October 15, 2013:

We are just two days away from RJ turing 9 months old!!! That is incredible to me. It's so hard to believe we have a lil boy, let alone a 9 month old. Wow.... such a lil blessing he has been. Our miracle baby continues to grow bigger and stronger. I believe he's going to be a skinny tall dude. He's in 3-6 month PJ's b/c he's getting so long. He's right at the tip of outgrowing the straight 3 month PJ's. He is still in 3 month clothes otherwise and sometimes those are a lil big. He did hit the 13 lb mark the other day, and then subsequently he's had multiple poops, so he's lost a lil. He's hovering around the 12.5-13lb range now. He has a Pediatrician appt this Weds and NICU grad clinic next Weds, so hopefully he will weigh in officially at the 13 lb mark. I have found that when we go on vacation and he gets out of his routine, he tends to eat less which of course causes a drop in weight. It's been great getting him out and about and visiting family, it just gets tricky for RJ's schedule. I'll be glad when it's easier to travel and he's eating real people food. :)

Speaking of food we get a menu/schedule for starting solids next week at the Grad clinic appt. I'm looking forward to starting something new. I'm tired of warming up the bottles to just the right temp. He has gotten better w/ nothing requiring them to be as warm, but it's still a challenge. We have a warmer for the vehicle that plugs into the cigarret lighter and then the warmer in the house. I have to take the warmer to church and use it a couple times. I feel so silly plugging in this warmer when other moms just hand their kids the bottle. Oh well, what we do for our lil ones.

Well RJ had a record last Friday the 11th. He ate about 26 oz!!! Subsequently he's been having more trouble w/ his GI system. He's pooped 3 days in a row which is another record, but he's been crying and fussy w/ each one. They are formed and squishable w/ a wipe, not sure why the fussing. I guess he just has to learn how to poop. Sorry if that was too much info. You have to remember this a journal for me too. :)

RJ loves to cross his lil legs. It's sooo adorable!!! I took some pics yesterday. He's been pushing over the arch on his mat more often. Sometimes it's with his feet and other times with his hands. He's getting so strong. He's got a death grip w/ his hands already. He'll grab at my arm or neck and it actually hurts. He's gotten tricky in that he will arch his back when in your arms and throws himself off balance. You have to be quick that he doesn't do a back flip out of our arms! So far I've been quick enough. He's also gotten into batting at me when going to sleep for naps. It can be quite dangerous those flailing arms. I have to secure them in the blanket to keep from getting knocked out. :) Another funny event that happened last week was RJ almost wiggling out of his swing. I was cooking dinner and kept looking over to check on him. I kept seeing his lil legs get further out of the swing. When I finally went over he had his blanket pulled up so just his eyes were showing and his lil legs were dangling. It's was hilarious! I'll try to post a pic.

I am so grateful he loves to snuggle. It's such a rewarding moment when he falls asleep on your shoulder and just hunkers down for his nap. It's so precious to see that peaceful sleeping face as well. I often will take naps w/ him either in the mornings or afternoons or sometimes both! Yesterday I wanted to be productive, so I let him take his morning nap in his crib. He ended up sleeping for 2 hrs!!! I was very impressed and got lots accomplished. If he's fussy when you are trying to put him down, you just have to start singing "Jesus Loves Me". It's his favorite song I believe. It calms him right down. Robert discorvered how well it worked.

Robert and I keep trying to repeat "Mama" and "Dada" hoping he will say them soon. It hasn't happened yet. :) He is pursing his lips together acting like he's going to say something. I'm afraid he might be trying to say poop or something ridiculous. When we go to pick him up, it seems that he might be starting to reach out for us. It's happened w/ one hand a couple times. We are excited for him to really reach out both arms. :) He's always changing his routine, so his new thing this week is to sleep till around 7:30am and then stay awake for about 2hrs before going down for a nap. We shall see if that happens again today.

Oh to give an update on my health status, I had a repeat CTA last Tuesday. I got my results on Thursday and turns out my aneurysm is about the same or "slightly better". It was hard for the doc to tell, since CTA's aren't as high resolution as an angiogram. Needless to say, it's not getting worse. I will stay on the high dose 325mg Aspirin for 3 more months when I will have another CTA. It just so happends it was scheduled the day before RJ's first birthday!! :) How appropriate. :) If' all is well w/ that scan, then I can follow-up w/ another CTA in a year and go down to an 81mg Aspirin a day. My doc just wants to be extra cautious. I have to be careful of preventing reinjury. No massage of the neck for pretty much ever unless I do it. No chiropractor ever and be careful when lifting heavy objects over 25lbs. I thank God for the healing he has given me so far. I'm truly blessed.

Thank you for all your prayers, support, and love. Keep it coming!!