Stage 2, The 2 Month check up and Shots

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exalt in You."

Psalm 5: 11


As I said in my previous post, we are through stage 1 of the August Marathon and into stage 2. Stage 1 of August was celebrating many birthdays in a short amount of time with various groups. Although this is allot of fun, it wears Tara and I out. Little Laura recovered more quickly than we did. Of course she slept most of Monday. Go figure.

In stage 2 we have several doctors appointments, and yes more birthdays to celebrate. One of those appointments was yesterday. It was Laura's 2 month check up and shots. Laura is 10 pounds on the nose and 22 inches long. Overall, Dr. Pielop is pleased with her growth to this point. He said she is in the 75% range for length and weight. She is also in the 50% range for her head size.

Last week, we had an ultrasound on Laura's hips. Dr. Pielop wanted to do this for several reasons. First, because she was breech. It can sometimes lead to hip dysplasia. Also, there are some concerns about her hips because she has Down Syndrome. Those who get to hold her, or any Down's child, try to keep their arms and legs in the center line of the child's body. That means, do not let their legs straddle anything (for example your hip) or let their arms flop around when holding them. Instead, hold them with their legs together and their arms either by their sides, or folded on their chest. This is better for the child long term. It also helps them to fight issues that Dpwn's patients have due to having loose joints (a common problem with Down Syndrome). Dr. Pielop said that the results of the ultrasound were fine, and that her hips looked good.

Laura also had her 2 month shots yesterday. Tara said Laura came through it like a trooper. Laura cried a little, but calmed down shortly after the needle was taken out. This sis not a surprise to me. She is a very relaxed baby. When she was given her first round of shots, the moment they took the needle out she stopped crying. Tara did relish the opportunity to comfort Laura. I cannot say that I blame Tara. Even after two months my favorite thing is to hold my daughter. As a result of her shots, Laura slept a little bit more yesterday than she normally would.

The one thing that caused Tara and I pause was that Laura's weigh gain seemed to slow. In other words, we were expecting her to be 10 pounds and 4 to 8 ounces based on previous weigh ins and check ups. Although I am sure it is just a natural slowing in her growth cycle, we both found ourselves wondering if she has started burning more calories due to her heart condition. If this is the case, it was expected. We are just curious. Tara is going to mention it to Laura's Cardiologist today.

The best news from yesterday is that we got to adjust her feeding schedule. She now gets 97 mL 7 times a day as opposed to 85 mL 8 times a day. What does this mean you ask? Well, it means Tara and I can get close to 6 straight hours of sleep. Last night was so wonderful. Except that now my body needs to adjust to the new routine. I do not think it will take long. We are so happy.

I have not finished it yet, but I highly recommend Another Season by Gene Stallings. I was referred to it by a new friend of ours Beth. She has been a wonderful guide through everything. She has patiently and happily answered all of our questions. We cannot begin to express how grateful to her we are to here. The book is about Gene's son Johnny. It is a great and heartbreaking message. If you are struggling with the blessing of a Down's child, this book is an amazing reminder that you are not alone. There are many people that can help you, and who will love your child just because your child is there.

That is all for now. Please check back soon for more information.