What an Exciting Day! (And TONS of Kennedy's Cuteness)

Grandma came to visit today and what an exciting day we had.  Let me tell you - Kennedy is a trooper!  She put up with SO much today.  We started out the morning by working on a surprise for Father's Day.   Ssshhh...no one tell Daddy!  (And Marlon - if by any chance you actually do read this blog - CLOSE THIE WINDOW - NOW!)  We went and had some professional pictures done, to make a few Father's Day surprises for Daddy and Grandpa.  I was really nervous, based on how she reacts to the EI Therapist.  Well, she did fine.  Clearly she just hates the girl.  The pictures came out sooo adorable!!!  Here are just a few!  (By the time we got to the end - she was over it!  This was about a 90 minute photo session, so she did amazing.)

Can you tell she was over it by the last picture???  Now the hard part will be keeping it a secret until Sunday when we can show Daddy!

She was exhausted after our photos!  The poor baby slept through mommy and grandma having lunch.  We also had Kennedy's 4 month well baby visit.  Because surgery is on July 5th, I had to move our appointment up from next week.  This meant we had to see the nurse practitioner instead of the pediatrician we saw the first time.  Needless to say, I was incredibly nervous after all of the issues we've had thus far.  I'm happy to report - she was WONDERFUL!  Kennedy is in the 15% for height (23 inches) and the 10% for weight (11lbs 3oz).  This also puts her in the 50% for both on the Down syndrome growth charts.  They were thrilled with her growth and her development.  While she was being examined, she was kicking and rolling, had the paper on the table all torn apart.  She was grabbing at the stethoscope, and pulling at the nurses hand.  It was so cute!  She said it's way too soon for stranger anxiety.  Did I mention that Kennedy didn't have any issues with her OR the nurse?  Another example of her clearly hating the EIT.  She had to have 3 shots and the oral vaccine, in order to be caught up before surgery.  She didn't even flinch for the first two, and only cried for about 30 seconds with the third one.  I was so proud of her.  I will admit, that I was expecting extra snuggles tonight, but she's wanted to play and carry on just as normal - and she still is going strong for the night. 

Just One of Those Days

The first week of Kennedy's life it was like a whirlwind.  When Kennedy turned two months old I really looked back and thought about how far we've come and what an adjustment it has been to what our new life is really like.  I've been handling it pretty well I think, but today is just one of those days that I want to scream and cry.  It's one of those days where I don't want to accept the fact that things can't be what we planned.

For starters, Kennedy has been on a complete nursing strike.  I've been trying and trying, and trying to get her back to it, but she has pretty much decided that she just wants bottles now.  Considering I planned to exclusively breastfeed, this is devastating for me.  I didn't even plan on owning a pump, let alone having to use it all day every day.  I know that the fact that she gets my milk is what's most important, but the reality of is really upsetting.  I can't stop trying, but the kicking and screaming fits that go on when I'm trying to get her to latch are REALLY hard (on both of us.)

Then there's the vaccination issue.  I was able to have a lengthy conversation with our Cardiologist today, and she suggested we stick to the normal vaccine schedule because of Kennedy's heart condition and the fact that she will be having surgery.  The fact that she could get Hepatitis B, Pneumonia, or Pertussis in the hospital is pretty terrifying.  She reminded me, that I need to keep in mind, I don't have a "normal healthy baby" and I'm not going to be able to do what we had planned on.  I hate this.  I hate those words, and I hate the fact that I feel completely out of control.  I can't help but feel like no matter what decision I make, it could be the wrong one.

As for our search for a pediatrician....well, that's going about as well as the rest of my day.  I thought the meeting I had today was going reasonably well.  And then at the end she asked me if I didn't have prenatal testing or ultrasounds, since we didn't know that Kennedy had Down Syndrome before she was born.  After my explanation I got the usual eye roll.

Score - Jennifer   0   Medical Offices  7

With that, I think it's time to call it a day and go snuggle my sweet baby girl.  That makes any day better.

Here We Go Again...

Another day, another debate.  What is wrong with making an informed decision?

***Disclaimer***  This post is not meant to be offensive to anyone who chooses to vaccinate their children on a normal schedule.

Today was Kennedy's two month well baby visit.  The good news - she's doing great!  We are up to 9lbs 5.5oz and 21 3/4 inches!!!

The bad news - I once again feel like I'm playing a game of battle the medical system, just because I'm trying to make informed and educated decisions regarding my daughter's healthcare.  When the topic of vaccinations came up, I expressed that I was still doing research, we had some concerns, and for right now we were delaying all vaccines.  Now, maybe I'm expecting too much, but I made it clear that I had concerns.  I would have expected that a physician would have addressed those concerns, or even asked what they were.  Bringing up that my baby has to go into the hospital for surgery is not sufficient enough information for me to make an informed decision.  I would hope that my daughter isn't going to pick up Polio or Diphtheria in the sterile operating room.  Of course I'm worried that she'll pick something up in the hospital.  MRSA or hospital acquired pneumonia are the first things that come to mind, and she can't be vaccinated against either of these.  So was I given information to help me make an informed decision? No, I was pretty much just told to do it, as the doctor walked out of the room.  In fact, the exact words were, "Just vaccinate this baby."

So now, the quest for a new pediatrician will begin.  While I was really pleased with our choice of pediatrician before Kennedy was born, I feel like the circumstances have changed, and maybe this isn't such a good match.  This wasn't the only issue, or the only time that my concerns were dismissed.  Apparently the laid back attitude that I liked about him in the beginning, isn't working so well on our journey.  I'm not looking for someone to agree with my view points.  I'm looking for someone who will hear out my concerns and help me make an informed decision.  And so the quest begins.

Enough drama.  On to more fun things!  I did some more shopping today (someone point me in the direction of the shopaholics meeting.)  Why is it that no matter how many dresses she has, I can always find more?  Daddy is just as much of a sucker for cute clothes as mommy is.  And we may or may not have gotten a little out of control with Kennedy's Easter goodies.  I probably should have gotten an Easter basket the size of a shopping cart.  (I'm not kidding.  You'll see Sunday.)

We also have plans to take her swimming for the first time this weekend - if the big pool isn't warm enough, it'll be in the "baby" pool (you know - the one we bought her for Easter.)  So there will be lots of pictures to come this weekend!

On that note, here is a picture of Kennedy with her new toy - "Sophie the Giraffe."  Thanks Grandma!!!