The Belly Nubbin

As most of you know, Kamryn was born with an umbilical hernia, or "Belly Nubbin" as Chris named it. Basically her belly button didn't close on the inside thus causing a fluid-filled sac to protrude from her stomach. In the beginning, her doctor always said that he has never seen a hernia like hers that closed on its own and that she would need surgery around 18 months old to close the hole on the inside. He told us how her button would never be pretty or cute, which was fine with me because then she wouldn't want to show it! ;) As I was looking through our old camera yesterday, I came across this picture I took when she was 4 months old.

It's pretty gross, I know. It was really squishy and I often wondered if it hurt her to sleep on her stomach. Chris wanted to do the surgery at this stage and get it over with, but I couldn't imagine my baby going under the knife! Besides, the doctor said no one would do it on a baby so young. I wish I had a picture to show what it looks like now, because it is so much better! Sometimes it still sticks out a bit, but lately we have noticed that her button is finally flush with the rest of her abdomen. At her one year check-up, the doctor told me that she just might not have to have surgery, but said we'll evaluate again in 6 months and see if he thinks we need to see a pediatric surgeon for a consultation. In the meantime, we'll just keep praying that it continues to get better!