we're on the charts!

Yesterday, after getting caught in "bridge traffic" and arriving 15 minutes late to the doctor's office, Mannie and Russ had their 6 month appointment with Dr. Rajanee. She said both boys look great, especially considering they were 26 week preemies. The biggest news from the appointment is that Russ and Mannie made the charts for 6 month babies (their birth age, not their adjusted age)! Here are their stats:

Russ is 25" (5%) and 15# 12 oz (20%). His head measures 42.5 cm (20%).
Mannie is 24.5" (<5%) and 15# 6 oz (15%). His head measures 41.5 cm (5%).

Dr. Rajanee wants us to switch to a different formula - and if the change goes well she thinks we should give rice cereal a try after about a week on the new formula. We are very excited about this...however, this brings new questions to my new mom mind. Questions like how does one feed a baby cereal if the baby doesn't sit up yet?? Do you feed them in a bouncer seat? And what will it be like to try to add cereal into my already hectic bottling schedule?! Another high point of the visit was Rajanee's opinion about Russ and Mannie's heads. She doesn't think we need to put either boy in a helmet. "Just give baby more tummy time," was her position. Now we have a bunch of different opinions on the matter, making the decision all the more confusing:
1. Dr. Colleen - yes to helmets
2. Dr. McCue, neurosurgeon - yes to a helmet for Mannie
3. Dr. Sidman, pediatric ENT - no to a helmet for Mannie
4. Monica Aho, PT - try stretches and exercises first
5. Dr. Rajanee - no to helmets
So, what we've decided to do is to continue with PT and really work to keep Mannie off his favored side of his head for the next month. Our NICU follow up appointment is at the end of August and we will talk to the NICU team about what we should do. Dave and I are not opposed to helmet therapy, as we do not want our child(ren) teased about their head shape on the playground. But if helmets aren't needed, GREAT.

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Being a mom is really fun when a baby finally responds to you. Our guys have been smiling and cooing for awhile now, but last weekend we finally got them laughing. Well, actually it was Grandma Deba who got them started on Friday night. She had Russell laughing in the tub. And he was laughing so hard he scared himself and started to cry. Then she had Mannie laughing after the bath. But on Saturday - when I was all alone with the babies - I got them both laughing at the same time. We were playing peekaboo...and then Mannie started to belly laugh, then Russ, then Mannie...it was like hearing the other guy laughing was encouragement. If only I could've captured the moment on video.

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Today I had an eye appointment - my first since I became pregnant. My eyes were constantly changing during my pregnancy, and I had to dig through old glasses to try to find something that worked. After the testing, my eye doc was pleased to report both eyes improved. Thanks, Russ and Mannie! Now I have to find time to have my mom help me pick out some new frames. She was planning to come to the appointment with me to offer her opinion on new specs, but she ended up taking care of the babies because my dad was supposed to babysit and he was stuck on the other side of the bridge! (Find the story here.) Crazy to think I would be affected by the bridge two days in a row when I barely ever leave the house anymore.

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The humidity is killing me this week. It is miserable. I walked on both Monday and Tuesday mornings despite the heat, but today I thought, "Forgetaboutit!" Right now would be a great time to get some walking in, as it is cooling off and breezy, but I just got the boys to doze off before their last feeding and I don't dare load them into a stroller just so I can get a little exercise. I do need to walk daily, if possible. I mean, I will be going back to work in a month and I still have about 20 lbs of baby weight left to lose. I know I can't lose 20 lbs in a month, but I'd like to shed half of it so I can fit into my work clothes!

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Well, it is time to wash bottles, prepare formula, and make the last bottles of the day. Another day in the life!