D 4D U/S @19 weeks

UPDATE: 11APRIL07

Hi all hope all is well with you. Baby and I are well. I have some news to share with all of you. I debated on whether or not I would do this but I think It will help me in healing process that I need to do for myself. I have not intended on sharing this news to scare any of you and I am sorry in advance if it does. I don't want to hide this discovery anymore cause if I do I feel like, if I don't admit it, nothing is wrong!(does that make sense?)Anyways here it is: I went for a second U/S @ 21weeks and 4days and was told basically that my son will not be perfect.(In society's eyes)He is going to born with a Bilateral cleft lip/palate. His weight and every thing else looked great! I was given the opportunity to terminate but both my husband and I were totally against it. We have already fallen in love with this child! We also believe this child was given to us for a reason. We weren't having anymore children and out of the blue were pregnant (after almost 8years of the same birth control method!!!!!!)I ovulated within the first week of my cycle (I guess)Had a period Nov 1st. and by Dec 6th took a pregnancy test(x3) Dec 13 had U/S and was measuring 6weeks and 4 days! We really were not going to have anymore children My husband had just finished having a vasectomy on the 24 of Nov 06 (too late already pregnant, only didn't know it) So by the first U/S the damage was already done. They say this is not age related at all. Could be genetics, found out My husband had someone in this family that had a cleft lip and I also had someone on my side that had a cleft palate. It is actually amazing it took this long to show up again in our family with all the children born on both sides. I have read that some family's all their children were born with this birth defect. So my baby may not be beautiful(or pretty to look at) to a lot of people when he is born and that is what is hard for me, cause all mommy's want to show off there babies. My son will be able to have surgery to fix his birth defect. It will not be easy for we have along road ahead of us all but we will be OK! God does not give us some thing we can't handle.

http://healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_plassurg/cleft.cfm

This is a link that explains the birth defect

http://hopeforkids.com/body_cleft_lip[1].html

This site shows you how well the defect can be fixed with surgery (It's amazing!) Just touch the photo to see the change.

16 weeks 1 day

26WEEKS & 5 days ( FACE DOWN)

Yes his foot is up by his face. This is a real crazy pose! His face is behind his leg and his hands are in his mouth. (this is what I see and what the tech told me)I wish I could make this image bigger!so you can see it better.

Cool! I just found a photo that maybe can explain this weird position. Look on week by week (27 week)

31 weeks

35 weeks & 5 days (Yes I know I'm bloody HUGE!!!!!!!! I will be soooooooooooo glad when this is over!)

JULY 10TH.

Here are some sites to show the NAM Arthur jr. may have to be fitted for within his first week of life. This device will help to align his lip and palate to where it should originally have been. Then he can have his lip surgery around 5-6 months and his palate surgery at around 1year of age. The process is going to take a bit longer than I thought (with the lip) because his is a Bilateral cleft. We really won’t know for sure if he will need the NAM until after he is born. But most likely he will they say. (MORE SO THAN NOT) If he does get the NAM he will have to visit the dentist once a week until it is removed for his lip surgery.

http://smilesbypocock.com/cleft-palate.htm

http://cleftstories.com/cleft-lip-palate-archives/nam-gallery-2/

Update: July 23rd.

He's Here!! Arthur Michael ,Born July 17th. @2:41pm - 7Lbs 11oz

Born early @ 37weeks &4 days

I truly was so scared at first to see his little face when he was born. My how Quickly his bilateral cleft lip and palate disappeared for us as parents! truly we don't really see it anymore. The only time it reappears for us is when we have to face the outside world. Arthur is such a content little babe! He has taken to eating really well. This is such a major concern with cleft babies for they have sucking motion but no suction.

August 4th 2007 Update

Finally starting to feel better and back to normal.

