12 Months

I officially have a 1 year old and a 2.5 year old - life is crazy!!!  It seems so unreal that my little Samuel is already one.  How is it possible that our lives were forever changed a year ago?  What a year it has been...one I never want to go through again.  It was the hardest year in my 30 years, but I also learned more that I ever have.  You are such an amazing blessing Samuel, and I am beyond thankful that you are my little boy!

~  You are now 15 lbs, 9 oz and 27 inches long!  It seems so small, but comparing it to where you began it's huge!  It's getting harder to remember you when you were less than 2 lbs and hooked up to endless lines and machines.

~  You are just about out of size 1 diapers.  We are finishing off our last box, then moving you up to size 2 (finally!).  With how much you've grown, you are wearing mainly 6 month clothes, but can wear a few 6-9 or 9 month outfits.  I'm constantly having to shift your clothes around.

~  You started sitting up for a few seconds at a time ON YOUR OWN!!!  My heart was giddy the first time the PT let go and you stayed up - such a proud mommy moment!  It's hard to explain the difference in having a typical baby meeting milestones compared to a micro-preemie meeting milestones.  Especially milestones that, according to medicine, he's not suppose to reach.

~  Your PT has also been working with you on standing with your AFO's on.  You were able to stand with her only supporting you at the hips.  You were also able to stand on your own while putting your upper body weight on a mat.  It's just like you're cruising furniture.  I cannot wait to see you take your first step!

~  You are now up to 160 mls every 3 hours during the day.  We are trying to stretch that stomach out to help you grow even more.  With each increase in volume, you still take a few days to adjust.  We are hoping that will settle down as you grow.

~  You are now on pump feedings instead the gravity feedings.  This change was made by the GI doctor at ACH in hopes that it would help your reflux.  So now, whatever you don't take by mouth, is put through the pump over an hour.  You're tolerating it well, but are still throwing up.  Thankfully, it's not the full on reflux throw up that you had been doing.

We love you more and more each day Samuel!  It is impossible to look at you without seeing the miracle that you are.  God has blessed you with an amazing story and we pray that this story will further His kingdom in ways we can't even fathom!

 

11 Months

I'm way late on this post, but things are just a little crazy around here.  On top of just the every day care for my boys and the house, we are in party planning mode.  It still hasn't hit me that Samuel will be 1 in just over a week.  It just doesn't seem possible.  I am so very proud of my strong little boy and all that he has accomplished in the last 11 months.

~  You are 14 lbs 7 oz and somewhere between 25 & 26 inches long!!  You have grown so very much!  Since you've grown, we had to take you to the Surgical Clinic at ACH to get a spacer for your button.  It had become a little loose since your trunk had gotten so long.

~  You're still in size 1 diapers, but we are about to bump you up to size 2.  You're easily wearing 6 month clothes.  Back on Valentine's Day, I had to roll up a pair of 6 month pants, but I put them on you a few weeks ago and they fit perfectly!

~  You are still so close to rolling over!  Your PT and us think you could if you wanted too, but you're choosing not to.  You've always had a mind of your own!  You've also sat up on your own twice for 10-20 seconds.  The excitement in the room was very noticeable!

~  You finally qualified for Speech Therapy and I am so excited!  She will work with you on talking, feedings, and getting ready for solid foods!  We will start seeing her 2 hours a week, as well as OT/PT.  That makes 6 hours a week of therapy, but it will be worth it!

~  You are now taking 140 mls of Neocate 6 times a day.  We still offer you the bottle first, then supplement through the tube.  It depends on the day how much we have to tube, but you're still taking the bottle which is a plus!  As we are going up in volume, your reflux gets worse.  It breaks my heart knowing when you are in pain, and all I can do is hold a burp cloth for you so you don't get all yucky.  As you get bigger, it'll get better so keep growing!

~  Your appointments have all gone well this month.  The only major changes were increasing you from 5 to 6 bottles a day and transferring you to the Medical Home Clinic instead of the High Risk Clinic.  Everything with your eyes and brain remain stable.

~  We took you out for more than normal this month and it gets me so excited about this spring/summer!  We went to Wye Mountain to get pictures with the family.  You did so good unless the sun was directly on your face.  We also took you on your first walk around the neighborhood.  I foresee many walks as the weather gets nicer.

~  Your personality is the BEST!  You are a happy, happy baby!  You especially love it when your brother is playing with you - you think he's hilarious!  You love to be tickled and to shake your rattle.  You even think shaking your rattle is hilarious :-)

 We love you more and more each day sweet boy!  Keep growing & getting stronger!