We've had such a relaxing and wonderful holiday that I haven't had the time to blog :-) Christmas morning was very emotional for me and my mom and dad got to laugh at me as I couldn't stop crying tears of joy/relief/pure happiness. Having Gesina home on that morning surrounded by family who loved her... was just too much awesomeness for me to contain! She was in an amazing mood as well. Gesina smiled, laughed, and enjoyed snuggles all day long. All the horrible Christmas's I've had in the past were erased by the awesome Christmas of 2014.
Gesina got a toy rattle that has really made a difference for her. Her $20 rattle is the first toy she will hold onto for a significant period of time. All other rattles or toys she would immediately drop after I put them in her hand. This rattle lights up with minimal stimulation and she continually tries to put the rattle in her mouth (she never did this before) and has also realized that she can rattle it on purpose! This toy provides more evidence that she is able to think and is understanding that she can impact her environment. She has a variety of other sound/light toys that I put near her and she can slap at. Sometimes she successfully hits the right buttons, etc. and I cheer her on. I'm never 100% certain she knows cause and effect but I cheer her on anyway as she'll figure it out on her own schedule. Her vision is either on or off, which is common with cortical visual impairment, and lately it has been off. This usually means she is experiencing a change in a different "system". I'm not sure what that system is (maybe cognitive?) but her vision is just not working lately.
I've taken her to a speech pathologist to work on her eating solids. It was a frustrating experience. I wanted to assess Gesina's ability to eat more textures. Unfortunately for me, that is not what happened. Instead I was introduced to the philosophy of the speech pathologist, which is to go slow with using a spoon so Gesina can learn to enjoy eating. Well, that's nice and all but (1) she's American, she will find a way to enjoy eating soon enough, (2) she vomits when she gets too much formula so less feeding by spoon is not really an option, and (3) she is really good with a spoon. Why would I use the spoon LESS when she's good with it? Sure, she may learn a "better" technique but in the process may learn to just eat less in general. So, screw it. The speech folks have a philosophy I don't buy into so I'm going rogue. I'll feed her the way I think is best which is more textures, flavors, variety and less formula. Just because she has a g-tube doesn't mean that formula is all I'm going to use to feed her. She needs more calories and experiences so I'll give her that... not more formula! She's 13 months for goodness sake, why would she need MORE formula. Blah.
Next up, every single doctor all over again :-( Seems that my price for getting the holidays off from doctors appointments are more doctors appointments in January. So we will soon get an audiology test to ensure that yes, she CAN hear (the mechanics are in working order), but DOES she hear. Then GI, Physiatrist, her g-tube button put in, Neurologist, NICU developmental clinic, etc. I'm supposed to follow up with the speech pathologist in 6 weeks but I'm thinking that is not a good use of our time right now. There is no magic pill or doctor who is going to make Gesina's life dramatically better so if there is no true contribution, you're off Team Gesina... until further notice. Maybe when Gesina starts talking we'll go back but until then, my speech therapist every other week is fine with me.
