January 15, 2013 by Jolene

That sweet face – 4 months

Eline at 4 months

Weighs a little over 12 lbs. and is outgrowing a few of her 0-3 month outfits
Smiles a lot more (she stares and grins at lights and brightly-lit windows!), responds enthusiastically to anyone who gets in her face, locks eye contact for extended amounts of time, and loves to be tickled and cuddled
Sleeps in her cradle and goes to bed for the night at 10 p.m. (with one last “dream feeding” around 11:30) and sleeps until 6:30 or 7 a.m.
Naps in her swing for 30 mins. to 2 hours after every feeding
Gets 4 1/2 oz. mixed breast milk/formula six times a day but is inconsistent in finishing the bottle and in the amount she leaks during feedings
Tracks objects with her eyes, grabs (and tries to chew!) lightweight toys and blankets
Still likes to be swaddled for sleep
“Talks” a lot, with a wider range of sounds, and seems to try to imitate sounds we make
Has made big improvements in head control and can sit propped up for short periods of time
Is still a generally easy-going and happy baby

January 8, 2013 by Jolene

Christmas retrospective

Christmas is over and a new year has begun. Every single year, this takes me by surprise. How is it that we have tucked another holiday season under our belts and girded ourselves for 2013? 2013! That still sounds impossibly futuristic to me. I do love the beginning of new years, though. Jon and I rang this one in very quietly, at home on our couch, watching the latest Batman movie on our new Blu-ray player and tuning in to a time-delayed NYC broadcast just in time to see the ball drop and to share a sweet kiss. I’m okay with that start to this year. Quiet, at home with the things that really matter. Maybe next year we’ll dress up and find somewhere exciting to go. But this year, quiet was just right.

It was a good Christmas. We spent a week with Jon’s family in Georgia. Corin spent long hours roaming the cold, wet outdoors with Grandpa, and I enjoyed the freedom to get down on the floor and really soak in Baby Girl. Lina is smiling and cooing like nobody’s business, and it makes me happy. Sometimes I feel as if she might be getting gypped with how divided my attention often is at home. I do make time to cuddle and talk to her, to get down to her eye level and cheer for her tummy time achievements, but often I’m stopping to tickle her for a moment or to get in her face for a quick smile and hello as I pass on my way to put away more laundry or to help big brother with his pants for another potty break. (Ah, potty training, there’s a topic for another day. I’ve said that before, haven’t I?!)

In any case, this Christmas, the riches of family willing to entertain my children meant I got to spend some good one-on-one time with each of them. And then there was the glorious food, the gifts, the holiday movies, the church musical, the telling and re-telling of the Greatest Story until Corin could recite it back to us. (By the way, if you don’t have it, this is now my very favorite kids’ Christmas book.)

We made a stop to see friends in Knoxville for one night on our way home, and then it was New Year’s on the couch and a second Christmas with my family, which was complicated by sickness that has since taken up dwelling at our house. (Croup? Really? I had the clearly mistaken impression that only happened in Anne of Green Gables novels.) But Corin and his cousin still got some good time together to play with new Christmas treasures, and as always, the memories are the very best thing we take from the holidays into the new year.

Watching Christmas movies with my boy

Image December 24, 2012 by Jolene

Merry Christmas!

December 20, 2012 by Jolene

That sweet face – 3 months

Eline at three months

Smiles more and responds to us with wiggles and a growing variety of coos
Can roll onto her side and is working very hard to roll from back to stomach
Tolerates tummy time pretty well
Sucks her thumb but gets frustrated with not being able to keep it in her mouth for very long
Sleeps at least 6 hours at night
Takes 4 – 4 1/2 oz. of mixed formula/breast milk six times a day and generally leaks much less than she had been
Hates wet or dirty diapers (I have to remember to check her diaper when she gets fussy, since that was never something Corin minded!)
Weighs about 11 lb. and is just over 22 in. long
Is getting better at holding her head up but is still a little wobbly
Can grip small, light toys for short periods
Continues to be a generally happy, content and easy-going baby

Telling us all about it

It’s hard to talk about what Lina has brought to our lives without wading deep into sap. But truly, she is a joy. Down syndrome is certainly a part of who Lina is, but it no longer feels as if it defines our reality or determines how we view our girl. When strangers admire my baby, I feel pure pride. Jon and I both find we sometimes forget there is anything different about Lina. Sure, we continue to be confronted with the fact that her muscles are not as strong as many babies, and as a result, her smiles are harder-won. I might feel the occasional stab when I hear parents bragging about their babies’ new accomplishments. But Down syndrome is taking its rightful place as just another small part of our family’s story and of who Lina is. It feels good.

December 16, 2012 by Jolene

Win, lose or draw on the home front

I’m not going to lie. The last couple weeks have kicked our butts. No special reason, really. Just a lot of very tired and not keeping up. I planned to share photographic proof of our perpetual laundry situation, but now I can’t find the photo. It’s really more of a laundry war, and I can tell you who’s NOT winning.

