know everybody has to deal with their own challenges in life and this is just one of them. Bubs is such a beautiful baby with the most amazing blue eyes, such a little flirt and happy, snuggly disposition. Quite the inspiration. There is certainly something special about clefty kids.

Thanks
Fiona