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Sunday, June 29, 2008
Adventures in Baby Food
Sydney has been eating solid food for about 6 weeks and it's getting better and better! We started out with one food every other day for a week and started a new food the following week. Two weeks ago, I started giving her some every day and she's been loving it. We had some gagging and minor puking issues in the beginning but there are absolutely no issues at all now...she's really adjusted to the texture. Thank God.
So far we've tried butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes and pears and she's loved them all.
Today we tried peas and they were a hit! See?
So far we've tried butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes and pears and she's loved them all.
Today we tried peas and they were a hit! See?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Resurrection
Today was one of those days. You know those days where you start to question everything and your mind can lead you to dark and questionable places. I had one of those days.
Then I stumbled across this blog and it just gave me a whole new perspective. The author of the blog is Angie Smith and she is the wife of Todd Smith, the lead singer of the Christian music group, Selah. If you're a Christian, trust me, you know Selah's music and have probably sung their songs in your church. Angie gave birth to their 4th daughter in April and due to many complications, the baby passed away two hours after birth.
That's heartbreaking enough, right? There's more.
Todd's sister is Nicol Sponberg, another Christian music artist who happens to sing one of my favourite songs of all time. Nicol gave birth to her second child Luke back in March and he passed away in his sleep (completely unexpectedly) when he was 10 weeks old. This family suffered the loss of two newborns in 7 weeks. Nicol sang at Audrey's funeral while holding Luke, having no clue just how precious that moment was.
It made me refocus and think about all the things I need to be thankful for and all the things I need to let go. My daughter is healthy, happy and developing and just who am I to wallow in small things? She's usually in bed by 9:30 but I let her sleep on me until 10:30 tonight. I just felt compelled to keep her close to me a little longer. Of course, I don't want to suggest that my feelings aren't valid because someone might be dealing with something worse but it's nice to gain a little perspective too. It gives me something else to pray about and I can keep the focus off my momentary failings or troubles.
Nicol's song is Resurrection. It's a song that Brian actually introduced to me and it's ministered to us through many waves and storms.
Then I stumbled across this blog and it just gave me a whole new perspective. The author of the blog is Angie Smith and she is the wife of Todd Smith, the lead singer of the Christian music group, Selah. If you're a Christian, trust me, you know Selah's music and have probably sung their songs in your church. Angie gave birth to their 4th daughter in April and due to many complications, the baby passed away two hours after birth.
That's heartbreaking enough, right? There's more.
Todd's sister is Nicol Sponberg, another Christian music artist who happens to sing one of my favourite songs of all time. Nicol gave birth to her second child Luke back in March and he passed away in his sleep (completely unexpectedly) when he was 10 weeks old. This family suffered the loss of two newborns in 7 weeks. Nicol sang at Audrey's funeral while holding Luke, having no clue just how precious that moment was.
It made me refocus and think about all the things I need to be thankful for and all the things I need to let go. My daughter is healthy, happy and developing and just who am I to wallow in small things? She's usually in bed by 9:30 but I let her sleep on me until 10:30 tonight. I just felt compelled to keep her close to me a little longer. Of course, I don't want to suggest that my feelings aren't valid because someone might be dealing with something worse but it's nice to gain a little perspective too. It gives me something else to pray about and I can keep the focus off my momentary failings or troubles.
Nicol's song is Resurrection. It's a song that Brian actually introduced to me and it's ministered to us through many waves and storms.
Resurrection
Nicol Sponberg
I'm at a loss for words, there's nothing to say
I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place
How did my heart become so lifeless and cold
Where did the passion go?
When all my efforts seem like chasing wind
I've used up all my strength and there's nothing left to give
I've lost the feeling and I'm down to the core
I can't fake it anymore.
chorus:
Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again
You speak and all creation falls to its knees
You raise Your hand and calm the waves of the raging sea
You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering
chorus 2:
Here I am once again I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again
You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering
Sunday, June 22, 2008
My child is afraid of the dark...
but only during the daytime. Seriously. It took me a few days to figure it out and it's definitely true.
I've been thinking about establishing some sort of routine for Sydney as soon as she gives me cues that she's ready for them. I'll start studying for my Masters Degree in 2 weeks and I'm trying to create some order in both our lives.
After she slept through the night for the first time (about 6 weeks ago), I immediately started working on a bedtime routine. She gets a bath, spends some time loving on her Daddy who dresses her in her sleepwear and I fix her final bottle. I feed her, burp her, snuggle with her a bit and she's usually in bed and asleep by 9:30p.m. It's worked out great and she puts up ZERO resistance and goes right to sleep. Around the same time, we moved her out of our bed because it was getting less and less comfortable for all of us. A king sized bed and B and I were hanging off the edge. :laugh: We put her beside our bed and she never complained and slept peacefully every night until at least 7a.m.
