The Alter Family Blog

Jada watching the Super Bowl… Go Saints!

Jada is wearing 3 month clothes and 3-6 month clothes.  I know she is going through a huge growth spurt now because she is waking up a couple times during the night to feed 3.5 ounces per bottle.  She is starting to copy noises, hand movements (such as a small wave), and facial expressions. Jada loves social play, smiles at herself in a mirror, and tries to hold her bottle.  We can’t wait to introduce her to all of you in the next couple months!  Until then, thank you for the prayers of protection from infection and RSV. 

Jada weighed 11 lbs 3 oz and was 22 inches long this morning at her doctor appointment.  The doctors said that January had lots of children with RSV (Respiratory Virus) in Austin.  They expect that it will be over mid March…and Jada can leave the house shortly after!

Yes, Jada has accomplished another milestone.  She is rolling from front to back.  Jada is becoming the social butterfly with the dogs, family on the phone and through Skype.  When I read her books, she talks the entire time I’m reading the book to her.  She LOVES to read books, and I love reading them to her!  We will get an update on her weight and height on Monday when she goes to get her synagis shot.

Jada’s hearing screening showed positive results.  They are not worried about her at this point, but Dell wants to continue to follow her hearing every few months because she had CMV out of the womb.  Jada’s kidney ultrasound showed either kidney stones or calcium deposits.  Neither one is a worry, but like everything else- they want to check it each year.

Dave and I are going on a date tonight, and Jada is staying with the grandparents.  Below is a video of Jada trying to roll over!  It will be soon…

Dr. Lockhart was very impressed with her eye sight and scars that have healed since surgery in the NICU.  She has nearsighted vision, but he doesn’t want to put her in glasses until about 3 yrs old.  He described her vision without corrective lenses, “She would probably pass a driving test without her glasses now.”  This is AMAZING news…Jada’s next appointment will be in April.  Dr. Lockhart will take a more extensive look and decide her exact vision.  He said that the human eye doesn’t develop enough to assess everything until 6 months adjusted age (3 1/2 months from now).  Thank you for your faithful prayers; they are being answered!

Great news… Jada is 10 lbs 8.5 oz, 22 1/4 inches long, and 14 3/4 inches around her head.  According to the preemie growth chart, she is in the 40% for weight and height, and 10% for her head.  This is progress from the 15% on her last appointment.  She received her 6 month immunizations today, and returns in 30 days for follow-up boosters.  She will have another pediatrician appointment in 2 months.  Her iron levels were great (38%), and she will remain on multivitamins over the counter.  Jada does have a follow-up appointment at Dell this Friday for a kidney ultrasound (request from her neonatologists).

After her appointment, we took a quick run up to the NICU to visit her nurses and doctors (Jada’s angels).  We also went to Labor and delivery to send kisses to Rhonda and Nina (my angels)!  It was great to see everyone, and we think about them all often!

Jada continues to grow and interact more everyday.  She lifts her head and turns it in both directions.  Jada clasps hands, reaches for objects, follows moving objects with her eyes, and sucks on her hands.  She demands social attention: talks, smiles, and giggles regularly.  My guess is she is about 12 lbs, but we will know on Tuesday at her pediatrician appointment.  She also has an eye appt and hearing appt on Thursday and Friday (pray for positive results).  Jada stayed with her grandparents this past weekend as Dave and I took a quick 3 days/2 nights trip to Chicago.  We had a great time visiting friends, and Jada decided to sleep through the night for the first time with my mom and Bill.  Below are some pictures from this week.

ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) came to the house this morning to access and evaluate Jada’s progress to date.  They routinely service micropreemies, and said that she is the most advanced they have seen.  Because of her success so far, she doesn’t qualify for services at this time.  This is a blessing, but we will continue to monitor and observe her development.  Her scores on the DAYC (assessment) are as follows: Cognitive- 4 month old, Communication- 2 months old, Social/Emotional- 4 months old, Physical Development- 2 months old, and Adaptive Behavior- 2 months.  Their suggestions at this time is to continue lots of tummy time, practice reaching for toys, talk and sing to her, vocal play (back and forth), and to reevaluate in 4 months should we have concerns.

