Sunday, May 18, 2008

Weekly Update -- 12 - 18 May 2008

Yay, I'm 71 weeks old today!

Masinja had an interesting week. He has been waking up crying hysterically about 3 times a week or so, and Wednesday morning it was the worst. I went in to get him and he was actually still asleep but he was crying so bad that he had a hard time catching his breath. T.M. and I decided that it was time to take him to the doctor and see what was going on. I called the neurologist's office first, because T.M. and I thought that it would be more her field of expertise. Well, the nurse told me to take him to the pediatrician, because she thought it might be a virus or an ear infection. I followed her advice and off to the pediatrician we went. The doctor examined Masinja and his ears were clear and he was fine. The only thing that she could think of based on the symptoms was "night terrors." She said he was a bit young, but I guess if anyone is entitled to have night terrors, it is certainly Masinja. Afterall, he has been through a lot in his young life!

Masinja also went to the audiologist this week. He had his hearing tested last December, and it was recommended that he be checked again in 6 months. Babies who are in the NICU for more than 5 days are at risk for hearing loss due to the amount of antibiotics that they are given. Masinja did very well on his test. His ear drums are working well and he seems to be hearing just fine.

He has been practicing his "cruising" by going from the coffee table to the couch and back again. I'm sure his PT will be proud when he goes to PT again. He is getting really good at it and it's really quite scary. The next step is for him to actually walk!

Oh, I almost forgot, Masinja now weighs 22 pounds! He is just getting so big!!

Here's a pic from sleepy time!

That's all for now.

Peace,
T.M.M.

Weekly Update -- 5 - 11 May 2008

Yay, I'm 70 weeks old today!

Masinja took his first assisted steps this week. He was standing at the coffee table and he reached one of his hands out to T.M. T.M. then took his other hand and started to walk backwards. Masinja only took about three steps, but it's a start.

Masinja also went to see his physical therapist again this week. He is making really good progress. He learned how to "cruise." The PT lined some toys up on a bench that runs along the wall, and set up another bench in front of him. She kept moving the toys back and forth, and showed him how to turn around while standing up and go from one bench to another. At first Masinja just wanted to sit down in between the benches and pull himself up again, but after she corrected him several times, he got the hang of it and did it all by himself! He also climbed up stairs for the first time. T.M. says Masinja is going to be a mountain climber!

T.M. had to go away to school this week, so Masinja has had some adjusting to do. He had a hard time going to sleep the first couple of nights. T.M. and I think it is because he has been waiting up for Daddy to come home. Hopefully the time will go by quickly because Masinja misses his Daddy very much and can't wait for him to come home.

Here are some pics from PT:

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That's all for now.

Peace,
T.M.M.

Weekly Update -- 28 April - 4 May 2008

Yay, I'm 69 weeks old today!


Masinja had a pretty eventful week. He had his first dentist appointment on Monday. The dentist counted his teeth (he has two on the bottom and four on the top) and brushed them. His teeth are very yellow right now. The dentist said that because he was so premature, and jaundiced for so long, that the coloring was actually inside the teeth. She said that his baby teeth may be the only ones that were affected, but we won't know until he gets his permanent ones. He also got a flouride treatment and a toothbrush to take home.


Masinja also went to the opthamologist this week. The doctor tested his vision with a series of cards that had black and white stripes on them. The stripes got smaller and smaller with each consecutive card. Masinja did a really good job tracking the stripes. The doctor said that he was on track for normal vision. He also said that we didn't have to fight the battle with his glasses any more. He speculated that Masinja's opthamologist in Shreveport prescribed the glasses, because he has the potential for a lazy eye in the future. He said it wasn't necessary for him to wear the glasses now, since he knows that Masinja is more interested in eating them than wearing them!


That's all for now.


Peace,
T.M.M.