NO surgery...for now

So, yesterday was a bit disappointing. I received a phone call from the plastic surgeon recommending that we postpone Calder's lip surgery. He was scheduled to go in this coming Tuesday, Jan. 12...and it was a pretty big deal to get all ready and geared up for it...then to have the wind taken out of our sails...

ALL for good reason though. He has been struggling a little with his weight, he is just over 3 months and only weighs 10 lb. 13 oz. For a "normal" baby this might not be a huge deal, but for a munchkin that happens to have a cleft lip and palate, has to have surgery to fix it, and then has to recover...this is not so great. He is only in the 3rd percentile on the growth charts, and if he drops any lower he will be labeled "failure to thrive"...FOR REAL?! My baby is thriving, and is absolutely healthy, he just so happens to be cursed with his daddy's genes (which will be great later in life!) and super fast metabolism. Caydree was/is the same way, always on the petite side.

So, we are increasing his calories again...but this time we are dropping the formula completely and going straight for the rice cereal. This freaks me out a bit, it's not really something I'm comfortable with yet, but we are putting our trust in the doctors and hoping that it works! We were adding a teaspoon of formula powder to every 3 oz of breastmilk, but now we are using the cereal instead. It's a thick mixture, so I've had to cross-cut the nipples of the bottles we've been using, and Calder has had to get used to the consistency and the faster flow!

His pediatrician also prescribed medication for reflux...which we think he has a mild case of. Fairly typical from what I understand, but hopefully we will get a good weight result from the two!

We were relieved that they do not think there is any underlying issue...which there could have been, so we will keep close tabs on it, and fatten him up for the surgery next month. We don't have a new date yet, but I'll keep everyone posted!

So, some of the very best times in my life, have to be followed by some of the saddest days...Grandma and Grandpa come to visit, and spend a wonderful time with us...we are all incredibly spoiled while they are here, and then they have to leave.

I guess maybe I never envisioned my immediate family living so far apart. I leave to take them to the airport any minute, and will probably cry the whole way home... and then spend the next week readjusting to life as we normally know it around here. :(

I know they hate it as much if not more than I do. Words cannot ever begin to describe the gratitude and love we have for them!!

SO, Mom and Dad--thank you for a wonderful visit, it is never long enough and we wish they never had to end. We anxiously await the next one, and it can't come soon enough!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Christmas

So, a relatively uneventful Christmas at home with family this year...well, not all of them but...

Caydree got a very fancy princess "Belle" dress-up from Santa, and has literally been dressed up ever since. She has maybe worn regular clothes for a total of 2 hours a day (daytime...we do manage to get her into jammies at night...) but seriously? She is about the girliest girl I could ever imagine we'd have!!

She also got a pair of Cinderella 'glass' slippers (they are really plastic) from Grandma. Only about 3 sizes too big, she will get to wear them for years to come! Don't you love the picture of her holding up the dress so you can see them?! Even funnier is her clopping around the house in them, while she is holding the dress up!

Thankfully, since Grandma and Grandpa have been here we have gotten some storage solutions for the dress up garb...a spinning tower, wall hooks, hangers and good habits! Thanks G & G...let's pray this lasts!!

Calder, on the other hand, did get some clothes, but no dress-ups. He has just become more and more of a little person in the past few weeks...not to say that he wasn't before...but more personality is coming out everyday! He actually acts shy when you smile at him, and will coyly turn his head away...he will watch TV, just like his daddy, and literally not take his eyes off of it...and he also does this raise one eyebrow thing...quite possibly a reflex, but always at seemingly appropriate times...TOO funny!

We have been taking lots of pictures...hundreds because Grandma is here...love it!
His lip surgery is in less than 2 weeks, so it will be so nice to have all of these great smiles and expressions on film now...I'm sure there will be lots of new ones soon, and I want to remember every beautiful expression and smile we have seen so far. I feel so blessed, even though I know that babies who are showered with an infinite amount of love and affection are typically pretty happy...this little man is just so amazing. He lights up the room, and you just can't help but love him a thousand times more every time you see him!

I'm not really scared about his surgery, just anxious if it will change his personality after...I love him so much now...
You don't ever want to see your child hurting or in pain...I know he needs to have the surgery, and I know there will be more to come...I know the results will be great, but I worry about the recovery...just want my sweet, happy, loving little boy to be himself. Please pray for us!

HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS LITTLE MAN?!?!

So, it's Christmas Eve morning...I have no presents wrapped, and still could do some shopping, but what's done is done. I do not want to go back out...I want to stay inside with family, have a present wrapping party and relax!

Grandma and Grandpa flew in yesterday from Maryland, we are all happy they are here!! Caydree loves them SO much, and Grandma always takes lots of pictures, so get ready?!

No special plans this year, just trying to stay healthy for Calder's lip surgery Jan. 12

We went to our pediatrician on Tuesday to get our medical clearance, and check his weight. He did gain 13 ounces, but he dropped a little bit more on the growth chart. He was at the 5th percentile, and now he is only at the 3rd. Shane and I were both small as babies, and young children, and Caydree was/is too...but this is a bigger deal for him. If he didn't have to have surgery I wouldn't even be talking about it!! There is a good chance he will have some new struggles with feeding after the lip surgery, so we need him to weigh as MUCH as possible, in case he loses a bit. Since he gained 13 oz in about 2 weeks on the 22 calorie diet, we bumped him up to the 24 calorie diet, and I'm hoping that he will gain 21 ounces in the next couple of weeks. Maybe a lofty goal, but I'd love for him to weigh 11 1/2 pounds for surgery!

Will keep you posted, and be adding some more Christmas pics soon!

Calder's 1st Christmas photo shoot

So, I'm not a great photographer, and I don't have a fancy camera,
but I LOVE these pictures of my sweet boy!!!
I guess maybe it helps that he is so darn cute?!

To me, he looks a lot like Caydree did in this one!

Caught him just before the big smile....

Love the crazy hair...no this was not after the Santa hat came off!! Too long for a mohawk, and mommy didn't want the big boy part/comb-over!

"Are we almost done mommy? I'm gettin' tired..."
Did I mention that he loves to chew on his fist? Poor thing, I don't know what he's going to do when he has to have arm restraints on after surgery... :(


OK, I'll add a couple of big sister too...although she was supposed to be resting
during our photo shoot...she talked to herself, read books, and put on her princess jewelry for almost 2 hours instead! These shots were from last weekend.

Here she is in front of "her" trees. She gets to decorate them with her special ornaments. She is wearing her "fancy" dress that Grandma sent her!

I think my friend Deanne said it best, and I hope she doesn't mind if I quote her,
"What time is it? Whatever time Caydree wants it to be!" Dang she is a sassy pants!
Don't know where she got that...


Stand by for more pictures and holiday news!

Daddy and Calder watching the ARMY/NAVY game...love this picture!

Mr. Smiley just hanging out in the Boppy

"I see you mama..."

Christmas outfit #1

Mommy has trouble with pictures sometimes...

Caydree and her friends at Bailey's "princess" birthday party

Happy Thanksgiving!

Did the pilgrims make faces like this?

my cute turkey hat

I LOVE these two...can't really say much more!

The latest...

Well, it's been a crazy, hectic couple of weeks for me, getting back into the routine of school! I won't claim to be doing a good job, but there is only one week left before our winter break, so I think I can make it!

Calder is doing well...we had our 2 month check, and he dropped from the 27th percentile in weight down to below the 5th, so we are on a 22 calorie diet...adding 1/2 teaspoon of formula to every 3 ounces of milk. Hard to believe that it will really make that much of a difference, but I guess it does?! We go back to check weight again on Dec. 22, and will hopefully get our medical clearance for his upcoming lip surgery. We got our date, it will be Jan. 12. I have read, researched, and talked to others about the whole surgery experience, and I still feel like there are so many unknowns...I'm not a wreck about it yet, but give me time...

It IS the best thing for him, and he will not remember this part, but obviously harder for us as parents to have to go through. I just love him so much exactly the way he is, it will be an adjustment. The surgery is my first day back to school after our break, so I will be taking at least one week off...maybe 2, we'll see how things go. I think my biggest fear is the recovery process. We've finally hit our groove, and I feel like we've been doing so well!! This is just going to start that whole process over again. We'll see, maybe it won't be as bad as I'm thinking...I can certainly hope!!

Well, it's extremely early on a Sat. night, and since everyone else is in bed, I think I'll go too! Hope to have a good news update soon!!