Developmental Appointment

On December 10th we took Avery to her first developmental appointment. She will have 2 developmental appointments during her first year of life and then one appointment per year until she is five, if I remember correctly.

During the appointment we met with the developmental specialist and basically he did a quick check of her reflexes, movements, etc. The he proceeded to tell us that she seems stiff in her upper body and that we need to not do anything further to develop her lower body. He told us that “stiffness” is very common with preemies and typically goes away when they are 15 months of age. He said it is not typically a real issue; however it can delay things like sitting, crawling, and walking. He also told us:

- No TV or computer screens for babies until 2 years of age
- No shoes on babies, except for decoration
- A larger % of preemie babies have language and/or math issues
- A larger % of preemies have ADD.

I have to say we were actually quite taken back by the fact that Avery had “stiffness” and from that point on it was hard to focus. I guess the main issue was I had never heard anything about stiffness before and if it is something that can be worked on with stretching or by limiting certain activities then why weren’t we told about this before? He also said something about how Avery was only developed muscle wise to right below the shoulder and that we needed to work on the lower back in order to get her to sit. His basis for this was the way Pat was holding Avery. I think I was in shock through most of the appointment.

Even though he didn’t say anything in particular was wrong with Avery, other than mild stiffness which will go away, I walked out of there feeling like he just told me a thousand things were wrong and to get ready for more. It seemed like he had his mind made up about Avery before he even met her or examined her. I’m not sure why but something about this developmental appointment didn’t and still doesn’t sit well with me. We have decided that we will do what he says, however when we take her back for her next appointment in a few months we will see what he has to say and if we still don’t like it then we will look into options for other specialists, even if that means taking her someplace several hours away to see a different doctor.

Avery is actually doing quite well. She is getting very vocal with her jibber jabber. When she is really happy she screams “AHHH!” She loves to gargle when she is drinking her bottle…yes I said gargle. She fills her mouth up with milk and then looks up and smiles while she makes this gargling noise. She is completely pleased with new ability. She is still eating wonderfully and sleeping a ton. She sleeps 11 hours a night and typically naps at least 3-4 hours during the day. She is getting quite good with her sitting up. She can go a good 30 seconds before toppling over…pending she is interested in something in front of you. She is getting better with tummy time. She doesn’t love it, but is getting better. She definitely keeps things entertaining around the house.

Avery Kate the Chunkey MOnKey

Ok so an update on Miss AK...

Can you believe this is the same baby from all those NICU pictures? Look at those cheeks!

Lots and lots of changes. Miss Avery is quite the energetic little girl and she can eat and sleep with the best of them. She typically goes to bed around 7/8 and wakes up around 6. Then she has her cereal mixed with a little fruit and followed up with some formula and talk about a happy camper! She is the best early in the morning. When we go to get her from her crib she usually greets us with a big smile and maybe some jibber jabber. She is usually in a good mood in the mornings.

She loves to play and absolutely loves her jumperoo! Right now, in typical baby fashion, she is putting absolutely anything she can get her hands on in her mouth. And she wants her hands on everything. She is constantly trying to reach for things. She is completely facinated with Kacey! If Avery is pitching a fit all you have to do is call Kacey over and it stops immediately. It is pretty funny. Avery is contstantly reaching for her and jibber jabbing at her. Kacey is a pretty good sport about it all. They are actually quite cute together.

Avery is not liking tummy time. She does roll over, but she is usually irritated. Every now and then she will actually tollerate tummy time, but usually it doesn't last for too long. She knows she needs to use her legs to move but hasn't quite grasped that she needs to use her arms too. If she is laying on her back she will often push herself off her play mat. She is at the point where she wants to be independently mobile but can't figure out how to make it happen and it irritates her. I am scared of the mobile Avery Kate. We are going to be chasing that girl everywhere! She is in perpetual motion.

Avery is up to about 14 lbs now and is over 23 inches long. She is our chunky monkey! Look at her on the scale! Big difference from some of her older scale pictures!

As soon as I think she just couldn't get any cuter or better tomorrow comes and she is!