In any case, the crickets here in the blog world assuredly do not indicate a lack of happenings in the real-world Sharp household.

First of all, we were able to take a last-minute cancellation opening at the Vanderbilt Downs Clinic a little over a week ago. It was no easy thing to drop Corin off at a friend’s house and get ourselves to downtown Nashville, navigate Vandy’s parking and get in to the office by 8 a.m. (okay, we were 20 minutes late), but the appointment was worthwhile. We met with a series of people who specialize in Down syndrome, starting with the doctor and then moving on to various therapists. It was especially helpful to meet with the speech/feeding therapist, who had some helpful suggestions on a new feeding position and a few other tips for the area that is definitely still our major challenge with Lina. The physical and occupational therapists also had some suggestions on activities and play positions we could use to help encourage small and gross motors skills and muscle development. Everyone we dealt with was very friendly and professional and so good with Lina. We’ll be going back at six months for another visit. At some point, they will likely make specific recommendations for ongoing therapy, which will then be incorporated into Lina’s early intervention plan.

Lina turned three months old last week, which I will outline in a separate post. And yesterday, she made her acting debut as Baby Jesus in both performances of our church’s Christmas play. She was perfect, and I admit, I teared up several times.

Otherwise, we’ve been very busy with Christmas preparations and the general minutia of life with small children. Lina is on day eight of a frustrating bout with a stomach bug (I’ll spare you the details that have resulted in a terribly sore little bottom), in addition to a stuffy nose she caught from brother, who is on his second cold of recent weeks. ‘Tis the season. We will be leaving soon for a lovely week celebrating the holiday with Jon’s family in Georgia. Added bonus: lots of people on hand who love to feed and entertain our children! In the meantime, I am looking forward to wrapping packages and baking cookies for delivery to the neighbors – two of my favorite Christmastime activities.

And now there is a hungry baby to feed and a napless toddler to help wrangle…

December 2, 2012 by Jolene

Shades of gray (thankfully less than 50)

This afternoon, my mother-in-law found (and promptly pulled, at my request) two white hairs on my head. Not “maybe they are just really blonde” hairs. White-as-the-driven-snow hairs. WIRY, white hairs.

Apparently, a second child was all that was required to begin the graying process. My friend tells me it’s time to start dying, pronto. I hope to remain at a pluckable number for a while yet. If not, I suppose I will have to cave and break out the dye. Or see a professional, as the recent debacle with Corin’s haircut has taught me may be the wiser route.

But still… So worth it!

I DARE anyone to tell me this baby is anything less than perfect.

November 30, 2012 by Jolene

Let the festivities begin

Even with my MIL here as back-up while husband was out of town, it took all week to get our Christmas decorations up. They are scaled back some this year, but they are up, and it makes me happy. It also makes my children happy, which is even better.

To be clear, the nativity set only stayed like this for a few minutes before the pieces were strewn about the house.

Photo credit goes to MIL, who got this sleepy early-morning moment on camera.

I can’t get enough of that soft Christmas light glow in the evenings (which begin very early this time of year here on the edge of the Central time zone). I notice stores are carrying more LED Christmas lights every year, but I can’t do it. The glow just doesn’t seem to have that same warm quality that to me is more than half the point of Christmas lights. I know it’s not very green of me. (My Christmas cards this year are made from recycled paper. Does that make up for it? No?)

This Wednesday, we took a fun outing to see the Christmas decorations at the Opryland Hotel here in Nashville, and then we took Corin across the street to the mall to ride the little train they have there. The Opryland is quite the local attraction, for those who haven’t been there, especially at Christmastime. I was not sorry to miss the crowds that throng as it gets closer to Christmas.

Katie (SIL), MIL (also known as Mimi), Lina and Corin on a little boat ride around one area of the hotel

Someone is learning quickly how to take full advantage of his Mimi’s willingness to fulfill his desires. See the car and the cookie. (And forgive the atrocious haircut. Mommy has decided henceforth to hang up her very dull shears in favor of the professional’s touch. Yikes.)

Today, we had our third visit with Lina’s early intervention teacher, Holly. We love Holly! She is pretty and kind and so encouraging and helpful. She brings a mother’s perspective, as she has FOUR of her own kiddos. She also has her own personal experience with special needs. We are continuing to work on improving feedings, and Holly has shown us some massage techniques and tricks and positions for encouraging muscle development. I think these visits really are going to become highlights of our weeks.

November 23, 2012 by Jolene

Grateful begins and ends here

It’s my favorite time of year. I wanted to get the Christmas tree up today, but this two kids thing means somehow I never get very far into my to-do list. Soon, twinkle lights and garland, soon we shall meet again.

