Physio

     Finally!
Kaelynn is discharged from physiotherapy for her torticollis. She's not so bad to need surgery and only tilts when she's tired/lazy. We're good to go.
     Plus, they were impressed with her vocabulary. They came into the room and said that she's having a birthday soon. Her response was "Two".

Doctor visit pals

     This morning we had another doctor's appointment with the physiotherapist. Nothing has changed.
      We have to go back to doing neckercise and wait to hear about getting a T.O.T collar. The only other option would be surgery, but the surgeon we saw said that it's not that bad anymore. So, we stretch and we wait.

     While we were at the Children's Outpatient, we ran into my best friend and her daughter. We hung out to be moral support while they were in their room. Kaelynn napped and I watched Thumbellina.

Physio Tuesday

     We woke up bright and early and made it to the physiotherapy appointment right on time. Normally, I like to arrive early but no one wants to sit in the Children's Outpatient Clinic longer than needed. I spend about 5 minutes trying to make their self check in work. 20 minutes later, we are in the room....when she wasn't trying to run away from the room.

     The doctors ask me if I've seen any improvement. I say it's about the same. However; they notice improvement because they see her once every 2 months. Some mom friends we ran into at the mall agree that she is straighter.

     I have forms to fill out for a charity to get her a TOT Collar, a doctors note and am now waiting on notice of assessments. They said that she would be a good candidate for the collar. She would only need it about 4-6 hours a day at home when awake (and more so when she is being still/lazy). There are 2 more options, leave it as is and hope as she grows it will figure itself out or small surgery to clip and loosen her muscle when she is older.

     We go back in 2 months.

Again with the physio

     After a night of Kaelynn waking every 30 mins, we had to wake up bright and early for physiotherapy.
    We were ready and had to leave to catch the 9:05am bus. We get out there at 8:50am and I had to run with her in her Ergo. We made it to the bus without slipping or dying.
    
     A resident of the doctor saw us first and asked questions. She was interested in how it was going and in how she was walking (which had nothing to do with her neck). The doctor came in and said that she has a good range of motion, it's just the tilt that needs to get strengthened still.        A social worker for the hospital came to talk to us about our options for getting the T.O.T collar for her (stuff happened not to long ago and daddy isn't working). She is supposed to call me tomorrow with what she can do for us.

More physio therapy

     This morning, we braved the cold to go to her physiotherapy appointment. I had hoped it would be her last, but we go back in 2 months.
     We discussed her past ultrasound and it was the same as the technician told us: the muscles are slowly thickening and straightening. Doctor Davidson just came back from a torticollis conference and they suggested a type of noxious stimulus.
     Introducing the TOT COLLAR. I've found little information on how effective it is, more information is on its design. I was given a prescription so I could call the company to get a cost quote and see if insurance covers it. The doctors know it's not for anyone. When I first saw the picture that she showed me when explaining it, I was meh. And after hearing that it's basically a baby shock collar, I am more unimpressed. I will discuss with her dad.
     Where I stand now, the answer is no. It was also noticed that when she stands she is straighter than when she sits. Baby on the go will constantly be on the go, if need be. And when sitting, we can promote straight head just by righting her, like we have been.
    

9 Month Check Ups

     Thursday was a busy day. Kaelynn had 2 doctors appointments. First stop, her 9 month check up.
   
     Her 9 month appointment went well. Everything is going up, and she's healthy.

    Weight: 16.7 lbs 

Height: 67cm

     Next stop was her ultra sound for her neck. The tech was telling us that she had never seen a baby return, until that day. For the one side of her neck, she was asleep. For the good side of her neck, she was awake and having none of it. The tech again, told us what she was seeing on her screen - after she went to talk to her doctor. There is nothing to be worried about, the muscles are slowly loosening and in the words of the doctor "it takes time".

7 months

     7 months have come and gone. It really is crazy how fast time flies.

      She still has no teeth, but is teething on anything she can get her mouth around. Hopefully, they break her gums soon.

     She is getting better at crawling, even if she is showing a disinterest in it and would rather try to pull herself up on things instead.
She is loving eating food. Pickles, pineapple, apples are amongst some of the solids she loves. She loves carrot, squash, and pea purees.

    There recently was a big temperature change here. I think she might be getting her first cold. Mama is here to make it better.

 
     Milestone wise, I don't think there has been much new. We're just playing, learning and exploring the world around us.

Personality in Pictures

6 month physio

     This morning was our physio check up. Everything is.coming along nicely. She is holding her head up straighter, but when she gets lazy or tired, the tilt comes back.We we're doing her stretching exercises morning & night, but was advised to do them throughout the day, still totalling about 10 stretches.