5 Months!!!!!!!

Ok so I know it has been awhile...

Avery Kate has been in need of lots of attentions so I of course had to give it to her so that left little room for much else. She is doing splendid. I don't think she knows she is a preemie so we aren't going to tell her. She eats, sleeps, plays, and gets loved on.

She is quite the little characters. She gets irritated when you leave the room and she can't see you. If you do that you get her fake cry. As soon as you reappear it stops immediately. Now if you stay gone too long out of her sight and she wants you back it will eventually turn into a real cry.

She is great in the car...as long as it is moving. It's funny she is fine when you put her in her car seat, however you better get moving out to the car ASAP, because she knows the car seat belongs in a moving car and that she is fine with, however she is not fine with it sitting still. She is the same way in her stroller. Loves walks! But just like with the car...whatever you do don't stop! lol. The stroller puts her out like a light after just a little bit.

She has started laughing and smiling. It is so much fun. She is so sweet. Her cheeks are so chubby you just want to eat them up!

Last time we took her to the doctor, which was August 13th ,she was 8lbs 13 oz. We are pretty confident she is probably about 10 now.

She has recently started sleeping a good bit of the night. She sleeps from 5-7 hours. During the day though she is like a stop watch - 3 hours - 3 hours. You don't have to wonder if it's getting close to 3 hours she will let you know.

It has been so wonderful having her home. I think we fall more in love with her everyday. You think you just can't love them any more than you already do and then you wake up the next morning and see than and you do. It still surprises me just how much joy seeing her chunky little self brings me. It doesn't matter how tired, grouchy, or anything else I am...she makes me smile.

Daddy is of course WONDERFUL with her. I don't think it is possible to have a more supportive, loving man than Avery's daddy. :) We surely lucked up with him. I don't know what we did to deserve him but we are so blessed and thankful we do.

Well we got some pics from DW of AK coming home. We haven't seen them all yet, but here are a couple. I had to post the one with Mr. Bear and Ms. Chick because if you guys remember from Easter the Chick was almost as big as Avery.

This picture below is super special. Not only is Avery holding the NICU graduation gift DW gave her, but it is one of the very last pictures taken in the NICU.

Here are some new pictures as well. Isn't it amazing how she has grown. She looks and acts like a normal 2 month old should...she's just 5 months....TODAY! :)

Pictures

Here are some pictures of Avery....

Look how Avery has grown! Below is a picture of Avery in one of her preemie outfits. Yes it is suppose to be long sleeves and pants. Avery had a diaper explosion so Daddy dressed her...how cute is that!

Avery loves having her bath, especially having her hair washed. Look at her little belly!!

This past weekend we went to Avery's Nanny's and hung out... Avery seemed to enjoy herself.

Tonight after her bath Avery had some Daddy time...of course Kacey had to check in on Avery and make sure everything was ok....

After Daddy time it was sleep time. She was asleep with in seconds of being put down. She was out like a light!

Growing Girl

Ok so my first real update since we brought Avery home...

It has taken some getting use to having Avery home, but it has been great. Both Pat and I are big on getting our 8 hours sleep a night so having to get up every 3 hours have been a challenge, but I'm adjusting. Pat has been wonderful! We have definitely been equal partners in the care giving. I have to both Avery and I are blessed to have a man like Pat in our lives. He is wonderful!

Avery seems to be adjusting well to being home. She is chunking up like you wouldn't believe. She is eating 2 almost 3 ounces every 3 hours. Avery loves to eat! She is pretty good at sleeping too. She typically sleeps at least 2 of the hours between feedings if not 3. At least once a day she is really alert for a few hours and just wants to be given attention. She seems to be very observant.

She is still wearing her apnea monitor, however it only goes off when her leads start to fall off. It is rather annoying to carry around, but I have to say it is nice to have at night. I know lots of new parents worry about whether their babies are breathing and tend to wake up lots to check on them during the night, however with Avery being on a monitor we don't have to worry about that so much. There is definitely no sleeping through her monitor when it goes off. It sounds like a fire alarm.

