Extra-Wide Smile

Could that smile and that dimple be any more adorable? It's getting more infectious by the minute, which makes her looming lip repair -- now scheduled for October 29 -- a bittersweet date on our calendar. We're looking forward to having this milestone behind us, but we're dreading seeing a different smile, and dealing with what may be a really uncomfortable recovery for our little "copper top."

Molly May turned four months last week, and had checkups at both UCSF - where her surgery will take place - and her regular pediatrician. She turned on the charm at both locales, and met the entire cleft team at UCSF, including the director, geneticist, nurse, social worker, speech specialist, and, of course, her surgeon. Her cleft is still one of the most minor they have ever seen, and her crooked cupid's bow was was referred to more than once as "cute." A few of the cleft team members couldn't hide their shock at how minor her cleft was, and the speech specialist (who happened to be looking at her while she was asleep, and her lips were completely relaxed), asked us, "Why is she here??" We feel very fortunate to have one of the least challenging and complicated cases on their docket right now, especially after meeting other families in the waiting room. One dad peeked into her carseat, and said, "Wow, did she already have her surgery?"

The cleft may be small, but it still is definitely a candidate for correction, and the earlier the better, according to our surgeon. Her skin will heal faster, her scar will be more minimal, and it's best to do the procedure before the baby is crawling and walking. It's also easier to manage a 5 month-old during the recovery process than a willful toddler. We'll have our work cut out for us, though, with Molly in arm restraints for two weeks, and strict instructions that she can't have fingers, thumb or pacifier in her mouth while her lips heal. We have a confirmed addict on our hands, so this may be as painful for us as it will be for her!

Luckily, she'll still be able to breastfeed -- which may be our secret weapon for pacifying an out-of-sorts baby on pain medication!

Wish us luck!