     A med student came into the room to do the initial check up and he got the best/worst stink eye face ever. He was poking her neck to feel her tightened muscles and little miss did not approve. He seemed impressed by how well she sits by herself.

     I am glad Daddy was able to come to this appointment and she doesn't need a helmet or collar.

6 month doctor visit

     Yesterday was Kaelynn's 6 month doctor visit. Jake had the day off, so he got to experience his fist immunization and everything else.

     She had fun destroying the paper and just being all out cute. She took her needle like a champ and was fine until she realized what happened. Then the AngryScreamies came out again until we all got home. Everything was fine at her appointment. Even according to her doctor she's had a substantial gain in weight. That makes me so happy.

6 months

Weight- 6.48 KG/14.3lbs (+2.5lbs)

Length- 63cm/24.8in (+1.2 in)

Head circ- 43cm/16.9in (+1 in)

 

4 months

Weight- 5.36 KG/11.8lbs

Length- 60cm/23.6in

Head circ - 40.5cm/15.9in

    

     We've tried some new foods this week. I made her some zucchini, but it just came out watery once removed from the freezer. She didn't like it, so I'm going to try making it over again. I also gave her some avacado. She put it in her mouth, spit it out and then cried. Lastnight, because she didn't like her veggies, I made her up a small bowl of barley cereal. She was just scraping it out of her mouth and was generally unpleased by it.  

6 months old

      Happy half birthday kiddo! Time feels like it has gone by so fast! You're getting bigger everyday and you're learning so much! I look at you and wonder "where did my little baby go?"
      You're able to blow raspberries, half attempting to crawl (sometimes), and always attempting to stand. You've got your moods and are now refusing to sleep in your crib, but I am taking all the baby snuggles I can get before you're "too old".

There are no signs of teeth yet, still a little tooth nub that is causing Kaelynn to eat her fists all the time. Even toothless, she is enjoying food. So far, peas, carrots and squash have gone over well. Next we have avacado and zucchini.

 

     Some favourite games are being a Baby Hat. Kaelynn is placed on top of someone's head and while bouncing, someone says babyhat over and over. Hands placed properly, once she's flipped upside down, it's a giggle fit. She's starting to use her Sophie like a teether and has been taking a soother more often. She's gotten into reading her own books and playing with flyers. She will turn the pages and help.

   On Monday, she has her 6 month shots, so her stats aren't too far behind this update. This is convient since on Saturday we are going to the zoo. I hope she enjoys it. (reminder: check Toronto weather).

 

     Today, we gave her a first taste of lemon. She loves garlic pickles, so I was unure about how she would react. Of course, I had to wait for Daddy to come home.





First road trip

     Yesterday was our first road trip as a family. A few friends were going to a water park in Quebec with their boys & had invited us along. It was interesting to say the least.

     We get picked up & hit the road. She slept most of the way there, after staring at the boys for a while. We have a pit stop to stretch & I feed her the travel bottle I packed. Back asleep she goes.

     We finally arrive & change into suits. There was a children's splash pool that we waded in for a while. Lots of feeding due to being in the sun/ watching Daddy and the boys run off for the bigger slides. At one point, a mother and her daughter approached me. With everything that's been going around about breast feeding in public, my mind automatically went to they were going to tell me off. Instead, they offered to let me borrow their beach chair, but I was more comfortable sitting on the deck. (What got me was all the little babies around, there was a lack of breast feeding going on). After a feed, Kaelynn just passed out - to the point that I just placed her in her big girl stroller all bundled up to keep warm/sun free.

     One of the dads was unable to go on any slides. He was okay with watching a sleeping baby while I went on some slides - I paid admission, I should have some fun.
     I went down with my brother's girlfriend on most slides. We went down Black Magic a few times - an enclosed slide. Than Jake, a friends son, Kaitlynn and I went down Tornado Alley. The whole time I was screaming "I NO LIKE". The funnel spun it so I was backwards, plus it was dark.

     Jake deserves some sort of medal for being a baby wrangler. He spent most of the day riding with the younger boys or at least following them to where they wanted to go. He made sure an over zealous 3 year old didn't drown in the wading pool.

     We stayed at the park roughly 5 hours. Going home was a whole other story. Grumpy baby. 5 year old in the back, yelling to the front (then complaining about the screaming baby). We had to stop and get something to eat and feed/change her. Once on the road again, nothing seemed better. I gave her crinkly things to play with, fingers to suck. Nope. In the end, I had to creative nurse her. Lesson learned: for our zoo trip in 2 weeks for my bday, bring my battery powered pump.

