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SINK OR SWIM?

Here she is...ROLLING.

Ivey had her GI appointment yesterday. She is weighing in at almost 14 pounds. That's two pounds since her last visit. Now that my little doll baby is more active we have to do something about her being on her feeding pump so often during the day. So the schedule is being revised. Once upon a time I posted Ivey's military style daily routine, which did not include her brothers, her parents, or any kind of 'fun' activity, I will direct you back to it if you are interested (A Day In The Life). Here we are tweaking and manipulating schedules yet again.

The plan is to drop from 4 bolus feeds down to 3 bolus feeds per day. The kicker is to drop feedings from 2 hours per feed down to 1 hour per feed, while maintaining a certain volume of formula. By doing this, Ivey will have more time to be a real 1year old. Ivey will still be imprisoned to that blinking monotone machine, but for only three hours total during the day, not the 6 hours she was doing yesterday. YiPpE! HuRrAy!

Ivey will still have a continual night feeds. Each night she is plugged into her feeding pump for 10 straight hours. As you can imagine, being connected to a machine via a tube is pretty restrictive, that is why we are trying to put the most volume of formula into her at night.

Ivey's GI doctor and I were talking yesterday at her appointment. He was astonished to see how much she progressed in the time since she was last seen. Actually, she astonishes everyone in the medical field that had contact with her one year ago. He asked me if I remembered that she could barely tolerate 5cc of formula in her stomach when she was born. How could I forget that? Ivey could not retain formula or breast milk. She could not grow. Thus how could she live? She was in a category that is called failure to thrive. Did I ever tell you that? She was listed in that category due to her size and weight (obviously she was deficient in both areas). Now she is undoubtedly thriving and growing!! I told her doc that she is now doing things here in her first year that most figured Ivey would n.e.v.e.r do in her life time. Period. (Smiling, rolling, interacting, playing - most everyday activities taken for granted) He looked at me, laughed and said, "She is light years from where any of us thought she would be - ever." Amen to that!

My next challenge....How in the world am I going to take a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a one year old to the pool.....alone?

The story of our lives - sink or swim!

Comments

Erin said…
First, let me say that I like your new look!

But, more importantly let me say Yay, Ivey!!! That is awesome! And, the pics are so sweet and wonderful! She has come so far even since the time that I started following you all!!

Good luck on the pool thing. I am not brave enough to attempt that yet!!

Oh, and I am so glad that her feeding times have gone down!! That is awesome!!
Renee said…
Sounds like a lot of good progress going on over there. :)

And as far as the pool? YOU DON'T GO! I'll give you similar advice to what you gave me. Call me when you want to go and we'll gather all of our plastic pools together and have a grand time. That's the extent of our water fun this summer unless daddy is home to take two or so to the pool by himself.
YAY IVEY!!!! ROLLING OVER?!!!! YAY!!!! How EXCITING!!! I was so THRILLED to get to read this today! Wow! I really am so excited for you to have these milestones to celebrate, especially in light of what you said the doctor said. Ivey IS thriving, indeed! What a precious, beautiful Sweetie! Now, I'm not one whose going to discourage ANYTHING ya'll want to try - but for me, this will be my first year at the pool with all three alone and they are 10,7, and 5! So I won't even say "pace yourself." If you feel up to it, then my prayers go right with ya! :)
Leslie said…
Oh, GIRL. I am scared just taking Jack to the pool alone...be brave. Be VERY brave.

And yay for all the progress and the doctor's words! That always means a lot...

And I am getting ready to peek in on your new site. The internet is a.maz.ing. I found a group while going through infertility and met some wonderful women that I'm still in touch with. And all of the blogs I've found since Jack was born...WOW. It just helps so much to know that you are not alone. Because there are days when you feel like no one on earth knows how you feel. But they do...

Sarah said…
Gwen, I haven't been blogging much at all but of course continue to pray for y'all daily--even Caiden prays every night for "Sweet Baby Ivey." I am so glad to hear how well she is doing--and she's gaining weight so fast she'll be caught up to Addie in no time! Addison has hardly gained an ounce in the last 3 or 4 months--but she never stops moving, so I wonder if she's just burning every calorie she gets?

And listen to Renee--Chris and I took all three to the pool the other day and struggled even with both of us there! Addison dunked herself (How? I was holding onto her the whole time!), Grayson almost fell in, and Caiden floated himself down the lazy river to the deep end--and he can't swim. I still have nightmares :)

Okay--sorry, that wasn't very encouraging. I have a feeling you are way more capable than I am. So when you go, and all goes fine, email me and give me tips!
Melissa Green said…
WAY TO GO IVEY!!! The pics of her rolling over are adorable. She is such a joy to see and she always looks so happy. Her smile can just melt my heart!

I am glad to hear that she will now be able to have more freedom to be an adventurer. I can't wait to hear what Knox and Walker get little sister into...I know you can't wait either. She is a miracle. Keep it up Ivey!!

Hugs....

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