Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Warm as toast
Well, we are all snuggled in tonight after a cold and snowy day. Pork tenderloin is cooking in the oven. Dad is preparing to boil the life out of some carrots. And then smother them in butter. Why do the British hate vegetables? If it keeps him amused and out of my hair, I guess I shouldn't complain.
The big news is that Allan laughed out loud for the first time today. He smiles and laughs, but, until today, hasn't made a true laughing sound. He has been vocalizing a lot more in the past couple of weeks (so long as doctors and PTs aren't watching). He really seems to hit his stride from about 8 p.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. That's usually when we play rock-a-baby and act like we are going to run, run, run away and play like we are riding a bike. (Our own version of physical therapy.) Today, though, we were watching UK beat Tennesse and playing with some silly Leap Frog caterpillar that sings songs and, for whatever reason, two little butterflies and three little bumblebees struck him as very funny. Next thing I know I see a big, wide smile and hear something that isn't a 'gawk.' I would have thought that I imagined it except that he repeated it several times before it wasn't funny any more. The best part is that he sounds EXACTLY like Griffith when he laughs. Sort of a silly heh, heh, heh kind of chuckle. Very Beavis and Butthead. We hope that Allan decides that life is as funny as his brother finds it because Griff laughs all the time. Except for when he is howling in protest.
Griffith continues to be a whole lot of fun. Yesterday he learned to make a kissy face which amused him greatly. (What doesn't?) His girlfriend Caitlin came to visit and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Flora came to help yesterday because I needed to work in the morning and she is going to be off on Monday. She was so jealous that she wouldn't leave. She just sat and watched Caitlin and Griffith and resisted (just barely) snatching him back from her (who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been here?) The boys and I had a good long walk yesterday afternoon while the sun was out and it was warm. It is a good thing we did, since, by 4, it had turned bitter cold and has stayed that way.
On Friday we met with the lady from First Steps which is a program to coordinate different types of services for little guys like Allan. We are going to have someone come in to consult for speech therapy (because he still isn't very interested in feeding from the bottle) and physical therapy. Griffith was almost beside himself twisting around and trying to get the girl's attention. I am very afraid that we have quite a flirt on our hands.
The big news is that Allan laughed out loud for the first time today. He smiles and laughs, but, until today, hasn't made a true laughing sound. He has been vocalizing a lot more in the past couple of weeks (so long as doctors and PTs aren't watching). He really seems to hit his stride from about 8 p.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. That's usually when we play rock-a-baby and act like we are going to run, run, run away and play like we are riding a bike. (Our own version of physical therapy.) Today, though, we were watching UK beat Tennesse and playing with some silly Leap Frog caterpillar that sings songs and, for whatever reason, two little butterflies and three little bumblebees struck him as very funny. Next thing I know I see a big, wide smile and hear something that isn't a 'gawk
Griffith continues to be a whole lot of fun. Yesterday he learned to make a kissy face which amused him greatly. (What doesn't?) His girlfriend Caitlin came to visit and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Flora came to help yesterday because I needed to work in the morning and she is going to be off on Monday. She was so jealous that she wouldn't leave. She just sat and watched Caitlin and Griffith and resisted (just barely) snatching him back from her (who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been here?) The boys and I had a good long walk yesterday afternoon while the sun was out and it was warm. It is a good thing we did, since, by 4, it had turned bitter cold and has stayed that way.
On Friday we met with the lady from First Steps which is a program to coordinate different types of services for little guys like Allan. We are going to have someone come in to consult for speech therapy (because he still isn't very interested in feeding from the bottle) and physical therapy. Griffith was almost beside himself twisting around and trying to get the girl's attention. I am very afraid that we have quite a flirt on our hands.
Alice and the boys
Griffith entertained Greg and Alice for dinner last night. He and Allan had formula (naturally) and we had sushi.
Preparing to launch
Griffith just hasn't quite figured out how to coordinate arms and legs. Thank goodness.
Preparing to launch
Griffith just hasn't quite figured out how to coordinate arms and legs. Thank goodness.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
I tried to post all day yesterday. Don't know why it wouldn't take it.
Griffith did great at the NICU grad clinic on Wednesday. He was almost not able to do the test because he kept looking at her and giggling. Goofy little flirt charmed the Very Nice Physical Therapist. That may account for the glowing report. He picked up blocks, moved them from one hand to the other, clapped spoons together (I didn't know he could do that), grabbed a string, pulled a napkin over so he could grab something on it, turned toward sounds. The only thing he didn't do was roll over and that was because he was too interested in what was going on above him. Can't fault him for that. He scored very high on his verbal which tickles me since he has yet to say anything. Apparently squealing and babbling are high-value activities. He is now 16.5 pounds and 26 inches tall. He is growing like a weed and is in the 25th percentile for his adjusted age.
