Lexie's Two Months Old

Last Tuesday, Lexie turned two months old!!! Yesterday we made our way down to Wilford Hall for her appointment with the neurologist and her 2 month baby check up. When I do think about it, it does feel like she has only been with us two months but dealing with everything else makes me wonder if 10 months have passed. Her neurologist went over the CT scan from before surgery and the CT scan after surgery. He showed us the areas were there is improvement and expects more improvement as the year goes on. From my opinion, you can see a difference. It is not a HUGE difference but seeing how it is so early, it is still a difference. In about a year she will have another CT scan and then we will be able to see if any more changes have occurred. I also wanted to know the area of the brain that she is missing and how it will affect her. Through science we know which parts of the brain do certain things so I wanted to know what to expect. Well, this is where it gets tricky because he said the area of the brain that is gone is apart of the motor category. However, he has said that it is not a given that there will be certain things she can/cannot do. Since the newborn brain is still growing and changing he doesn’t know if there is some re-wiring being done or if cells have implanted elsewhere. He said if an adult would have this brain injury, he could give a definite prognosis but since the brain is changing in a newborn….he is well….clueless. We like him nonetheless though. Plus, her neurosurgeon is just surprised that she is able to move all four of her extremities so we are just going to sit back and watch her. But, I should say the neurosurgeon is a strong willed pessimist and her neurologist seems like the opposite.

After that appointment we made our way down to her 2 month well baby check-up. She weighs 7lbs 12oz which means she has gained three pounds exactly since she has been born. She measured 20.6 inches long and screamed her little lungs off when she got her three shots. The doctor seemed impressed when Lexie showed her how she can pick her head up when placed on her stomach. She said that Lexie seems to be acting like a typical 2 month baby that was born premature, which brings me to a personal choice I have made. I will not be posting what things Lexie may be behind on or just not reaching on the milestone chart. We only want to look at the positive and I will happily post all of her little achievements like I have been doing with Ethan and Gracie.

Finally, I know many of our friends and family worry on how we are doing and I know a few are just waiting for us to lose it. But, to be honest we are doing better than expected. We know things could be much worse and it now seems quite normal to us. We never regret giving her the life she so much deserves and despite some comments, she does and will continue to live a happy life. We don’t feel the burden or resentment that we were afraid of. Don’t get me wrong, I still think hydrocephalus is one of the most horrible words I have ever heard in my life but if it comes with Lexie, we will take it. I really don’t even notice her shunt when I look at her. I know some mothers of special children don’t like it when people stare at their little ones but I don’t mind it one bit. I feel that the longer they stare at her and her beautiful face they will see how much she is loved and how much love she brings to our family.