NAM Appt. #13 (picture)

Emily is nearly three months old now and has had the NAM in for 11 weeks. We didn't get to see Dr. Grayson today because he was in surgery. Another orthodontist, Dr. Lisa Vecchione did Emily's adjustment. Her columella looks great and so we still have not added the nasal bridge yet. I hope we don't have to add it. Everyone adores Emily at NYU. She rarely cries and they all love to hold her. I took her in her stroller with the carseat and it worked out well. She even took a nap while we waited.

Here's Emily right after a bath - a rare shot without the NAM

Speech Pathology Visit

Prudence, Emily's speech pathologist with Early Intervention, is very impressed with Emily and the NAM. She says all the typical problems associated with cleft lip and palate don't seem to apply to Emily because of the NAM. She is eating well and is used to people touching her face. She's going to call Shelley, the speech pathologist at NYU to see what she recommends.

Pulling Out the NAM

Emily has started pulling the NAM out mostly because she wants to suck her thumb and gets her fingers caught in the stents. I'm afraid we're going to lose it!

NAM Appt. 11 (picture)

Emily's appointment at NYU was uneventful except I was an hour late and it was the first time I brought the stroller (usually I just have Emily in a sling). Emily was still on the nebulizer and that sucker is too heavy to lug around the city with Emily and my enormous backpack. Her columella is at 4 mm on both sides now and everyone is very impressed with her progress. Surgery is only 2.5 months away and I'm nervous as hell.


Emily at 11 Weeks Old. She's all smiles even with the NAM in.