Pass The Peas, Please

     Kaelynn is 5.5 months old now. She seems to have a strong interest in our food, so this morning she got some Baby Bulleted peas and breast milk.

     She was unsure about them. She would open her mouth for the spoon, but once the food was in her mouth, she decided she didn't want it- I didn't force them upon her. We're going to try again later this afternoon. It could just be she wanted what we have when we have it. She LOVES licking food juice off our fingers.

     Throughout the day, I fed her more peas. Peas after I had lunch, peas after I had dinner. It got to the point where she was opening her mouth for them. I haveno real idea how much I should feed her, but the jar she polished off only had about 2 tbsp worth of peas in in. I figure all day she must have had 1-1.5 tbsp of peas.

      A video from her finishing off her peas for the night.Notice she grabs the spoon to shove it in her gob & keeps lookimg towards her pea pot?  I'm thinking she likes them.(I'm also hoping I don't sound as silly in person as I do in video).

Blurbs from the boyfriend:

"But it's SO watery"

"Think about what she eats on a daily basis.."

Third Physio Appointment

 

     This morning we had our third physio appointment. They were quite pleased with her progress. We can cut down on the stretches and work on strength. We have to hold her so she is leaning out and tilted. She has to right her muscles, basically neck-lifts. They loved that she is doing every thing on schedual and her Torticollis isn't holding her back any. The ladies also call her The Baby With All That Hair. Everyone always comments on her hair, so I picked up some styling cream from LUSH and played it up today - fauxhawk and a bow. With her stubborness to look right, they say she's developing quite a personality.

     Her next appointment is in 2 months, and they think if things keep progressing well, it could be her last. Fingers crossed. She just needs to stop cheating and using her whole body when aiming to go right.

 

     Afterwards. we went out for lunch and let Kaelynn play with the empty juice cup. Smart girl got the hang of cups and was trying to drink from it...all she managed to do was lick the inside. When she was playing with my still full cup, she wrapped her mouth around my straw. Good thing she doesn't know how straws actually work, I have a feeling DR. Pepper is bad for babies.

     At Walm-Mart, I got her those HUGE foam puzzle pieces and now we get to spray the cats when they go near it. I guess I was too slow grabbing the spray bottle (and Bandit needs her claws cut) because there are marks from when she walked across it. I figured this was better for her to play on because she's getting too big for her play mat and she scrunches up blankets. Even with vaccuming all the time, I feel like the carpet is too gross for her to play on directly.

     I have also figured out that we have a real animal lover. Aside from Bandit being the only kitty that goes near her, she seems to have a real gentleness. On Saturday, I took her to the PetStore. A woman was holding a baby chi and she really wanted to pet the puppy. She was allowed and was gentle..until she grabbed it's skin, but he didn't seem to mind. She also wanted to pet the bunnies and was so confused by the glass inbetween them.

Passed out, nomming on her unicorn

Getting so big

     I have managed to keep my baby alive for approximately 4.5 months. She is the best thing to every happen to me. She is growing so fast. Every day I see changes. She gets more interested in her toys, excited over books and blankets, dances and makes noises at our kitties. Her little personality is getting bigger too. She isn't much of a talker out in public, but at home the noises she makes are to die for- squeaks, coos, laughs, grunts, squeals (and meltdown noises).

     Her torticollis is improving (I think so anyway). She is looking to the right more often, more so when tricked by the TV. She still has her head tilt, but that is to be expected. It's not slowing her down in the sitting department as I had feared it would. She can now sit for 20-40 seconds at a time in Tripod position.
     Next week, we go back for her monthly Physio appointment. I hope they have good things to say. It's quite hard to determine exactly how things are progressing when I didn't go to school for babynecks/I see her daily.

 

     She still nurses like a newborn most days, but thankfully at night it's not as long. Going to bed is still hit/miss, but when she's awake later now it's because she's happy and excited (and not down with a case of the Angries and Screamies). Naps during the day are rare, they usually happen after nursing, after swimming, or when we're out walking and her top is closed. 

  

     I have now come to the realization that she thinks everything is for her. I have to drink all my drinks from cups with lids/straws or hold my neck all the way out so she won't grab at them. Same goes with my food. She will watch and start to get all upset and fussy. I am currently typing while she's sitting in my lap and she keeps grabbing at my fingers - like a cat.

 

 

     As a family, we've come along way & have much farther to go. It's still quite amazing how 2 tiny, naked to the human eye things can form a cluster of cells that grow into a beautiful baby.



4 month doctors visit

 

     Yesterday was Kaelynn's 4 month check up/shots. In 2 months, I think she has gained a lot.