Had Bp issues again a day after getting out of hospital plus terrible swelling!! I was also put on two different antibiotics for infection of my incision. (lets just say this pregnancy did not agree with me!!!!) Suffering a lot of baby blues off and on too! Today things seem to be getting a lot better. (starting to feel NORMAL again).... Baby Arthur is doing not too bad. He has been plugged up the last couple of days. Finally he is starting to get some relief. He is drinking 50/50 breast milk and formula. We had to change the formula from similac to Carnation. I sure hope this helps him. (I am open to all suggestions that come my way.)I hope to give him 100% breast milk soon. (ANY Ideas How to increase my supply???) Arthur Had his NAM put in On Wednesday. He GAGGED ! when it first went in. There were some adjustments that had to be made before he would accept it. Mommy and Daddy had to take some time adjusting too!!! We didn't like it but we know its the best thing for him right now. He will have to wear this for 5-6 months until his Palate comes to where it should be. He has adjustments on his NAM every Wednesday. I will post the stages he goes though. After the 5-6 months He will get his lip surgery. Here is some pics of Arthur with his NAM I will post more pics once My husband takes more detailed pics of the NAM its self. His device is just like a Retainer one would get at a dentist. The only thing is it has to be taped to his face so it does not fall out.

Follow the following link to our care page for some extra pics:

http://carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=ARTHURJR&extrefid=tlcinvite

16 AUGUST 2007

Hi there thanks for stopping in for an update, So sorry it's taken so long. Well I will go back to last Wednesday. We met with the cleft palate team. (3hr.appointment) A Social worker, A pediatrician& Plastic surgeon. We were to meet with an audiologist too but that did not happen this appointment. The whole appointment went really good. Arthur Jr. slept the entire time. The plastic sugen was the last to meet with us. What a very soft spoken man. He said surgery can happen from 10 weeks to 4 months. (WOW I did not expect that!!!We were told just before his birth not before 5-6 months.)He must love his job for he gets to tell us when the surgery will happen and that was the whole main reason for being there. (I felt like hugging the man)He told us by having the NAM in We have saved our little sweet heart One extra major surgery. By Monday the doctors office called and gave us his surgery date of 19th.of NOV.

This past Wednesday He had his first official ajustement mad on his NAM. The dentist fixed his NAM to direct the little knob under his nose to his center line. (just made it go even on his face) Eventually she will slowly send the knob inwards towards his mouth where it should be.

Arthur Jr. weighs 9lbs 1 oz as of Wednesday. (4 weeks 1 day old) He is doing really good. He lets us sleep most nights about 5 hours. he consumes about 700cc of milk a day. 500-540 of that is breast milk. I hope that soon I can give him 100% breast milk

As for me I'm feeling much better now. The blues are getting farther apart (thank God for that!!!!) Soon I will be working my way to the tread mill. My BP has been getting much better too. For the most part it's down only a few spikes here and there so hopefully this issue will soon be NOT an ISSUE !

I will try and get some new pictures posted soon.

August 23rd

Check out my care page at the following link

http://carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=ARTHURJR&extrefid=tlcinvite

I posted some new photo's there. (I have been short on time but thought I would update some photo's) Just sign in and you will get all new updates as they come in. Thanks for stopping in and thanks for all the kind words you all have sent our way. God bless each and everyone of you!

31 August 2007- 6weeks

Arthur is doing great. his dental appointment this past Wednesday went good. He is a great little baby. He sleeps most of the night and has done so for weeks now. He just started drinking 4oz per feed. he was backed up for a while, We have been giving him 1 teaspoon of light corn syrup in his bottle and that has done the trick! (thanks for the tip from two different moms)We now have to cut back on that now to 1 teaspoon daily for now he seems to be back to normal. Yesterday was the first day I was able to give him all breast milk. He usually has one bottle of formula per day (I think this is what plugged him up) , for I wasn't able to produce enough. He had a weigh in at the cleft palate clinic and he now weighs 10lbs 4oz @ 6 weeks and 1 day old.

