Rollin' & Clappin'

We have a roller! It's about rollin' time! Now that Reesey can roll she is a rolling fool! She will just roll back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. It's a wonder she doesn't get dizzy. 

She's happy to be on the move that's for sure.

I left Reese on the blanket, sitting up. I came back a few minutes later and she was here.

Oh. Back to the blanket.

Just kidding. Back to the carpet.

She's learned to clap too! 

Reese is also 9 months! Brian & I both went for her 9 month check up. Boy am I glad I wasn't by myself. There was literally blood, sweat and tears at this appointment. Ok, not sweat, but blood & tears for sure. Poor Peese, she was pretty miserable.

First there was a toe prick to check her iron levels. This didn't even phase her.




Then there was waiting while Brian & I asked a million and one questions.

Then there was the check up. Which turns out she has 2 nasty ear infections. Mother-of-the-year right here.

Then came a breathing treatment. Reese has had a pretty bad cough and terrible wheezing on and off for the past several months. We've taken her to the pediatrician and to the pulmonologist for this on several occasions. This week the cough is back. Dr. Goldberg suggested a breathing treatment to see if her cough improved. Oh dear God. The girl was a basket case.
 Crying, screaming, flailing. It was awful. I'm sure we scared away all of doctor's patients.

If that wasn't enough, she needed a shot. Thank goodness it was only one. The second the needle touched her leg she began screaming. Again. The girl doesn't lack for drama that's for sure.
As any good mom, I pick up my crying girl to comfort her. I look down at my dress and notice BRIGHT, RED BLOOD all over it. Super. Did I mention I was wearing  WHITE dress? Yeah. Even better.

By the way, every spot of blood came out. Thank you OxyClean! 

Seriously. In my almost 4 1/2 years as a parent and holding my kids over a dozen times after shots, I have never, not once, even seen a dribble of blood. Today, I wear white and the girl is oozing blood from her leg.
Good times at the pediatrician.

BUT. There is good news! I was able to circle 'yes' on 23 of 27 question on the developmental questionnaire! Yay, Reese! I've never gotten past the first question on the back. :)



AND loads of formula.



Now onto the stats...

Weight : 18lbs. 5 oz. - 41st percentile (on a 9 month scale, not 7 month!)
Height: 29 in - 91st percentile
Head: 44 cm - 51st percentile

While she 'caught' up to her 9 month peers in growth, developmentally not so much. She hasn't yet caught up in that department. Developmentally she is on track for a 7 month old, which is her adjusted age.

All in all she is on track.

My favorite part of Reese at 9 months... she can sit up in the bathtub! She absolutely loves taking a bath with Jaxon.
Bathing two kids at once is so much better than one at a time.

Love it.

2 Month Check Up

Last week Reese had her 2 month check up. That is code for shots, lots of them. My poor little Peesey. 

I remember when Jaxon got his first shots I laughed. Not to because I'm mean, but because the look on his face when they poked him was hysterical. When Reesey got her shots, I got teary eyed. My poor baby girl just looked sad & pathetic. I've said this before, but I feel more like a first time mom with Reese than I ever did with Jaxon. Must have been the NICU stint. I guess I feel she's more fragile.

Poor little legs.

I had a few concerns at this appointment. Reese's reflux was getting worse and worse. I knew it was going to, but the amount of spit up coming out of this baby's mouth was insane. Brian describes it as something out of The Exorcist. He's not joking. Plus her fussiness was out of control. She would cry for hours at a time. It was exhausting. 

Dr. Goldberg said the fussiness is probably due to the fact that she is allergic to cow's milk. He switched her formula to soy. She seems to be getting better, actually. Except now she screams when she tries to poop. 

For the reflux, he prescribed Zantac twice a day. The spit up has toned down considerably! Good thing, cause I was getting tired of changing my clothes and her clothes 5 times a day!

Now to get the poop thing under control. Let's hope the Karo syrup he suggested works.

Really sad about tummy time

Her stats are:

Weight - 8 lbs. 8 oz - 5th percentile

Length - 20 1/2 inches - 35th percentile

Head Circumference - 37 cm - 12th percentile

These percentiles are for a"normal" 2 month old. The nurse didn't give me her adjusted age percentiles & I couldn't figure out the chart I found online.

I got this idea from a teacher friend.

I am absolutely in love with her profile and lips.

