Good news and bad news

The good news is that Elizabug is acting like a typical 11 month old. The bad news is she's acting like a typical 11 month old. :) At each of E's visits to the pediatrician, we are given a list of activities that she should be doing for her age. At her nine month check-up, we were warned that she may "enjoy banging, waving and throwing toys; resist doing what she does not want to do; and cry when a parent leaves the room." E is doing all these things and more!!!! One of her favorite tricks is to throw a toy off her highchair tray, let you pick it up and then throw it down again. She thinks it's hilarious. It's actually really good therapeutically because she is able to intentionally drop something, which is what we've been working on a lot in pt. She also screams like crazy when you leave the room. Again, it's great because it shows her cognitive development. On the down side, she isn't afraid to express her displeasure when she's not happy about something. But we will gladly take it!!!!

In other good news, she is doing well in the weight gaining department. She is up to 17 pounds and 4 ounces. She's still only in the fifth percentile, but she is finally off of the high calorie formula. She also moved to a big-girl car seat. It still faces backward (and probably will for at least three more months), but at least she finally outgrew the infant seat. She is also able to sit in the top of the cart at the grocery store - this is HUGE for her as she's finally able to support herself in the sitting position (with minimal assistance)!!! On the downside, she is having trouble eating solid foods. Every time she has anything that isn't completely pureed baby food, she gags and later vomits. Not fun for mommy! At first the nutritionist thought it might be an intolerance to gluten, but we've tried a couple of home made baby food that didn't contain any gluten, and it was just too thick for her gag reflex and little tummy (probably a side effect of her Chiari II malformation). Poor girl! Please say some prayers that we get this worked out and that she doesn't have to resort to eating baby food for the rest of her life.

We still have some occasional sleepless nights (especially if she has eaten something that doesn't sit well with her tummy), but she sleeps through the night at least four nights a week. Hooray!!!

She has an appointment at the Spina Bifida clinic on July 27, her first birthday. We will meet with the urologist at that time. I'm extremely anxious about this appointment as we will likely have a serious discussion about catheterization. I have come to grips with the fact that this may be in Elizabeth's future and that it's not the end of the world. If it is in her best interest to cath her, then we will just have to deal with it. Although any prayers about this would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!!

I can't believe that E Bug is about to be one! Jeff commented the other day that if the doctors could have predicted how well she would do before she was born, it would have saved us a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights. We remain grateful for her outcomes thus far and cautiously optimistic for her future. She is such a blessing!