Moving on to updates. Josh is getting to be quite a big boy. He weighed in tonight at 9lbs 2.5oz on our home scale!!! It is hard to imagine our little 2lb 2oz baby boy being so big. He is getting fat rolls everywhere, including having a very prominent double chin that has to be lifted to be cleaned under. He is getting so big, that he is starting to outgrow his newborn clothes, although part of that might be due to the bigger bum his clothes diapers give him. Because of the extra weight, Josh is able to hold is body temperature pretty well, although he is still a little sensitive to really cold places.
Josh continues to be partially breastfed and partially bottle fed. Josh and Mommy have an appointment on Friday with a occupational therapist to help us work on improving Josh's suck with the hope that he will be able to be more breastfed than bottle fed. Josh has some puckering of his lower lip that resulted from having been intubated with his mouth taped for so long. This can impair his ability to move his lower jaw and suck well. We are hopefully this will help to him to eat better.
Josh continues to have issues with reflux despite being on three medications for reflux. This is concerning for his neonatologist, so much so that he will have a follow up in neonatology clinic on the 19th. We have been experimenting with different formulas to see if there is one that works better with his system. So far we haven't found anything that decreases his reflux or spitting up. The biggest concern right now is that he sometimes refluxes so hard that he blows it out of his nose, which can block his airway so he wouldn't be able to breathe. It also causes him to sometimes wake up screaming from a dead sleep, which is upsetting for everyone. Josh continues to be on his apnea/bradycardia monitor at night, although he hasn't has a event since the 20th of March. We are hoping (sort of, it is nice to have a monitor that tells you for sure you baby is ok while you are sleeping...who wouldn't want that?) to have the monitor for just another two weeks.
Josh will return to the eye doctor on April 13th to have his eyes reevaluated. Unfortunately, we were not able to get our insurance to approve the dilation eye drops so we could dilate his eyes at home. So we will continue to just have to wait at the doctor's office for his eyes to dilate. We will update you as soon as we know more about his eyes.
Mommy and Josh are enjoying being together during the days. They spend time eating, playing, and napping during the day. Daddy gets to see Josh at least once a day thanks to a video camera and skype. Josh has started to pay attention to Daddy on skype and likes to catch with Daddy. Josh has also taken to talking when Mommy is on the phone, he can't wait to get a cell phone of his own (which will be many years from now).
Josh seems to be doing well with his developmental milestones. He has pretty good head control. He enjoys he tummy time less that he used too, although he is becoming much better at it. He is able to support himself on his forearms and left his head up high for several seconds at at time. He is also learning to grasp things and bring them to his mouth - he hasn't perfected letting them go yet though, so it can be a little frustrating. Josh is also smiling socially now and is especially smiley after his morning nap and when Daddy gets home from work. He is also starting to learn to comfort himself with his hands and if he decides to be a finger sucker, it looks like it will be he thumb.
Josh enjoys going on walks outside or really any time he happens to get outside. Mommy and Josh have a ritual of going out to check the mail every day, hoping to meet Daddy on his way home from work. Josh has enjoyed several picnics since the weather has warmed up. Mommy and Daddy are going to get him a sun hat so that he doesn't get a sun burn on his little head. Speaking of which, it looks like his hair might be developing some redishness to it...he might be a strawberry blonde. We are amazed every day how much Josh is changing and growing every day.
Prayer Request:
- Josh's reflux would begin to subside and he would be able to come off of some of his medications
- Josh's eyes would continue to develop normally and the retinopathy in the left eye would resolve
- Josh's appointment with the occupational therapist would be helpful to improve his suck so he can nurse more effectively
- Josh would be able to get off of his night monitor in two weeks and Mommy and Daddy would be ready to let it go
- Josh would continue to do so well at catching up with his developmental milestones
- Josh is up to 9lbs 2.5oz!!!!
- Josh's personality is continuing to developing and we are enjoying it!
- Josh is making good progress towards catching up with his developmental milestones, we are especially enjoying his smiles
- Daddy is able to stay connected with Josh during the day
(Josh very focused on eating his bottle, just look at his clinched hands and toes)
(Josh spending some time with Mimi)
(Handsome boy)
(Big boy Josh learning to grasp and pull things to his mouth)
(Sleepy baby enjoying a nap on the couch with Mommy supervising - he turned himself on his side)
(Need we say more?)
(An attempt at tummy time)
(Josh posing in his new diapers)
(Josh doing some tummy time at the park)
(Josh on Easter morning! Thanks Christen!)
(Superman - Josh has earned the right to wear this onesies)
(Josh grasping new bird toy)
**Ok, photo contest, who does Josh look more like than Daddy or Mommy?**
(Does Josh look like Daddy? or...)
(Does Josh look more like Mommy?)
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