The boys have been big fun this week. When I got home on Tuesday, they were playing on a blanket on the floor. Allan had hold of Griffith's right arm and was trying to bite him. Griffith kept swatting at him with his left hand and occasionally tried to roll over top of him. They both seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly. Allan is really starting to make a lot more baby noises and he is grinning a lot these days. He seems to enjoy rough-housing quite a bit and loves to be rolled back and forth (rock-a-baby, rock-a-baby). He folds his little hands across his chest so that you can get he really going.
All-in-all the big boys are doing great. Just have to keep on doing what we are doing and wait for spring.
Griffith did great at the NICU grad clinic on Wednesday. He was almost not able to do the test because he kept looking at her and giggling. Goofy little flirt charmed the Very Nice Physical Therapist. That may account for the glowing report. He picked up blocks, moved them from one hand to the other, clapped spoons together (I didn't know he could do that), grabbed a string, pulled a napkin over so he could grab something on it, turned toward sounds. The only thing he didn't do was roll over and that was because he was too interested in what was going on above him. Can't fault him for that. He scored very high on his verbal which tickles me since he has yet to say anything. Apparently squealing and babbling are high-value activities. He is now 16.5 pounds and 26 inches tall. He is growing like a weed and is in the 25th percentile for his adjusted age.
The boys have been big fun this week. When I got home on Tuesday, they were playing on a blanket on the floor. Allan had hold of Griffith's right arm and was trying to bite him. Griffith kept swatting at him with his left hand and occasionally tried to roll over top of him. They both seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly. Allan is really starting to make a lot more baby noises and he is grinning a lot these days. He seems to enjoy rough-housing quite a bit and loves to be rolled back and forth (rock-a-baby, rock-a-baby). He folds his little hands across his chest so that you can get he really going.
All-in-all the big boys are doing great. Just have to keep on doing what we are doing and wait for spring.
Monday, January 22, 2007
The boys did well with their eye exams today.
Griffith has a slight astigmatism (courtesy of Papa), but it isn't anything that they need to do anything about right now. He may or may not have to have glasses some day. Come back in a year, thank you very much.
Allan's eye looks pretty good, but the pressure was up in it some. They are adjusting his eye drops and seeing how that works. Come back in a month. They are going to put him back under anaesthesia some time to look in the eye and see how and whether scar tissue is forming back there and if they can tell what is causing the pressure to build up and how that is or isn't affecting his optic nerve. But we aren't going to do any thing at all until RSV, flu and cold season are over with. April? May? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Griffith has a slight astigmatism (courtesy of Papa), but it isn't anything that they need to do anything about right now. He may or may not have to have glasses some day. Come back in a year, thank you very much.
Allan's eye looks pretty good, but the pressure was up in it some. They are adjusting his eye drops and seeing how that works. Come back in a month. They are going to put him back under anaesthesia some time to look in the eye and see how and whether scar tissue is forming back there and if they can tell what is causing the pressure to build up and how that is or isn't affecting his optic nerve. But we aren't going to do any thing at all until RSV, flu and cold season are over with. April? May? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Well, there was no napping, cat or otherwise. Griffith just can not stand to miss out on anything and refuses to go down. He spent a lot time this afternoon trying to figure out how to crawl. The pictures don't do it justice, but our pride and joy can get up on his hands and knees, but he can't quite figure out how to get his big ol' head up at the same time. There was much grunting and groaning and general frustration but no forward progress. I know that a good parent would be actively encouraging her child to crawl and helping him figure the process out, but we really aren't quite up to a mobile Griffith and if it takes him an additional week or so to work it out on his own, so be it. That gives us a little more time to prepare. Jay put down a rug in the dining room this afternoon and we got one for the living room and the nursery, too. Throwing down blankets just isn't going to work for very long. And it is time to dig out the cabinet locks and electrical outlet plugs. Baby-proofing needs to begin in earnest.
Allan has had a good afternoon. Our child who acted like he didn't know he had hands has been batting at his fishes all afternoon. And shoving his hands in his mouth. And clasping them to his chest. And, while he isn't quite as vocal as his brother, he has been talking all afternoon. Sometimes in response to his brother talking which is pretty funny.
Both of the boys go for an eye exam tomorrow morning. Allan for a post-op follow-up and Griffith for his 6 month check up. Then, on Wednesday, Griffith goes for the NICU graduate clinic. I wonder if he will do better than Allan did or if he, too, will have performance anxiety?
Allan has had a good afternoon. Our child who acted like he didn't know he had hands has been batting at his fishes all afternoon. And shoving his hands in his mouth. And clasping them to his chest. And, while he isn't quite as vocal as his brother, he has been talking all afternoon. Sometimes in response to his brother talking which is pretty funny.
Both of the boys go for an eye exam tomorrow morning. Allan for a post-op follow-up and Griffith for his 6 month check up. Then, on Wednesday, Griffith goes for the NICU graduate clinic. I wonder if he will do better than Allan did or if he, too, will have performance anxiety?
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