For Some Reason the last few updates I put on here along with new photo's just disappeared! So please visit my care page for most recent updates and photo's. Sorry about that. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED! VERY MADDENING FOR IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING.

Friday, 2 Nov 2007

Sorry It's been awhile! All is well here. Arthur Jr. is doing wonderfully!!!! He is the love of my life! Well on the 29Th of OCT. We went to our dentist appointment. Arthur has not been doing well with the NAM. He is getting sores again. Any ways we talked with the plastic surgeon while we were there for we had two options: one Refit Arthur with a new NAM or just do taping. We asked him for his opinion and he said either way would be fine. If we went the NAM way He would have to wait until the end of Jan for surgery. Enough is enough!!!! This child has been though enough! So we chose to just do the taping. Boy what a difference! I have one very HAPPY baby now! He is so content!!! He even sucks his thumb.(This is soo cute!) I never had any of my babes suck their thumb before. We don't have to worry about him wrecking his teeth either. LOL. He has something to sooth him when he needs it, I like that! So his surgery will be 26thNOV. When We went to the clinic on the 29th OCT @ 15 weeks old Arthur weighed in @ 13lbs 2oz.

http://carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=ARTHURJR&extrefid=tlcinvite

Tuesday, 20 Nov

Well yesterday was Arthur's last dental visit before surgery. Things went fine. I felt so relieved to have that part finished for now. I had him weighed at the clinic and he weighed 14lbs 2oz. I can't believe how well he is growing just on breast milk. I will start him on cereal some time after surgery. He had blood work done yesterday too; this is done just before surgery. Next to the lab is where day surgery is. We went there to check out where we go this Monday. Arthur starts out there then moves after surgery. While we were there we saw his doctor. What a nice man! He is so soft spoken! And kind!!Oh ya I met with a mom who saw me online from cleft advocate. She sold me her breast pump that she does no longer need. I really appreciated this!! For I am going to have to return the one I have from the clinic real soon. So Tammy if you read this Thanks again!! I also got to meet her son who has a unilateral cleft lip and palate. His lip repair is done already and was done by the same surgeon we have. He looks wonderful!! What A little sweet heart I might add with beautiful blue eyes. So its nice to see first hand we are in great hands with Arthur's doctor. Well the day we have been waiting for before Arthur was even born is soon to be here! We are very excited!, for him. He will soon have his new upper lip. I know Monday I am going to be a mess! A nervous wreck!! His surgery I have been told will take about 3 hours. Arthur is also getting tubes put into his ears at this time. Please every one say a little prayer for my Arthur to come though this surgery safely!, and maybe one for me too, to stay calm. I am just such an emotional person these days. I love this little boy soooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!

I just need to locate my camera and then I will post a few more new pics. Oh and I shall update you again as soon as I am able after surgery. I may be at the hospital for a few days.

P.S. I forgot to mention. It's a good thing we didn't get him refitted with the NAM for in the past 2 days he has been taking off his tapes!! what a pain!!! I have to re-tape him at least 6 times a day now!! the little fart!!

Sunday, 25 Nov

Friday, 30 Nov

Hi We just got back home this afternoon. The surgery went great!! The no-No's have to be left on his arms until Monday. We have to leave the tape on the stitches until it falls off on it's own. The stint that was put into his nose was removed today before leaving. He is on Tylenol for any discomfort he may have. Boy does his smile ever look different ! He also had tubes put into his ears. He can sure hear well now!!I will post even newer pics once he heals a bit better. Arthur Senior is sure ill today with the stomach flu. I hope he feels better real soon. My other 3 children went to stay with family this week. Boys and Celene if your reading this mommy loves you! and sure misses you too!!

