March 15, 2009

Amaree had a very busy week. We had to go to Salt Lake for the Neonatal Followup program. It is a collection of professionals and specialists who track these little guys. She saw a pediatrician, a nutritionist, an opthamologist, a physical therapist, and she had her measurements taken. Amaree weighed in at 9 lbs 6 oz, and 22 inches. When they looked at her chart, I thought they said she was in the 33rd percentile, but when I looked it up and talked to her doctor out here, it says she is in the 3rd percentile. And that is corrected. She is so tiny still!

Amaree is caught red-handed!

The good news is that she is developing very well and had the appropriate motor skills. The bad news is that there is another problem with her eyes. She has extreme far sightedness. Basically, babies should be able to see up close but Amaree can see everything far away, but not up close. The problem is that she can become cross-eyed because of it. The Dr. said that usually the eyes correct themselves, but if they don't we will have to put her in glasses. We have another appointment in a few months. There is a theory that the reason Amaree is so alert and involved and active is that it is because she can see far away and see all the things the rest of us are doing.

This is a collection of her hand and foot prints. The black ones are the first ones we had taken in the NICU. The purple ones were taken on October 15, 2008, and the red ones were taken March 14, 2009. I think if you click on the picture you should be able to see a larger version. The measurements are:

Black handprints: 1.5 inches

Black footprint: 1.75 inches

Purple handprint: 1.75 inches

Purple footprint: 2 inches

Red Hand print: 2.25 inches

Red Foot print: 2.75 inches

Also, I am sad to report and end of the love affair with the binkie. Amaree loved her binkie in the NICU, but since coming home she has given it up in favor of the real thing. She has recently started chewing on her thumb, as you can see from this video. It isn't a constant thing, but I do notice her chewing away on it at times.

March 8, 2009

Since coming home, I have been thinking a lot about my experience. I really want to help those who are in the same position that I was in a few months ago. I have been working on starting a support group for parents of preemies, and I just want to help. So I am going to do the March for Babies in May. This is a fund raising event for March of Dimes, and I, along with some of my family will be doing a five mile walk in Logan. Did you know that nearly 10% of all live births in Utah are considered premature? In the United States, one baby in eight is born premature. Premature babies are considered 37 weeks and earlier. Very preterm is considered 32 weeks and earlier, and 1.5 % are born that early in Utah. The earlier the baby is, the more problems and complications can arise. At 26 weeks, Amaree is considered very preterm, and also a very rare birth. I am in the most safe age range, weight range, and health range, and it still happened. Please help support us. I know that times are hard, so if you can only donate a few dollars, it will be appreciated. Thank you for helping us fight prematurity. Please check out my website for the March at www.marchforbabies.org/amareechloee.

This is Amaree looking up at me, and again, she is blurry because she moves so much! She is so curious about everything.

Amaree is continuing to do well, and this week is a big week for her. She has a six-month prenatal follow-up in Salt Lake as well as her six month well-child check-up this week. The prenatal follow-up will include an eye exam, hearing test, I believe they will even do a chest x-ray to check her heart and lungs, and a whole battery of screenings.


One of our friends had a Bumbo chair, and their baby really liked it. Amaree loves to be sitting up, looking around and is happiest when she is involved with the happenings so we used our gift cards to get her a Bumbo. She loved it. She is the Queen on the throne.

The Queen on her throne.

We take her in the kitchen and she watches me cook from her throne, and she just likes to watch the happenings of the house from her special chair. She makes me laugh with her funny little faces and sounds.