New Spit Up Record

Hailey set a new record this afternoon for spitting up. She spit up three times over the course of thirty seconds. Each one of those by itself would have been equal to the old record. She could not have been more upright at the time as I was holding her on my chest so I don't think this one could have been prevented. We both needed all new clothes after that. Of course this happened when Christine was out so I was on my own for the cleanup.

Crying In The Night

This morning Hailey woke us up screaming at 3:30am. While that made for a short night of sleep it served as a reminder of our good luck. Almost every night, she sleeps until at least 5am, often longer.

My parents reported that Hailey was awake most of the day so hopefully she will be back on track to sleep through the night.

Batting

Tonight Hailey started to bat objects with her hand. I was holding her Elmo rattle above her that has some rings that can spin freely. I started running those rings over her hands and within a few minutes I was holding the rattle still and she was making the rings spin by batting at it with her hand. She was really into it, keeping them going for several minutes.

Then I held her up just to look at the toys that hang over her play mat. In the past it has been hard to get her to even notice them. This time she started batting at the plastic kitten, smiling big when she got it to move. She even grasped and held the kitten a time or two. I'm not sure if that was on purpose or if she was trying to bat it and it got "stuck" in her hand.

Early Childhood Session #5

Hailey's occupational therapy sessions will continue on a weekly basis for now. Last week the idea of dropping the frequency had been discussed but the individual in charge of the program for the school district thinks that, even though Hailey is doing quite well right now, the weekly visits are still a good idea.

Hailey is starting to favor looking to her left again so we will need to keep being vigilant in getting her to look straight ahead.

We've had some success in the last week at getting her to follow objects back and forth and up and down. Today however she did not seem too interested in following anything during OT.

Hailey is smiling a lot more over the last week and she did smile during OT as well.

Flying

Christine continues to feel better and Hailey seems just fine.

Hailey is showing much more interest in being in motion. She enjoys being held as we walk around the house. She especially seems to like being carried in the laundry basket on top of warm clothes from the dryer. She also likes being lifted up in the air "flying" like SuperHailey.

Six Months Old

Today Hailey turned six months old. Thankfully Christine is feeling better than yesterday and Hailey does not seem to have caught anything. We were both able to be home with her today to celebrate this milestone.

Hailey held and hung onto her rattle for the first time this afternoon. I've tried putting it in her grasp before but usually after one shake she would lose her grip. Several times she shook it around for over a minute before losing her grip and/or interest.

I spent some time this weekend looking at the pictures and reading some of the blog entries from the past six months. There were some scary moments. Some captured well, others lacking in their descriptions, some purposely never written about. It really is a miracle that Hailey made it to today.

Christine also spent some time reflecting and wrote this poem for Hailey:


Happy ½ Birthday

It has been six months since the day you were born

Since that very well remembered Saturday morn

A twenty-five weeker, both you and your twin

It was hard to be happy, to smile and grin

Your life in the womb wasn’t finished just yet

Not knowing if you would make it, and we had only just met

You were a fighter, we clearly could see

But your brother’s life on earth just wasn’t meant to be

God called him home to the streets of gold

Yet still we’re sad he’s not here to hold

We’ll see him again, just have faith and believe

Even though sometimes we still need to grieve

You are a twin and always will be

He’ll stay in your heart, forever you’ll see

Little baby girl, your eyes so blue

We love you very much, this is true

You are growing so big, you have come all this way

From that one pound baby on that hot July day

I wish you a happy ½ birthday, Hailey Renee

As I rock you to sleep in my arms as you lay

Posts from the 26th of each month:
December - Five Months
November - Four Months
October - Three Months
September - Two Months
August - One Month
July - Birthday

Christine Getting Sick?

Keeping Hailey isolated in our house is all well and good but Christine and I have to go out into the real world full of germs and viruses. So far we have managed to avoid getting sick but Christine seems to be on the verge of something with a bit of an earache, sore throat and sinus pain. We pray this will pass quickly and Hailey will avoid getting sick herself.

Cooing

Hailey had a quiet day and even gave us a chance to finish watching the season premiere of Lost. Hailey, or rather we, have been looking forward to this week's episode since before she was born.

People ask me if she has started cooing yet. My answer has always been no. The only noises she makes are "starting to cry" or crying. Today however she made a noise that was definitely not either one of those things so I think maybe she is starting to coo.

Because she had a breathing tube, Hailey did not make any sounds at all her first 47 days. Here is the entry from the first time we heard our daughter: September 11, 2008.

"mtn" Dew

Times are changing, so who has time to spell out "Mountain" when they want a "mtn" Dew. The can label is new and while it is still the same 12 ounce size it is starting to look a little smaller compared to Hailey.

Here are two earlier Hailey vs. Mountain Dew entries:

November 20, 2008

August 24, 2008

Choking Scare

Hailey gave Christine quite a scare this morning. She was almost finished with her first bottle of the day when she started gagging. Christine could see milk in her mouth that while not coming out, it was not going down either. She had seen this look of choking before, I luckily have not. Her eyes get really big and Christine says she has this look that says "Help Me, Help Me." Usually when Hailey has this look she spits up a few seconds later and everything is fine.

This time Hailey did not spit up. Christine kept patting her back but still nothing happened. Eventually she stuck a finger in Hailey's mouth to get the milk out. A second or two later Hailey finally made some sounds and was soon breathing normally.

Thankfully the rest of Hailey's day went smoothly.

Early Childhood Session #4

Hailey was visited today by the occupational therapist from the school district. She feels Hailey is doing really well. So much so that we might cut back on the number of visits. Currently the visits are weekly but that might change to every other week or even once a month. Details of any changes need to go back through the district so nothing is for sure yet.

Inauguration Day

Hailey got a chance to "watch" her first inauguration although she and Christine slept through parts of the ceremony. Sorry Mr. Vice President, they missed your swearing in. While I do not remember Ford's swearing in, the first of my life time, I do remember Carter's, watching it live on a 13" TV.

This evening I watched today's ceremonies delayed on TiVo. A few at my work watched it live on the internet. I can only imagine the viewing choices Hailey will have when she is my age.

Then again, since she'll be the one being sworn in, I guess how to watch the ceremony will be of little concern to her.

Slow Weight Gain

3,360 grams = 7 pounds 6 ounces

A nurse from Children's Home Care was at the house today to draw a blood sample and to weigh Hailey. Her weight gain continues to be slow and the nurse was somewhat concerned. Since her last pediatrician appointment we have been slowly increasing the volume of her bottles with a goal of 90ml per bottle by February 2nd. That goal seems attainable as Hailey is currently finishing 80ml bottles.

This afternoon Hailey was visited by her Grandpa Bruce who fed her for the first time.

Naps

Hailey and Christine got in some much needed naps today.