The first 2 weeks were heaven. She slept like a pro, ate like a champ, and snuggled up to you every chance that she could. I was lovin' the whole baby gig.
Then week 3 came. Colic. Just like her older brother - only Gavin's symptoms started on day 3, so I figure we had 11 more days of bliss with this baby.
Went to the doctor for medications for acid reflux. I went off all dairy products in case it was a milk allergy. All that seemed to help some, but evenings are still a nightmare. There have been days where she's cried non-stop for 6 hours. On one of those days, I developed a major headache, was a major basket-case, and declared that we shall have no more offspring! Matt was very supportive of that decision. He was on the verge of becoming a basket-case as well.
And on top of it all, this poor baby (and her parents) have to deal with the extra attention a cleft requires. We met with her surgeon, Dr. Siddiqi, and found out (in more detail) what our cleft journey will be like.
Week 2: Taped lip: stretching out the lip for the surgeon to have more skin to work with.
Week 3: The NAM (Nasoalveolar Molding): used to gently guide the hard/soft palates closer to where they need to be. It's like a retainer. We have to go back to the orthodontist every 1-2 weeks to have it adjusted. She's supposed to wear it 24/7, but Alayna refuses to eat with it so I take it out during her feedings.
Week 5: Nose stents: hollowed, cylinder-shaped stents placed in both nostrils to reshape the nose.
2 1/2 months: 1st surgery. Plastic surgeon will sew up her lip and place a prosthetic in her palate.
10 months: 2nd surgery. Soft palate repair.
Age 3: Hard palate repair requiring a bone graft from her hip.
Age 5: Plastic surgery touch up: will get her lookin' good for when she goes to school.
Teenager: One more surgery, but I'm not sure what it's for. The surgeon told me, but I was too focused on the present that this surgery got pushed to the back burner in my mind...
Throughout: Orthodontic work on her teeth, speech therapy, and ear tubes (most likely needed at some point).
And so it begins... I remember with Gavin it all got a lot easier after 4 months. I can do this. Only 3 more months to go.
Disclaimer: In no way am I ungrateful for our daughter or the blessing that she is to our family. I'm just documenting so when I forget all of this in a few years and get a little baby hungry, I can read back and hopefully change my mind! ;)
