One Week Post Surgery...

We wanted to give everyone an update on where we are with the surgeries:

Nash had his first surgery last week to install his prosthesis and gum "chain". The first few hours and days were quite the struggle. Nash basically had to relearn how to eat from a different bottle and now has a surgical area of lip/gum that every time he hits it hurts like hell! Its so sad whenever he bumps his lip/gum line, he just whimpers like a wounded soldier. Due to the new bottle and method of feeding he takes in a lot more air which equals more belly aches. Mom and Dad went into the procedure thinking this was one of the "easier" ones, but came out realizing there is no such thing. Every surgery from here out has to be a "major" deal in the Bockwoldt household.

The last few days have been much better. Nash is eating awesome amounts of milk with each feeding. He is only getting up once or twice a night and is "relieving" a lot of the gas he takes in. We go the Dr. Morales on Wednesday to have his first post surgery check up and get the chain tightened. We hope and pray this checkup doesn't alter any of the progress we have made.

Here are a few photos of before and after the surgery...

Big Sister holding Little Brother the night before his surgery

Nash the morning of his surgery. As you can see, he is "NEW" and a little "UP-SIDE-DOWNNash getting mad at Dad for taking his picture. This also shows his arm restraints which he'll have to wear until after his next surgery in May. We hope he gets them off sooner rather than later.

Nash's First Procedure

Colby Nash had his first proceed this morning. After weighing in at a huge, tough, sexy 8.5 lbs he went into the operating room at around 10:50 am. The procedure only lasted about 30 minutes (although the day at the hospital was 8 am - 6 pm for Mom and Dad!!!) Everything went very well! He did receive anesthetics during the operation which made the afternoon a little rough because he has to come out of the daze. Needless to say he hasn't been a happy-camper. We had to stay at the hospital until he showed signs of being able to properly feed. So once again we taught the feeding experts how to feed a cleft baby and were on our way home.

There will be a learning curve in order to adapt to all the new "stuff" in his mouth. He now has a prosthesis, acting as a temporary palette, and a small chain, similar to braces, that will slowly pull his gum line together. We go back to see Dr. Morales in 2 weeks and he'll tighten the chain and reevaluate Nash.

Rees was lucky enough to get to spend the day at School and with Aunt Nan. Thanks to Nan for taking the day off and being able to accommodate a "15-30 minute operation". Its times like these that we really do appreciate the fact we live close to family that can be so helpful. We lived away, ie. Hurricane Katrina, and felt like we were on an island.

We'll update the site in a few days with some more recent photos and an update on how the feedings are going. Thanks for all the calls, emails and text message!! We really appreciate all the support.

Here are a couple photos of Ashley with Nash and Nash from above.

GOD BLESS!!

Thanks Aunt Jenny!!

Here are a few photos we had to pirate from Aunt Jenny's Blog. She was down at our place yesterday doing the girls nails (she is almost done with her nail school!!!). Thanks Jen! The kids love spending time with their most favorite aunt.

As you can see, Nash is becoming an old man and losing that "baby hair." He still is hanging on to more than Rees did. You will also notice Rees is all over him. One of the more difficult parts of having two kids is..."REES, GET OUT OF HIS FACE!" is yelled about 50 times a day.

Cute Kids!!

Status Report

We wanted to give an update on where we are. Last Wednesday, Nash and Ashley went to PCMC to get the mold taken that will make his prosthesis. His craniofacial orthodontist, Dr. Duane Yamashiro, mentioned to Ashley that Nash has a fairly wide soft palate separation. Not bad news, but just wanted pass it along.

This coming Thursday, March 19th, Nash will be sedated and have the prosthesis and a "gum come-a-long" (nam) installed. The procedure is an out-patient operation that should only take 20-30 minutes. The nam will need to be tightened every 1-2 weeks. This will cause the gum line to come together before he gets his next surgery.

