19!!

That is the number of ounces of formula Randy drank today. Randy has drank less than 13 oz per day since the beginning of May. I was worried. The feeding team was worried. His OT was worried. We tried every cup known to man; different ways to support his chin. Nothing was taking him over that 13 oz mark. And actually he was averaging only 10 oz.

Well since his revision last Friday, each day he has drank more milk. He drank 13 oz on Monday, 14 oz on Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 oz on Thursday and Friday, and today.....!!! Could it have been the shunt? Did he have pressure in his head that made drinking uncomfortable? I do not know. But if it was the shunt, then I know to pay attention to even the smallest changes. His neurosurgeon and I were puzzled why he was not acting sick. Maybe he was; it just was not as drastic as expected.

"The signs and symptoms of shunt malfunction, are the same as for hydrocephalus itself, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritability, change in behavior or intellectual performance, etc. "

I guess I was expecting more drastic symptoms from him. Now I know better.

How you doing?

Randy seems to be growing up so quickly all of a sudden. He's getting really long. He's moving about more and more. He loves to roll back and forth, and then laugh as if he's done some amazing feat that you can't do. He has decided that he wants to sleep on his stomach since he has his new found mobility.

Randy has also decided that big boys don't drink bottles. It is a daily battle to get him to take his bottle. Most people say, "Well take him off of it". But right now I can't. He's still on formula, and the doctors would like for him to get 20-24 ounces per day. He does not do well with the sippy cup and can't drink from a straw. I can get a few sips into him by using an open cup, but it doesn't add up to much. The nurse from the feeding team thought maybe it was a taste issue and suggested putting vanilla or chocolate syrup in his milk for taste. He liked the new taste, but did not drink anymore. His appetite for food is still there; he just does not want the bottle.

Feeding therapy is going great otherwise. He is doing great at picking up the puffs. He struggles at times to see them on his tray. He is working on his pincer grasp and is getting them to his mouth about 50% of the time.

PT is going great also. We are spending a lot of time strengthening his trunk muscles. Although he sits up, he is still weak in his trunk. He seems to have better stamina, and does not tire as easily. I was very surprised to find out that his trunk is in control of so many actions.

OT kind of meshes with the feeding and PT. We are working on grasping and putting weight on his arms. Building up his arms and his trunk will allow him to move to the crawling stage. We also help him with his right actions. This will improve his balance.

Randy visited the developmental follow up clinic. This clinic is to follow up the NICU babies and monitor their development. I'm not sure how helpful it is to Randy. They test him on the same things that his OT and PT test him on, and ask me a whole bunch of questions. Then they ask me is he in therapy and Early Intervention. They say great and send us on our way. The only thing that keeps me going back is that I know all of this is data. And this data may help a micropreemie five years from now. I did ask her about cerebral palsy. Her response was that they do not make that determination until about 18 months of age unless it was VERY severe and obvious. She was pleased with the way his body moved, but could not give me a definitive answer. I take him back in 9 months. His data was:

Weight - 18 lbs 5 oz
Length - 29 1/4 inch
Head Circumference - 43 cm

Language - 8 months
Visual Motor - 7.2 months