Melanie is 6 months old now (ok, so she's well over 6 months....). Where oh where has the past 6 months gone. I can hardly believe 6 months ago we were watching our little baby fighting for her next breaths. That first month in the hospital was one of the most trying times of my life. There were so many fears I felt and so many obstacles to overcome. The only constant was knowing that WHATEVER happened was in God's plan for Melanie's life, and ours. We are so thankful to have made it out of that valley of our lives. When looking back at Melanie's NICU days I often think of the footprints poem. I'm sure most of us can almost say it by heart as we have experienced that poem at one point or another in our lives, but I know the only reason we survived those days was because God carried us through. He held Melanie when we couldn't. He caused the research for the surfactant Melanie received at birth. He gave the Dr.s wisdom in how to treat her pnematoceal. He guided the surgeon's hands during her surgery's. He gave her the BEST nurses to care for her and give her love while we were gone. He made her little body to grow and develop outside of the womb! He caused all of you, our friends and family, to shower us with love, support, and prayers over these past 6 months. And he comforted us with peace even though we didn't understand. Through this trial we have been blessed beyond measure.
So what is Melanie up to these days????
At 6 months old she weighed 10lbs 9oz (hopefully she's up to 11 lbs now). She is still in size 1 diapers and 3 month clothes. Melanie still despises tummy time. 30sec on her tummy and she will start crying, (screaming actually). She is drinking 90ml per feeding is at about 6 feedings a day. She is successfully sleeping through the night now. She goes from 10:00ish at night till about 8:00am~!!!!! Yeah for sleep!! During the day she doesn't really have a sleep schedule. She'll nap on and off all day. I am finding lately that she only takes really good naps in her swing!!! If she's in her bed or being held she'll sleep for about 30-45min and wake up. This will work for now, but she will soon be outgrowing her swing :( Melanie is just beginning to coo and interact with us. When in a good mood she'll hand out the smiles willingly. But if she's tired, she'll just stare right through you like you're not even there!! She is a thumb sucker. I'm trying to discourage it as much as I can, but when she gives me that big, pouty lip I melt and put her thumb in her mouth for her. She detests dirty diapers, wet are okay, but with-in a couple minutes of a stinky she'll be crying for a diaper change (maybe she'll potty train as easy as Miya did). Melanie LOVES to play patty cake, especially the round and round. She also enjoys putting her arm out straight in front of her and staring at her hand as she moves it back and forth, basic yes, but a good sign that she can see her hand and track it as she moves it!!!
(an attempt at a picture of her leg chub)
The BEST thing about a preemie is all the extra cuddle time we get with her. Most 6 month olds are eating baby food, sitting up (almost), starting to teeth, and maybe evening beginning to scoot. Melanie LOVES to cuddle. Her favorite position is with her cheek on my cheek cuddled up tight against me. Our other girls were always moving around...Melanie is content to lay on our lap or cuddle close. The baby stage is so much fun (once the reflux is figured out) and I've always wished we could enjoy it longer. We'll, Melanie is allowing us to enjoy that baby stage longer then usual and we are so thankful for it. I often forget what she "should" be doing according to her age until I see another baby her age. Then I just remind myself that I GET to enjoy these cuddle times a little longer!!! As for her development....she is right on track with other babies according to her corrected age. That basically means we need to compare her with babies born around her due date (Feb.4). When we look at other 3 month olds she's doing great and we praise God for that.
I'll end this really long post (sorry) with a couple videos of Melanie taken a couple weeks ago. Please ignore my talking in the video and for those of you in a hurry, there's nothing exciting. It's just a video of of us trying to get Melanie to smile and coo!
These pictures were taken today after naps. The girls like to cuddle with Melanie after their own naps (for about 30secs). You can see how big Melanie is getting when you see them holding her, well trying to hold her.
This is a picture of the Wassink babies and Melanie. Evan is 9months old and the girls are 6months old. They were born about 2 weeks AFTER Melanie (they are only a couple days apart). This picture shows how small she really is compared to other babies born at the same time as she was. I sure wish Melanie had legs like Kara's, I would squeeze them ALL day long!! They are so cute!!
