Milestones

Emma and Mommy modeling our new 'dos'. I know Emma's is more of a don't (hopefully mine isn't!) . We were being silly after a bath and, of course, saw a photo opportunity.

The question of meeting milestones has been on our minds since Emma was born. I'm sure it's on the minds of most, if not all, parents. Having a daughter 5 weeks premature is cause enough to wonder if her ability to reach milestones will be hindered. Add a lengthy hospital stay, a diagnosis of hydrocephalus and multiple surgeries and it becomes an even bigger 'if and when'. Jeremy and I were given all sorts of scenarios for Emma's development ranging from having no effect from the meningitis and hydrocephalus to having minor learning disabilities to severe mental handicaps. If nothing else, the NICU staff often spoke of her 'corrected age' and told us that she would have a little extra time - 5 weeks - to reach milestones because of her prematurity. Although she seemed to be developing well in the two months she spent in the NICU, what the future would hold was, and still is to some degree, a bit of a mystery.

In an attempt to give Emma a leg up on meeting her milestones and preventing any delays, we agreed to Early Intervention. An evaluation of her development was performed identifying strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the category, her development fell anywhere between her 'corrected age' and a month ahead of her 'chronological age'. Her physical therapist works with her every week to help her turn her weaknesses into strengths. Despite her efforts, there are things Emma has not seemed to want to do. Sitting and rolling over are the two that come to mind. Yes, she did roll tummy to back a few months ago, but has abandoned the skill since her last surgery. It's been a bit of a concern.

After a trip to see Dr. Sullivan today, my concerns have been put to rest ... for now anyway. After answering a million of my questions and examining Emma, Dr. Sullivan said that she was growing and developing well with or without the extra 5 week allowance.

In the area of growth, she continues to stay on her growth curves. She weighed 15 lbs 5 oz (30th percentile - pretty surprising for a baby who weighed 7 lbs 7 oz at 35 weeks!), 27 inches (between 75th and 90th percentile) and her head circumference was 44.5 centemeters (90th percentile) - all of which are based on her age from birth, not her corrected age. The head measurement was especially exciting. Her head is no longer growing at a rate above her curve! It matches a normal growth curve - a higher than average curve, but still normal!

Dr. Sullivan saw no reason to be concerned about the sitting and the rolling. She said some kids don't do any of the major things i.e. rolling, sitting, crawling, etc. until they can do all of them. She thought maybe Emma would be one of those kids. She also said that even if she does do them one at a time, it's not time to worry yet that she isn't doing them. Emma demonstrated her strength while sitting and standing on my lap. Dr. Sullivan went so far as to say that Emma's ability to sit up on her own on my lap shows how strong she really is explaining that it's even harder to sit on soft surfaces because they move and change based on shifts in weight so she has to use her core muscles to keep herself upright. I think she doesn't sit or roll because she doesn't want to, not because she can't. Anyway, she said she was doing remarkably well and said everything looks beautiful!

I decided to put my concerns on the back burner. If I've learned anything in the past 6 1/2 months, it's that babies are unique. They will do things in their own time in their own way. What is true for one baby is not true for other. What is nothing more than a basic UTI for one child becomes meningitis for another. There is no rhyme or reason most of the time. Emma can't be put in a box. She's never done anything according to 'the rules' so why should sitting and rolling be any different?

Emma has always been one to prove her mother, and other care givers, wrong. When we came home from the doctor today, we did some tummy time and practiced her sitting. Wouldn't you know ... this is what she did!

No, she isn't leaning against the back of the couch!

It wasn't for very long. She toppled over a few seconds after the picture was taken, but it's more than she's ever done.

Maybe by the end of the week, she'll be fully sitting on her own like a big girl! If not, that's okay. She'll do it ... when she feels like it. In the meantime, we'll keep trying tummy time and working with Early Intervention. We may not know what lies ahead, but we are feeling confident that Emma will continue to develope normally not allowing the meningitis or the hydrocephalus to leave any lingering effects. Here's another picture to demonstrate how smart she already is:

Emma during the Super Bowl - demonstrating her feelings for the Steelers' opponent. We're proud of our little Steeler fan! Eat the 'cardinal', Emma!