Full House

We had lots of visitors this week! My brother Kirk flew in from LA and my sister and her family (Owen- now 2&1/2 and Scott) were up from Nashville. Mike's cousin Lisa was in town from San Fran and GG, Granny, Codie, GrandMa Jo, Jim and Brynn all stopped by as well.

Breast Milk Anyone?

Some of you, after reading a previous post, might have wondered why I would need to use a breast pump when I'm with her. Well, I can't breastfeed her. Why? Where to begin? ... An hour after Maryn was born while she and I were in the recovery room (I had a c-section) her breathing sounded a bit gurgly. The nurse consulted the attending neonatoligist (she would end up being seen by about 6 neonatoligists) and he suggested she stay in the NICU overnight so they could watch her (she ended up being there just over 3 weeks). Maryn's first diagnosis came early the next morning after a consult with an ear, nose & throat doctor ... Laryngomalacia. Though it may sound like a disease she picked up on her latest trip to the amazon, the reality isn't quite so exotic. Essentially the muscle tone around her voice box is weaker than normal which causes some noise (stridor) when she inhales. Most cases of laryngomalacia clear up by 18 months of age or earlier as muscle tone improves. She saw her ENT again at 2 months of age and will continue to be seen by him for the next year or two.

Maryn was also having feeding difficulties after birth. They began feeding her formula immediately after she was born because her blood sugar was a little off. A speech therapist observed her in the NICU on multiple occasions and a swallow study was ordered a couple of weeks later. Sort of a moving x-ray, this allowed us to see what was going on inside her mouth and throat while she was eating. At that time about 2/3rds of Maryn's food was breast milk (mostly expressed) with the other 3rd being formula. They fed her from two bottles during the study. Her regular feeding was in one bottle and in the other; formula that had been thickened. While she was able to swallow the thickened formula safely, she aspirated micro amounts of the non-thickened feeding! To be safe we began to thicken all her feedings. Breastfeeding was discouraged, at least until the next swallow study (early April). At first they used rice cereal to thicken her breast milk/formula. After complications with this method and various other shenanigans (stories for another time), the NICU ordered a gel called "simply thick." She began eating more efficiently and consistently with the simply thick. So here we are a couple of weeks from the 2nd swallow study, hopeful that thickened feedings will soon be a thing of the past.

GrandMa Jo & GG

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Vocal Stylings

Interactions have changed so much this week! Maryn used to smile only occasionally, but in the last couple of days she's been much more generous with her signature gummy smile. Also she's become even more sensitive to our presence. She screamed yesterday as I raced to put on her fresh G-Diaper. Then, suddenly-silence. She had heard Mike's voice as he came in the door and was looking for him. She is definitely being more deliberate with her vocalizations as well. She cooed at me this morning while we were playing. And yesterday, she laughed out loud! 

Sick Baby

Wednesday of last week we heard the first cough! Nothing tugs at your heartstrings quite like the sound of a 2 month old coughing. So sad. Yep, she had a cold. We were worried she might have caught something from GrandMa Jo. GMJ kindly watched her for us on President's Day and then came down with a fever the next day! Considering her symptoms, it's likely Maryn had something else. 

The virus caught up with me about a day later, yuck! This also happened to be the week Mike had to leave town for a board meeting. Maryn was crying almost constantly and wasn't eating as well. She never had a fever although she got close with a temp of 100.2. I had terrible visions of the congestion aggravating her laryngomalacia, causing aspiration, and/or causing her to be readmitted to the NICU. Thankfully this never came to fruition. Nonetheless, tired and sick myself, I was at the end of my rope!

We survived the viral onslaught thanks to a lot of help. Aunt Codie brought dinner and a movie Thursday night and took care of Maryn for a couple hours. Friday night and most of Saturday Granny (pictured) was there to help with meals and baby care. JoAnn, Trish's good friend and a nurse with the health department, also came by with her scale so we could check Maryn's weight. She and Trish also listened to her lungs assuring me they sounded fine.

The doctor checked her out yesterday and gave us the all clear. Hopefully we finish out the rest of RSV season incident free.

The View From Above

Maryn hangs out in her Ergo baby carrier often. I took this picture today after I glanced down and found her not only awake, but intently watching me. Just minutes before she had been asleep. We then spent some quality imitation time together.  I stuck out my tongue which prompted her to do the same. I puckered my lips and she followed suit. I greeted her with a hello/bonjour and waved my hand and she ..... just stared intently at my hand. Okay, she doesn't quite wave back yet, but I can see that she's working on it. Sometimes she'll even move her hand. 

Calling the Shots!

A few weeks ago it was unseasonably warm so we decided to take Maryn out for a short stroll. It was also a great opportunity for her to sport the adorable hat Brynn made for her as she was sure to outgrow it soon. Mike and I decided to stop for a quick drink downtown on our way home, but as soon as our drinks came, of course, Maryn voiced her displeasure with the situation. Mike headed outside with the stroller walking her up and down the sidewalk while I enjoyed my drink in quiet, solitude. Then, we switched. He sipped his beverage happily as I hit the pavement --stroller in tow. Gazing up contently at the people walking by, Maryn seemed to find this solution acceptable. How is it that this 11 pound person is calling all the shots?