7 Months Old

I haven't been so good at keeping up with our blog. Between all the hours I work and taking care of the girls and the house and Steve's endless homework the blog sort gets placed on the back burner. On the bright side- it is also perhaps a good thing because it also means nothing bad is going on in our lives.

Rachel continues to amaze us. At her 6 months check up she was 12 lbs 11 oz and 24 inches long. She eats the #2 baby food along with her formula. She loves anything with bananas and sweet potatoes. She is up to eating 3 jars a day with 5-6 6oz bottles of formula in between. Her pediatrician is confident that at her 9 month check up we will be moving into the next size car seat due to Rachel's length. She seemed to have went from wearing newborn sized clothing to 3 month size for a month and now is needing the 6-9 month clothing because of her long legs. No idea where those things are sprouting from.

We are SHUNT FREE!!!!! Her next neuro check up is in April and they will not being doing another head ultrasound unless something clinically would show up. Her soft spot is still sunken in and she has had no signs or symptoms of hydrocephalus starting.

I need to have her AFO's adjusted due to her feet and legs growing. She does move both ankles and continues with the same toe movement. She has recently discovered her feet and likes to try to pull her socks off. So happy Rachel is that flexible! She rolls from her tummy onto her back and from her back onto her sides. It is just a matter of time before she rolls completely over from her back. When placed on her tummy she has started to do an army crawl with the right motivation (toy or bottle) placed slightly out of reach. Although her feet are still clubbed- she is able to tolerate being stood up on them. She is able to hold herself up on her arms and knees with minimal to no assistance. Sometime this spring Rachel will be having surgery to release the tendons in her ankles and feet to further correct the club foot.

We have only been to one Spina Bifida clinic day quite a while back. I am not sure how frequently we need to attend the clinic days.

At the end of February Children's Hospital used Rachel's story to give a presentation to their medical directors in efforts to be able to begin taking the steps to become another facility to perform fetal surgery for spina bifida. I am curious as to the outcomes of the presentation. I am happy they were able to share Rachel's story but at the same frustrated because they sent us to collections for medical bills United Healthcare still has not covered. To make a long story short United Healthcare SUCKS! I have met 2 other moms now that had the fetal surgery only a few weeks before me and were approved by United Healthcare and had their medical care paid for and yet we still sit in limbo because United Healthcare employs idiots who do not investigate a case file before stamping "out of network" on it and denying it. Ok-done venting now. Good thing I signed up for the group legal plan at my current employer as I am going to need it to fight United Healthcare. Hello Mr. Insurance Commissioner.

Rachel continues to be a big chatter box. She laughs and squeals and babbles on. She is girl that has a lot to say. At her 6 month check up her pediatrician said she was very bright and more alert than most 6 monthers who were not premature. She is constantly observing life around her and does not like to fall asleep and miss anything. Perhaps a future new anchor . . . . . .

Almost 5 months old

1-5-2012

At Rachel's 4 month check up she was up to 9 lbs 15 oz and 20.5 inches long. She was given the okay to start on a whole grain cereal twice a day. She is still trying to figure out the whole spoon thing. She reaches out and holds on to items that are within her reach. I think Breanne likes to check out her baby toys more than Rachel does and Breanne will be 12 this coming Sunday. Rachel already had her first toy casualty from Breanne cranking on it too hard- a cute pink giraffe from Carters that use to have a working music box in it. Rachel has established a good sleeping pattern- falling asleep between 7-8 pm and sleeping until 3:30-4 am. We are getting closer. She likes to watch the old lady dog. I do have to say we were really blessed with Dixie- she is 10.5 yrs old and has never bitten or done anything thing negative to the girls.

Rachel continues with her AFO's. We now have seen her move her ankles slightly and all 5 toes on her left foot- still only moves the big toe on her right foot. Continues to kick away.

Her hair growing in more but is still hard to tell what color it is- a cross between a light golden brown and a strawberry blonde. Her blue eyes are starting to get some green in them.

I wanted to add a personal thank you to the individual that sent us the loving card reminding us that God is with us and the gift card. The card could not have been more perfect with the picture of the shepherd with his arm around the sheep especially with the translation of Rachel's name. I carry the card with me in my purse and I pull it out during the tough moments of my day. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.