October 26, 2013:

What has happened to Fall!!!! This cold weather w/ mini hail and snow flurries is absolute craziness!!! I was hoping to still be able to get out on walks with RJ for a few weeks longer. It's just too cold for the lil guy. Well a whole lot has happend since I blogged last. Whew.... Lets see where shall I begin...

Last Tuesday RJ started getting a wet sound to his coughs and had an occasional wheeze, which is not normal for him. He's had this "drama" cough since coming home from the NICU, but never has it sounded wet. Thankfully we had already scheduled his 9 month checkup for Wednesday the 16th. On exam the NP said his lungs were clear and she didn't hear any wheezes. His ears were red and showed some extra fluid. She didn't feel he needed any treatment that day, but said to watch him closely b/c things could change quick, especially in a preemie. I asked about a humidifier and she said that would be perfectly fine. We started that Wednesday night. Thursday his cough was worse and more wet sounding. He wasn't coughing up the junk as much or sneezing as much so it was just making him sound awful. The wheezes were continuous all day. I told Robert if he wasn't better by Friday I was going to call the Peds office and take him in. I didn't want things to get out of hand over the weekend and heaven forbid need to head to the Peds ER. Dr. Boarman saw us on Friday morning. He said he was 66 and seeing the work of 4 doctors. He was a super duper nice guy and had the nurse give RJ a breathing treatment. He responded well and cleared up the wheezing. The Dr. said RJ probably had bronchiolitis (where there is inflammation in part of the lung passageways). He also prescribed some Amoxicillian for his ears. Usually the ear infections are caused by viruses, but they typically treat for that small percentage of infections caused by bacteria. Boy, that stuff is nasty. I obviously was scarred from my younger years b/c I destinctly remember the smell!! It's been a challenge giving RJ the medicine. I have a tiny dropper I place into his mouth. He probably gets 1/2 the dose, but is feeling better. We have one dose left tonight!! During these last multiple days RJ has been more clingy and not eating as much. I've been doing all sorts of laundry lately. I learned from the nutritionist this past wk at the NICU grad clinic that it's probably due to the extra saliva RJ is producing during the teething process that is choking him and causing him to vomit more. Oh mercy... We were doing the breathing treatments every 4hrs while he was awake. Yesterday was the first time I didn't give him any. He's much better and has started eating larger quantities again. Whew...

October 18th was the first time RJ really gave me a hug!! I picked him up from his crib after a nap and he wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed. He's got a pretty good grip now a days and really pinches my neck skin. Ouch!! It's all precious though. I guess it was later that day that both Robert and I got RJ to laugh!! It wasn't a deep long lasting laugh, but it was a lil one. It's a start!! Some other random things include me having to cut off one of the seals flippers on RJ's activity mat. He pulled the heck out of it and it was fraying. When holding RJ in my arms, he likes to get in this crouched position like he's pooping. Sometimes he really does! I've noticed that over the past few wks he's been looking up at the ceiling watching the shadows early in the morning or late at night during feedings. Also on the 18th RJ started shaking his head back and forth like he's saying no. It was a lil worrisome to me. It started after getting the breathing treatments. One of the side effects is nervous twitches. He's been doing it since. I asked the NICU clinic doc and she said it's fine. Robert looked up on line what other parents said. Turns out it's normal. He's just learning what his body is capable of doing I guess. On the 19th we think RJ said his first word, "mama"!! He was on his changing table after bath time and RJ was babbling up a storm. All of a sudden Robert and I both heard him say "mama". Not sure if it was an accident, but we heard it. He hasn't said it since, but I'm counting it!! On the 22nd RJ sat in the tripod position for multiple seconds without crying!! He's getting some better core strength. Before we know it he'll be sitting all by himself. I've mentioned RJ and his plastic rings. Well he's decided it's fun to place the ring right on top of his face. I guess he likes to see his world in a different color. It's quite funny. RJ's always changing his routines. He decided just this wk that it's relaxing to suck on his paci before nap time. I feed him and then give him the paci to finish lulling him to sleep. He's such a goober.

Well Wednesday the 23rd we went to the NICU grad clinic for his 6 mo appt. It was an exhausting day. We waited in a room for 1.5hrs before seeing either the doctor or nutritionist. It was awful!!! I was already exhausted from lack of sleep and then try to keep a 9 mo old entertained, fed, and diaper changed in an exam room is not fun. Grrrr. Over the next hr we got our meal plan to start solid foods and had some developmental testing done. The physical therapist came in as well to assess him and gave us a few exercises to work on. We have to work on his rolling over and sitting up. He's doing great with picking things up and transferring them from hand to hand. We need to work on holding somehting in each hand at the same time and picking up small objects. Otherwise he's right on track. We don't have to go back until April of next year!!! He'll get more developmental testing at the 1yr adjusted age. We're making progress!!!!

So the new recommendation is to start meats first. Since we are vegetarian our options are to start with tofu, beans, and soy products. I watned to wait till Robert could be here for the first feeding and wanted to make sure we took a video. He got home super late on Wednesday, so Thursday evening we tried blended up plain tofu!! It was quite the mess. RJ was very unsure. Since then he hasn't been the biggest fan. I tried warming it up today and adding some onion powder. He still didn't like it. The nutritionist recommended trying a new food every wk. Since RJ isn't the biggest fan of tofu right now, I'm anxious to try something different. I don't want him to develop a hate for it from the getgo, so think I'll beans tomorrow. We shall see.

It's crazy how fast he's growing up. He's getting more and more alert every day. He was all wide eyed during Sabbath school today. He doesn't want to miss anything. He's also decided to stay awake for 2-3 hrs now between naps. I'm blogging on the couch in the living room right now and RJ is sleeping on daddy's shoulder on the couch opposite me right now. It's simply precious. I feel so blessed right now. What an amazing lil family I have. Whew... I think that concludes this blog. I hope everyone has a wonderful coming week.

Thanks again for all the prayers, love, and support.