Emma: Tubes Surgery

Back in December 2015 Emma got her first ear infection. Since then she has had an ear infection each month leading up to May 2016 which means six ear infections in six months so the pediatrician referred us to an ENT. Each infection we were put on antibiotics and it would get better and then it would come back within a couple of days. I'm not 100% convinced that it ever actually went away.

Anyways, we had her ENT visit on May 6th, right after her 9 month well visit. He agreed that she needed tubes and we scheduled the surgery for May 17th.

She couldn't have any solid food after midnight, no breastmilk after 3:30 am and no water after 4:30 am. I woke her up at 3:00 to nurse and then at 5:45 we just transferred her to her car seat and headed out. She stayed asleep until we had to take her out to be weighed. We had to be there at 6:30 am and she wasn't scheduled to have her surgery until 7:30 am.

She was actually in a pretty good mood considering she hadn't eaten in 4 hours. I was able to hold her for a while, but then Bobby had to take over since me holding her just made her upset since she couldn't nurse. 

They took her back right after 7:30 am and we got to see her again at 8 am. Coming out of the anesthesia she was really fussy but once we started nursing it calmed her down and she dozed on and off for about 30 minutes. Everything went really well. The doctor did say that she had a double ear infection so he drained the puss and to expect a lot of drainage. We were discharged at 8:30 am.

 She was in really good spirits the whole ride home and she loved her little lion that she got out of the whole ordeal.

 We went home and ate breakfast and played for about an hour and then she passed out for four hours, which allowed me to get a nap as well. We had to do these antibiotic drops twice a day for 7 days in her ears. Those things were expensive, $200 for a tiny bottle.

We had her follow up on May 27th and she still had an ear infection, which we thought she might because her ears were still draining a lot. So she got another round of drops, this time for 10 days, and the doctor was nice enough to give us a sample so we didn't have to spend another $200. She also got an oral antibiotic for 10 days to make sure we got rid of it.

Because she still had an ear infection at her post-op check up we had to do another one on June 9th. On the 9th she still had fluid in her right ear so we had to do three more days of drops. So after several months of constant ear infections she was finally well on June 12th. But, two weeks later her right ear started to drain again and sure enough she had another ear infection in her right ear. Six more days of drops and another oral antibiotic later and as of July 8th she seems to be infection free. I am really hoping we are over the days of ear infections but who knows what going back to daycare will bring in August.

Emma: 9 Month Well Visit

Emma had her 9 month well visit on May 6th.

She is 28 in (62nd %), 18 lbs 14 oz (61st %) and head circumference 17.52 in (67th %)

She had another ear infection which makes six in six months so it was good that we had our ENT visit right after this visit.

Not shots at this visit. Her 1 year visit is at the end of July where she will get shots and blood drawn. She confirmed that she only needs one nursing session at night and agreed with me that the reason she is waking up so much is because her ears hurt. We will definitely start sleep training once the ear infection is gone and summer is here.

She is a very healthy baby.

Emma: May 2016

Here is what Emma was up to during the month of May.

She had her first teacher appreciation week. She got each of her teachers their favorite snack, drink and scented candle.

She loves to read books. We don't have a great bedtime routine because daycare really screws up our day because she doesn't sleep well, but once summer is here we will be adding this to it.

We have gone through a major bedtime boycott this month. She will not go to sleep unless she is nursing and she has to go to bed with me in our bed. Once summer is here we will start sleep training pronto.

On Mother's day she had something wrong with her stomach and actually threw up once so we just cuddled in bed most of the afternoon.

She has gotten very adventurous in the house and often times gets lost. She likes to pull back the blinds and look outside.

They played with bubbles one day at daycare.

But when we tried to do it with her one day she was not all that in to it. 

We are still nursing strong 4 to 5 times a day and about 2 times during the night.

Back in January I got a really good deal, 40% off on a Graco Extend 2 Fit car seat which allows rear facing up to 50 lbs so I grabbed it. She is about an inch away from being too tall for her infant seat so I went ahead and switched her Memorial weekend. 

Some mornings she wakes up with this cowlick that will not go down. I call her our little Alfalfa.

 For months Emma has been scared of this medicine ball but all on her own she crawled up to it and started touching it.

 The sleep struggles have been rough this month. So rough that a couple of times I nursed her to sleep on the living room floor so I could accomplish stuff during nap time.

 Our fridge went out and we had to get a new one, well the new one's ice maker wouldn't work. When the guy came out to fix it (the day after she got her tubes) she was into everything.

She loves throwing these small balls that came with her walking elephant toy.

Memorial weekend we went to the lake and she swam in a kiddie pool for the first time. We are obviously lacking in the pool toy department. She also went swimming in a big pool and loved it, but somehow I missed getting pictures.

Emma also got ear tubes this month because she has had 6 ear infections in 6 months, but that post will be one all by itself. 

Emma: 9 Months Old

Emma turned 9 months old on April 30th. According to "What to Expect the First Year" this is where she is at with her developmental milestones.

Most babies will probably be able to...

• She can do:
• Get into a sitting position from tummy
• Work to get a toy that is out of reach
• Respond to own name (most of the time)
• Smile at self in mirror
• Follow your gaze when you look away

Half of all babies will be able to...

• She can do:
• Pull up to standing position from sitting
• Crawl
• Stand holding on to someone to something
• Say "mama" and "dada" without meaning (she totally knows the meaning)
• Play peekaboo

• She can't yet do:
• Object if you try to take a toy away (or hasn't yet)
• Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (she is really close)

Some babies will be able to...

• She can do:
• Walk holding onto furniture (cruise) (as of 4/19/16)
• Stand alone momentarily (she doesn't do it often as she doesn't like to fall)
• Understand "no" but not always obey

• She can't yet do: 
• Clap hands or wave bye-bye (she tries, but isn't there just yet)

A few babies will be able to...

• She can do:
• Drink from a cup independently (as long as it has a straw)
• Say "dada" or "mama" with meaning (she says both)

• She can't yet do:
• Say one word other than "mama" or "dada" (Bobby disagrees, but the word she says to nurse isn't really a word. It is more just a sound.)
• Respond to one-step command with gestures ("Give that to me." said with hand out)
• Stand alone well
• Play ball (roll ball back to you)