We spent Thanksgiving here in town with my parents and my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and grandmother. My dad’s 60th birthday is also this weekend (sorry, dad, hope you weren’t wanting to keep that under wraps!), so we celebrated that, too.

I could make a long list of things I am thankful for. I could wax eloquent on all the reasons I am so very grateful. There are many. Instead, I’m just going to share pictures of the ultimate reason I am thankful: FAMILY. My grateful truly begins and ends here.

Corin and cousin Benjamin had a blast together.

Monster truck races on Grandma and Grandpa’s back deck

75% was the best we could do for everyone looking reasonable.

My babies

Why yes, that entire stick of butter DID go in the mashed potatoes.

Our first year with a kids’ table

Pretty good lungs for an old man

November 14, 2012 by Jolene

That sweet face – 2 months

Eline at two months

Awake more during the day, sometimes only dozing between feedings but generally napping at least an hour before the next bottle
Nighttime sleep varies quite a bit, anywhere from 4 – 7 hours
Continues to make more eye contact and notice more of her surroundings
Has given just a few precious, full-on smiles but mostly gives her bright-eyed almost-smiles
Generally a good-natured baby who only fusses when she needs something (diaper change, sleep, food)
Holds her head and sometimes chest up off the floor for 10-15 seconds and lifts her head and torso off mama’s shoulder for short amounts of time
Still loves to be held and cuddled, but also loves the swing, which has made mama’s life much easier (Thank you, Jessica, for the loan!)
Takes 4 1/2 to 5 oz. of breast milk or half breast milk/half formula six (occasionally seven) times a day, but sometimes goes very slowly (anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes per feeding) and continues to leak quite a bit at every feeding
Is terribly GASSY!
Has outgrown many of her newborn size clothes and is beginning to wear her 3 month sizes
At her pediatrician appointment today, weighed 9 lb. 4 oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long – small (10th percentile) but right on track for her growth curve

You are my sunshine

Already, I can’t imagine life without her.

November 12, 2012 by Jolene

Driven to the bottle(s)

After a series of stressful and frustrating experimentations, it appears we have finally found a bottle that works for Lina. To be clear, she still leaks milk out of her mouth as she drinks – a LOT of milk. It’s something we’ll be talking about with the early intervention teacher at our first therapy appointment this week. (It is thoroughly depressing to see her burp cloths soaked in my hard-won breast milk. Not to mention the laundry!) But we at least have her off the disposable nipples they sent home from the NICU, and she is able to latch appropriately onto the bottle and get enough to sustain steady weight gain. She is now just over 9 lb.

So, in case it’s helpful to anyone facing similar issues, here are the bottles we tried:

Disposable Similac regular flow nipples from the NICU (which we washed and reused for a good 5 or 6 weeks), paired with the Medela pump milk collection bottles – These latex-type nipples worked great for the first several weeks, but as she got bigger and stronger, the flow was much too slow. Feedings were taking an hour, and she was getting frustrated and tired trying to get the milk out of the one tiny hole. These nipples are not made in any other flow level. We tried poking larger holes in them with a heated needle but could not seem to get the size right and worried a bit about continuing to use what were supposed to be disposable nipples.
Dr. Brown’s glass bottles with newborn flow nipples – The shape is the same as the Similac nipples, but these are silicone rather than latex. She has refused these and any other silicone nipples. The texture seems to really throw her off.
Avent bottles (which Corin used) – Silicone nipples again, and a less familiar shape. Soundly rejected.
Playtex Nurser with Drop-Ins – This system can be used with either silicone or latex nipples. We tried both the slow and fast flow latex options. She did better with them than any of the silicone nipples, but these were extremely soft and a different shape than what she was used to, and she did not seem to latch onto them effectively. She had some okay feedings but was inconsistent and would have some really terrible ones, as well. We gave up on these after a few days.
Gerber First Essentials bottles and latex three-hole nipples – FINALLY, the solution. They are identical in shape to the disposable Similac nipples, so she latched great and took to them right away. The flow is some faster but not too fast, and feedings are down to an average of about 30 -35 minutes. Bonus: They are cheap! Three 5 oz. bottles were about $5 or $6 at Wal-Mart, and a pack of six latex nipples was maybe $3. Also, these are a standard size, so the nipples also fit on the Medela milk collection bottles and a couple of random glass Evenflo bottles we had on hand. Only downside: They do not seem to make the latex nipples in a fast flow, so I’m not sure what we’ll do if/when she outgrows the medium flow.

It was a difficult process, but thankfully we have something that seems to be working, and she is gaining weight steadily. We give her about 4 1/2 to 5 oz. six (occasionally seven) times a day. She is sleeping 5-7 hours at night. We have a pediatrician appointment on Wednesday, so hopefully he’ll be happy with her weight gain.

A Dash of the Unexpected

a story unfolding