What's New...13 Months

Asher has been a busy boy! He turned 13mo (and 9mo) last weekend. He's working on getting the rest of his front teeth. He almost has all 4 on top down now, and almost 3 on bottom. So, that makes his mood very unpredictable from day to day! At his GI appt yesterday he was 16lbs 14oz! The GI doc said he couldn't be more pleased with his curve and that he is approaching being ON the growth chart for his REAL age. That would be amazing. So, we will keep pumping in those milkshakes! (His formula has higher calories than most, so I call it a milkshake.)

In physical therapy he's working on sitting alone, he can do it now but it's hard work and when he gets tired he loses his balance not so gracefully :) He's also working on getting up from laying to the sitting position, and just being more comfortable in positions he tends to stay away from. He is more comfortable being in extended positions...probably just from being a preemie and from having so much GI discomfort (back when he was throwing up 4x a day). Babies with GI issues tend to not want to be on their tummies too, or to lean forward and "crunch" up their tummy because it's uncomfortable. So, that makes sense as to why he's been so good at "standing" since he was very small. It was more comfortable for him to be stiff like that. We hope he will be crawling in the next several months. We will see! We also have to keep in mind he's 9mo old developmentally, and until he was about 6mo developmentally, he was struggling so much with reflux and throwing up...and earlier than that he had to deal with procedures, etc....so he's making up for lost time. When other babies his age were exploring on the floor and on their tummies as young babies, he was sitting up in a chair, "eating" for an hour or two (we had to run it very slowly through the tube at first) and then trying not to throw up. So traditional tummy time just didn't or couldn't happen. Since he started rolling over, he's spent the most time on his tummy than ever before! And he still doesn't want to stay there long. :) So, we know it will take time for him to meet milestones. His therapist said today, "He's on his own timeline."

We have such a different perspective than many parents who dread the day when their babies start moving and getting into things. We think "oh no" sometimes too, (like when he rolls over to my purse and grocery bags and starts grabbing things) but more often, we just hope that he will crawl, walk, etc. Every single treatment he had when he was born--everything we had to say "yes" to to keep him alive, it all came with possible developmental delays in the future. So, we just have that in the back of our minds often. But we ARE SO excited he's rolling everywhere now. It's so fun to watch! It can be hard not to compare though..when other babies younger than him are doing things he's not. But we always have to look back and look at how much he's done and how FAR he's come. His first 5-6 months of life were no cake walk! And that helps us with perspective!

In feeding therapy, he's been doing pretty well. He always eats well in therapy sessions, which is great. But frustrating when he doesn't do that at home!  He's still eating puree's off and on. He's also been trying puffs and yogurt melts more and doing pretty well with them. He still gags often, and sometimes throws up after a gag. This week, we will try some tiny pieces of peaches! He is off and on with all his eating skills- most of that I talked about in the last post! (On the left is how we used to do feeding therapy, before he was strong enough to hold himself up in a high chair.)

At this feeding he took 20+ spoonfuls of yogurt! That is a lot for him. He's been anti-spoon lately! 

    

SUCKING on pouch! YAY (this is a big deal) 

Exploring the bathroom

 

Getting rolled up in his play mat 

Overall, he's doing so well! We love seeing him turn into a little boy. He still feels like my little baby because he's not crawling yet or pulling up, but at the same time he seems so big and "grown" up.

First time at the park!

Walking and snacking 

Trying on spring clothes

Swinging with mom on the porch 

Sucking on a peach in the mesh

Walking with friends 

Birth- 2months- 12 months--Growing much bigger than a water bottle! 

This is Asher's new move! 

Laughing at mom 

Thank you for reading and praying! Our constant prayer requests are:

- For Asher to learn about eating and why we do it so that we can get the tube out one day

- Patience for us and wisdom as we try to help him get there

-For his esophagus, that God would heal it completely and that it wouldn't cause any eating issues. GI doc said we may need a procedure on it in the late spring/early summer as he attempts more solid foods 

- For his development, that he will keep learning and meeting milestones

-For his health. That God would keep protecting him from illness, and that we would trust the Lord fully on that as we get out of RSV season and can venture out more with him (eek!) 

THANK YOU!!!!