We saw Dr. Polley & Dr. Figueroa today for a post-op check up. They both said they are pleased with her results and that her scar will continue to fade which will make it look even better. I asked what we might have ahead of us in terms of future surgeries, revisions, grafts, etc. and was told that they will wait to evaluate her gumline until about 7 or 8 years old because they want to see how her adult teeth come in and whether or not the gum that is there is strong enough to hold them in place. If not, they will do a bone graft to that area. We go back in March for her final post op meeting--Dr. Polley said the lip will "relax" even more between now and then and he's expecting it to be fully healed. After that, we will bring her back around 1 or 1 1/2 years old--when she starts talking. The entire team will see her then and determine what speech therapy needs she may have. They both felt that her speech should develop normally because her palate is intact. The team will monitor her then at yearly appointments to check things like her ears (some cleft babies have tubes put in), dentist/orthodontist issues, and how the nose and lip look as she grows. It is possible that she won't need any lip or nose revision done but we won't know until she is older. Dr. Polley said to be thankful that her palate is fine because most kids are getting ready for multiple palate surgeries right about now. We had a great visit with them and I was able to thank them both for everything they have done for our family. It is easy to just see what they do as a job--but they have changed many lives in our family alone because of the services they provide and we will never take that for granted. I was getting really sappy in the office and Dr. Polley made sure to tell me that I'm not getting rid of them so quickly....Haven will be a part of their "family" for many years to come regardless of whether or not she needs more surgeries. They will help see her through the coming stages and we're happy to be on this journey with them.
On a lighter note...Haven is rolling like crazy--showing off mostly. I can tell because she's doing it to reach things that she could have just stuck her hand out and grabbed--really, you HAD to roll twice to get that?!? :) I was reading a book to her while she was laying on her back and she rolled right over and started turning pages for me. SO cute! And yes, she is naked...it was almost bath time.
She also tried applesauce for the first time tonight which went over pretty well. So far she loves peaches and applesauce and the jury is still out on bananas. 
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