New friends

After returning from Kentucky and getting over our fear of being out in public it was time to make some friends. Brody and I joined the local library and it turned out to be one of the best things we have ever done. We have met some great friends! We all have kids about the same age and we are all going through similar things. It is nice to have colleagues! We try to get together once a week for a play date and lunch. We have joined other libraries together and music classes our next adventure is gymnastics.

San Antonio and Kentucky

Not long after our first surgery we decided it was time to get out! We had kept ourselves locked up in the house avoinding contact with the publice because no one wanted to get sick before the first surgery. Gramma and her best friend Francie came down to take in the sights and sounds of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo as well as the rodeo in San Antonio. We all had fun carrying a heavy four month old around for hours in the trade shows of both stock shows. There were so many things that I wanted to buy cute little kid saddles and boots but I resisted the urge considering Brody could barely hold his head up by himself! After the stock shows we all flew to Kentucky to meed the rest of the clan. While we were there we got snowed in and didn't get to meet everybody that we wanted to but luckily Facebook has kept us all in touch.

First Surgery

Finally, at three and half months of age it was finally time to under go the first of many surgeries. The first surgery was to close Brody's lip and insert tubes into his ears. The lip surgery is performed first so the muscles can help bring the palate together to make that surgery easier. I knew that it was something that had to be done but it was also something that I was absolutely dreading. I had anxieties about the surgery and anesthesia as well as a fear of what it was going to do to Brody's appearance. I had this beautiful little boy with a wide smile and I was handing him over to a surgeon that was going to totally alter that smile. Looking back now I know what a silly fear it is because all babies change overtime Brody looks nothing like what he looked like when he was born and it wasn't all changed in that one surgery his looks have changed overtime just like everyone else. The worst part of surgery is the smell of the glue that they use and the fact that Brody picked up a bug at the hospital and was sick for a month afterwards.

Christmas

Christmas was intersting with a two month old. We didn't go too over board and only bought a couple things. It was very special to celebrate with a new baby and it gave us a lot to look forward to. Our new family was finally starting to feel like a real family! It was also a white Christmas the first one in 83 years in DFW! We would have never seen that in Surprise!

Thanksgiving

Still being a little out of it because of having a two month old and not getting much sleep I was not really ready for the craziness of the holiday season. Again Gramma came to the rescue her and uncle T.J. came down to help us celebrate. At the same time Gramma helped us unpack the entire house! We had a wonderful dinner of BBQ and macaroni n cheese!

Moving to Dallas

The biggest stress about moving to Dallas was finding a new surgeon and craniofacial team. I loved Brody's surgeon in Phoenix and debated staying there until after his first surgery. Boy am I glad I didn't! We found one of the most amazing surgeons ever and I will never use anyone else for Brody's cleft care. He is the most laid back easy going guys! No tape, no nam, nothing to cause any additional discomfort, his advice is to treat them like normal kids! It is the greatest advice ever!

The move itself was crazy and thank God I have an amazing mom that helped Brody and I find a place to stay while we made the transition and stayed with me for 10 days to help me adjust. Two weeks after moving to DFW we found a house to rent and proceeded to make it into a home. The family was finally back together under one roof. Just in time for Thanksgiving!