Glad to hear you have a great support network Fiona - it makes all teh difference doesn't it. Nice to hear the medical profession have all been supportive and organised also. Feel for you with the hearing aides - Alex doesn't have them ... yet .... and I am dreading our next check in a months time because I know if he needs them we will have all sorts of issues keeping them in

You get the acidophilus from teh chemist or health store. I used capsules - I just broke them and put half the powder contents in teh morning bottle and half in the night bottle but I think you can get different strengths etc and also I think you can buy it in powder form. i found it was a nice easy way to get it into him without a fuss.

My FIL passed away in the first few weeks of my pregnancy too (although we didn't know we were pregnant - thought it was never going to happen) so we flew international to be there at the end .... we heard there is a theory this can have an impact but apparently not proven yet so specialists do not take it into consideration at this stage. You are perfectly correct though - these clefty kids are very special

Cheers

Adele