A Whirl-Wind Week Begins
Greetings to everyone.
This week begins a very busy week. So busy, in fact, that it will take at least eight days to get through it.
Xavier has a visit with a urologist. Nothing serious, but mom and dad have some questions. The answers we get may decide whether or not we have him circumcised.
Xavier celebrates turning six months old (out of the womb) this week. Though two months early, still he is developing as though he is a six month old term baby. Thank You, Jesus!
In addition to turning six months, Xavier gets his six month checkup this week. We are looking forward to all the data we've been deprived of these last two months (Babies R Us really needs to have a scale in their store!). Dad is betting Xavier will exceed eight pounds by 3 or 4 ounces, and will be near 22 inches in length. We'll know later this week.
Part of this checkup will also continue Xavier's vaccination regimen. In addition to this, Xavier will get his first RSV shot. This is noteworthy and another blessing to count: our insurance has approved 6 months of this monthly shot. The pediatrician's office was stunned, telling us of their great surprise we were approved for the entire season. They tell us getting the whole season approved is rare. We thank Father for His good hand upon us!
After his checkup, we head south to close on a house. This should be fun, with Xavier still recovering from several pokes and (probably) a blood draw. We have already packed the Infant Ibuprofen and will ask the doctor for the recommended dosage. Foreseeing the "fun", Rebecca has put in a request to the doctor to reschedule should the office get a cancellation this week. They are booked up three months out, but we are hoping for a break.
Xavier will be baptized this week! Usually done on Sunday, special consideration was given to allow the many people who want to attend his baptism to make it. Sundays are difficult for most people, but Saturday allows most of them to attend. Xavier's Aunt Kathy wants it videoed and posted to Youtube so she can see it. We'll see...
Crowning this busy week, Sunday will be Xavier's first communion.
Xavier has started showing more of his independence during the last two weeks. While exciting, it brings with it a new challenge for his parents to deal with: recognizing his emerging demonstrations of will and working with them constructively. Now, it's one more item on our check list:
- Is he hungry?
- Is he in some other kind of discomfort or pain?
- Does his diaper need a change?
- Is he gassy?
- Is he tired (and fighting it, one of his new tricks)?
- Is he too distracted by the noise or activity around him?
- Is he frustrated because he's not getting something "his way"? (probably a more general case of fighting going to sleep)
As mentioned previously, Xavier has discovered his feet: a developmental milestone! He spent a good twenty minutes exploring his legs and feet and toes, most of the time bordering on an angry dislike of something. His ear-piercing screeches of frustration, we realized, were because he could not get his feet (or toes) to do what he wanted. We (working with our new challenge) thought it best to stay out of the argument he was having with his lower extremities. This picture was taken after he resolved whatever problem he was having.
Physical Training
Greetings and hello to everyone.
I was mistaken a few posts back when I mentioned Xavier had seen the last of his current physical therapist. He saw her today, and he will have his final visit with her next week.
Xavier is doing terrific. I was both excited and filled with wonder at hearing Rebecca relate the therapist's thoughts.
The standard rule for preemies is to add the number of weeks they are premature to their term date for developmental milestones. For Xavier, this means adding eight weeks, or two months, to developmental milestones. For example, if a "normal" term baby is expected to roll over (on purpose) at six months, then we should expect Xavier to roll over (on purpose) at eight months.
Well, guess what? I am happy to report Xavier, according to the therapist, is developmentally tracking right at a term baby his age! The "add two months" rule is yet one more rule Xavier has decided not to follow. Glory to God!
He has discovered his feet, and this past weekend his toes. In fact, he has learned how to kick and rub his legs to get his socks to come off so he can see his toes.
He has often liked keeping his feet in the air while laying on his back, but now he is taking this to another level. The moving of his feet to his mouth does more than let him suck on his toes (and giving his fingers a break), it works at strengthening his abdominal muscles. He is also grabbing and holding his feet with his hands. As a note: Xavier has not yet been able to get his toes into his mouth, but he's working on it!
Development of the ab muscles is important to Xavier crawling. He is turning over from his stomach to his back now (though he has not fully mastered this skill). With his abs strengthened, and in combination with turning over from back to stomach (another skill he is working on), soon he will be mobile! I'm going to have to lower the crib's mattress by a notch to keep him contained. Not long after that, we will have to "take an inventory" and install all manner of safety devices around the house and make the house safer for our little man.
He is also learning to sit up. This he needs some help with. He cannot yet sit up on his own, but the therapist showed us how to help him develop other muscles and motor skills. Instead of supporting him by his back, we now sometimes hold him by his hips while he sits in a lap. He has to learn to control not only his head and neck (which he does well when his back is supported), but also his body above his waist. It's like having two swivel points instead of one. Xavier is finding it a little bit of a challenge, mostly I think, because he doesn't know when to expect being supported by his hips; it seems to take him by surprise when his waist starts bending in some random direction.
I have not thanked you all for your prayers in a while. Rebecca and I are always cognitive of Father's good hand upon our son, and we are always cognitive of those whose labor in prayer have helped make Father's goodness alive in Xavier's life.
Xavier developing at the rate of term baby, and not being delayed by being two months premature is one more blessing we can count. Thank you all for your prayers!
A Selfie
Greetings to everyone.
Hollywood has recently adapted the so-called "selfie" as a promotional gimmick.
Grandma decided to take a selfie of herself and Xavier when no one else was around. Unlike most Hollywood selfies, she actually took this one herself. Showing it to us, we thought it was a great picture, so we asked to have a copy of it.
Xavier posses for his first selfie. Grandma is good; she got Xavier to look into the camera even though both of her hands were already in use.