Nine Months (Then and Now)

I Am Exhausted!

Just a quick update from me. I had therapy today and I got a great report. My left side is getting stronger, I love to sit up with Mommy's help, and I am starting to respond to my name. I am doing so well I don't even have extra exercises to work on! I am so proud of myself!

Tomorrow, I have my NICU Graduate follow up visit. I can't wait to see all of my friends.

Well I am tired and I need to get back to my nap.

Weight Check, Please!

Mommy and Daddy just had to know how much I weighed after my last appointment three weeks ago.

I am proud to say I am 12lb and 8oz. Mommy, Daddy and I don't know how I do it, but I am gaining weight.

Who knows what other tricks I have up my sleeve.

Corrected Age: Five Months

Hello followers of Zoe,

We are nearing the end of the summer, so hard to believe it has gone quickly, and already looking at what we have in the coming months as autumn and all its activities approach.

Phil has been in school the past three weeks, summer quarter at the seminary, and as seen in the previous posts, Zoe has had some appointments some great and some that were inconclusive.

We had our monthly check up with the physical therapist. Zoe is demonstrating some strong five month skills, like the airplane and wanting to sit up on her own. Areas where she needs some more work, keeping her shoulders forward and opening her hands while sitting. So armed with new exercises we will work on these this month.

Zoe is still working on eating, though we have gotten past the screaming and refusing to eat phase, she still doesn't eat the amount the doctors would like her too. She also still maintains the mega spit up skill. We also give Zoe cereal two times a day, she is still getting comfortable with it but each feeding gets a little bit better.

We hope you all have a wonderful weekend and can get to enjoy the rest of summer and its sunny (warm) weather.

God's Blessings,

Casmer Family

I Think I Like It...

Swallow Study

Today we had a fun day at the Children's Hospital. When we say fun, we of course use that word quite loosely. Zoe was having a swallow study to see what could be causing the poor sucking, disinterest, and dislike of the bottle. I will have to say as a parent, the setting of said test is not really baby friendly and would turn me off on the bottle or even avoid participating, so I can only sympathize with Zoe.

Zoe was placed in a tilted chair as I stood in front and tried to give her the bottle with barium. The x-ray technician would then video x-ray the the suck, swallow and other important muscle movement. Zoe decided that at that point she would demonstrate her lack of interest, even though it had been 5 hours since her last bottle and she had only 1 ounce at that time. We decided to try spoon feeding her the barium mixed with pears. We did a little better, though I fear the barium really doesn't make the experience a pleasant one as it should be. Finally, we gave Zoe some barium in a small cup and had her sip from it. This again, great but not really the main point of the test.

So what was gleaned from this seemingly unsuccessful test? Zoe's muscles and reflexes work and their is no danger for aspiration or penetration. (Food going where it does not belong). Zoe most likely still has a weak suck and poor coordination, though afterwards she ate in my arms with some gusto that impressed the doctors low expectations based on the previous events. And Zoe has to work harder at eating than the average child.

So the next steps for the Casmer family in light of this news, we continue to pray that Zoe will finally be interested in eating especially from the bottle so she doesn't have difficulty later on with development mentally and physically. We will also give Zoe things to stimulate her mouth. Though her fingers continue to be a favorite, we will introduce cereal and fruit to her and hope that will be what helps her gain the weight and back to her chubby self. Till then we keep taking it one meal and prayer at a time.

Thank you for the continued spiritual support and continued prayers for Zoe.