A Visit with my cousins and aunt

Amy, Jill, Jenny, Aunt Peggy, Charlie, and Catie met Brandon this weekend. They were in NJ for Laura's bridal shower on Sunday. Brandon seemed to really enjoy meeting his cousins and great aunt.

9 Months Old Actual/ 6 Months Old Adjusted

Brandon was 9 months old yesterday. As of Thursday he weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces and was 26 inches long. He can roll from his front to back and back to front. He can now sit for several minutes. I think he can probably sit longer but after sitting for a few minutes he sometimes decides he has sat long enough and wants to be in a different position. He laughs often and smiles all of the time. Overall he is a very happy baby. He has recently started going through mommy attachment. He eats two solid meals a day...barley and a stage 1 fruit or vegetable and drinks anywhere from 26-31 ounces of formula a day. He is still on neosure formula but when he finishes the bottles of formula that we already have we are going to try to switch him to regular similac and see if he likes it. We tried to switch him off of the neosure in December and he did not like the formula we switched him to. We had switched him to Carnation Good Start since one of the neonatologists recommended it. I guess he just didn't like the taste. He is wearing 6-9 month, 9 month, and 6-12 month clothes depending on the brand. It is amazing how far he has come so far. I look forward to seeing him continue to develop into the wonderful baby that he is.

Having fun in the jumperoo

Reading the Paper with Daddy

Playdate with Logan

We went to my friend Becky's house yesterday for a playdate with her baby, Logan. We put the babies next to eachother on the couch for some pictures and I also wanted to see how Brandon would react to Logan. He stared at him for awhile and then got a worried look on his face like when he was sitting next to Alexys at the NICU and then he started to cry a worried cry. I think it is maybe because he hasn't really been around any babies since he was stuck in our house the past 6 months because of RSV season. He will be allowed out everywhere starting in May. For now the neonatologist who we saw two days ago said as long as our friends are healthy we can bring him to their house.

Developmental Clinic

Brandon had an appointment today at the developmental clinic. He goes every 3-4 months and will continue to go until he is 2. This was his second visit. Dr. Hudome was the neonatologist there today. She kept saying over and over again how great Brandon looks. Brandon was also seen by the physical therapist there. He showed her how he can sit (now up to a few minutes if he wants to), roll from his tummy to back, roll from his back to his tummy, and how he can pick up small blocks. She showed me some exercises that I can do with him to help him start to army crawl since he has been trying to army crawl but is not moving anywhere and a few exercises that I can do to help him get his arm out from under his body when he rolls from his back to his tummy. He is meeting all goals for his adjusted age (the age that he should be). He weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces today.

We saw Alexys at the clinic today. Alexys was Brandon's neighbor when he was born for the first few weeks. Her isolette was next to his. Brandon wasn't too sure what to make of her. At first the two babies were staring at eachother when we sat them next to eachother for a picture and then Brandon started crying like he was scared.

After our appointment we went to the NICU to visit. Brandon passed out on my shoulder immediately after the appointment because it was a few hours past his usual nap time and he was exhausted. After a little while at the NICU he woke up. We saw some of the nurses that had him when he was in the NICU and we saw one of his primary nurses, Chris. We also saw the other neonatologists.

Last RSV shot for the season

Brandon had his last RSV shot for the season today at Dr. Sembrano's (pulminologist) office. He weighed 16 pounds, 1 ounce so he actually had to get two shots for RSV. Once babies are a certain weight they need 2 shots instead of 1 because the amount of the shot increases based on their weight. Needless to say Brandon was not at all happy. He screamed and then cried and cried for awhile. Unfortunately Brandon is still not allowed out in public. There were two babies this month that were hospitalized at our hospital with RSV so it is still out in our community. Dr. Sembrano said I have to wait until May 1st to take him out into public to stores, restaurants, friend's houses, etc. We have made it this long already so I can make it one more month. His health is more important than going to those places and I would rather spend another month with him in the house than a week or two at the hospital if he gets RSV. At least it is warmer out now and it is ok to bring Brandon outside so we will be going for many walks at the park near here. I have to call Dr. Sembrano's office in August and they will see if we qualify for shots for the next RSV season. Since Brandon was born so early there is a good chance that he will qualify again.