Weigh in!

She did it! She weighs 16 lbs 5 ounces!!! The GI dr said that if she hits the growth chart then he'll cut us lose. We have to come back in Dec and see where she is. I can't believe it! She's turning into a normal kid! We're almost done w/PT (since she's close to walking) and now we're almost done w/GI!

1 year check up w/EI and PT

Since it's been 1 year since Ellie started Early Intervention w/Babies Can't wait/Children First/Easter Seals. Our social services coordinator came back so we can set new goals for the coming year. Last year our goal was to have Ellie be able to sit alone so I can leave the room without falling over, and if she did fall over, to be able to catch herself. We're MILES past that point. Really, all that's left is walking and talking. Our services coordinator even said once they stalk walking often a huge upswing in speech will follow. Our PT was there during the one year eval and was exceptionally helpful in helping the coordinator fill out all the paperwork. I guess since she knew what the paperwork was looking for, she knew what to say to help the coordinator in filling it out. Ellie's met a ton of milestones. In fact, the coordinator was almost reluctant to mark Ellie as "delayed" but the PT convinced her that Ellie was moderately delayed so we could continue LOL. She said her speech and walking was delayed so that was good enough. Our goal is to have Ellie pick up and put toys away in her box via walking. Although it looks like Ellie will be walking soon and we'll be able to voluntarily back out of the program. We can re-enter if we feel she's starting to lag behind again. It makes me happy and nervous.

Walking- sort of

She pushed her walking toy across the living the last few days. She's been able to cruise around the couch and coffee table. She can even go back and forth between the two. It may still take a while but it looks like she'll be walking soon-ish. She gets weighed on Thurs.

I'm only slightly disheartened since my 3-month-old nephew got weighed today and he weighs 15 lbs 4 ozs. We're praying Ellie is 16 lbs on Thursday.

weigh in and sippy straw

Ellie weighed in at 15 lbs, 11 ozs. We have 16 days to get to 16 pounds! We can do it! Only ounces to go!

I was also able to get her to drink from a sippy straw for the first time ever! A mom had suggested putting a smoothie in there, and she was right!

So proud!

Ellie was AMAZING at the party today. She tried to swim by kicking her legs and waving her arms, even splashing. I was so proud! She also played with other babies and adults. She even let a guy hold her for a minute without screaming. She's really become so confident! I really couldn't be more proud.

1 year eye exam

Most mothers of miracle babies will tell you they either (1) found religion or (2) have had a renewed faith in their religion. It's really hard not to when you see a child continuously make strides they were told they wouldn't be able to. When you see a child defy doctors and experts you can't help but be joyous and grateful to whatever is making the child take leaps and bounds. When you witness miracles on a fairly regular basis, you gain faith.

Today was Ellie's one year follow up to her eye exam. My Facebook status last year was: "And we strike out at the ophthalmologists office... at least the diagnoses become less and less serious. She's the slightest bit near-sighted in one eye. Glasses await her in the future." I asked the doctor last year if there was any chance her sight could improve and he gave me a strong no. I thought today would be filled with crying fits and a trip to buy some glasses. I prayed while we waited for the doctor to come see us. He examined her eyes and told us he was positive she would need glasses. Her eyes are perfectly fine! She doesn't even need to return next year. We get to wait until she's 3! Amazing!!!

We are still dealing with... something. I think perhaps a combo of teething and a growth spurt. Her temps are all over the place. She was 100.5 after her bath last night, 97.4 this morning. She gets cranky, whiny, needy. She's eating like a horse. She ate during all of PT so her PT says growth spurt. Her sleep is disrupted frequently. -+23 (Ellie says hi). Her drool has increased, she's biting on everything. Could be both. -*+99/ *(Ok Ellie thank you)

I am concerned about her weight, as always. I put her on a produce scale in the store and it said over 16 pounds. I knew that to be inaccurate so while at the post office I put her on their scale as well. That said 14 lbs 5 ozs. I hope that to be inaccurate. She must be 16 lbs by Sept 15th. I'll be trying to weigh her on Weds the 31.

Food for thought

Every mother asks "why?" when they have a special baby. They want answers. Sometimes it's something easy or logical, like heredity and genetics. Sometimes it's something more esoteric and philosophical like, "Because God chose you." Sometimes it even takes a long time to find out why, like if your baby is special so you can help someone a year or more from now with a special baby. We see this a lot in the PRS support group. So many of us are able to answer questions for new members, or frequent members with new problems. Sometimes, I think, though, it can be more complicated and per chance rewarding. I was devastated in the hospital. I found an old (several years) blog by a mom who blogged about her PRS daughter. I found a link to her new blog, which had a Facebook badge on it. I asked to "friend" her. I couldn't believe that there was a mom, on Facebook, with a daughter with the same disease. In fact, she lived in the same state. In fact, she lived in the same county! What were the odds?!?! I'm sure at the time she asked why, and I'd like to think it was so she could help me so many, many years later. Recently, a friend and neighbor of mine had a baby who has a genetic disorder. She's been distraught and confused. I'd like to think perhaps Ellie was special so I could help her. Perhaps.