At 2 months she was 8.95lbs (4.06kg)/21.5in (54.5cm) and yesterday she was 11.81lbs (5.36kg)/23in(60cm). She took her oral medicine no problem and was a happy go lucky baby this time around. No banshee screams until her needles, which she took like a champ.

     She has diaper rash, but it's clearing up and the doctor said that it's not as bad as it could be (I know this because I Google Imaged it). We also think that she could have seasonal allergies like her daddy. She claws at her face on high pollen days, so we were told to give her saline tear drops (the red eye drops are the vaso-constrictors) - easier said than done.

     By the time her appointment was over, she was not impressed. I hit her up with a shot of Camilla to try to help. We had other places to go.



      After making a quick stop to Canadian Tire to pick up English instructions for our Baby Bullet (they were just going to photocopy the whole book, thankfully the guy just  gave it to me or I would have flipped), we went to Montana's for a day late Father's day with my dad. From there it was picture time!
     We went to get her Milestone's picture done at Sears. The lovely Tiffany provided Kaelynn with a new outfit for her pictures. Above are some of the outtakes I took a picture of. She only had one mini melt down. The picture I chose is most adorable, I can't wait to get it in a few weeks.

     This past Sunday was Jake's first Father's day. He got the whole day to do what he wanted -play Xbox and play with baby. I made him French toast dumplings for breakfast and then we had lasagna for dinner. After dinner, we took a walk downtown for some sort of dessert. We chose to go to McCafe for their new frappe drinks. The Vanilla Chai one is amazing.

      Today I have an angry girl. Grunting, crying when put down, fingers jammed in her mouth. The only thing to stop her is boobs, but she can't be latched on all day Feeling her head, she feels kind of warm, probably from her shots - cool bath time & snuggles- then Mama needs to clean, laundry, get the diaper bag ready for swim tomorrow.

4 Months old

     Today is Kaelynn's 4 month birthday. It seems crazy that time has gone SO fast.

     She is now 25 inches long, thats a 6 inch growth from birth. I have been using my house scale to weigh her & I estimate that she is about 12 lbs, we have a doctors appointment on Monday so we will get an accurate weight. She's got a big ol' milk belly.

     She is a little personality. She loves to stick out her tounge, smile and giggle. She has only full out belly laughed a few times. She is a rolling machine, until she gets frustrated and angry. Tummy time has become much smoother now. I trick her with Mirror Baby. She loves looking at herself.
     She's just started to become interested in her books and toys. I have a feeling she is going to be a lefty - she grabs everything with her left. When the books come out, she gets so excited- she wiggles her arms and squeeks.
     She has basically adopted Bandit, or is it the other way around. Whenever possible, Bandit likes to jump on my lap and be around us. Her feeling neglected has turned out well, because she's become used to Kaelynn. She's the kitty that comes the closest. The other day, Bandit was crossing my lap and Kaelynn reached out and huggrabbed her tail. Yesterday,she was sitting on Jake's lap and Kaelynn was petting her/pulling fur. Even when Bandit got punched in the face, she took it.
   
    Wednesday, Daddy and I took her to the Y to go swimming. We showed up early for the Parents  Tots because I can't read the internet. We swam with the bigger kids and than swam with the babies. We spent about an hour in the water before she started to get fussy. She was out like a light afterwards.

     She's not sitting up, but she loves to attempt to stand. She can sometimes sit for about a second, but then falls or gets distracted. I am thinking her Torticollis head tilt isn't helping any either.We're working to improve it. The exercising seems to be helping.

Miss Rollie's Update

Picture from our Picnic

 

     Lastnight was hard. Kaelynn went to bed, but it wasn't easy. In the end, we slept on the couch again. From 8:30pm, she was up every hour. Around 11, I decided to give up on putting her to bed and got cozy on CouchTopia. She quieted right down and went to sleep. Until, she was sleeping and let out the creepiest cry/scream I have ever heard from her. She sounded like a cat being stepped on. Thankfully, she only did it once, but it freaked me out.

 

     Thursday, she had her second physio appointment. Things are looking good. She is still tight when it comes to turning her neck, but she is doing it more often. We learned a new hold for her neckercise. I hold her and pin her shoulders with my elbow, I have to try to convince her to look right and than finish the rotation of her neck. For her left side, same hold. I tilt her and make her ear go to her shoulder. For the baby's righting movements, her left side tries to right to the center when tilted, but when it's her left, she just dangles. Work those baby muscles!

 

     Speaking of working her muscles; yesterday while Daddy was at the dentist, Kaelynn decided she wanted to roll over again. This time, I was able to take pictures because the electronics were cooperating.

