9 Months

The countdown is officially on for Samuel's 1st birthday party - T minus 3 months!  It just doesn't seem possible because it seems like just yesterday that he was still in the NICU.  I am so excited about how much he has grown and all that he is learning.  You are such a little blessing, and I am anxious to see what all you will do in your life!

Mr. Personality!

~  You have made it back over 13 lbs!!!  As for your height, you've hung out between 23-24 inches for a while.  I personally think you look and feel much longer, but those are the measurements they keep getting.

~  Since you're not growing as quickly as we want you too, you are still wearing size 1 diapers.  However, I've transitioned you to all 3-6 month and 6 month clothes.  Your 3 month clothes were just getting a little too snug and I wanted you to have plenty of room to move around.

~  You are still on 1/2 a liter of O2, but are hoping to have it weaned the next time we go to the High Risk clinic!  Your CBG was the best it's every been when we went last week.  

~  You are facing your 4th surgery in the next few weeks.  While I really don't want you to have another surgery, it is best for you to help you grow & develop!

~  You are full of personality!  You are starting to smile & laugh more and we love it!  You are still very opinionated about what you want and don't want - I see that being a lifelong quality.  

~  You're therapies are going great!  They always seem very pleased with your progress which makes me happy!  The School for the Blind therapist came last week and she was impressed with how you focused on certain apps on her Ipad!  You've really been into toys that play music and you can hold onto easily.  The OT has even found that you like her shiny silver pom-pom!

~  Feeding wise, we are getting to another bump in the road.  This is the surgery I was referring to.  You will get a Gastrostomy Tube or G-Tube to help supplement the volume you aren't taking by bottle.  Right now, we are offering you 550 mls per day, but you are only averaging around 430 mls.

~  We are worried you are getting another cold because you have been very congested with a cough the last 2 days.  We are hoping you handle this one as well as you handled your previous cold.

~  You still talk to us constantly and tell us all about your world!  It's been humbling to see how much vision impairs milestones.  We are working with you on talking and making sounds, but it's a slow-go because you can't see out mouths.  You really think about the sounds, but haven't figured out how to make them yet.