Below is a video from the weekend, Jan 2nd (not December!)…

Jada weighed 9 lbs 9 oz and is 20.3 inches long as of yesterday.  She is entertaining herself more and more everyday.  I hope to post a video of Jada this weekend!

Pop (Bill Peary) has his third round of Chemo today to treat his lymphoma.  Below are a couple pics of him at the Oncology office this morning, New Year’s Eve!  Happy New Years!

Jada and I went to the doctor for my post-op appointment on Monday, and Jada got to see Dr. Uribe and Kym (delivered her).  It was very special to be able to show off this little miracle.  We also made a quick trip upstairs to visit her old NICU buddies.  We saw Bonnie, Dr. Wong, Stacy, Lynn, Sally, Priscilla, Kathy, and a couple others!  They have Jada’s pictures behind the desk on a bulletin board next to the check in.  too sweet!

Finally Aunt Emily Peary gets to meet Miss Jada.  She visited (from Auburn) while Jada was in the NICU, but due to flu and other restrictions she wasn’t able to go to the NICU.  Since Em has been home for the holidays, she has helped take care of Jada each day allowing time for me to catch up on other things.  It’s been so helpful, and I know Jada has really enjoyed their time together.  Emily graduates in August and hopefully will move to Texas!

Here are a couple photos from Christmas morning as Dave and I opened gifts for Jada from Santa and Grandparents.  I think we enjoyed it more than she did…

Great Grandpa Boat (Frank McLaughlin- Dave’s Mother’s Dad) drove from Florida to see Jada for the first time.  He is 92 years old and drives across the country visiting all 54 family members on the McLaughlin side.  Dave called him Grandpa Boat when he was younger because he was the grandpa with a boat!  We had a nice visit with him, and we look forward to seeing him again soon!

Jada is sleeping now, so I’m going to attempt to take down the Christmas decorations….at least some of them.  She only woke up for an hour last night…I feel so rested! Jada goes tomorrow to get her RSV shot for January.  Jada is turning her head in both directions when on her belly, and she is rolling onto her side from her back.  We think she is using her hands more than ever and will be grabbing at earrings, glasses, etc in no time.  She is focusing and communicating all the time!

I can’t tell which is more in love…Grandparents or Miss Jada?  Jada has been held the past 24 hours straight by Grandaddy and BeBe.  She is so spoiled, which is ok.

Time flies…It’s been a month since we brought Jada home from the NICU.  Below are a couple photos from the day we left St. David’s North.

Tonight Dad (Grandaddy) and Elizabeth (BeBe) are coming in to visit Jada for the weekend.  Dad hasn’t seen her since she left the hospital, and it will be Elizabeth’s first time to meet Jada.  I look forward to posting pics of our weekend!

We feel so fortunate to be a part of the new program at Dell Children’s Hospital, Specialty Care Center.  They will follow Jada at least until she is 24 months old.  She will stay on an adjusted growth chart until 2 yrs of age.  In other words, she is 25 days old today according to their developmental growth charts.  She is in the 50% range for her size (adjusted age of about 1 mo.).  Jada is 8 lbs 12 oz, and her head is 14 inches around.  She does have mild torticollis (stiff neck towards the left side), but we will do some stretches and various activities at home to eliminate it.  She also has developed a slight flat head in the back due to laying on her back (bouncer, swing, bed…) for almost 5 months, so we will work extra hard to have more tummy time, stretching and positioning protocols.  She has great eye movement and eye sight!  Praise God…  She also has fabulous arm/leg movements and rotations.  We couldn’t get a good read on her hearing (due to possible congestion), so we will repeat that assessment in one month.  She will have a follow-up exam with the clinic in March.  She continues to be our little miracle, and we continue to ask for your prayers for her protection and progress.

Some photos from Mom and Bill (pearyphotography.com) taken early last week!