Health and Development Update (8 months old)

Roman had ear tube surgery in mid April.  It went off without a hitch, and we were home by 10am that morning.  They were able to remove a lot of built up ear wax and drain all the fluid out too when they put in the tubes.  I didn't notice any difference in his hearing, but that same day I noticed a huge difference in his balance.  He was rolling more and sitting (still with support) better too.  All that fluid must have been affecting his balance!

Before surgery in his tiny hospital gown, getting a break from his helmet

We got there super early in the morning, so he did fall asleep while we were waiting for them to take him back to the OR.  He couldn't eat or drink after midnight the night before, but he wasn't bothered at all by not being able to have his morning bottle.  This guy doesn't love to eat.  I could picture him thinking, "So all I had to do to get Mom to stop forcing bottles on me was have a wee little surgery."

Roman is rocking his helmet!  He doesn't mind it a bit.  He wears it 23 hours a day and that one hour that it is off, I catch him feeling his head searching for it.

He still loves music and outside the most, but he really likes his mirror too!

Here's a new toy I brought down from the boys' closet.  He has enjoyed the big truck and moving the wheels.

He likes tummy time the most right after waking up, before I feed him a bottle and make that tummy full.

These two are going to be best buds forever.  Judah was my most cuddly hugger, until now!  He has now met his match.  Roman loves to be hugged and snuggled and kissed forever.  All my other babies would start to fuss or cry when older children were showering them with too many kisses and cuddles.  Not this guy!  He loves it and often smiles and giggles when kissed a million times.

Isaac was playing dress up with him after getting home from baseball practice.

With a special needs child it is easy to not see progress. You go months without meeting the goals that you set up with your therapists. However, there are so many small not to others don't seem like milestones. I thought it might be helpful on my own psyche and for others following our story to list out all those improvements here at this 8-month milestone age.

I don't have to sing to him the whole time I feed him anymore. I don't have to stay upstairs and tell the other kids not to talk to me while I'm feeding him. He is eating between 5-6 oz at a feeding instead of 2.5-4 oz.  He's eating every 4 hours instead of every three.  He's eating 5 bottles today instead of 7.  He will drink his bottle when we are out of the house.

He can roll both ways. You can pick up a toy and transfer it to his other hand. He is reaching for things that he's interested in now (not toys, things like a menu or something I may be holding.)  He sits in the highchair without reclining it.  He's tasting foods.