Pictures and Pulmonologists

Avery went to her first Halloween party this past weekend. She was the cutest little lady bug.  I didn't buy the costume because I was trying to match the theme of her birthday party, I bought it because I found it at Value World for $3 and it was the correct size. I ended up trying to dress up like Avery by buying a crazy, orange curly wig. I was very scary looking compared to her..lol.

We went to the Pulmonary (lung) doctor. Avery has been coughing for over a month now. She was wheezing a few weeks ago and was wheezing a few months ago. We want to make sure nothing is wrong with her before her upcoming surgery.  The doctor examined her and thinks she could be coughing from either A) asthma or B)aspirations (where she drinks and milk goes into her lungs, irritates them and then she coughs). She wants Avery to have a swallow study done a few weeks after her surgery. She had one when she was in the nicu and it was normal. They want her to have it to see where the formula goes when she swallows it. She also wants us to start a new medication called Pulmicort which is used to treat asthma. We are to give her one breathing treatment a day. She is then going to follow up in 2 months with Dr Cardenas to see if it seemed to help. If it does help, Avery might have to be on this medicine for the rest of her life. It's possible she can grow out of asthma because her lungs are still developing and growing. Luckily, Avery doesn't seem to mind the treatments, it's just another thing that Tim and I have to do. The thing that makes me nervous about pulmicort is that we were told it could affect her growth and we all know she is already at a disadvantage in the growth department.  The pulmicort was $50 after it went through my Cleveland Clinic insurance so I have to see if I could get that covered by BCMH.

Help Me Grow came out on Wednesday. They said she is doing really well and have seen much improvement since they were here two weeks ago. She can now flip and be on her hands and knees and rock back and forth. She scoots forward a little bit by moving one arm and one leg and somehow pulling herself forward. She is not great at it yet but if there is something she wants across the room, she will find a way to get there.

She likes to try everything we are eating now. I don't think she is going to be picky like me. She seems to like everything. In addition to baby food she has had little bites of yogurt, mint chocolate chip ice cream, broccoli cheese soup and some mashed potatoes.

She had picture day today at daycare. Thankfully Tim dressed in clothes today and didn't keep her in her jammies when he dropped her off. I got insider information from George, Avery's uncle who works at the daycare, that Avery did not smile for the first two pictures and was crying for the next two. Oh well, maybe we will order one just so we can embarrass her later on in life when she brings a boy home to meet us.

Kaitlin made this drawing of me. I love the curly hair!

Daddy and I went to the store on Sweetest Day and surprised Mommy with some flowers. 

I am probably the cutest lady bug you have ever seen. Go ahead, admit it. I am

Here is a picture with my hood on for the full effect.

Mommy decided to try to dress up like me for Halloween. (Daddy always comes up with something original..he was a cloud)

Check out my thighs! I now always flip over when Daddy or Mommy try to change my diaper. It's a fun game trying to get them to change me.

Hey, who turned out the lights?

We decided to dress up like princesses one day

I was trying to climb on the chair while waiting at my doctor's appointment.

I am taking my new medicine. I am such a good girl and don't try to fight Mommy and Daddy when they give it to me.

How Preemie Moms are Chosen

For those of you that know me, you know I am not very religious but I do enjoy this explanation of How Preemie Moms are Chosen. (I posted this a few days ago on Facebook so for those of you that read it there already, sorry I posted it again)

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen 
by Erma Bombeck

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
 
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
 
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. 
 Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.
Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
 
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie." 

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
 
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."
 
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
 
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.  Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
 
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
 
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has just the right amount of selfishness."
 
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
 
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-- ignorance, cruelty, prejudice-- and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side." 

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.
 
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

Do you see these guns? I have been working out

I took a bite of apple the other day and left two teeth marks!

I figured out that when I push the button on the elephant that it makes a lot of noise..and then Mommy and Daddy can't hear the TV. It's quite funny.

Uncle Jimmy is moving to Florida for a year. I am going to miss him. Hopefully, we can visit in the spring.

 Having fun with Chewie and Scarlett

Future Bobcat?? I heard from Mommy that OU is a lot of fun!

Close up!

Chilling in the baby recliner at the furniture store

Hanging out with Aunt Cheryl and my cousin, Michael

It was cold the other day and this is how Daddy dressed me for daycare

I am soooo close to crawling. I can get on my two hands and one knee but my other leg always gets stuck. I told Mommy that I will be crawling by her next blog update.

Mommy and I

New Foods

Avery has been pretty busy in the few weeks since I posted last. She has been doing pretty well with solid food now. She gets excited when she sees it and starts flapping her arms. She likes to try anything; she obviously doesn't take after me. Her favorite this week was probably clam chowder that she had yesterday. She saw the eye doctor (Dr. Marcotty at Strongsville) and was told her eyes look great so we were excited about that, though she wasn't very excited to get her eyes dilated yet again. We are to follow up in a year.

We saw the cleft palate doctor (Dr. Doumit) yesterday and he said she is set to have surgery on November 27. He said she will spend the night in the hospital and then come home and need to be in arm restraints for 3 weeks! 3 weeks! She is not going to be happy at all. The reason she has to wear the arm restraints is so she doesn't stick anything in her mouth and ruin the stitches. If that happens, they will have to redo the surgery and we don't want that to happen. I am very thankful she is having this done when she is young so she doesn't remember the pain. I don't think the recovery is going to be very fun.

Her tooth is definitely starting to come in more now. The picture below is from about a week ago and I haven't been able to get another picture of it.

I am sad because Lily kept trying to bite my feet! Finally Mommy kicked her out from under there though not before taking a picture.

It was cold for a few dates here so this is how cute I was before going to daycare one day

These are my favorite snacks right now. I found out about them from my friend, Layla.

Sucking my thumb

Getting bundled up for a walk

I'm ready for a walk!

My buddy and I!

I had fun knocking down the tower Daddy made

Helping Mommy with her grocery list

Celebrating Grandpa B's birthday!

My teeth are starting to come in and it hurts!

Mommy bought me an amber teething necklace which is supposed to help with teething pain. I don't know if it helps or not but at least I look cute wearing it

Hanging out with Grandpa S.

Look at my name on my daycare room door.

I finally got to meet my Great Uncle Gary from Wisconsin! He is a lot of fun. I hope to visit him possibly next summer and swim in his pool!