Our baby is 5 months old today...and what a 5 months it has been!!!! We wouldn't label these past 5 months as "peaceful" or "relaxing"...but we would label them as wonderful all the same! Just looking at Caitlin's big, BLUE (who knows how long they will stay) eyes makes it all worth it!!!
So, what's Miss Caitlin Elizabeth up to????
We have been working a lot at tummy time,which is challenging (more on this below):
Caitlin is beginning to roll over! Here are two action shots from today! This is her belly to back roll, but she's also very close to getting her back to belly roll.
Miss Caitlin used to be a big talker, and then she stopped talking for a while...but it's coming back and it's as adorable as ever! Today I got an action shot of her as she was "talking" to her friends...and giving them raspberries, which she just started doing today!!!!
Caitlin has also discovered her toes and likes to play with them while laying on her back!
As for feedings, she is still exclusively on Soy and seems to tolerate this better (which is sad because we have months of milk frozen which we won't be able to use...but this is best for her). She still gets 2 types of reflux medicine 3 times a day. She also still has to have her bottle thickened...she is not able to tolerate liquids, even if she's using a preemie bottle. We are working with Central Dupage Hospital to figure out what is going on here. Tomorrow she is having a swallow study performed (she'll drink a bottle with barium in it, and then they will x-ray her as she drinks to see what is going on when she swallows the food.) They think she aspirates (the liquid comes back up) but are looking to see if there is a physical reason (hole in espophagus, etc) or what is going on. More answers to come on our never-ending feeing saga tomorrow (we hope)!
In addition to the swallow study, she has seen a few doctors this week and today we had a great finding (if something had to be wrong, this is a great diagnosis....very easy fix)! Caitlin has a mild case of Torticollis. Torticollis is a condition which affects the neck of many infants. Torticollis literally translates to "crooked neck". It is usually caused by a condition in the womb. Caitlin was wedged against my pelvic bone during a lot of my pregnancy and almost didn't make it out naturally cause she was stuck, but the vacuum got her out! Anyways, I have always noticed her head tends to tilt to the side, but never thought much of it. Until lately...whenever I did research on reflux, I ran across this word. I decided to look it up...and it's Caitlin!!! Her left side neck muscle is stiff and so her head is tilted to the side. It's only noticable when she's laying down, it self corrects when she's sitting up. There is a big correlation between Torticollis and reflux. Also, it delays babies from rolling, sitting, etc until it's under control. It really bothers babies when they are doing tummy time, and babies with Torticollis want to be held all the time because it takes the pressure off the neck. I have been stretching her neck, but now I have actually stretches to do. Our pediatrician is going to give it a month and then decide if she needs to start physical therapy to help it, or if Rob and I can correct it ourselves. It does cause flat part of children's heads (Caitlin has the very beginning of a flat head forming) which often requires a helmet (and we've had lots of friends who's children had to wear helmets...some who read this actually) but we think we caught it early enough that we can fix it with streches alone! As her neck gets better, so will her skills!!!!! We are so happy! Below are 2 pictures so you can see what we are talking about...and these are literally just the 1st 2 pics I pulled up....she does this in all pics!!!!
So we are on our way to finding out what Caitlin is trying to tell us...and help her!
Happy 5 Months, Caitlin Bug!!!!!! We love you so much! You are a beautiful, smart, loving baby who brings so much joy to our lives with those big blue eyes, cute cheeks, and joyful smile!!!!
While we were at the dr with Caitlin today, Abigail's eye started to get swollen. So we squeezed Abigail into our app't...and we left with 2 meds for Abigail because she has a double ear infection and an eye infection! And we didn't even know, we just though she had a cold! So she's up in mommy and daddy's bed watching "Potty Time Elmo" for the 3rd time today! She could watch this movie over and over!
Before we knew she was really sick, we went to her 1st ballet class today! She did great...especially when the teacher told her to jump! I think her favorite part was when they did a princess dance and she had to act like Cinderella!!!!! Next week after ballet is over, we are headed home to switch kids (Caitlin for Reese) and Abigail and Reese are going to gymnastics. Abigail is much more excited about that!!!! Here's a picture of Abigail in her 1st (of many) leotard!
Stay Healthy!!!! I know we are trying.
2 comments:
caitlin, i hope your reflux and torticollis are cured soon. you are becoming so photogenic and are so adorable! such a sweet little girl!
abigail, you in your leotard and leg warmers just made my day!
1) Caitlin is so cute.
2) I can't even believe she is 5 months!
3) I hope the stretchs do the trick!
4) LOVE Abigail's outfit. Can she be any cuter?
5) I told Reese today about gymnastics when we peeked in there leaving dance class. She is beyond excited!
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