Why Didn't I Listen: UPDATE

On Tuesday my husband and I brought baby Paige to a pediatric Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist re: her tongue tie situation. The outcome was good and bad. The good? The doctor was awesome, honest and knowledgeable. The bad? Paige needs to have corrective surgery ASAP before there are any lasting effects to her jaw and mouth structure from not having it taken care of when she was first born. The doctor told us that there was no way Paige could have breast-fed with her tongue so constricted - that all she could have ever done was gnaw on the nipple (yup - that's pretty much what was going on... I can attest to that!). Also, he said she can't touch her tongue to the roof of her mouth or stick it out past her gum line (without moving her jaw awkwardly), so she would definitely have a major speech impediment. We were able to schedule the surgery for Monday at the local Children's Hospital. She will go under general anesthesia for 4-5 minutes, and the tongue will be corrected using a laser. They said I can go in the operating room until they put her under, and then I have to leave while they do the procedure. The doctor said that when she wakes up, she'll probably be a little fussy and confused, but that she'll quickly be back to normal within 24 hours.

I'm still dealing with a lot of anger and guilt regarding this whole thing... it would have been a simple office procedure had it been handled within the first two months. I had to bring Paige to the pediatrician on Wednesday for a rash under her neck (ends up it was a yeast infection - bizarre, I know - but yeast develops anywhere it's moist and hot.. her chubby chin and neck combined with constant drooling created the perfect environment.) Since it was an unscheduled visit and I haven't officially transferred her records to the new pediatrician, I had to go to the old one (yes, the one that said it was barbaric to fix my daughter's tongue). I met with a different doctor who was very nice. I figured I would give it one more shot with them, and asked what he thought about her tongue. He glanced inside her mouth and said, "Looks good to me! I would never recommend clipping the tongue unless it is very severe." Interesting... what exactly classifies as severe?! Not being able to touch the roof of your mouth or stick out your tongue isn't SEVERE?! At least he didn't call me a barbarian. But he did try to imply that Paige had the rash on her neck for weeks and I hadn't brought her in. He kept saying, "So she's had this for about three weeks?" I corrected him about 3 times, "NO! It was 48 hours max - and it JUST got this bad about 30 minutes ago when she woke up from her nap." I am SOOOOO donezo with them.

I'll let you know how the surgery goes on Monday. Please keep little Paigey Kakes in your thoughts and prayers!

PS: The picture I used isn't Paige (obviously because of the teeth : )  ), but that is exactly what hers looks like

Birth Day! A Movie

As Paige rounds the corner towards her 6 month birthday, I figured it was time I finally put together her birth documentary video : ) Better late than never!

It's amazing how much we've all grown since then. Six months ago, we went from a "couple" to a "family"... this video is where it all began.

Click on the embedded video below, or click this link to view on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/sweetleighmama/videos

Birth Day! from SweetLeighMama on Vimeo.

One Strong Mama: Ski'ing Through Life with an Extra Chromosome

I don't believe in coincidences. I don't believe that things happen randomly. Things we read, hear, see at any given moment - God has placed them in our path at that specific time in our lives - that very second - because we need to take it in. Yesterday I began reading a blog by Erin Witkowski, mama of two beautiful boys - "Grady's Secret: Ski'ing Through Life." Erin's second son Grady is "genetically enhanced" as she calls it (LOVE that!) - he was born with Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome. She began her blog on October 18 - soon after finding out Grady's diagnosis. Her honest stories of the days leading up to the diagnosis, as well as the months awaiting Grady's birth, will make you cry, laugh - but ultimately make you feel inspired as a mother. http://skiingthroughlife.wordpress.com/

As mamas, we each travel different paths. But our journeys all intersect at one specific point - the absolute, 100% pure love we feel for our children. Out of the billions of possible genetic combinations - God knew that your particular baby needed you as it's mama - and that you needed this baby to become the person your are meant to be in life.

As I head to the Pediatric ENT doctor with Paige later this afternoon, I know I have the support of all the other mamas out there - and that I can be strong for my baby girl... Why? Because I'm her mama.