    

 

    

A rolling good time

      At 3 months and 1 day, Kaelynn rolled over from tummy to back. I admit it. I cried. It was a total shock. I placed her down on her Baby Einstein mat and looked away for one second, literally, to get a drink. I look over and she's on her side, squirming. I left her turtling for about 5-10 minutes, cheering her on. Her left arm was stuck under her for the majority of the time, but it was worth it. She rolled over and was a grumpy, accomplished baby. I had happy tears!

 

 

     I am sure neckercise is helping, even if she dislikes it. Thankfully, she is only screaming half the time now. I took picture proof that she can look to the right with her whole head, instead of cheating like she usually does. She has become a pro at using just her eyes or wiggling her body to look at something right.

     She has been showing more interest in her toys now. I am making sure she has a different one to hold and touch, so she can get her tactile senses up and running. Yesterday, a friend and I took Kaelynn out to Lemoine's point for a picnic. She got more sights and sounds into her, and even laid in a bed of dandelions (a dumb thing to do as I had to OxyClean her clothing).

 

     She's been sleeping good lately. Her bedtime schedule is (bath sometimes), bed time diaper, lotion, neckercise, feeding, sleeping on me until she's really out, place her in her bassinet with her mobile and night light, and walk away. She's in bed between 8-930pm every night and usually sleeps until 1 or 2 am. From there, we go to the couch to feed her because it's more comfortable for me...but then I usually fall asleep with her in my arms.

     Kaelynn is all cozy in her bouncy chair with hiccups, sucking on her hands. I am going to take this opportunity to take the clear polish off my newly cut claws, and work on my cuticles. We have to get her ready to go out and pick up her Birth Tree. Huzzah! She's getting a lemon tree! <3
     I was looking online lastnight for a family ring and dear lord, those things are pricy. My current ring was $80 incl taxes. The rings I saw were about $180...*shock face*

Ultrasounds

 

     Today Kaelynn had the ultrasound of her throat & hips. A 9:30am appointment- early for us.

     We get there and I am thankful that the tech had a student for 2 reasons. 1, she explained everything she was doing and everything on screen. 2, there were extra hands to hold Kaelynn's leg how it had to be, while I tried to keep her calm.

     All in all, it was a good appointment and everything was good. She was called "the perfect patient" at the end of it. Her hips were at 70% angles, and anything over 60% is good. Her sternocleoidmastoid on the left side of her neck was perfectly straight, the right side was just a jumbled mess -but we're stretching it multiple times daily.

     The tech was a 40+ year old woman & she was really impressed with the cloth diapers, we had a discussion. When she had babies, she cloth diapered. Only at that age, hers were velcro and she put plastic covers over them- mine were pocket snappies. She liked the plain blue one she had on, but was even more excited when she saw the polka dot AMP diaper I brought out to change her into & the spare cow print AMP in my bag. I am sure the student tech was wondering why we were so excited.

 

     Afterwards, we went to Neil's Flowers in Sydenham on the hunt for a citrus tree for my baby. I am seriously into having a birth tree for her. They called the distributor & couldn't get orange trees, so I will be getting a mini lemon or lime tree. He told me the price and it seemed reasonable - under $100 by far.

 

     McDonald's was for lunch. It's McHappy day. We even brought Jake a Big Mac, half my fries & an iced coffee. It's not healthy, but the money goes to a good cause (we stayed at RMH when CHEO fixed my lil bro's lazy eye when he was a baby).

 

     Baby is nursing & im going to attempt to paint my toes when she's milk drunk. Mother's Day is this Sunday. It will be my first, so then I will post my handmade presents. Kae and I have plans to go to the market at the Memorial Centre since it's the opening day of the season. YAY!!

 

*****

     Off topic of the ultrasound, yesterday we went to the mall to have her 3 month pictures taken by a friend that works at Sears. We took the bus as I don't drive, so it's nothing new for us to be on the bus.

The A/C was up high and the driver was driving crazy. I always stand so people who need to can sit at the foot of the stroller (I brought the stroller because I was going to pick up 8L of chocolate milk for $8 on the way home), I had to hang on for dear life going around corners.
    Kae and another young baby, 6 months or younger, started to cry about half way to the mall. Both of us mothers were trying to calm our kids, because we know a crying baby isn't all that pleasant for anyone. The driver,not so politely, basically told us to "quiet the babies".

     The one mother took her kid out of his stroller, which to me seemed unsafe. I stuck my finger in Kae's mouth.

     Once I got to the mall, I called in a complaint. It's not like she's 6 and understands what "quiet" means or is older and swearing up a storm...they are BABIES.