Daddy and Eli watching golf
I am soooooo cute!
Look at that double chin
These pictures were taken before our boy started going bald! I started combing his hair to get rid of some cradle cap and before I knew it, almost all of his hair was gone on top! We've given him a nice little comb-over and now he looks like The Donald.
We had Elijah's 4-month check-up today. Strangely, he has only gained 3 oz. in the past two weeks. I'm not sure why this is, because he has actually been eating pretty well. He's still in the 25th percentile for weight and height, so the doctor wasn't too concerned. If he continues to not gain much weight, I know his cardiologist WILL start to be concerned. His oxygen sats were at 89-90% today and that's where they were when we left the hospital so that's good news. The doctor was a bit concerned about the very large flat spot on the back of Eli's head, so we now have another specialist to add to his list -- a physical therapist. They will help us to even out his head and stretch his neck muscles. Also of concern is the fact that at four months old, he cannot lift his head on his own at all. His neck muscles are still really weak because he has spent 1+ month of his life in the hospital and another month on top of that unable to lay on his belly because of his incision. This is something else the PT will need to work with him on. We have been trying to get him on his tummy here at home, but he HATES it. He screams his head off. You'd think someone was trying to cut off his leg.
I am basically forcing him to take naps during the day. I sit in his room with him and do whatever I can to help him sleep for two hours twice a day. It's exhausting, and I don't know if it's going to help or hurt him in the long run, but at least he's sleeping. He is a totally different baby when he is rested. He's so fun to be around. When he's tired, all we hear is screaming. That's my motivation to do WHATEVER I need to do right now in order to get this man to nap. The "cry it out" method does not work for him (we found that out the hard way, after a long and grueling week). He doesn't appear mature enough yet to self-soothe, and plus I just hate the thought of his little lungs/heart working too much harder than they already are. Thankfully, he is a GREAT night sleeper, and for that I am eternally grateful. At least we have that!
Our cardiology check-up is coming up in a few weeks and we'll see how much weight he has gained and how his breathing is doing at that point. These two things will help determine when his next heart cath will be. Lately, his breathing has been labored, but it's so hard for me to tell if it's worse because I see him every day. Sometimes I think it looks really bad and other times I don't think it looks too bad. We'll let Dr. G determine that in a few weeks.
That's all we know this week. Send good napping energy our way!
6 comments:
hey guys,
we read your blog every day and we think it's just awesome. The work you guys put into caring for elijah is nothing short of miraculous. we are proud of you and hope things keep going your way!
Oh boy...
Matthew was one year old before he was able to get on the floor ... he could not hold his head up at all..
it was so sad.. this one year old could not be on his tummy and hold up his head...
he never ever did like being on his tummy... but look at him now...
He was a year old b/f a PT saw him here at the house...
I used to get him up on his hands and knees in front of the mirror...
and rock him back and forth...
that's how I got him to start crawling..
that worked wonders...being in front of the mirror and working w/ him...
Elijah will come along just fine..
it just takes a little more time for these little guys.
You have a boppy, right?
Once he can be on his tummy...
you can plop him in that... on his tummy...
Jacob actually started loosing weight at one point not too long after his surgery - our cardiologist caught it. Thankfully he told us it wasn't anything to do with his heart, but must be something else. So we talked with our pediatrician. The ped though it might be a case of not enough calories, so he put him on a special high calorie formula. It did the trick. He beefed up and has kept going since. I don't know if Elijah needs the same thing, but it might be something to ask about if his heart isn't part of the reason he isn't gaining weight.
Jacob used to not like being on his tummy either, but we did little bits of time - so he didn't cry long and after a while he got used to it, and began to enjoye it. Elijah will come around. :)
What is Dan doing actually sitting on the couch resting? Shouldn't he be cleaning a toilet or making dinner? Snap *
Love you guys.
When we adopted my brother he was 5 mos old. He couldn't lift his head due to the lack of attention he got in the orphanage. Once we had him home, it didn't take too long for him to figure out everything. He was back on track after a couple of months. Babies are amazing (as you well know). Eli will catch up to his peers in no time.
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