Update!

Hi All,

Just a quick update. Can't believe it will be my 2 year surgery anniversary in Oct. Everything is pretty good. No pain, no movement. The only lingering thing is some numbness of the upper jaw. The gums of my upper front 6 teeth are still numb, as is part of my upper lip - where the lip meets my gums. It really doesn't bother me. I only notice when I brush my teeth or when I'm writing blog posts;)

Everything is great with mommyhood. Charlie will be 3 months old on Aug 16. His treatment for his club feet is progressing. We are now past the cast phase and into braces. He's gotten used to them, so no biggie;)

Here are some pix!

This is a progression from 1 week old to 6 weeks old. We took these pictures between cast changes. Each Friday the doctor moved his feet a little bit toward the correct position and apply a new cast. After the 6th cast, Charlie had a "tenotomy" which is the severing of the Achilles tendon. Then was in a cast for 3 straight weeks, while his tendon healed. After that time, they removed the cast and put him in a brace!

He wears it 24/7 (except during bath time) for the next 3 months.
Then he'll go down to just nighttime and naps.
I've already decided that I will dress him up as Shaun White for Halloween. 

 

Hello Baby!

LOVE...

Hi Everyone!

I am happy to announce the arrival of Charles Haig! (We call him Charlie and Haig was my grandfather's name - it's Armenian).

I went into labor 8 days after my due date and he was born a relatively quick 8.5 hours after my first contraction. He was born at home with no complications. He's now a week old and I love being a mommy:)

One thing we didn't expect is that he was born with clubbed feet. Basically, his feet are shaped and formed perfectly, they just sit on his ankles at an angle. We have our first appointment with a specialist tomorrow, where they will start the first of a series of full leg casts. They will slowly, over the next two months, twist his feet to proper alignment. All the research shows that this is fully treatable. In two months his treatment should be complete! 

We are all so happy and are in love with our new little peanut.  

I'm exhausted here, but still able to smile, knowing that I'm so close!

Thomas waited in the living room with his grandparents until Charlie
was born. He didn't want to see "any blood or gross stuff."

Notice his little feet are bent in :(

A few hours after being born. 

Braceface: 37 Weeks Pregnant!

Hello everyone! (If anyone is still reading this blog)

I think in my last post I mentioned that I think of surgery everyday... well, shortly after I wrote that post, things began to change. Basically, pregnancy kicked in and that's where my mind has been!

I have found that the mental prep for braces/jaw surgery and pregnancy/birth is weirdly similar. Both having dragged out prep-time, waiting for 'the date" and followed by an amazing outcome. Well, my "date" is very close. I'm due May 7th and can really go at any time now that I'm 37 weeks. There may have been something with my experience at the hospital, insurance and doctors with jaw surgery (even though everyone was wonderful), because we've decided to go with a midwife at home (apparently I AM a California hippie!). I've had a super easy pregnancy, no nausea or any other complications. We are having a boy and Jeff, Thomas and I are BEYOND excited. I've asked my ortho how soon we can bring the baby in for an appointment;)

Here are some pics!

These are from this weekend... I am ready!!!

Jeff and I went to Maui for a Honeymoon/Babymoon. I was around 26 weeks. I was definitely the most pregnant tourist on the island. There is NOTHING more liberating that hanging your belly out of a bikini;)

Thanks everyone for support. Please feel free to link up on FB or send me an email welbyway at gmail. 

xo,

Amanda