Our dog Kacey seems to be adjusting well to Avery. Kacey tends to check on Avery through out the day. If Avery makes a noise Kacey lets me know. She likes to sniff Avery, but that is about it. She does feel a little left out every now and then. It's usually if we are on the couch with Avery or something. Usually if that happens Kacey just comes and joins us and all is well.

It has been absolutely wonderful having Avery home. I'll post some pictures later this week.

Pictures of Avery at Home

Just a quick share. I'll write all about Avery's first week home this weekend...after I've had more sleep. :)

Avery's first day home loving on her wubbanub passy:

Kacey checking out Avery in her bouncy:

Avery down for the count after her 1st bath at home:

Avery squirming:

Miss Avery has been sleeping and eating like a champ, however every now and then she has a passy attack and must have it right then or else. The wubbanub has workedout great for this because unlike the regular passy it can be positioned better to keep it in her mouth. When she is done with it she usually just pushes it away.

We have had to use blankets to try and swaddle her in since she gets a little cool. The sleep sacks that are recommended instead of blankets completely swallow Avery. So since Avery is on a apnea monitor which monitors her breathing and heart rate we have been going ahead and using the blankets. However we have learned not to cover her arms because she will completely bust out. She must must have her arms free.

The BIG Day

Just got off the phone with her nurse....today is the day-10:30 am. I have known today was the day, but it wasn't until she said "10:30" that it started to feel real. I hung up and called Pat right away and then DW. While rushing through my shower trying to get ready I could feel the adrenaline finally hit me- this is for real!

This whole situation has been very surreal. It has felt almost like watching someone elses life through a window. Avery was ours but she wasn't. Today that all changes, today Avery becomes ours and just ours. We are going to be solely responsible for taking care of her- for feeding, bathing, sleeping and diapering. She is finally ours! We are responsible for everything Avery- the good and the bad.

Off to get our girl we go....

The entire trip to the hospital I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I was so excited. Pat was excited too. He looked calm but yet there was a peppiness that was just a little bit more than usual.

When we got up stairs we fed her for the last time in the NICU. While we were mid feed DW walked in, camera bag in toe. The fun was about to begin.

DW captured it all. She took pictures of Avery's last NICU feeding, her getting dressed in her pretty new dress, her NICU farewell stroll, and of course her exit. Daddy got a bit emotional as the final exit approached. I think the farewell tour to say bye to all the wonderful nurses set him over the edge. I guess wheeling Avery out made it finally seem real. I on the other hand was still feeling euphoric. Pat went down to get the car. And I went with Avery, DW, and her nurse down. On the way we even got to see one of Avery's old NICU pals. I hated to see Avery's pal was having to come in and be checked out, but it was so nice to see them. They were sweet sweet people. And as a result we were lucky enough to get some cute shots of Avery and Abigail together. It couldn't have been more perfect.

We strapped her in her car seat and were off...

DW followed us back to the house and captured Avery's arrival home as well as her meeting with our other child, Kacey (our German Shorthaired Pointer). Kacey has become very spoiled over her 7 1/2 years so we were very interested to see how she would take it. Surprisingly Kacey really wasn't all to interested in Avery. It was so wonderful having DW with us today. I honestly could not imagine today happening any other way than with her by our side. She is Avery's own personal Guardian Angel.

It's crazy to think the NICU is behind us. Our 30-45 minute trips and 1 1/2 hour long visits to and from the hospital a couple times a day will now be replaced with round the clock Avery time and every 3 hour feedings. Having her home comes along with it's own set of challenges, but nothing we are not ready for.

So far...

It is wonderful having her here. We have had 2 feedings so far. She eats and sleep and then does it again. I have to say one good thing about a NICU graduate is that they are already on a routine when they get home. Kacey pretty much ignores Avery except when she makes cute little baby noises. When she does that Kacey has to go check in on her. It is pretty cute. Pat also likes to check in on her. He can't help himself but to go over and stare at her. It is the sweetest thing.