We then decided that we would move her out of our room and into our room! Eek! She had spent 4 months sleeping really close to us and we were not sure how well she would take it. We tried it a week ago and it went off without a hitch! I think I was more anxious that first night than she was! Thank goodness for baby monitors.
Then I decided to take it a step further. Shame on me for trying to push my luck. She's been taking longer, fewer naps instead of sleeping on and off throughout the day so I figured we could try to establish a daytime nap routine too. I mean, she has a bedtime routine and an eating routine...why not a nap routine too? It did not go so well.
Due to her reflux, she became very accustomed to sleeping on someone during the daytime or sleeping in her swing and she just was not ready to let go of that. I darkened her room at nap time (when she was obviously tired) and put her in her crib. Instead of sleeping, she fussed, whined and cried for about an hour. I held her, rocked her, shushed her, sang to her. She was NOT happy.
Finally, after about 4 days of doing that I put her back in her Pack N Play, which was still in our room. She feel asleep in 5 minutes and slept for an hour!! I started thinking that maybe she just didn't like sleeping in the crib but that didn't make sense because she sleeps fine at night. Then it occurred to me that my room was well lit in the daytime and her room was dark because I thought she needed that to sleep. I opened the blinds, put her in her crib and she's napped wonderfully in there ever since. It's totally dark in there at night but she won't sleep in the dark during the daytime. Go figure! She'll still whine occasionally but it's nowhere near the hysteria of the first 4 days. This child never ceases to amaze/confuse me!
I've been thinking about establishing some sort of routine for Sydney as soon as she gives me cues that she's ready for them. I'll start studying for my Masters Degree in 2 weeks and I'm trying to create some order in both our lives.
After she slept through the night for the first time (about 6 weeks ago), I immediately started working on a bedtime routine. She gets a bath, spends some time loving on her Daddy who dresses her in her sleepwear and I fix her final bottle. I feed her, burp her, snuggle with her a bit and she's usually in bed and asleep by 9:30p.m. It's worked out great and she puts up ZERO resistance and goes right to sleep. Around the same time, we moved her out of our bed because it was getting less and less comfortable for all of us. A king sized bed and B and I were hanging off the edge. :laugh: We put her beside our bed and she never complained and slept peacefully every night until at least 7a.m.
We then decided that we would move her out of our room and into our room! Eek! She had spent 4 months sleeping really close to us and we were not sure how well she would take it. We tried it a week ago and it went off without a hitch! I think I was more anxious that first night than she was! Thank goodness for baby monitors.
Then I decided to take it a step further. Shame on me for trying to push my luck. She's been taking longer, fewer naps instead of sleeping on and off throughout the day so I figured we could try to establish a daytime nap routine too. I mean, she has a bedtime routine and an eating routine...why not a nap routine too? It did not go so well.
Due to her reflux, she became very accustomed to sleeping on someone during the daytime or sleeping in her swing and she just was not ready to let go of that. I darkened her room at nap time (when she was obviously tired) and put her in her crib. Instead of sleeping, she fussed, whined and cried for about an hour. I held her, rocked her, shushed her, sang to her. She was NOT happy.
Finally, after about 4 days of doing that I put her back in her Pack N Play, which was still in our room. She feel asleep in 5 minutes and slept for an hour!! I started thinking that maybe she just didn't like sleeping in the crib but that didn't make sense because she sleeps fine at night. Then it occurred to me that my room was well lit in the daytime and her room was dark because I thought she needed that to sleep. I opened the blinds, put her in her crib and she's napped wonderfully in there ever since. It's totally dark in there at night but she won't sleep in the dark during the daytime. Go figure! She'll still whine occasionally but it's nowhere near the hysteria of the first 4 days. This child never ceases to amaze/confuse me!
She loosened her grip on the bear before I had the good sense to take this picture. She was literally hugging it before. It's the first "toy" we ever bought her and she had it in the incubator in the hospital. Can you believe she used to be the same size as it is? :cry:
This is how she sleeps every night. Hands behind her head, flat on her back. Grandy says her Dad used to sleep the same way. Her head is usually more centered but you get the idea. She had fallen asleep while we were playing. Poor baby and her boring Mommy.
I'm not quite sure what look B was going for here but I think she looks so cute...I just had to post it.
My girlfriend Sonny, sent these sunglasses as part of an outfit and they have come in sooo handy! She does not like the sun in her eyes at all and she loves, loves wearing these. She never fusses when I put them on. Isn't she cute?!?!?!?
One of these days I'll find shoes that fit her feet. 
