At 8 Months The Chubs:
- Is still 1st percentile for weight
- Still battles with severe reflux and frequent vomitting
- Does not tolerate solids and has many oral aversions
- Doesn't eat much. 20 oz is a good day for us around here
- Has her bottles concentrated at 24cal/oz
- Qualified for Early Intervention to help her fine motor skills and feeding issues
- Sleeps well at night, but we have to wake her every 3 hours to feed her to get enough calories in her.
- Had her first camping trip (a story all in itself)
- Loves her jumparoo
- Favorite play things are her hands and feet, but she also likes pens, rings, and spoons (not for eating with though)
- Likes to sleep on her left side
- Has been sitting since 6 months unassisted
- May be teething, but who the heck knows anymore!
- Naps fairly poorly due to her reflux and possible teething
- Still loves people and is overall a very happy child considering everything that is going on
- May need a feeding tube/surgery if we can't get her to gain weight without it
- Loves to say "bababa" and blow raspberries
- Says "ma" or "mama" when she's tired/cranky (go figure!)
- Does not seem interested in crawling at all
- Still loves standing, and tolerates tummy time. If she's not in her boppy, she'll just flip right over immediately
Little Chubadoo,
It has been a rough road to get to where we are today. It started out with an IUGR diagnosis when I was pregnant. Mom's placenta was pooping out and not nourishing you the way that it should. When you came, I was so relieved that you were ok. You were perfect, healthy, and the most amazing thing I'd ever laid eyes on. 24 hours later, my world turned around when you were admitted to Children's Hospital. Doctors feared the worst. Suspicions of a stroke, meningitis, herpes, seizures, and a whole host of other terrible things loomed among us. It was the worst day of my life.
Once you were discharged and everything looked good, I was so thankful to have you home with us. I finally felt like you were truly ours. Nurses and Doctors no longer hovered around you, taking care of your needs. Finally it was my turn to be your mom, and to give you the care you needed.
As the months went by, we realized you had severe reflux. It has been a battle every single day. We have good days and hard days. Admittedly, most of them lately have been hard. But one thing that is not hard, is loving you. You bring so much joy to my life, even amidst all the anxiety, fears, and frustrations. Your smile, sweet spirit, and determination help me make it through even the roughest of days.
I love you so much, and will do anything to provide the very best for you. Even if that means getting no sleep. Even if that means wearing a puke stained bra for several days. Even if that means going through the emotional heartache of surgery. You are my favorite girl, and I wouldn't want anyone else.
Love you,
Mom
We wouldn't want anyone else either!! We've fallen head over heels for our little dolly! The other day dad and I were enjoying an absolutely perfect day and having lunch out on the patio when he said, "You know what would make this day even more perfect?...A little granddaughter." Good going, grandpa--way to make grandma cry. =} Missing you, but loving this picture!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget these ones:
ReplyDelete-50th percentile weight for height
-Stared at a pen in her hand for over an hour on a road trip
-Loves to stare at El Guapo whenever he's around
-Stinks up the bedroom about once a day (thanks formula!)
-Smiles every time we get her up from a nap
-Gives dad a huge smile whenever he comes home from work
-And I'll go ahead and state the obvious: Cutest baby known to mankind, even got a hardened biker dude to smile, make faces at her and even small talk about her
She's so stinkin' cute, Ellie! That last line of your letter made me tear up. So sweet.
ReplyDeleteAww, Ellie- you letter made me literally tear up. Your love for The Chubs is so overwhelmingly obvious- I've said it before, and I'll say it again: she is so lucky to have you as her momma.
ReplyDelete