3.5 Weeks Post-Surgery

Wow, has it been that long already? All I can say is that it feels so GREAT to have it over and done with! Kendall has recovered wonderfully, she has a beautiful round head now. Her incision looks great, the scabs are starting to come off and the stitches are coming apart (dissolvable). We had a rough time a couple of weeks ago when she went in to the Dr. here to check the incision, they decided to do her 4 month vaccinations that day. So we had to deal with a sore, feverish, NAUSEOUS little bubs, but we got through it and she is feeling just peachy now! Kendall has reached many milestones since her surgery. She can sit in a "tripod" position, holding her self up with her arms in front of her. She also started solids about 1 week post surgery. We started her on rice cereal and she love it. When we went in for her check up, the Dr. gave us the go ahead to start introducing veggies. So when I was at the store the other day, I picked up some parsnip, carrots, butternut squash, and a sweet potato. Last night I cooked up and pureed the parsnip for her. I pureed it with some of her formula, and then I took a bit out and mixed with some of her rice cereal for a creamy veggie delight! She wasn't so sure at first, as most babies are when the try something new, but then she couldn't get enough of it! We are now looking foward to the many STINKY diapers to follow now that she is eating like a big girl! We have also got her started on a
"bedtime routine"! It has been a lifesaver for Shaun and I, and I think it makes Kendall feel very secure. She'll get her "solid" meal around 7:30-8:00, depending on when she last ate. She usually makes quite a mess of herself, so it's BATHTIME after dinner. She LOVES her baths, and has lots of fun playing in the water. After that she gets ready for bed, which includes a lovely massage with yummy lotion after being dried off, and she gets her p.j.s on. Then her bedtime bottle is prepared ,but before she gets that, she gets her hair brushed and a bedtime story (she LOVES books). Then we get all snuggly in the rocking chair and have our goodnight bottle, which generally puts her to sleep, or pretty darn close! She's usually down between 9 and 10, depending how everything went. We are slowly making it earlier each night. Oh, and get this, she sleeps in her own room now, yay! The first two weeks after the surgery she was very insecure and scared, so we kept her in our room, but then we noticed an improvement in her demeanor and sleeping pattern. She wasn't waking up in the middle of the night scared anymore. Now she'll sleep anywhere from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Usually if she gets up earlier, we'll change her diaper, give her a bottle and she'll go back down till about 9. Hurray for sleep! Her personality is really starting to shine. She truly is such a happy baby, and her smile just melts your heart. She brings Shaun and I so much joy, and I have never felt so proud in my life!!!