Back in the Saddle

I’ve been back at work for 2 weeks now.  The transition hasn’t actually been too bad.  I came back to work part-time with Mondays off, so that has helped tremendously.   Our first week was actually pretty smooth, and Leah was beyond tired every night, so she went right to sleep.  I think it’s been kind of easy because I just love our daycare so much.  She is usually in a different place when we pick her up, like in a vibrating chair, or on the floor in a boppy, they are doing tummy time with her, and this week they went for a stroller ride and a field trip to the preschool room.  They also have a daily activity… yesterday was arranging flowers, earlier this week was bubbles, last week they did shapes, next week they’ll do animal sounds.  When I dropped her off yesterday, the teacher told me she just loves Leah and calls her “my little princess.”  I thought, ok, I’m good. 

Last week she got her first cold.  I knew it was going to happen once she started daycare, but I didn’t realize it would happen so soon.  Everyone keeps saying that it’s good for her immune system, which I know in my head, but it just breaks my heart to see her not feeling well.  We were off on Monday, Ty stayed home with her on Tuesday, and we had a snow day on Wednesday.  I think that helped having her home a few days to get some extra rest. 

I did call our spina bifida doctor to ask about what to watch for.  Anytime Leah is sick, there is a chance that it will cause her shunt to get infected… it is a small chance, but we need to be aware of it.  Dr. Marker wanted her to come in so he could see her, especially since she is so young and this is her first cold.  This was on Monday (another reason I’m glad to have 1 day off each week), and we got right over there.  He wasn’t too concerned with the cold, and she was still in good spirits – smiling and content (she needs to teach Daddy a thing or 2 about having a tiny cold).  The one thing we needed to watch for was her breathing.  Because of her Chiari malformation, she could have some breathing problems and is susceptible to respiratory infections.  That’s also why she takes the caffeine.  Now, almost 2 weeks later, she is pretty much all better.  She still has a little raspy cough in the morning, which the doctor said is normal since she’s laying down all night.  I keep feeling her soft spot to make sure the shunt is still draining.  We had a few sleepless nights last week, but now we’re definitely on the mend. 

Earlier this week she had her 4-month check-up with her pediatrician.  Ty took her to this appointment – alone – so I made sure to dress Leah in an outfit that would be easy for him to get her in and out of.  For her stats:  she weighs 12 lbs, which is the 20th percentile, she is 24” long, the 50th percentile, and her head size is in the 15th percentile.  Then he went through the checklist about what a 4-month old should be doing: sucking her fingers, smiling, cooing/babbling, pulling things into her mouth – and she did everything right there in his office.  He is very happy with how she is growing… she is a long, skinny baby with a small head, and she is right on track with her development milestones.  In every way she is just a normal baby.  Wow, I can’t believe I just said that… she is a normal baby.  SHE IS A NORMAL BABY!!!  I know we have a long road ahead of us, but I am so proud and overjoyed with how well she is doing today. 

Here is one of my favorite recent pictures of her.