Physically she is getting much stronger. She is able to sit up on her own and can usually catch herself if she starts to fall over. Although because she hates tummy time so much, she still isn't able to push up on her hands during tummy time, which means her arms aren't strong enough to help her get into and out of the sitting position. It also means she still can't roll over. We are working on it everyday and she still has physical therapy, so hopefully her arms will get stronger soon. I feel bad that she still isn't able to move around and explore her environment on her own.
Makenna spends a lot of time sitting on her mat and laying on her back. I know she would enjoy being able to wander around, but fortunately and unfortunately she is content sitting still because she doesn't know what she's missing. She will see a toy out of reach and reach for it, but if she can't get it she just gives up and plays with something she can reach. She's really easy going, if can't reach anything she just plays with her hand or sucks on her thumb (which is also something new she has been doing this month- she doesn't do it for comfort though, just out of boredom.).
This month she started to develop some fine motor skills. She learned how to hold small toys, such as blocks, in one hand and began exploring other ways to play besides just putting things in her mouth. She can pass the toy from hand to hand or hold a small toy in each hand and bang them together or on the floor. She is beginning to understand cause and effect toys as well. She will shake them or push buttons to achieve the result. Another big accomplishment this month has been mastering how to picking up small pieces of food by raking her hand over them and she has started to begin occasionally using the pincher grasp as well.
As far as her eating schedule, she still nurses on demand and I offer small amounts of food to her two or three times a day. Some days she is interested in eating food and will eat something during every meal, while other days she wants nothing to do with it at all. She is gaining wait fine though, so I just let her be the boss of if, when, and how much she wants to eat.
This month she also continued to get out a little bit more. She attended lap sit story time at the library with a little friend, visited her new friend, Benjamin, a few times, and had the opportunity to go on a few little shopping and dining outings. Normally when we go out I wear her in the front carrier, but this month she got to experience sitting a shopping cart and a restaurant highchair for the first times...further proof that our little girl is growing up. Another positive about this month is that she has started to respond a little bit better to the car. Previously she would scream every time we put her in her seat, but recently the screams have somewhat subsided into annoyed moans (at least when I sit back there with her), which has been wonderful. Now literally the only time she ever cries is during tummy time or if she is in pain. Other than that, thanks to attachment parenting, she is able to communicate her needs and attitudes towards things to me without crying. She is such a smart, happy, and content little baby.
Now that all the fun stuff has been discussed, this month we also had a big medical scare. On Father's Day I was awakened at 3am to a single gasp. I shot up and grabbed Makenna. By the time I got to her, she was limp and unresponsive. Rex and I agitated her by blowing in her face, undressing her, hitting her back, etc. and finally after a little bit she slowly came around. I can honestly say, despite everything we've been through, that was the single scariest moment in my life. For a few moments I really didn't know if she was going to wake up. Thankfully once we were able to get her back she was 100% normal, smiling and playing. We didn't go to the hospital because I assumed she just choked, but I didn't let her go to back to sleep right away either. I called my parents and they came over at 4am to help me watch her like a hawk. On Monday we took her to our pediatrician. She talked to neurosurgery at Shands and they said they wanted to admit her for observation overnight, so we took her to the hospital ER to wait for an ambulance. 16 hours later (yes, 16.) one finally showed up. They put us on the stretcher and said I had to hold her the whole time. I asked why they didn't have a car seat and was told more than once that this is "just how it is done." I kept commenting on how unsafe it felt and that I couldn't believe this is standard. Once we got to Shands we learned that it definitely wasn't protocol, which was really infuriating. Thankfully we both made it safe and sound.
We spent about 8 more hours in Shands Emergency department recounting the events to everyone that asked (roughly 30 different sets of people). She was evaluated by doctors, nurses, residents, surgeons, and all types of people from neurosurgery and neurology. She had an MRI and then Dr. Kays showed up on his day off to see us. He said she looked great, but he wanted to admit her for the night. It was like being back in the NICU. When Dr. Kays is around, things happen. Shortly after he left we were finally moved to a hospital room. While we hung out in the hospital room pediatric surgery, neurology, and neurosurgery spent time observing her and reviewing her MRI. Thankfully in the end they ruled out a seizure, apnea, and respiratory issues (all very possible given her hydrocephalus and CDH). They decided to rule it an "apparent life threatening event" which is kind of like SIDS, except she survived. Needless to say I have had many sleepless nights since. I just can't help but sit and stare at her little chest as it moves up and down for hours. I am so thankful that I heard her little gasp that night. I don't even want to imagine the outcome if I hadn't.
Anyway, breathing scare aside, this has been a wonderful month with so many incredible "highs." It is so exciting to watch her inch a little closer to being a toddler everyday. She is getting so big and playful. She is beginning to see the humor in funny situations (like her dad's goofy dancing or her Auntie Julia's general silliness) and she remains the happiest, sweetest, most social little baby I know.
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| I love her hair! |
Weight: 17lbs 5oz
Eyes: Still grey, sometimes they look brown and sometimes green.
Hair: Brown and getting longer
Clothes: She is wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes.
Diapers: Finally in cloth full-time (minus vacations)
Food: Listed above
Sleep: Waking up more times than I can count a night....
Favorites: Makenna really loves small balls, her egg shaker, books, her banana tooth brush, and eating puffs!
