and our Christmas turned into an absolute whirlwind of activity.
Shane Robert Sansevere
Born December 22nd at 5:45PM
7 lbs. 7 oz. 20" long
The picture above is when Shane was just a couple of hours old.
I was holding him and he looked so cute and I just held the camera up and took this photo myself.
I'd spent that morning doing last minute Christmas stuff and then went to a doctors appointment for a BPP and a Stress Test. By noon I was checking into the hospital and the baby was born at 5:45PM. We got to leave the hospital on Christmas Eve so we were back home in time to celebrate Christmas with the family.
He is doing really, really great, and already has a distinctive personality and is being absolutely spoiled rotten. With his wild long hair (it is even longer in the back - it looks like he has a mullet) and big blue eyes you just can't help it. His very first gift was from the nurses -they gave him a stuffed horse (a pinto, of course) and at home he is always being held or rocked or talked to by someone. Our other three kids have been so good with him - especially our four year old. He is so proud when I ask him to help me with the baby. He was jumping on the bed yesterday and said "it is SO GREAT to have a baby" and he keeps telling everyone he isn't the "baby" anymore, he is the "big brother".
We'd found out months ago via a level two ultrasound that he would be born with a unilateral (one-side) cleft lip and possibly cleft palate, so we've been worrying about what exactly to expect with that. It was good to know in advance so we could prepare for it, but it also gave us lots of time to worry about him. There is no history of this in either of our families so it was just one of those random things that happens. We did have an amniocenteses and other genetic testing done and he passed everything else with flying colors and before he was even born we'd met with and selected the surgeon and his team that would be doing his corrective surgery. Our biggest concern was whether or not he would be able to eat ok and if he would be spitting up a lot and struggling to eat enough. So far it hasn't been a problem, and I actually think he has a bigger appetite and eats way more than our other kids did at this age.
He sees his surgeon next week and will have an orthodontic appliance custom made (it looks like a tiny retainer) that he will wear in his mouth until his first surgery. It will help shape his palate - the roof of his mouth - and his gumline. He will have surgery at 3, 6 and 9 months and then after that we wait and see how he grows and develops. Some children are done and others need more surgery and he will probably need orthodontic work when his permanent teeth come in.
OH....and he did wind up with the name that won the "baby name poll" I'd set up a few weeks ago, though we'd already decided Shane was one of our favorites, it was nice to see so many other people liked it too.
I haven't been around much on the forum life has been hectic the last couple of months and I've got lots more to keep me busy the next few weeks, but I'll be back with more pictures to share.
Thanks to everyone that has stayed in touch and been checking in with me wondering how I am doing, it has meant a lot to me.
Born December 22nd at 5:45PM
7 lbs. 7 oz. 20" long
The picture above is when Shane was just a couple of hours old.
I'd spent that morning doing last minute Christmas stuff and then went to a doctors appointment for a BPP and a Stress Test. By noon I was checking into the hospital and the baby was born at 5:45PM. We got to leave the hospital on Christmas Eve so we were back home in time to celebrate Christmas with the family.
He is doing really, really great, and already has a distinctive personality and is being absolutely spoiled rotten. With his wild long hair (it is even longer in the back - it looks like he has a mullet) and big blue eyes you just can't help it. His very first gift was from the nurses -they gave him a stuffed horse (a pinto, of course) and at home he is always being held or rocked or talked to by someone. Our other three kids have been so good with him - especially our four year old. He is so proud when I ask him to help me with the baby. He was jumping on the bed yesterday and said "it is SO GREAT to have a baby" and he keeps telling everyone he isn't the "baby" anymore, he is the "big brother".
We'd found out months ago via a level two ultrasound that he would be born with a unilateral (one-side) cleft lip and possibly cleft palate, so we've been worrying about what exactly to expect with that. It was good to know in advance so we could prepare for it, but it also gave us lots of time to worry about him. There is no history of this in either of our families so it was just one of those random things that happens. We did have an amniocenteses and other genetic testing done and he passed everything else with flying colors and before he was even born we'd met with and selected the surgeon and his team that would be doing his corrective surgery. Our biggest concern was whether or not he would be able to eat ok and if he would be spitting up a lot and struggling to eat enough. So far it hasn't been a problem, and I actually think he has a bigger appetite and eats way more than our other kids did at this age.
OH....and he did wind up with the name that won the "baby name poll" I'd set up a few weeks ago, though we'd already decided Shane was one of our favorites, it was nice to see so many other people liked it too.
I haven't been around much on the forum life has been hectic the last couple of months and I've got lots more to keep me busy the next few weeks, but I'll be back with more pictures to share.
Thanks to everyone that has stayed in touch and been checking in with me wondering how I am doing, it has meant a lot to me.
