Joel and Jenny's Blog: Update and a few more pics...

Well, Lyla had a doctor's appointment yesterday and an appointment with her pediatric dietitian to try to get to the bottom of why Lyla isn't wanting to drink, and to brainstorm some possible solutions. I noticed that she would start her bottle drinking vigorously and then suddenly just stop after 1 or 2 ounces. I noticed too that she's been a bit more erpie and coughy lately. This brought us to thinking that maybe her gastric reflux is not being controlled as well any more--now that she is bigger. So Lyla's doctor increased her dose of Prilosec to help bring the gastric reflux back under control, and to hopefully decrease any esophageal pain she may be having and thus increase her appetite for liquids. All the while she has been eating her baby food just great though--the doctor and dietitian said that lines up with our theory too because solids tend to stay down better and are more soothing to the esophagus than liquids are. So we are praying this will be the solution--she should be drinking better within about a week. It's so tricky with babies because they just can't tell you what hurts! Also, Lyla now weighs 15 lbs 6 oz and is 27 inches long--she's getting sooooo long! Despite not taking her bottle well, she gained a pound since the end of August and grew an inch in length. :)

After her doctor's appointment, Lyla and I met up with my friend Victoria and two of her girls (Sandra who is 11 months old and Olivia who is 3) at the mall. We had lunch and afterward both Sandra and Lyla got their ears pierced! They did so well--I think Lyla cried less for the ear piercing than for the flu shot she had gotten earlier in the day! They look adorable. My friend Victoria is from Spain--it is a tradition there for girls to get their ears pierced as infants so now all of her 4 girls have their little ears pierced. The earrings don't bother Lyla a bit--I thought she might try to pull at them or maybe be a little fussy when I clean her earrings--but she is none of the above. She's a trooper like usual. :)

Later on that same day the physical therapist from the Birth to 3 program came to visit. Lyla was a champ. She was rolling like it was nobody's business--both ways! We also worked on having her stand next to the couch with her arms on the couch and us supporting her butt--she looked like such a big girl! It made me feel happy and sad at the same time. She's not going to be a little baby for much longer. :) :(

Then today she had an appointment with her pediatric orthopaedist to check on her development and strength/flexibility. The doctor said that she is progressing well but is obviously still behind. When Lyla is about a year old we'll start thinking about braces to help her posture. We keep praying that she will just get stronger and stronger! We would LOVE to see her walk some day.

Meanwhile, in our spare time, we are preparing for:

(1) Our family trip (Joel, Lyla, and I) to Door County on Oct. 22-25

(2) Lyla and my trip to AZ on Oct. 30th to Nov. 6th

(3) The Thanksgiving Extravaganza at my Aunt Jane's house (complete with baby shower for my cousin Kelly's little BOY who is still in the oven, and a double birthday party for Lyla and Gabriel--my other cousin's little boy who is two weeks younger than Lyla). Yip, yip, yip, yahoooo! My parents will be in town for all of this too--yay!

(4) And of course we are preparing for Lyla's First Birthday Bash on Saturday, November 28th! Keep an eye out for an invitation in the mail.

Whew! It's going to be a busy few months, filled with lots of fun, family, friends and fellowship.

And here are a few more pics from when our friends Josh & Sarah came for a visit--photos compliments of Josh. :) These were taken at an apple orchard/pumpkin patch that we visited. It was so fun for the kids and fun for me too because I love the fall and any kind of fallish activities. I guess we all had fun...