When I came home, I had a lot of doctor's appointments and follow-ups from where I had been in the NICU. Also, I came home in a hip-to-toe cast to correct my foot that mommy and daddy had to soak off every week to two weeks. After they soaked my cast off, the next morning we had to go to the doctor and get a new one put on. I didn't like the cast too much-and I really didn't like it when the doctor put it on. Soemtimes I wiggled so much that it took three times before he got it right! When I was about four months old, I got my new shoes and didn't have to wear the cast anymore. My shoes are like regular shoes except they have a bar between them. I have to wear them 23 hours a day until May and then I will only have to wear them at night-hopefully!
Also, when I got home, mommy and daddy started the process of enrolling me into Early Intervention. I had a developmental evaluation at 2.5 months and did very well. I scored at a 4 month level on most everything except my vision. I don't want to make eye contact or track toys very much, but I am doing better. I didn't have any delays at that time, but I qualified for Early Intervention anyway because I had a cleft palate and they thought I could use speech therapy later.
The lady that comes with Early Intervention is Gay. She brings me all these toys to play with and she brought me my very own mirror too! I like to lay in my crib and look at myself! Gay also brought me a sparkle piano that I can push all by myself and it makes music and lights up. I like anything with music and lights. Gay likes it when I try to play with toys and reach for them because I'm lazy sometimes. She also showed mommy how to give me a massage. She said this might help me focus and pay more attention because I tend to be really active and tense sometimes. Gay also thought I could benefit from some Physical Therapy because of my legs and feet being in my shoes all the time, so she started bringing Susan with her.
Susan is my PT. She likes to give me a lot of "tummy time" because my hip muscles are a little tight and this will help. She also works on sensory input to my feet and legs because they don't get a lot on their own. For some reason, I like to look at Susan. She is really pleased with my head control and my attentiveness to her when she is around. Susan said she may not have to work with me long, but we will have to see.
Well, so far I am only six months old, but I am doing well. I can hold my head up, I roll from belly to back (since I was 2 mths old!), I can almost sit by myself if my shoes are off, and I LOVE to stand in anyone's lap who will hold my hands. I laugh all the time and I love to suck my thumb and my paci. I take a bottle and I have just started taking baby food three times a day from a spoon.
