Anything but the Sneeze

This past weekend we celebrated Father's Day as a family. I'll take this as a good opportunity to acknowledge Tim for being a wonderful father to Hannah. He is so involved and Hannah is very lucky to be his little girl. Tim and Hannah enjoy making funny noises together, playing peek a boo, going for walks, listening to music, and story time. At church Tim won the chocolate cigar award for newest dad. Then we played mini golf and I let him win. (jk he won fair and square and even got a hole in one). Overall it was a great day and we hope both of our dads had nice days as well. We are sorry we couldn't be with you.

As for Hannah, not much new, just enjoying different foods. She gets fruit for breakfast and a veggie for dinner. So far she has tried carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, and apples. She loves to help guide the spoon and would do it herself if you let her. She enjoys the taste of all of the flavors, but it has really taken me emotionally back to the difficulty of dealing with the cleft. Hannah has mastered her special bottle and is growing on track so I had kind of forgotten that certain things are more difficult for her. As you know a baby with a cleft cannot form suction which is why she can't hold her paci or use a normal bottle. Recently I have also learned there is a website to buy special sippy cups. wow they think of it all. Anyway, now that we have introduced food, her challenges are becoming apparent again and it makes me sad. She seems to really enjoy the taste, but the food gets stuck in the cleft and comes out her nose which makes her cry. THe bananas are the thickest so she has had the most difficulty with these. Tim and I always pray for no sneezes because peas, carrots, you name it will come flying out her nose all over you. Tim is very good at reminding me that she likes it and is happy, but it makes me so sad to see her choke, eyes watering, and food coming out her nose. As a mother you never want your baby to feel even a bit of pain. I really can't wait for the surgery. Until then, Hannah teaches me to be strong and that it's okay to be different. We simply go slow with the food, watch her carefully, and stop at the first sign of the food getting plugged. Hannah usually sneezes to get out whatever got stuck and we wash the rest down with milk. Milk is still her favorite thing.

Hannah and Daddy on Father's Day