We spent a marathon day at NYU yesterday for Emily’s 5-year-old cleft conference which was at 3:30. We also took her for an orthdontic visit at 11:30 where she got molds of her teeth, x-rays and photos. She’s had photos taken at NYU each year since she was a baby.

I brought my camera with me because I wanted to take a few pictures of the day, but I forgot my compact flash card! Luckily my cell phone came to the rescue, but the pictures are pretty poor quality. I still got a few good ones.

Here we are waiting to go into the ortho office. Emily was very patient and happy.

She got a toy eyeball from a vending machine. She was delighted it was pink and kept screaming, “I have a PINK eye!” I was like..um..you might no want to scream that.

Ana got a blue eye. Very appropriate.

Emily got her entire head x-ray’d. We saw the x-ray during the conference visit later in the day. It was pretty amazing. Emily’s first response when she saw it was, “I see bones!”

Emily did amazing when getting the molds of her teeth done and she also stayed perfectly still for the x-rays. I’m so proud of her! We took her and Ana to a little toy store around the corner from the hospital (we had plenty of time in between appointments). Here are some pictures from that trip.

Ana can’t decide what toy to choose.

A building we passed on our way back to the hospital. Emily liked all the windows. They reminded her of a Harold and the Purple Crayon episode where Harold draws a city. I think this is an NYU dorm.

I have a compulsion to photograph my children near iron bars. I’m not sure why…

Lunch! We ate at an exotic restaurant near the hospital. It’s called McDonald’s (they’re way more exotic in Manhattan).

So, the prognosis: Emily is doing very well! She was given the all-clear by the team speech pathologist (hi Shelley!) and her surgeon to move onto the orthodontia I’ve discussed on this blog in the past. Dr. Grayson and Cutting both confirmed that her front teeth are pointing inward toward the back of her mouth due to the scar tissue from closing her palate.

Right now her top lip is getting pulled back because of this as well, so it’s actually behind her bottom teeth. The palate expander and protraction headgear will pull her teeth forward and in just six months she’ll have a more normal profile. I’m very excited about this! We’ll probably start in September because Dr. Grayson (the orthodontist) is off in August.

I also asked about surgery and Dr. Cutting said that he actually was able to close the gum line when he did her repair back in 2004. So she may not need a bone graft, but he won’t be able to tell for another couple of years. If she does need the bone graft, it’ll happen when she’s about eight. So that’s something I won’t need to worry about for a while (WHEW)!