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Picture Time!
Daddy likes having his back scratched and Sydney likes scratching people. It's a match made in heaven
This is not the best picture but I love her little dimple. :love:
I have so many friends with daughters who say people always assume their baby is a boy even when they are dressed from head to toe in pink, flowers and frills.
More pictures this weekend!
This is not the best picture but I love her little dimple. :love:
I have so many friends with daughters who say people always assume their baby is a boy even when they are dressed from head to toe in pink, flowers and frills.
More pictures this weekend!
Physical Therapy Evaluation
I took Miss Lady for her PT eval yesterday and I'm happy to report that they are very happy with her progress! She agrees with the neurologist and says she's advanced for her adjusted age and is very close to being caught up for her real age. Of course, she still has until she's age 2 before anyone would be concerned about her ability to do certain things. The therapist said based on what she saw, she expects Sydney to be caught up to her peers by her first birthday.
I told her about her sitting up a few weeks ago and then refusing to do it ever since then. She acts like she's in pain when I try to sit her down too. The therapist said she sees that very often with babies who have had severe reflux because sitting actually aggravates the acid in the stomach and makes them very uncomfortable. Most babies learn to sit up by leaning forward and using their hands for support and they do that until they're strong enough to be fully upright. Somewhat similar to this:
That position does not make a refluxy baby happy at all so many babies just skip that stage or do it rarely until they can be upright. So, even though she's not actually spitting up anymore and isn't in need of medicine she still has some symptoms. Based on her adjusted age, she's not expected to be sitting up yet so we're not worried about it at all. I'll continue feeding her in her Bumbo seat and go from there. It also explains why she's quite happy to reach UP for toys but not across or down. "Extending" the body actually eases her discomfort. I'm just grateful that she's so much better and happier than she was when the reflux was at it's worst.
The therapist also said she actually doesn't require any therapy but, like everybody else, she just wants to see her occasionally to make sure she continues to do well. She typically sees her patients weekly but doesn't want to see us again for another month, when she will evaluate her progress again. Yay!
We're waiting for an appt with the Occupational Therapist who will help her overcome her gag reflex. At this rate, we may not need her because my girl has managed to suck her hands and not gag and puke ONCE in the past 24 hours. That, my friends, is worthy of a celebration! She sucked her hands all the way home yesterday and not once did she come close to gagging. It usually took about a minute of hand sucking before that happens.
She's sooo chatty lately too! I love it! As we speak she's chatting away to herself in the mirror. :love:
I told her about her sitting up a few weeks ago and then refusing to do it ever since then. She acts like she's in pain when I try to sit her down too. The therapist said she sees that very often with babies who have had severe reflux because sitting actually aggravates the acid in the stomach and makes them very uncomfortable. Most babies learn to sit up by leaning forward and using their hands for support and they do that until they're strong enough to be fully upright. Somewhat similar to this:
That position does not make a refluxy baby happy at all so many babies just skip that stage or do it rarely until they can be upright. So, even though she's not actually spitting up anymore and isn't in need of medicine she still has some symptoms. Based on her adjusted age, she's not expected to be sitting up yet so we're not worried about it at all. I'll continue feeding her in her Bumbo seat and go from there. It also explains why she's quite happy to reach UP for toys but not across or down. "Extending" the body actually eases her discomfort. I'm just grateful that she's so much better and happier than she was when the reflux was at it's worst.
The therapist also said she actually doesn't require any therapy but, like everybody else, she just wants to see her occasionally to make sure she continues to do well. She typically sees her patients weekly but doesn't want to see us again for another month, when she will evaluate her progress again. Yay!
We're waiting for an appt with the Occupational Therapist who will help her overcome her gag reflex. At this rate, we may not need her because my girl has managed to suck her hands and not gag and puke ONCE in the past 24 hours. That, my friends, is worthy of a celebration! She sucked her hands all the way home yesterday and not once did she come close to gagging. It usually took about a minute of hand sucking before that happens.
She's sooo chatty lately too! I love it! As we speak she's chatting away to herself in the mirror. :love:
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Fathers' Day!!!!
Happy Fathers' Day to all the wonderful Dads we know. Sydney's Daddy has requested a day of leisure and steak for dinner. She's making him breakfast in bed and giving him first dibs on the Sunday paper too. She's a good daughter.
A very special shout out to Uncle Che today. We love you!
I know I've been slacking with the picture posting but part of that was because our camera was missing for a few weeks. It's been found and I'll try to get some pictures today.
A very special shout out to Uncle Che today. We love you!
I know I've been slacking with the picture posting but part of that was because our camera was missing for a few weeks. It's been found and I'll try to get some pictures today.
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