Some pictures (from Jan 29)

Had no time to upload all the photos from February.

Report from Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic

We got a report from the neonatal follow-up clinic that we went to on January 10. It was actually a copy of the report that was sent to Emilia's pediatrician. It said that Emilia is doing well in growth and overall health but she is below the 5th percentile on Alberta Infant Motor Scale for her gross motor skills. For her fine motor skills, she is said to score in the "at risk" range. In summary they said, as a 4-month-old baby, she is behind in her gross and fine motor skills likely due to limited exposure. <- This phrase is unclear to me. Exposure to what? Outside home? Peers? I wish they had mentioned this to me while I was at the follow-up clinic so that I could understand what I should be doing to help Emilia.

I think that being a little bit behind is okay, considering her conditions and what she went through. However receiving a formal report that puts her in the bottom 5% of the population and in the at-risk group is upsetting. I am grateful that she has not been sick or hospitalized sinch her discharge from the NICU but I hoped that she would also be at the same (or close to the same) developmental level as a full-term 4-month-old baby.

Frankly, I can't help feeling like I received a report card on how good a job I had done for Emilia. How she does is a reflection of my job as her mom, PT, and only playmate. That's probably why I feel guilty and defensive when people ask me how much tummy time she gets, whether she rolls, sits, and a dozen of other things that she is supposed to do. Every baby will delvelop at her/his own pace, I know, but this report is going to make me even more obsessed with Emilia's daily exercise regimen. I feel pressured to constantly challenge her to do all the things she's not yet doing. Why couldn't I just relax and enjoy the baby as she is?

Starting solid food

Now that Emilia weighs 7.36 kg (16.2 lb) and is 5 months old corrected, I decided to start her on solids. When we saw her pediatrician a week ago, he said it seemed like a good idea to start her on solids in the next two weeks or so. Being Korean, rice is the main staple for us and steamed rice is always available in our dear rice cooker. I just took a teaspoon of cooked rice and mixed it with 5 teaspoons of breastmilk and then put it in the blender to make puree. I think it might have been too soupy though. In any case, Emilia took several spoons of the rice-milk mixture. Some of it was dripping out of her mouth, but for the most part, I think she took it really well and actually liked it. I will try again tomorrow with less milk and see how she likes it. I can't wait to give her mashed banana... but that's gotta be in 3-4 days as they say introduce only one food at a time : (

Emilia gets an OK to be off low flow oxygen for good

We went to Sick Kids today for a follow up with the Respiratory Medicine team. The doctor told us that the overnight room air oximetry test showed a good result. Also Emilia is breathing fine and growing well, being very healthy overall. At long last, Emilia got an OK to be off low flow oxygen. The doctor said she didn't need to be on the low flow or the pulse oximeter monitor any more. 8 months afer her birth, she is finally allowed to be free from saturation monitoring and oxygen equipment. My husband and I were so excited, even though that was what we were expecting to hear at the appointment.

Today certainly was a big day for us... having been disappointed in the past when Emilia couldn't get off the low flow, while in the NICU, for such a miniscule amount of extra oxygen. I was so sad to bring her home on oxygen but luckily she managed to come off of it in 3 months since she came home. Way to go, Emilia!!