Five months actual, Three months adjusted

Just a quick update on our little man.  Fortunately for him, he isn't staying too little.  Of course as mom I'd love him to be my little baby forever, but the fact that he is healthy and growing and thriving after his explosive early entrance into the world also makes my heart melt.  His last appointment was for his 4 month well check.  He is slowly creeping closer to the "standard" growth charts.  His length actually made it near the 3rd percentile.  When plotted on his preemie chart he is holding his curve and remains around the 60th percentile for weight but it isn't enough to make the "standard" charts just yet.  He either has been having growth spurts of late, or just misses mommy.  That boy normally likes to eat, but brought it to a whole new level the first week or so I was back at work and continues to ramp it up every couple of days.  Either way, he is putting on some pounds, adding to his roll count on his little legs, and of course there are those cheeks.

So far though we haven't had any major concerns.  That doesn't mean I'm not hyper vigilant anymore about protecting him. After all I do cringe every time another little one gets close to his face for fear he will catch somethings.  I also recruit my pediatric Physical Therapy sister to do an evaluation every so often, but overall I think I'm doing okay at letting him be a regular little baby.

We've even been at the germ factory (read: daycare) for almost two months now, and so far so good.  Of course I can't help think about all the flu and RSV and common cold viruses lurking around every corner there, but if I've learned one thing is that I have no control over the timing of any of this.  So he has started attending germ camp at the same time as virus season explodes. 

WASH YOUR HANDS PEOPLE!  (That is just a PSA as a health care worker I felt the need to throw out there and in no way is a reflection on our daycare itself.  Our daycare is actually quite awesome as germ centers go.)

So anyway, Will is now almost five months old adjusted.  I sometimes for a minute forget that he is really only three months adjusted; when I think about it I am that much more amazed at him.  He has been cooing and started giggling.  He is more alert, watches his sister be goofy and is starting to reach for toys.  His smile in the morning is the best reason to be up and always gets me going (until the coffee kicks in).  It helps that his smile also has a way of causing amnesia from the lack of sleep he caused the night before!  It would be nice to have some consistent sleep, but knowing how he is growing makes the ongoing middle of the night feedings (sometimes every three hours) rewarding by the light of day.  I haven't been tracking his milestones per se since it doesn't feel like the best measure of how he is doing.  Obviously he is behind for a five month old, and we are supposed to adjust based on his due date so he should be at a three month old level.  I am roughly aware of what he should be doing of course, but as long as he continues to make progress I am happy to let him just do that.

And that is just what he is doing!

The Voices We Hear

Our house is a crowed, noisy place lately.  Most of that is having a three month old who has found his own voice, plus a three year old in general who really like to talk.  And talk.  And talk.  And sing.  And talk.  She uses up so much oxygen with the nonstop talking/singing/talking that I am exhausted just listening to it (or sometimes zoned out pretending to listen to it...until she pauses for me to answer and I'm utterly confused)! 

But apparently we have some other little "friends" who come and go as they please.  Let me introduce Cindy, Honey and Jha Jhu (or is it Xia Xou? Could be either based on how Lydia pronounces it).  These are my daughter's imaginary friends, or as we say at home "the voices in her head."  Sometimes they all come to play, sometimes just Cindy.  Frequently either Cindy tattles on Lydia, or Lydia tattles on Cindy, and I am surprised they keep "playing" together with how much they seem to argue.  Supposedly imaginary friends are a sign of creativity and broad thinking (at least that is what the parenting articles say).  Fingers crossed that is really the case, because some days I think my daughter hears a few too many voices.  If it weren't an age appropriate milestone I would be more concerned so we will have to wait and see how long this little friends stick around.  It is quite entertaining to listen to her full conversations.  She has them out loud and sometimes we hear what all parties have to say (2, 3 or 4 players including herself).  Sometimes she only voices her role, but with sufficient pauses to allow others their turn to "speak."  We are definitely at that stage where I'm not sure if she is telling me about a real person/event or a complete fabrication.  My guess is her stories are often a combination of the two.

Now I readily admit having an imaginary friend as a youngster myself.  I don't personally remember her that well, but my mom likes to tell the stories.  I like to think I am a good judge of character, so she must have been nice.  The only "thing that makes you go hmmmmmm" to admit is my little friend was also named Honey.  So either Honey is back, ageless and helping my daughter in and out of trouble, or she had a little Honey of her own.  You decide if its cute or creepy.

Maybe I should invite my Honey back?  Perhaps then someone might be listening to me instead of talking to myself so often.  I'll have to decide which of those leads me farther down the path to crazy-town.  Lydia sure is having fun with hers 

Back to Work Countdown

It is hard to believe that I go back to work next month, in just 3 weeks actually.  It doesn't feel like Will is old enough, but I realize plenty of mom's have to go back when their little ones are only 6 weeks old.  I can't imagine that and am beyond thankful for having stored up so much vacation time over the years, as well as such an understanding employment situation that is allowing me the full 3 months.  Since everything with Will is based on "adjusted age" he won't actually start in daycare until a couple weeks after I go back to work when he is adjusted to 8 weeks old (HUGE thanks to Grammy and Papa for that help). 

The paperwork for infants in daycare is pretty detailed and rightfully so in order to pass along things like what is upsetting or soothing, what schedule the baby follows, eating and sleeping habits etc.  Around the last month before going back to work with Lydia I started tracking her patterns to see if she was developing her own schedule, so I plan to start that with Will.  I may be surprised when I actually track it, but I think he is still emerging from newborn patterns so I am delaying some of that paperwork.  What is clear now is he likes to eat and gives no warning before announcing he is hungry.  He likes his nuk and his swing and doesn't like his vitamins.  He tends to urp a lot, but otherwise we just go with the flow.

Lydia probably won't even notice my going back to work.  She has been going to "school" several days a week even on my leave and always has fun, although lately she has been asking in the mornings if today is a stay home day.  I haven't figured out yet if she is hoping for a yes or no answer.  She is very excited though to bring Will to school with her and show him the baby room. 

Besides the heartache of leaving the kids again (for me, not them) I am slightly anxious that the right brain cells won't turn on again.  I haven't been at work since the first week of May, when I left rather abruptly and landed myself in the hospital.  Not that the idea of adult conversation and not being puked on isn't appealing, I just hope I can get back into the swing of things without too many bumps.  I'm sure my coworkers and my patients hope so too!