Morgan Kate

Prematurity Awareness Month Fact #24:

Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency.

Morgan Kate received a speech evaluation in late September and qualified to receive services twice a week. At the time she qualified I had no idea that SLPs not only treated disorders pertaining to speech and language, but also swallowing. I found that very interesting. But it makes perfect sense. Just since late September Morgan Kate has made vast improvements in the language department. As I have said before, it's not just getting her to say words or start talking. There is a whole list of pre-verbal skills that children must acquire first. MK is well on her way to accomplishing those and moving forward.

While I am very positive about her progress and absolutely love, love, love her SLPs, I also get a little down in this particular area. I have mentioned before that with speech it's harder to "see" things or "see" progress or "see" that she is indeed "going to get it". Sometimes I wish I could just peek into her little mind.

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Happy 15 months, Morgan Kate!

I am still blown away that my baby girl is fifteen months. It just doesn't seem right.

Today MK had her 15 month well visit. Turns out, things aren't so well. Nothing too serious, but not the excellent check-up I was anticipating.

First, MK has only gained about a pound since her birthday and has actually lost a few ounces in the past few weeks. She is now weighing seventeen pounds and eight ounces. I was baffled when I saw the scale. She seems so heavy now and I was convinced that she had gained and was near or very close to twenty pounds. Dr. G was not concerned about it and said that babies at this age do start to plateau. I also told her that MK has not been eating well and that she moves ALL. OF. THE. TIME. So with her age, lack of eating and constant moving, Dr. G was okay with it. So, at fifteen months MK is not on the growth chart for weight, but is hitting the chart (just barely) with height (27 inches, 3rd percentile for a 15 month old) and head circumference (17 inches, 10th percentile for a 15 month old). On a preemie growth chart she would be in different percentiles for everything. The good thing is that all of her stats are proportional so she doesn't look too long or too skinny or her head doesn't seem to large for her body. Our job is to feed her foods high in calories and put butter on everything!

The other not so good news was that she has an ear infection. Now, I realize that ear infections are not so large in the grand scheme of things. But I feel like a terrible mother. She has probably had this ear infection since she was running a slight fever about two weeks ago. Now that I think back, she has been fussier, had difficulty sleeping and has not been interested in food. She has also been tugging on her ear, but I thought she had just discovered her ears and was excited to be playing with them. I don't know. I am a first time mom and I sometimes I don't have a clue. Dr. G prescribed an antibiotic and we go back in two weeks for a re-check.

Thirdly, MK had to get two immunizations. Yucky! She did fairly well considering we had been there for an hour and it was nap time. See below for evidence.

So, other than the slow, slow weight gain and the ear infection and the immunizations, everything else went well. Really well actually. Dr. G and her staff were amazed with MK and all that she is doing. And of course we are too!

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And, in case you haven't noticed....I GOT MY CAMERA BACK! YAHOO! I was so excited today when I found out that my camera was back and working. To celebrate I had to snap a few shots before MK went to bed and of course I have to share them with you all now. Enjoy!

Our dogs, Lola and Cash, have found a new favorite spot in the house. Sitting directly under MK's highchair is the highlight of their day.