So much info I can't come up with a title

So much to get to...hope I don't forget anything!

We lost the cord to our camera, and I can't get pics from her birthday party until we find it.

Here are a few pics from lately until we can find it:

B had her vision checked today.  We didn't have a vision or hearing test when she was born so it was about time we got around to that.  Her eyes look "great" and "healthy"!  Whew...I thought everything was good, but it sure does have a nice ring to hear that something is "normal"!

She is super sensitive to heat and light.  I found her a cute pair of sunglasses in Target a few weeks ago.  When I put them on her...whoosh...those eyes opened right up...she loved them!  Then my brain kicked in and decided to see what sunglasses were actually recommended since she liked them so much.  www.babybanz.com  These actually have the right UV ratings for what she needs...approved by doc today...yay!

PT, OT, and ST are all going well!  B and I are learning so much and she is showing progress in all areas!

Hmmm...what else??  Oh yeah...Battley Cate is going to be a big sister later this year!!  We are very excited.  I know what everyone wants to ask so I'll just answer it now...

We are not concerned at all about another chromosome abnormality.  There is no greater chance of us having another child with one than anyone else.  We have faith that everything will work out just as it has before.  I am considered high risk and will have a test (non invasive) done with the maternal fetal specialist in a few weeks.  Everyone who has been down this path is considered high risk from here on out apparently.  Of course we would love your prayers for this new baby!  I think it's a girl...Adam says boy!  We have had 2 sonograms to date and everything is good.

So...this brings up some funny business.  As some of you have witnessed first hand, people used to ask about B all the time with her ng tube.  Now that we don't have it everyone asks the usual baby question.  EVERY SINGLE TIME..."Aw...how old is she?"  When I say "ONE" the next question is ALWAYS "Aw...was she a preemie?"  So I'll admit that sometimes I say "no" and keep walking.  I'm not trying to be rude, but I haven't gotten my story down to a short enough length for some circumstances.  Sometimes I tell B's story and sometimes I just hand folks a card with our blog info so they can read for themselves.  Sooo...here I am with a one year old who is the size of a 3 month old (11lb-8oz last night) and looking pretty pregnant already!  It makes for some funny stares and let me just tell you...folks are NOT scared to ask whatever they are thinking!  If there is an opportunity to have some fun...count me in!  So...I've got my friends working on elevator stories for when I get asked about having 2 babies so close together.  Here are a few examples:

* They are twins...she (Battley) just came a little early.

* We are shooting for 20, so we have to pack them in close together!

Now on to feedings...I probably will not be able to put into words what kind of a change has happened since I blogged last.  You know it used to take HOURS to feed B before her surgery...it's what I did all day long.  Well...I knew about another feeding method that doesn't use a pump, but I was scared to try it because it is so drastically different.  A few Fridays ago I just decided to go for it and see what happened.  IT WORKED!  We have been doing this ever since then...2 weeks now I think.  Here is how it works:

*connect a line to her mic key button (you use this even with the pump; it's about 12 inches long)

* connect a large syringe to the end of the line without the plunger in it

* pour the milk in the syringe and gravity moves it into her stomach as fast as she can handle it...it's almost impossible to overfeed this way b/c without pushing milk into the stomach it just goes at its own pace and won't stretch her stomach out beyond where it should go

So now let me tell you how long this takes....

10 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!

And without spitting up there are never any problems!  It's been a life changer...literally!

We have come so far!  Thank you all for your continued prayers!  I will do my best to post about a special gift she received before this weekend.

C