A late, late update

So Mommy and Daddy feel very repentant that they have not updated Josh's blog in 3 weeks.  We would like to plea sickness, which should give us grace for at least a week.  Since it has been so long, we will try to be succinct.

Josh is doing well as far as medical issues are concerned.  He continues to have reflux, but is able to cope much better with it, even though it is unpleasant for him.  His medications are making a difference however and the reflux seems to be causing him less pain.  We do still have episodes were here arches his back and can projectile some spit up, but those times are becoming less and less frequent. 

All this reflux is not effecting his appetite.  Josh is up to a whooping 12lbs 10oz!!!  Even we are amazed that he has gotten so big.  Mommy is working on transitioning him to 3-6 month size clothes, even though it seems like we just got him into his 0-3 month clothes. Josh continues to be partially breast fed and partially bottle fed.

Josh continues to see the eye doctor every 2 weeks.  At our last appointment she said that his right eye continues to show an immature retina.  The left eye has finally started to show signs of regression of his retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) although it remains a stage 1.  We are hopefully the ROP will be gone at his appointment on Friday.

Josh had his first real illness since being discharged from the NICU.  We are thankful that it wasn't too severe.  Daddy came home with a "24 hour" vomit bug, which both Josh and Mommy got.  The virus lasted almost a week for little Josh.  He threw up once a day for that week and was not eating as well.  Thanks to some pediasure and lots of laundry we were able to make it through ok.  We are hoping this will be the only illness he gets for a while.

Josh was evaluated to see if he needs help meeting his developmental milestones. Based on the preliminary evaluation, he is meeting all the milestones for a 3 month old baby (he is 2 months, 1 week, adjusted age). His head control is actually good enough that we can begin sitting him up using props to help him learn to sit on his own. He is also started rolling on his side, especially during diaper changes, so we might have a rolling baby soon!

Josh as gone from a very sleepy baby to a non-sleeping baby to a sleeping baby in the last 3 weeks.  After not napping during the day for about a week, he has settled down into a routine.  He now is up for 1-1.5 hours in the morning, then naps, eats, is awake 2-3 hours, eats, naps, is awake until bed time except for an occasional nap in the evenings.  He is consistent about going to bed between 7:30-8:30pm each night.  He is a very fussy baby if this part of his routine isn't kept.

Josh attended his first wedding about a week and half ago.  This was our first trip outside of Gainesville as a family.  Overall it was successful, we had a great time watching Michelle and Jon get married.  Mommy and Daddy did decide that we will do our best to not travel with a sick baby again.   Josh did well sleeping in an environment other than home and was able to stay in his routine despite the change in environment.

Josh has blossomed in the last three weeks.  He is consistently smiling now and has started to laugh.  He especially likes to smile and laugh in the morning.  He is also ticklish and will give you a good grin when you tickle his belly.  We have attempted to get a picture of his award winning smile, but he hides it when the camera is present. Josh is also quite the talker and enjoys having conversations whenever he can.  He continues to be quite the extrovert, enjoying spending time with other people.  He recently spent a whole evening being entertained by his friend Annalise, so much so, he forgot he was hungry until she left.  Josh also continues to enjoy spending time with his best buddy, his cousin Noah.  They make quite the pair when they are together.  Josh is now over a pound heavier than Noah, although Noah is longer.

Josh has started to show interest in food in the last few days.  He focuses in on what you are eating and moves his mouth as if he is chewing when you take a bit.  It is fascinating to watch him when there is food around.  We are going to ask if we can start feeding him soon.  It will break your heart when he looks at you with his big blue eyes, just begging for a taste of your salad.

Josh continues to enjoy his bath time.  He has recently started splashing water with his legs and finds this shocking, since he can't figure out how it happens.  He also tries to run off when he is stood up to wash is back.  He would take off if we let him.  He did not enjoy swimming as much we thought he might.  This might be because the water was colder than his tub water. 

After counting the votes, it has been decided that Josh looks just like his Mommy....just kidding, we all know he looks like Daddy.  Mommy didn't even have a chance. :-)

Prayer Requests:

• Josh stay healthy and not get sick again
• Josh's ROP in his left eye regress completely
• Josh's reflux go away completely
• Josh learn to sleep well through the whole night, and have good nap times
• Mommy and Daddy continue to get good rest, and take advantage of sleep opportunities during nap time

Praises:

• Josh is up to 12 pounds 10 ounces!  That is 10 pounds 8 ounces more than when he was born!
• Josh is settling nicely into a routine and does well when that is followed
• Josh is smiling and giggling, which absolutely makes Mommy and Daddy's day
• Josh is meeting his milestones for a 3 month old baby (which is he is less than in adjusted age).

(Daddy dressed Josh in overalls after a particularly bad night when Mommy got little sleep...Mommy has a weakness for overalls and Josh)

(Need we say more?)

(Josh holding up his own bottle with one arm - he is so talented!)

(Contented baby sleeping after nursing)

(Big, full mouth grin!)

(Josh making good use of the sink at our hotel - he won't be able to do this much longer!)

(This is the life!  King size bed to myself.)

(Josh doing some tummy time on the boppy, gotta love the froggy tushy)

(Look at that head control - he is so focused his eyes are crossed.)

(Smiling baby in overalls, doesn't get any better than this!)

(Except maybe for the tongue and smile, while in overalls!)

(Josh making good use of his bumbo - thinking he wishes Mommy wouldn't mess with is foot)

(Josh with his Grandpa Bill, his great Grandpa)

(Josh not so sure about this whole swimming things.  Noah looks on very concerned.)

(Mimi and Josh after going swimming)

(Isn't he a handsome little swimmer)