NAM

On Tuesday I got my NAM (Naso-Alveolar Molding).  You cannot see what is in my mouth but it is a blue retainer-type apparatus.  This will help close my cleft in preparation for surgery.  In a week or two,  they will add a nose piece that will begin to push out my nose.  I will wear this until my first surgery (between 3 and 6 months).  The shiny stuff on my cheeks is an under tape - it does not get changed very often to help keep my cheeks happy.  The smaller white strips of tape get changed everyday.  I must say I am not crazy about this but I am adjusting.

If you want to learn more: http://www.cleftsmile.org/nasoalveolar-molding-nam/

A few pre-NAM pictures not yet blogged:

Pictures

Tie Dye

 They say we're young and we don't know . . .

 We won't find out until we grow.

 Well, I don't know if all that's true.

But you got me!

And BABY, I got you!

Swimmer Boy

Posted by Owen:

As I mentioned, I am taking swim classes.  I am loving swimming and doing such a great job!

Mimi took these videos and pictures of me today!

Laying Around

 This is a picture from my time in the NICU.  Getting cuddles sure makes a boy happy.

 And here I am this morning having a post bottle snooze on Momma.

 I have just a little jaundice so I have been sun-bathing.  Here I am in the kitchen floor.  My big brother, Owen, decided to keep me company!  What a great brother!

More sun time.

Yes, I love my bottle and NO you may not have it.

MINE all mine!

Birthday Pictures

I am one week and one day old as of today!

Here are some pictures from my birthday:

HOME

Getting dressed to go HOME!!

Strapped in and ready!

Hooray!  HOME!

Here I am with my big brother!

My first meal at home.  My big brother helped feed me!

Check out my bottle!  It is designed just for babies like me who need a little help eating.  It has some fairly interesting engineering.  If you are interested, ask Owen and he can tell you about it.

And look at this!  I hadn't even been home an hour when I received my first delivery!  It was from my Grandaddy and Grammy!  It also had a really fun balloon.  

NICU

This is what the first NICU nursery I was in looked like.  You can see my special bed and me.  You can see my big brother.  He was very interested in my heart-rate, lung, etc monitor.  He asked the nurse about all the numbers and how high they should be. 

This is my second NICU nursery.  It is for babies getting ready to come home.  They expect I will get to go home soon.  Maybe even tomorrow.  I moved to this nursery on Thursday.

   Here's daddy feeding me with my special bottle.  I am doing great!
I am hoping to be home very soon!

The Most Recent Stepp

I was born on Monday, June 10!

My parents named me Grayson William Mayo Stepp.

I have a cleft lip and palate so I am still in the NICU.  I am learning to use my special bottle and doing really well.  Everyone hopes I will come home very soon.  This is my momma.

 This is a very cool guy, my big brother Owen, we both already like each other very much.

This is my daddy.

Swim Lessons, New Park, Journal

SWIM CLASS

I started swim lessons on Tuesday of this week.  I went for the second time today.  I will go on Tuesday and Thursday in the month of June!

This video was taken today!

 These pictures are from Tuesday's class.

I have already made GREAT progress!  I was not willing to put my face under water before my first class so jumping in and going under water at my second class is a huge deal!  We're all very proud!

SHEPHERD PARK

 This park is just down the street from my new house.  It has a great play ground, a walking/bike riding trail and this labyrinth!  I love running this labyrinth.  I also love to run the labyrinth at my church.

FROM MY SCHOOL JOURNAL

 (My words, my drawing, not my handwriting)

 Me, Momma, Daddy (note the beard), Nettie, and Bill on our sail boat!

Momma, Me, and the Belly

As you know, we are getting ready for a new baby.  We expect him very soon.  These pictures were taken on sunday at our new house looking out from the front porch.  Daddy was the photographer.