Counting Down

15 days until Wyatt's palate repair. I am so nervous.

I've already booked a hotel in Denver, called the insurance company to make sure the authorizations are through, booked a hospital tour and ordered special bottles for post-op and pre-registered Wyatt.

I keep thinking there is more I should be doing, but there's nothing else. I just have to sit and wait for the day to come. I'm dreading post-surgery. Poor Wyatt. I just feel so bad for him.

Here's what I know right now.
Nov 13
We'll drive to Denver and spend the night in a hotel.
Nov 14
5:30am check in at the hospital and meet with anethesiologist. We're not allowed to give Wyatt his morning bottle - he has to have an empty stomach before surgery.
7:30am Wyatt will be put "under". One parent will be allowed to stay while this is done. The surgery should go for about 2 hours. We'll spend the night at the hospital. We will be sharing a room with another patient. There is only room for one parent by each bedside. Eric's talking about sleeping on the floor. I don't know what we're going to do because neither of us is going to want to leave the room. Then we'll have to drive home (1hr) and go to base to get pain killers. The hospital doesn't issue prescriptions.

Luckily, I have CleftAdvocate and they have supplied me with a packing list for the hospital and ideas to keep Wyatt happy. At least I feel as prepared as possible - I guess.

Can You Believe Its Snowing?!

We had a blizzard today. This is the second time it has snowed in a week. Tomorrow its supposed to be in the 50s and sunny again - thank goodness!

Neighborhood Snow Scenes

Why Do I Have to Wear All This Crap?!

Sign Language Play Group

Every Thursday Wyatt and I go to play group and have a great time with the other mommies and kids. Teaching Wyatt to sign is suppose to help encourage him to speak after his surgery. Statistics say that babies that sign are more likely to speak sooner and use a larger vocabularly. We'll see if it helps - even if it doesn't its been lots of fun. So far Wyatt can sign "light", "drink" and "all done".

Adventures of Wyatt

This kid is a freakin' Houdini! I can't keep him strpped into his highchair. The other morning I answered the phone a few feet from the kitchen table and when I turned around he had pulled the Cheerios box over to his chair and poured them all out!

Playing With Chase

Eric's sister and nephew came out to visit for a week. We had a great time. Here's Wyatt bugging Chase while he tries to play the X-box.

Dressed Up For Wyatt's Birthday Party

Wyatt Enjoying His Birthday Cake

I made eyeball and dirt capcakes and Wyatt LOVED his cupcake!

Wyatt's Birthday

We had a birthday party for Wyatt and everyone came in their Halloween costumes for fun.

Umm...Can I Fit in There Too?

Playing With McKenna

Wyatt and McKenna (2.5yrs) had a ball playing with each other while we visited. I think their favorite thing was taking a bath together.

Wyatt's First Flight

On Sept 23rd Wyatt and I flew to NJ to stay with friends and hekp them with their new baby. We had connecting flights, but Wyatt was really good. Here he is with one of his toys I got especially for the flight.

Speaking At Early Intervention

My first presentation went well. I spoke to case mangers that meet with parents in the local area and help them manage their children's medical needs. They said they couldn't tell it was my first presentation, that I was inspirational, that my welcome letter to parents was well written and that they'd like me to speak at another meeting. I am on the books for the January quarterly meeting for service providers that are used by Early Intervention. The director actually said she'd like me to present to a few other organisations that she sits on the board of. I am so proud. I just feel so good about it and so good about myself. It was amazing how easily the words came. I explained my expereince and how wonderful everything was but still how overwhelmed and alone I felt. I explained all the challenges a parent faces and how it is so important that not only the child is receiving proper medical care, but that the parent has an outlet and support of other cleft parents. I explained how cleftadvocate.org changed my life and gave me the strength and information to make decisions for my child. They actaully received my words with open arms. It was amazing. I can't wait to speak again.