We are in the process of taking oodles of photos. Every parent that has walked in our shoes tells us they miss their child's cleft and wish they would have taken more and more photos/videos. Apparently there is never enough documentation of Gods miracles! We"ll get updated photos posted on here as soon as things settle down a tad.

Hope everyone reading this is doing well! Thanks to all the old and new friends that have taken the time to post comments to our entries!! We apologize we haven't responded to all of them but wanted to let everyone know we do read your kind words and are so grateful for the support and friendship.

First Consultation with Dr. Morales

We met with Dr. Morales last Wednesday at PCMC to get the first consultation of Nash's cleft. Everything went very well! Nash has a very typical uni-lateral cleft lip/palate. Dr. Morales thinks he is a great looking kid and feels very confident everything will be "restored to societies standard". That's not exactly what he said, but that is my interpretation.

One difficult part of this situation is God has given us a child with a cleft and then we "change" him. It is very common for parents of cleft babies to feel this way. Imagine worrying about something every second for 7 months and then finding out what a blessing you've been delivered. Crazy how things go! Don't worry, we ARE going to have the cleft repaired but I just wanted to give a little insight into what we are feeling.

I'd once again refer everyone to the video on the right ------------------------------------------->
The boy that is on the show has exactly what Nash has.

We've been asked by many, "What is the plan?"; so I've attach a few informative sheets that outline what each cleft is and a typical timeline of the surgeries: (sorry about the size, they are as big as I can make them)

Refer to the timeline above for the "gameplan". Nash falls into the right column. His first surgery is scheduled for March 19. This will be a out-patient procedure that only takes about 15 minutes. Dr. Morales told us there may, once again, be a bit of a learning curve when feeding due to the fact that he will have the palatal prosthesis.

That is the news for now. We are still working on getting some more photos to post. Stay Tuned!

Homecoming...

"Praying Hands"

Ashley and Nash were discharged from Mckay-Dee on Thursday morning. Everyone has been doing really well. He is such a great baby and Rees is a wonderful big sister.

Nash has huge hands and feet (you know what they say....basketball player!?) Eating is not a problem at all. As a matter of fact, all he really does is eat, sleep and poop (in no particular order). We see his pediatrician on the 17th of this month and the next day (the 18th) we go to Primary Childrens (PCMC) to meet with the team of doctors. This will be his first evaluation. We hope to get a "game plan" for the next few months/years. Check back and we'll let you know how things turn out.

Photos of Ashley with Nash are on the way. It has been difficult finding time for everybody to get "cute" enough to take those family photos. I guess we've got to take care of the family before we take care of the cuteness!

In the meantime, check out the slide show below of Nash and Rees:

Colby NASH Bockwoldt

Introducing Colby Nash Bockwoldt!!

Born: February 3, 2009

Weight: 7 lbs 2 ounces

Length: 19 inches

We were blessed with a "Brother" yesterday! Colby Nash has officially begun his life's journey!! Mom and Baby are doing very well. They have spent the last half of a day figuring out this darn feeding thing. It is a tough process to learn for a "regular" baby, let alone one that has been KISSED BY AN ANGEL.

Dad spent the day at the hospital and then stayed at home with Rees. Rees meet Colby Nash for the first time this morning and said "Wow, He's got big lips..." The innocence just breaks your heart doesn't it. CeCe is really excited to have him come home because she doesn't like this hospital thing.

I'll include a few more photos and try to keep them coming as often as possible. We'd like to thank all of you for the phone call, gifts, and well-wishes! Forgive us if we haven't been able to return all the calls, emails, and text messages. It is so awesome to know that you all care!

Please pray for us and especially Colby Nash. Over the next few years he will be venturing down a lightly traveled path, but we take comfort in knowing it is not uncharted territory. The medical team at Primary Children's seem to do great work! (not saying it wouldn't hurt to pray for them as well!!)

Love "The Fantastic Four" (aka. The Bockwoldts)