Monday, March 19, 2012

4 Months Home for Mila!

It finally seems that we have a semi-routine after 4 months home! Had we not had all the surgeries and hospital stays perhaps it wouldn't have taken this long? Either way, it feels so nice to finally feel like I have some sort of schedule with our beautiful chaos!

At 4 months home, Mila weighed in today at her doctor appointment at:
18 pounds, 3 ounces!! and 27.5 inches!
That means she's up to the 10th percentile on the typical growth charts!!! In the past month she has gained 1.5 pounds and 1 inch!! Since we met her 5 months ago, she has gained 10.5 pounds and 6.5 inches!! (that's half a foot!!!)


Mila is able to prop herself up to sit (still unsteadily), roll both ways, push up on her arms, she's beginning to tuck her knees under her belly (trying her hardest to move), and she is starting to kneel with support. She has gotten so very strong over this past month! She is receiving physical and occupational therapy each once per week (but she's really working on those skills every day!). She is a pretty content baby most of the time unless she's tired or hurt...and every now and again we're starting to see her spunk and opinion as she cries when she doesn't get her way! Since we've started taking her out and about a little more, she gets bored at home a lot quicker than she used to! She is smiling so much more and even having full belly giggles a lot more frequently. Her favorite song is "Pat-a-cake" and laughs every time we get to the "pat it" part. She also likes to hear "Jesus Loves Me" before bed. Every time we go into her room to get her up from a nap or from her night sleep she makes her happy noise and has a huge smile waiting for us!  She is almost done transitioning from formula to a goat's milk mix recipe I am using with her. She drinks 4 six ounce bottles a day and eats three meals. She is eating any foods that can be mashed and beginning to eat small pieces of foods like bananas, pears, and veggie sticks! Our girl has a huge appetite! She loves any toys that play music and light up, and of course one of her favorite toys is still her left hand! She is sleeping about 11 hours through the night most nights (with occassional fussing but has shown us she can put herself back to sleep!) and her 2 naps per day have recently started to get longer and more consistent! She is starting to make new sounds (still not really babbling)...but my favorite new sound is when she makes her lips into the "o" shape and coos....so cute! She still has no teeth but has been chewing on her hands like crazy...so hopefully soon they'll work their way out! Her hair is really starting to grow! The back and right side were almost completely bald when we met her and those sides are finally starting to grow hair..yippee! Our transition to this point was not easy AT ALL, but we are so in love with our sweet girl and thankful she is doing so well!!!! We love her to pieces!




16 comments:

  1. Both your girls are so precious. I just love them! So glad Mila is growing and enjoying life :-) What a blessing. Ive been wanting to ask, but been afraid maybe Im not supposed to, but since it was Laina who led you all to Mila, I was wondering if you had any updates on her. How is she doing? Maybe you don't know. Maybe you cannot answer if you do know, but I have just wondered how she was. It is amazing how it was she who helped you to find sweet Mila who clearly needed you and belongs with you guys. Anyway...just thought I might ask.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The last we heard was when I blogged about Laina being taken home by her birth family. I think about her and her family almost every day and pray that some day maybe I'll learn more. I'd love to be able to be a support for her family but only God knows if we'll ever hear anything more. She will certainly always be a part of our hearts and if we don't meet her this side of heaven, she is one of the first people I'll be looking for up there one day ;) Thanks for asking.

      Delete
  2. She is gorgeous!!! So glad things are getting "normal" and she is doing well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. And your prize at the end of that journey is one of the most beautiful little angels on this earth!

    ReplyDelete
  4. She is getting soooo big. Great job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Sarah!
    What a blessing to see Mila doing so well!
    Would you mind posting the recipe for the goats milk formula you are using for Mila? I have a 20 month old special needs child still on formula and would love to have your recipe.
    Thanks so much for sharing your life with others! It is truly a ministry and inspires so many! We are making plans to adopt a child that is blessed with Ds and can't wait to see what God is going to do!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Trina! Nutrition is so important to us! Mila was on nutramigen and I just didn't like the idea of artificial "stuff" and really hoped to find something more organic and whole. She is sensitive to dairy. We see a fabulous nutritionalist who does muscle response testing (you can google it if you're interested). So Mila IS on several whole food supplements in pill form (that I grind up and add to her food or bottle) along with this recipe so that we are sure she is getting all her nutrients...and as you can tell by her pictures and weight gain I'm pretty sure she is doing just fine in that area!! Just wanted to mention that so you know we supplement the goat's milk recipe as well!

      I make my own broth (alternate chicken and beef) and use that as the base instead of water. It has so so many good nutrients in it and the calcium that broth contains is amazing. I use Meyenberg powdered goat's milk and follow the directions for how to make that using the broth instead of water. You can add a cooked egg yolk for extra protein, but add that to the broth first and blend and then add the goat's milk powder....if you blend the goat's milk it gets foamy! I put 1/2 tsp. olive oil in each bottle to help with constipation and it's also just a good source of good fat. If the bottles need to be thickened you can add whole fat canned coconut milk (organic I prefer). There are definitely way more complicated "formula" recipes out there (intended for babies/children who are taking ALL nutrients by bottle)...but since Mila is over a year, eating solid foods, and also taking whole food supplements in addition to her bottles, this simple recipe is exactly what she needs! So if your little one is solely on formula I'm not sure this recipe alone would give your child everything he/she needs....just depends on the child's situation and dietary needs/abilities.

      Delete
    2. Sarah,
      Wow! Thanks so much for the information! We are very health conscience as well! We try to eat mostly whole foods and mostly organic when possible!
      I would love to know what whole food supplements that Mila is on. Our daughter (whom we are praying to be able to officially adopt soon) has FASD and is eating some by mouth, so she isn't getting all of her nutrients from her bottles. I would love to add some whole food supplements in addition to the Ambertose and Probiotics we are already add.
      I don't want to be a pain, but I would so appreciate your sharing what supplements you use.
      You can e-mail me if you prefer at: tgwalton29@yahoo.com.
      Thank you for taking the time to truly interact with your readers and for showing the love of Jesus to others!

      Delete
  6. hola,,,recien te he empezado a seguir y me ha encantado tu historia,,inspiradora,,,me toco el alma,yosoy mama de un niño con SD tiene 7 años y es mi inspiracion ,, y me gutaria poder adoptar,un beso y un sl2 a mila y zoya =)

    hi,,, I have recently started to follow and I loved your story, inspirational, I touch the soul, breast YoSoy a child with DS is 7 and is my inspiration, sl2 a kiss and mila and zoya =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ¡Hola! Gracias por leer y seguir adelante!

      Delete
  7. I hope our blog www.tgarzas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looking at that picture it appears as though most of her weight gain was in those adoroable cheeks! What an amazing family you have. Congratulations on the 4 months home with your cutie patootie :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Already four month HOME??
    Love the "BEAUTIFUL CHAOS" :):)!!!
    Love the pic of the BEAUTIFUL MAMA with the MILA- MIRACLE-BABY!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your blog. Your girls are so cute and your family is such an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just love the way her face is rounding out! Good job!

    ReplyDelete