Isabella

Look how far I've come:

Bella next to a Beanie at 2 lbs 2 oz

Bella at 24 1/2 lbs!
Yesterday Isabella was in to the doctor for her 15 month check-up and also a head re-check. First, the totally awesome news of the day. She weighed in at 24 1/2 lbs AND was 30 3/4 inches long!!!!!! That is incredible. For the first time I heard the doctor say, " She has done a nice job of catching up on size. She is about average on the curve for a 15 month old." The word average is something every preemie mom loves and waits to hear! She is completely caught up on size, not even adjusting back to 12 months for being born 3 months early. In fact, she weighs nearly what Savannah does at age 2 1/2 (Savannah still being small for age). There is only about a pound or two difference in the girls.

Apparently Bella wasn't nearly as excited as I was about her growth. She cried and moaned the whole hour and a half we were there.

Next, was the not so hot news. Her head is still over the 100% (big) for her age. This is for her actual age of 15 months, so comparing her to kids that were born at term that are her age. For her adjusted age of 12 months, it's even further off the chart >100%. For a peanut that started out with a head smaller than your fist, this is huge. The doctor said it's not so much the size that's concerning, but the rate of growth and that she's concerned about hydrocephalus. She has had some large spikes in her head growth, where it's not really following a curve. As some of you know, we have been going in more often to get her head measured, as it's been of concern to the doctor. I've also mentioned before the trouble with head jerking and the investigation into whether or not she was having seizures. She also is still not sleeping at night and tends to cry and scream alot unless she has constant action to keep her distracted. The doctor said she would like to get a look into Bella's head, but that the soft spot is too small to use ultrasound at this point. The other way to get a look is with CT scan, but as she could see Bella is a very irritable girl, so she would need to be sedated. When we left the appointment she said she would call that night after talking with a few of the other doctors about it.

Last night I did get a call from her. She said the other doctors agreed that the CT scan should be done. She went on to say she is a little apprehensive b/c of the sedation portion (not sure why??). Anyway, as she was talking she said she has rounds next week at Children's and would like to run it by the NICU follow-up clinic to see if they see any other options. So now we wait. Again. Until next wee for the doctor to call back. Obviously sedation comes with risks, but I guess I don't really see the major deal. It needs to be done so why drag it out? We'll hear more next week. Worry, worry, worry.

Developmentally, not much has changed. She is doing ok motor wise, but is still at the level of a 6-8 month old as far as language goes. I'll be honest, I'm a little bummed, but we'll address it more in September when her Early Childhood teacher starts coming out again.