Henry is 10 Months
We call him “Baby Yoda” now after seeing the new Mandalorian and Grogu movie because of their similar mannerisms and cooing sounds. In short, he is TOO ADORABLE.
Tomorrow Baby Henry is 10 months (7 adjusted) and weighs 16.36 pounds (7.42 kg). His Nutritionist says he has good growth, length, and brain development. He outgrew all of his clothes we were rotating, so I got him new size 3-6 months outfits.
While trying a different diaper brand gifted to us, Henry had soupy poo accidents daily in his jumper, car seat, bouncer, and our laps. Those diapers just didn’t fit his legs or back well, so there was gaping no matter how tight I made it. In desperation I opened our go-to diapers (Huggies) in the next size up which ended up fitting better, so now this kiddo graduated to Size 3 diapers!
Backsliding
Baby Henry was taking all 5 thickened bottles during the day and one continuous 6-hour overnight feed. He’s regressed to the opposite—all feeds through the G-tube except maybe one bottle. The projectile vomiting started up again on June 22nd… 😭 I’m really struggling with the disappointment and frustration.
We went in for help with feeding therapy to see what we should be doing—cut back, or ways to keep going? Basically to just try to follow his cues and make it as positive and stress free with feeding as we can. Instead of concentrating on the numbers let the G-tube be there for him to get his nutrition. It’s a lot easier in theory than in doing.
He takes a bottle best the first thing in the morning, probably because he’s hungry. “These chronic vomiting kids do this,” she said. “They go on a rollercoaster of ups and downs and you just have to ride the wave.” But if this is a low point in the ride, I want to have an idea of where the floor is and to make sure I’m not nutritionally depriving him.
Our dietician helped adjust his feeding schedule and amounts. The projectile vomiting seemed a familiar sign from before that he was being overfed. I felt good about where we landed with the range and how often to try feeding him.
Solids, Sort of
Our feeding therapist wanted us to try solids with him, so we got a high chair and pureed baby foods. Unfortunately it wasn’t the warm and fuzzy fun experience I imagined it would be. He vomited the food and his previous feed. All those months of chronic vomiting have formed a sensitive gag reflex; now he protects his mouth and refuses being spoon-fed.
Instead, our food therapist is encouraging us to let him feed himself. He loves chewing on “hard munchables” like celery that he can hold and manipulate by himself. He didn’t like any food on his celery, though.
Active Boy
He does not stop moving! Constantly jumping, flipping over, trying to crawl, pulling at everything within reach, and making his way to wherever he wants to go.
We have taken him out on a couple of hikes and he got to try out his new “Adventure hat”. He has become a lot more interested in toys and interacting with his siblings, especially when he can sit and play. Jer tried the first bath toy for Baby, a yellow submarine, which Henry was very curious about.
With the summer wildfires creating smoke and poor air quality outside, we’ve had to stay indoors and just play on the floor more instead of doing walks. He is not a fan of the 80-90 degree heat, plus we’re trying to avoid complications for his BPD lungs in that questionable air.
I love his gentleness especially when he feels my face or reaches out for us to hold his hand. Sometimes that’s all he wants to feel better- to be wrapped up with stretchy blankets into a Burrito, and be held in all the ways. He still notices everything, and especially likes finding tags on his blankets to tug on and crumple up. The kids have been discovering new ways to make him laugh the loudest with tickles, funny faces, silly noises, and jumping.
Love,
-Kat