Reese has been on the new formula & Zantac for over a week now & things have not gotten better. She cries inconsolably for what seems like all day long. You can just tell she doesn't feel well. It breaks my heart to see her in such pain. During the day & evening she sleeps the best while being held stomach to stomach. Thankfully she calms down after her 10:00 pm feeding.

Brian is calling the doctor tomorrow so hopefully we can come up with a more successful plan.

5 Week Stats

Thursday was Reese's first pediatrician's appointment. As I was driving her there I was wondering if she missed the doctor. She did get seen by one several times a day for the first month of her life. 

We started the day with her first at home bath. Yeah. Not a fan. At first.

She's not a fan of being strapped in a car seat either. Thankfully she did well once we were on the road. 

I pride myself on not being a nervous, worrying mom, but I was nervous driving her though... I guess a month in the NICU will do that to even the most go-with-the-flow person. (Remember that being in a car seat is the most stressful thing a baby can do). Thank goodness she's loud, it gave me peace of mind knowing she was still breathing.

"Ok. I can do this." 

Anyway, she did well. Dr. Goldberg said she was absolutely perfect (I didn't need a doctor to tell me that!) She weighs 6 lbs 0 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long! I don't think she actually grew 3 inches in a month though. That seems like an awful lot to me, but what do I know?

Look at the chunky belly!

6 pounds on the dot.

So I am totally confused about her age. She is technically 5 weeks, but when the nurse gave me her stats and info sheet she wrote she was 2 weeks. Is that because she's a preemie and she would be 2 weeks had she gone full term (36 weeks)? Right now she is 38 weeks gestational age. Maybe someone can clear this up (Ami... you have first hand preemie experience). Ok, back to the topic at hand... her percentiles. 

Compared to a normal 2 week old baby (see my confusion)...

Weight - 6 lbs 0 oz - 1st percentile

Height - 19 3/4 in - 5th percentile

Head - 35 cm - 6th percentile

On the preemie chart...

Weight - 50th percentile

Height - 90th percentile

Head - 90th percentile

Yup, I make tall, big headed children. Jaxon had the same exact stats.

We go back next week for another weight check. Gotta make sure our Peesey is growing!

We ended our day with a relaxing night in front of the Christmas tree.

"I don't want shots"

Today was Jaxon's 3 year old well check. I was nervous because a doctor's visit usually means... SHOTS! And I know that Jaxon is not down with shots! As I'm getting ready I tell Jaxon, "We are going to the doctor today. A new doctor." "I no want to go to the doctor! I don't want shots. I'm not sick, I don't need shots." Umm, yeah. Well, you're right, but still. So for a few hours and the entire 40 minute drive to the pediatrician's office we have some version of this conversation. We did veer off topic for a minute when I told him this doctor's office had a fish tank. Then he wanted to know if he could feed the fish.

We went to Catalina Pediatrics, which was highly recommended by Ami. It's a bit far from our house, but then again, everything is. It was totally worth it! We loved Dr. Goldberg!

Jaxon was sold as soon as he saw the fish tank. Now look closesly and tell me what you see...

Oh yes, that would be T-Rex and Spinosauraus! It doesn't get much better than that for Jaxon!




So the doctor comes in and introduces himself to Jaxon. What does Jaxon say to him? Not hi, not nice to meet you...but "Are you the doctor? I don't want shots." Ok. Dr. Goldberg took it in stride (he must deal with bossy 3 year olds all the time) and went with it. I loved how he talked to Jaxon and interacted with him. He took his time, chatted with me, chatted about the Bunchkins (he agrees that Hunter will make a good wife to Jaxon.) It was a great visit. And best of all... NO SHOTS!! Yahoo! After Jaxon was checked out by the doctor, he hops off the table and says to me, "I did good huh Mama?"
Here are his 3 year old stats: weight 32 lbs (75th percentile) and height 37 1/2 inches (75th percentile). He's gained 5 lbs since last year and grown 3 1/2 inches (wish I could grow that much!)
We bought a Ring Pop to help support the American Cancer Society and were on our way. Jaxon was pleased as punch. And on the way home he says, "Mama, Dat was fun! I want to go again."

When we got home he couldn't wait to tell Daddy about the dinosaurs in the fish tank. Brian asked him if he liked Dr. Goldberg and Jaxon replied, "Yes. He is nice and he didn't give me shots."

It's the little things.

Tomorrow will begin the posts on Jaxon's birthday. I may stretch it to 2 -3 days.