There are way more photo's on our carepage!!

http://carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=ARTHURJR&extrefid=tlcinvite

>>>>> 5 DAYS POST- OP. <<<<<>>>>>>.10 DAYS POST-OP<<<<<<

14DAYS AFTER SURGERY>>>>>>>>>>>>18DAYS AFTER SURGERY

Saturday, 1 Mar

Hi there sorry it `s taken awhile to post. Where to start. Well not long after my last post Arthur and myself got a virus. We were sick and terribily miserable for about 2 weeks!During this time Arthur was also teething. He got 3 teeth.

While he was sick I had to force feed almost EVERY drop of milk. The most I could get in per feed was 3oz. Solids were a total lost cause! All we had learned with solids was LOST! :( I had to learn all over again how to help him eat with his open Palate. This is not fun I tell you! Lots of tears were shed from both him and I. I think we are finally back on track. I have learned To thicken his food with rice cereal. This seems to do the trick. I only feed him solids with a spoon once a day for now until we become pros.(less stress that way) My doctor said that it was good what we are doing for if I was to wait like a lot of parents do with babes with clefs until palate repair(@one year old) I may of lost him all together with the solids. He may of totally refused to eat solids later! Oh and I also spike his bottle with 1-2 TBSP of rice cereal. (He `s going to hate rice when he get older)

All Arthur `s Shots are now up to date until he is one year old. Oh ya He is back on his reflux med that we had stopped because his refluxing has gotten bad again. Its terrible! refluxing all the time all over me , him, furniture carpet etc... It `s disgusting. The doctor thinks that maybe because of the virus he had started things up again because of his coughing attacks he had. I have decided to keep him on breast milk hopefully until he is one year old for the doctor said it would be easier on him while he re fluxes. My sister brought up a really valid point that I hadn `t thought of. Breast milk does not stink when spit up. That `s another reason I have decided to stay with it. I cant imagine having the curdled milk smell along with the refluxing.

My babe is 17lbs 2oz. He is in the 25% for weight in his age and 50% for his height. I think his getting sick set him back a bit. The docs said they are not concerned at all.

Arthur will be getting his palate repaired in August. Just waiting for the date. We saw the plastic surgeon yesterday and he is very happy with how Arthur looks. Arthur `s hearing is A1. The dentist seems to be happy with how his first top tooth has come in. We have to take him in for a dental check up at one year old.

Arthur is not crawling yet. He rolls over lots. He says momomomomomom and he makes growling sounds. He loves his bath time, he splashes me big time. We are thinking that in March we are going to start back up swimming as a family again. I need it! I still have lots of excess weight I would like to lose.(at least try)So this shall be interesting to see what Arthur thinks of the pool. I just bought stuff for his ears so that water does not get in his ears seeing he has tubes in his ears.

Anyways I think that is all I have to update. Thanks for checking in on Arthur. Take care.

Friday, 21 Mar

I am going to be leaving this blog as of April 1st. You will be able to find updates on Arthur if you wish on our care page. or you can find me on face book. @ carlalyn (this is my screenname) just put the name in the search engine and a picture of me and my hubby will come up. It has been great meeting all of you! I hope maybe we can meet up again on face book. I am going to be printing off this blog like I said by April 1st. so feel free to come by to our page ad say goodbye. Thanks again for all your love and support!!Take care all. XO

Sat march 29th

I have decided to keep my story posted for others to read. I just will not be posting any new updates. Just in case someone finds them self in the same situation I went though. I want to be able to help them in any way I can get though the process. And realize they can get though it! So please if you hear of anyone that is going though what I did please send them My way. Yes at first it is very devastating but life is not over!!

JUNE 8TH 2008

This alert was sent out to me today and I would like to share it with you. Then I want you to share it with all parents you know. This alert really scared me for we just started back swimming as a family. The first night swimming my son did swallow Quite a bit of pool water. Thank God he only suffered a 24 hour fever.We think from the bateria in the water. Now I realize it could of been way different out come. I knew I had heard some thing about this before but I couldn't really remember the dangers fully.

Please watch this alert!!!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24982210/from/ET/