Our appointment day with the Genetic specialist had finally arrived. We made the drive to Boise and waited to meet with the nurse who would be doing our ultrasound. It was a good thing she was pretty cool, because we spent the next two and a half hours with her while she took pictures of our baby! At first it was business as usual... our baby boy was shy and hiding. His little hand didn't move from his face, and he kicked away at the ultrasound stick. After he finally got used to all the poking and prodding he sort of gave in and cooperated. We were able to see that he had a bi-lateral cleft lip, and although they couldn't tell how extensive, it did look like the cleft continued into the pallet of his mouth.
The rest of the ultrasound appointment consisted of checking literally, every. little. part. of our baby. They told us that sometimes when there is a cleft lip it can also be a sign of other problems that are harder to spot (genetic disorders type things). They checked to make sure he opened and closed his hands normally, that his feet weren't rounded (like a rocking chair on the bottom), and that his brain and other organs looked to be normal. Everything they looked at checked out just fine. Even though lying on your back, having someone push around on your little baby inside your belly for two hours isn't exactly enjoyable, I enjoyed the appointment very much. It was so neat to be able to really watch him do his thing. At a 20 week ultrasound you get maybe 10 minutes where it's like you get to look through a window and see your baby for real. Let me tell you it was pretty stinkin cool to be able to look through that window for over two hours!
The only other concern at this appointment had to deal with the amount of amniotic fluid I had surrounding the baby. Instead of measuring normal for 26 weeks, I was measuring closer to 30 weeks. They decided this was probably because with the cleft lip it was harder for baby to suck in the fluid (they recycle it through their body). Instead of taking a gulp (like with a sealed lip), it just wasn't getting sucked in like normal. When there's too much fluid they worry about pre-term labor (because my body could think I'm further along than I really am). (On the flip side with too much fluid my body could do the exact opposite and never start itself into labor... even after 40 weeks). This was just something to keep our eye on (and also- the reason I was SO BIG, SO EARLY!)
After meeting briefly with the doctor, we met with a genetic counselor who drew up Stewart and I's genetic history. It was quite the little art demonstration. We gave her our complete family's history for everything under the sun. They mostly just checked to make sure there weren't any obvious genetic disorders in our families that could be linked to a cleft lip. (We're good). Besides lots of high blood pressure our families we are pretty boring (and when at a doctor's office, they always tell me boring is good).
The counselor gave us some good information and websites to look into if we wanted more information (seriously... don't google it, use the resources... a world of difference!) The only other thing she really brought to our attention were some of the possibilities, some of which had never even crossed my mind. If we were dealing with a pallet issue there would be other factors to take into consideration. In a cleft pallet the the top of the mouth is not completely sealed off, so it's open to the nasal cavity, sinuses, and all that other stuff that's up there. That poses obvious feeding issues, but can also affect hearing, and how susceptible he is to getting infection. Also if in the pallet, there is a chance of it disturbing the regular growth of teeth and gums. Of course there's a whole wide spectrum ranging from normal teeth growth, to never getting any teeth in the front. All these types of things are things you don't really think about being affected (at least I didn't). Basically if the pallet is involved, it will take more than one or two surgeries to fix things. He could be having surgeries well into his teenage years. BUT- that's part of this adventure- not knowing and not worrying about the unknown! We'll cross those bridges when we get there. It was good however, just to have an idea of possible outcomes.
After that appointment we went out and splurged on lunch at Joe's Crab Shack (I just can't get enough fish), then headed to the Boise Temple. It was the first time I'd been to the Boise Temple, and also the first time I'd seen the new temple video. Holy Moly- I couldn't believe how much more emotion was in it. I wasn't sure if it was because of this whole experience I was going through, or the new video, but I felt so much love and admiration for Eve. I looked at things in different ways and was really overcome with new understanding and emotion. At the veil, the words I spoke rang so vital and reassuring to me, I almost couldn't get through it. It was a small session, and I was the last person to leave so all the workers watched me as I completely lost it. I literally had to stop and just sob out the words. Poor Stewart. I have to just wonder if he waits for me on the couch in the Celestial Room, terrified of what emotional state his wife is coming to meet him in... HAHA! I think he wasn't quite sure how to react to his mess of a wife, but as always he just smiled and hugged me and didn't ask why I couldn't control my boogers and tears. He's such a stud. :)
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