Because She's So Cute

Seven Things

I was tagged by Bree:
Here's the meme: Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
1. I love dark beer. I love Guinness and will drink any stout on tap.
2. My fav band is the Beatles. I could not wait to Play the White Album for Nina. When she failed her newborn screening test, that one of the first things I thought of...Thankfully she can hear, and yes I played it for her.
3. I was in the Marching Band in high school, no it was not cool at my school, but I thought I was cool and had a great group of friends in the band and I dated drummers . My hair was big and full of aquanet
4. I love painting, I love oils. We had a few of my paintings hanging up in our home. It takes me only about 15-30 min to crank a painting. My work is abstract floral. I wish I had more time to paint.
5. I am a very impatient person. Nina is teaching me to be better at it though...
6. I love reruns of Little House on the Prairie. My fav plot line is when Laura was loving Almanzo. I can't wait until Nina is old enough to read the Little House series.
7. I am obsessed with eyebrows. I have rather large ones and got made fun of a lot of my post- pubescent life. I wonder if Nina will inherent this trait..
I don't have 7 people to tag b/c you all have done it already.:(

Are you sick? No it's my allergies...or is it???

To my Sister Preemie Moms: Thought this was a good read...
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55042

Check Your Symptoms Symptoms of allergies and colds can be similar, but here's how to tell the difference:
Colds		Allergies
Occurrence of symptoms:	Symptoms often appear one at a time: first sneezing, then a runny nose, then congestion.	Symptoms occur all at once.
Duration of symptoms:	Generally last from seven to 10 days.	Continue as long as a person is exposed to the allergy-causing agent (allergen).
Mucus:	Often a yellowish nasal discharge, due to an infection.	Generally a clear, thin, watery discharge.
Sneezing:	Less common than with allergies.	More common than with colds, especially when sneezing occurs two or three times in a row.
Time of year:	More common during winter.	More common in spring through fall, when plants are pollinating.
Fever:	May be accompanied by a fever.	Not usually associated with a fever.

About our girl

Nina turned 8 months yesterday! She has come so far---she's doing fantastic for a 1.3 babe born 4 months early.
A few tidbits about our girl:
Playtime: She loves those plastic rings and uses one instead of a pacifier for naps. She waves them up and down and sucks on them... She is a tummy time expert. Currently we are working on pivoting while on her tummy... She loves peek- a- boo and paddy cake... She loves hearing us sing to her, she will grab at our mouths....Sound of Music tunes and the ABC song are a few of her favs... She laughs, it's more of a chuckle than an all out squeal. She babbles and coos a lot. She "talks" to her mobile and crib toys and will try to have an engaging conversion with us as she eats a meal in the highchair.
Eating: She is a great eater! She is getting Enfacare bottles then she will have solids. She loves applesauce and smacks her lips together after taking the first mouthful then eats the whole thing.
We tried bananas yesterday and that was a huge hit. She gets a wide range of veggies and fruits. So far the only one she did not care for was carrots. She tries to feed herself with the spoon which is a mess, but we let her indulge a little. Basically at the end of the meal, we let her hold the spoon and she'll attempt to lick it.
Development: Eyes are great, Ears have some fluid that we need to go to ENT to discuss tubes sooner than later. EI came last week and are happy with her progress. They put her between 4 and 6 mores development which is fantastic. As of now, there are no "red flags" that would suggest anything neurological. She is almost sitting on her own. I am hopeful she will master by Christmas.
Loves: Cradle swing, Taggies blanket, oatmeal, plastic rings, anything that lights up and plays music, naps, animal mobile, smiley faces
Dislikes: Coats, carrots, RSV season..

Is she doing great because she has two Sister Angels in heaven rooting her on?
I'd like to think so.
There's so much more, but this is what's on my mind about Nina today.

TGIF!

4 month EI visit

Nina had her 4 month adjusted age EI visit today. She did great- was assessed at 4-6 months development. She does not qualify for any therapy at this time and will remain on their "tracking". We are just so pleased with her development!
Yesterday we went for her follow up non- sedated ABR test. She fell asleep on Jason's shoulder and the audiologist was able to test for 2 hours! Nina has no permanent hearing loss. (yeah!) They found that her left ear had not drained and we are going to an ENT to discuss tubes.

Eating Machine

Nina continues to amaze us with her eating.
It's just crazy! She loves all foods. And she is fun to feed. She babbles throughout the meal- smiling and cooing and having a grand time.

She has tried rice cereal -It was OK.
Then we moved on to oatmeal- Loved it.
Peas : OK
Sweet Potatoes: Loved it.
Green Beans: Loved it.
Applesauce: She could eat this for the rest of her life..has it for dessert or mixed with oatmeal (YUM!)
Carrots: We gagged on the smell but she gobbled it up.
With all this food, Miss Nina has packed on the pounds.
Tonight's weight: 12. 9 (Holy Oatmeal Batman!)