Two kids is BUSY! All I can think is, "What the heck was I doing with all of my free time when we just had one?!" Laundry, dishes, nursing G, playing with S....those are my four most frequent daily events! Jeremy was home for a week which was awesome. Now it's back to "normal" with just me and the kids.
Grady 2.5 weeks
Favorite thing to do: SLEEP (about 19-20 hours a day! Crazy!)
Personality: Mellow like his dad :)
Newest Tricks: Tracking with his eyes, watching Scarlett when she entertains him, curls his lips like he's about to smile
Weight: today's appt he weighed in at 9lb 4oz (up from 8lb 8oz birth weight, and 8lb 0oz hospital discharge weight) which is 60%. Head and length will be rechecked in two weeks.
Physical Looks: Jeremy's exact replica. I orginally thought he and Scarlett looked so much alike when he was born, but after a few weeks I admit I was dead wrong. Grady is long and lean, has Jeremy's nose, chin, and mouth....and bascially NOTHING of mine! Ha. Jury is totally out on the eye color- they look like a dark grey/brown so who knows!
Simiarities with Big Sis Scarlett: raspy voice (Okay, that's the one thing they both got from me), pacifier obsession, tummy sleeper, and hip dysplasia (see below. Ugh!)
Scarlett 23 months
Newest Tricks: Speaking in "complete" sentences! "What you doing, mama/daddy?" "I want go outside." Or as she said today on our way out of the Pediatrician's office, "Bye bye, kids!" to all the other children in the waiting room. This one is still a major chatterbox.
Biggest Thrill: We talk about Scarlett going to school in September A LOT. She seems quite excited about "no mommy/daddy" at school and having a teacher and friends :) Pretty cute. Other obsessions, the park, especially going "so high" on the swing, kindergym, music class, and playing at Boppy & Mimi's house.
Favorite Toy: After visiting me in the hospital and tagging along to a few of Grady's pediatrician appts, Scarlett is obsessed with "ouchies" and doctors. Allie came to visit and brought Scarlett the most perfect gift- her own doctor kit. She examines her dollies and stuffed animals daily, along with Hazel and myself. Today when we were at the pediatrician for Grady's weight check, she asked Dr. Lee to check her legs. Too funny.
Biggest Challenge:The first week of being home with Grady, Scarlett's tantrums hit an all-time high and Jeremy and I were about to jump ship. The tantrums were about the silliest things- food, socks, etc. But, after her routine went back to normal last week (daycare Tues/Thurs, playdates, daddy back to work, etc.), she actually seems to be doing 100% better- using big girl words, avoiding whining (with lots of warnings) and less tantrums. Keep your fingers crossed!
Biggest Highlight: Scarlett adores baby Grady. She loves to kiss his head, put his paci in his mouth, "shhhh" him nicely when he's crying, and asks to hold him countless times a day. I hope this sweetness continues!!
Always checking out what Grady is doing
Swim time at Mimi & Bops
"Nursing" her dolly
First family photo (poor G is tucked away in the carrier)
Scarlett was NOT happy to meet the Easter Bunny! ha.
Mimicking daddy by carrying dolly in her backpack
Being silly with Grady in her tent
Quick Hip Update for those of you that didn't hear the news...
We had our 2 year follow-up appt for Scarlett's hips last week with the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at UCSF. Grady also had his hips sonogrammed, since he has a sibling with hip dysplasia.
Scarlett's left hip moved into "normal" range (barely, but we'll take it) although her right hip did not. Her right hip is still at 26 degrees (the highest it should ever be is 24 degrees to avoid surgery). Because life is crazy (keep reading, you'll see why) we postponed making a decision for hip surgery until she turns 3. There is a 95% chance she will have to have it, but maybe there will be a small little miracle that her body will self correct :) I can hope, right? The recovery is 6 weeks in a cast with no walking. BRUTAL.
The sonogram for Grady showed that both of his hips have shallow sockets. So, he was fitted in a Pavlik Harness yesterday (remember that pink thing Scarlett wore for 3 months?!). There are 11 straps and he must remain in it 23 hours a day (1 hour given for bath & clothing change). The harness pulls his legs up at a 90 degree angle in the "froggy" position to force the ball and socket into each other and deepen the sockets with constant pressure. It's a BIG pain- diaper changes, nursing, and even cuddling Grady are very ackward with the harness, but it's life for the next 12 weeks. He will follow the same drill Scarlett did-- Re-sonogram in 6 weeks, xray 8 weeks later to determine the prognosis/need for another cast/harness?, and final xray at 2 years old to see if the hips made further progress to avoid surgery...
Sporting his navy blue harness (hidden well with a navy onesie and baggy pants!)
Onto me....
Well, since I'm the mother of two pediatric hip patients, I also become a patient. So I had a standing pelvic xray too. I found out what I kind of always knew (since my mom and grandma both had total hip replacements)- both of my hip sockets are shallow. My right hip is at the lowest degree without needing hip surgery- was told to wait that one out until it becomes problematic. The left is undeniably a problem. So, sometime in the next 1-8 years I will need to have my right hip socket carved out and/or resurfaced to avoid further problems down the road. I am last on the train for hip treatment...so more updates on that when we are ready for me to have a 3 month recovery on crutches. Not anytime soon!
Okay, that's enough about us. Wishing you all a blessed Easter this weekend and a wonderful spring!
Lots of Love...
the kings!
