Enjoying Today!

Amidst some intermittent crying, we've spent the morning lov'n on our precious Ryder Jeremiah. Knowing the burden tomorrow brings has caused some sorrow and heaviness today. But the sun is still shining, I can clearly see it and feel it! 

Reading books and wrestling with daddy. I couldn't help but cry my little eyes out while soaking up this moment! 

A lot of people have asked why Ryder's having  surgery. Although Ryder's bilateral cleft lip was fixed at 3 months old, his bilateral cleft palate has been open since birth. Below is a photo of Ryder's cleft palate which currently limits his food intake and speech development.  Can y'all tell he ate avocado for lunch? Usually food goes in the mouth and out the nose. Tomorrow's sugery will close the roof of his mouth (his palate) and Ryder's next surgery will be between the age of 3-4 where they will be transplanting cartilage from his rib to his nose to extend his columnella (the area between the nose nostrils). Cleft babies have around a dozen or so surgeries (sometimes more, sometimes less) to "fix" the differences caused by clefts. Ryder will have some gnarly orthodontia work as he gets older as well as continuous plastic surgery but because he's SUPER Ryder and God has mighty plans for our super baby we have no doubt he will conquer them all! 

Bye bye cleft palate! No more avocado storing for Ryder. I never knew a perfect baby could get more perfecter! We love you SO much Ryder Jeremiah!

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before you were in mother's womb I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart".