Dr.'s appointments, Therapy, and more!

Hey all, Kailey here.

These past few weeks have been pretty busy! Ellery had her follow-up after surgery eye appointment, and Dr. R said he thought everything looked great! He referred us to a pediatrics optometrist in September, to see if she will need glasses. She fought him pretty hard this last exam, so he did mention the possibility of her next exam, which isn't till October, having to be put under. He said she won't have to be intubated, but she will have to be "put to sleep" so he can see. She's such a little fighter, he has a hard time looking at her eyes!

Ellery also had her 6 month pediatrics appointment. Dr. E said she looks great! She weighed in at 13 lbs 9 oz, and was 23.5 inches long! She actually hit the charts for her actual age! She was in the one percentile for height, and the 3rd percentile for weight. Her head circumference was in the quarter percentile. I was so proud she actually hit the charts! Dr. E said she is doing mostly what is expected for her adjusted age, which is about 3 months. We also got the go ahead to start solids (also per our therapist). So, on Wednesday during therapy, we set her in her bumbo and gave her her first solid food: sweet potatoes! She did really well! Our therapist said she did exactly what a "normal" baby would do at first exposure to solids. She is slowly getting used to eating, we are only feeding her once per day right now and sticking with the same amount of bottles. So far, she has had sweet potatoes, squash, and bananas. She DID NOT like the bananas. I didn't either! I've been trying all the food that I'm giving her, and I have to say the bananas were sick. I really enjoyed the sweet potatoes! hehe

This past week in therapy, our therapist said she "made his day!" She FINALLY followed a toy with her eyes, and seemed interested on focusing on it. Our therapist was getting really worried that her eye sight wasn't very good, because she didn't seem to focus on any objects. She has also greatly improved with her head strength, and seems to be getting better every week! He has started a new exercises on an exercise ball that really seems to be helping her head strength. I was really happy after therapy that she seemed to make such progress!

She's been quite chatty lately, and has moved from the "Ahh-goos" to the "Bababas". She still doesn't outright laugh, but has this silly little giggle she does. She's been making really good eye contact with us. Our therapist thinks she definitely needs glasses, just based on how she looks at objects, so hopefully once we have her eye appointment, she may improve on playing with toys, and looking at objects.

The best thing that has been happening recently is she has been able to go for a few HOURS with NO OXYGEN! And she has been consistently on 1/32 of a L, which is the lowest our tank will go. This is a huuuuuuge improvement! And we have been so excited! In fact, typing this out makes me terrified we will jinx it! Our pediatrician told us at her last appointment he feels she will be OFF OF OXYGEN in 8 weeks! We are praying so hard that that will happen! How great will that be!!

We are coming up on RSV season, which we will be completely quarantined to the house during. RSV is a very nasty respiratory virus that can be deadly to little preemies with their underdeveloped lungs. There is a shot, called Synagis, that can be given to help "lessen" the symptoms of RSV should a baby catch it, but it is very expensive and insurance likes to deny it. Our pediatrician is working on getting it approved for us, so Ellery will at least have some protection coming up this winter. We still need to be very careful that she does not contract it. We've been pretty quarantined since she's been home, but we've made a few outings with her. I'm so scared of her getting sick. Especially with all the progress she has been making with her oxygen needs!

As for us, not much new is going on. I finally got one of my debts paid off, which feels GREAT. We also sold my old car, so it's no longer sitting on the side of the driveway. I've been reading like a fiend, which I'm really enjoying, because I took a big break from reading while Ellery was in the NICU. Just didn't ever feel like it. I'm also trying to cook new recipes more often. Usually, we cycle through the same menu every week, so I've been trying to change it up a little. I'm getting a little more time to do things as Ellery gets a little older. She is still pretty dependent on her momma though!

I was feeling pretty homesick last week, since we usually try to take a trip home around August or September. Especially since fall is coming up, my favorite season, and you can't beat fall in Oregon. Makes me miss Corvallis, and school time, and all the trees changing colors. We don't have many trees out in the desert.

I'll leave you with a photo bomb of recent pictures of little Miss Ellery.

6 month picture

First time in the bumbo

My Beaver Babe! :)

Funny little smirk :)

Yummmm sweet potatoes!

She fell asleep during tummy time

Getting waaaay better at tummy time!

On 0 oxygen and satting at 100!! (This is rare...but it happened!)

Cutie Patootie

She likes to flash me

Naked Face!

Asleep on Dad

Pretty eyes