Kicked Out!

Yesterday Greyson was officially discharged for the Early Intervention program. He's been getting therapy from the state since he was just a few months old. We started out with Occupation Therapy for motor skills and then after he mastered sitting, crawling, climbing, standing and walking we moved on to Speech Therapy since he was such a silent little guy. Over the past year and a half Greyson went from barely making any sounds to speaking at 3+ year-old level!

When we had our big meeting in December - just 6 months ago - he was still barely talking and we were considering making the move from every-other week therapy to weekly because he was so far behind. Then just a few weeks later his speech took off and we moved down to just once a month therapy. And now were are finished! The big meeting planned for this week was going to be about getting him into special needs preschool and writing and IEP, but he doesn't need it. In fact our service coordinator said Greyson is only the SECOND child she's worked with that has graduated from EI at this point, usually if you are still getting services at 2+ then your transfer over to preschool at 3, and in December we thought that would be the case for Greyson too, but he had other plans!

Our therapist said she would love to keep Greyson in the program just so she can still come over, but as he is now talking well ABOVE his age level she just can't. I'm going to miss her! She has been a great source of information and just a lovely person to have in our lives. She's given me so much great advice and wonderful ideas over the past 18 months. Greyson loves her and she's just been such a constant in our lives that I'm really sad we won't be seeing her again.

I honestly can't say that ST was really the catalyst for the massive improvements in Greyson's speech, or if he would have come to this point on his own given the time, but whatever the case I'm just so happy that he is speaking well now.

We are officially kicked out of EI!! I really felt this was the last hold out from his "preemie experience" and now we've moved past that too! Way to go Greyson - anyone who meets you now would NEVER guess how you started out.

6 month check-up

Greyson had his 6 month appointment today. Here's the run-down:

• Weight - 15 pounds 10 ounces (20%) Same % as 4 months
• Height - 25.5 inches (20%) Up from 10% at 4 months
• Head - 17.25 inches (50%) Up from 40% at 4 months...he has LOTS of Brains!

Over all he looks great! They did have to mess with his boy parts because his circ. is re-fusing. It looked a little gross, but Grey did just fine. Now we have to make sure we push things back as he grows.

I also talked to the pediatrician about food allergies. Since I have them in spades I wanted to make sure we were taking the right steps to keep Greyson safe. It always makes me roll my eyes when a doctor asks what I'm allergic to then tells me to not feed him those things. Well duh! I can't TOUCH peanut butter that would make it a little hard for me to feed it to my son. We now have the amount of Benadryl to give Greyson should he have a problem. It's scary because everyone says that hives or redness is the first sign but that never happens to me so I don't know how Grey will react to anything. Just another reason to take solids very slowly.

I also got the new dosage of Tylenol for Greyson. Turns out we were only giving him a 1/2 dose - no wonder it didn't help for long. I'm just ready for this blasted tooth to come in and stop bothering my sweet baby!

I've also been concerned because Greyson has some dry patches where his skin is extra thick and dry. I mentioned this and the doctor said it could be a precursor to allergies of some sort. No real surprise - look at his genetics. We are just supposed to put lotion on the spots (California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion - it is fantastic and made without nut oils, gluten, soy, oat or dairy so it is allergy friendly!) and if it turns red we should give them a call.

So all in all it wasn't a bad trip. He did get two shots and an oral vaccine, but he took them in stride. Now my big man is asleep in my lap from his big day.

14 weeks (actual) 4 weeks (adjusted)

Greyson has had a very busy week.  The weather finally warmed up for a it so we packed Greyson up and showed him off!  After months of seeing very few people it was great to visit with so many!

On Thursday we went out to Liberty to visit my family and to see my mom's coworkers.  Everyone was so sweet and Greyson was definitely the center of it all!  We also visited with some of my old neighbors - it was the winter for grand-babies on my old block and this was the first time Greyson had been out.  Hopefully this summer we will get out to see more of them.

Friday night we tried to recover from the trip out to Liberty!  Saturday Nick and Kelly came out and took some photos of Greyson.  I can't wait to see them.  I know they will be great.  Kelly also took the photos at our wedding and I LOVE those.  After they left I ran some errands while Greyson snuggled and napped with Dad - because the day was just starting!  Scott and Tricia came over for dinner and to play wii (they brought it with them).  We all had a great time.  Greyson spent some time in everyones arms and for the most part was a happy camper.

Sunday we continued the streak and went out to Michael's parents house - with Tallulah!  The car was getting pretty full at this point,  Lulah had to ride in the front and did not like it.  But with the car seat in the back there isn't much room for her back there either.    Greyson also met Ryan, Jill and Anna today after they dropped me off back at Michael's parent's home after a party (Happy 1st Birthday, Lily!).  Anna is just a month older than Greyson but our little man has a long way to go before catching up with that sweet girl.  He still hasn't reached her birth weight!  I'm really looking forward to the two of them playing together this summer and for many years after that.

This weekend was also daylight savings time which meant our messed up schedule is even more messed up.  I'm hope that by the end of the week we will be back on track.

This week I will also post some new photos...cross my heart!

true age: 12 weeks, adjusted age: 2 weeks

12 weeks old! Wow. What a big man! This weekend also marked the 1 month mark of Greyson being home. The time has flown by and now I can't imagine not having him with us. Those first 8 weeks in the NICU are starting to fade away.

Greyson is constantly changing these days. He is starting to look at himself in the mirror. And who could blame him? There is a really cute guy in there. I've also started noticing that Greyson's hair is reddish. In the light it is very red. Red hair and a cleft chin. Talk about a recessive baby! We'll just have to see if his eyes stay blue-grey.

who is the cute baby in the mirror?

Greyson Update: True Age: 11 weeks, Adjusted Age 1 week

Greyson,
This week I have been in constant awe of how big you have gotten. We will have your official weight on Wednesday, but just from looking at you - it's a big difference. You are getting so round and chubby - just like a baby should be!

On Sunday night your Grandpa Richard came over to take care of you so we could sleep. Your dad got sick this weekend and by Sunday night we needed some extra rest time. You had a great time with GR and were jut a great eater for him. You've gone from eating about 60ml each time to about 90ml each time! That is a huge difference! Just what a growing boy needs.

Greyson, we love you!
- momma bird

Greyson Update: True Age - 10 weeks, Adjusted Age - Newborn

This week Greyson is 10 weeks old, which is so strange because this is also the week he was supposed to be born. I keep looking at him and think "Is this what you would be like if you were born today?" He's almost 7 and a half pounds, which would be about right.

In a lot of ways he is a newborn, but he's also more mature - more like a 10 week old. He has great head control, he is starting to really look around, and last night M and I were convinced that Greyson was trying to turn himself over. He was such a wiggle worm, which would been fine, but it was 3:30am so we weren't quite as impressed as we could have been. I'm hoping that he catches onto the whole sleeping at night thing soon.

This is what happens when your little man
decides to be SUPER AWAKE at 3:30am.