Well the quote above says it all!
The process of having a baby with a cleft lip and palate, has not been easy on us at all! When we first found out about Emma having a cleft lip/palate we were told how often this happens she would eventually have surgery and we would be on our merry way. However, this is not the case! I cant even begin to tell you how many bottles and different nipples we have used to feed my little one! The occupational therapist told me not to go out and buy a million bottles, but it got to the point last week when I was done listening to her and took matters into my own hands. I have done that off and on throughout this entire process (take things into my own hands). Well I bought a couple of bottles and tried a few different nipples this week in order to get my little one to eat…two of the combinations were successful, as in she was eating better but not the full amount she needs to break free from the hospital! So since she isn’t taking her full amount (about 4 ounces-120ml), she is taking consistently about half of that amount…we were educated on a feeding tube to take her home. The tube is called the g-tube, I looked it up online, however, that probably wasn’t the best thing to do because everything online seems worse than what it really is.
Yesterday, a surgeon came in to look at Emma and explained to Darrick and I the procedure that would be done and how everything works. Immediately, I start crying…I started crying because I have been praying to leave the hospital and without the feeding tube but more and more it seems like we will be leaving next week with the feeding tube. I hate the whole idea about this, but I know its for the best for Emma so I need to gain peace with the entire situation so she isn’t stressed. So on the upside I know we will be leaving the hospital next week, with our little one…but on the downside she will probably have a feeding tube in her tummy when she leaves. I know God has already prepared us for all of this, and whatever happens is according to His will but its just hard going through all of this. I never thought having my first baby, I would be so stressed out about everything….
But when I look at this little face, I know we are doing the right thing for her! It’s time for her to come home and be a normal kid without all the bells and whistles of the hospital! Time to get her on a regular schedule, time to meet our dogs, time to meet her two cousins that cant get in the hospital room because they arent old enough, time to be with family on the weekends, and time to see all the things we have purchased for her…and we never know once she gets home and isn’t forced to wake up, poop, sleep, and eat when the hospital wants her to she will thrive! I’m going to continue to pray because even through all of this God has blessed us with the perfect little girl who is still making all her developmental milestones while being in the hospital!
Mommy and Daddy love you Emma…and although this has been the HARDEST thing to go through we know GOD IS IN CONTROL! And He never told us it would be easy, but one thing we know is that He is with us and has been with us during this entire process!
