More Peas Please

March 1, 2012 10:00pm

Morgan has been a very happy baby today. She has been content and alert all day.

Physical therapy came to visit Morgan today. She worked on stretching Morgan's muscles and her posture. She also showed me several exercises that Seth and I can do with her when we visit. I am always willing to help encourage Morgan and do any therapies that may benefit her. She also providing activities for Morgan that will help with her development. The therapist is so good and patient with parents. We are so thankful that doctors/NICU care about babies to the degree that will provide these services.

Morgan had a bottle today. This is the first time since early January that Morgan has been allowed to eat from a bottle! Speech therapy came to work with her. As I mentioned, she will be getting a bottle once a day for now. Morgan took the entire half ounce they gave her. She got upset when the therapist stopped to burp her. Morgan was also able to maintain her oxygen levels while eating. She did well for her first time in a while. She will learn to collect herself and coordinate her breathing and swallowing as she begins to take more and more bottles. Overall, it was a good experience.

Morgan also had a very big treat today. Morgan ate green peas! That is right, green peas! Morgan loves to taste and have flavors in her mouth. Per the doctor's suggestion, we can give Morgan baby food on the end of her pacifier. We hope to awaken Morgan's mouth muscles and her taste buds by giving her baby food. She absolutely loved the peas. She smacked for more. She had food from ear to ear in excitement.

Morgan is learning to use her hands and coordinate their movement more. Within the last week, she has learned to rub her eyes with her fists, and pull down on her nasal cannula. She also holding onto more and more objects. At times, she will use her hand to hold her pacifier in her mouth. Morgan is usually uses her right hand more than her left hand. Are these early hints of her being right-handed? For us, it is fun to recognize these new developmental signs. We are thankful she is progressing.

Please continue to pray for Morgan's lungs, against infections, the healing of her tee-hiney, and for those taking care of her. We are thankful for each of you!

Love,
Elizabeth and Seth McCoin