Little Stinker

I have been meaning to post an update for a week now.

Sierra is really starting to show more personality. She is getting an attitude. Recently she has begun throwing little temper tantrums. She throws her arms forward and complains. Although this is behavior that is going to need correcting, it is WONDERFUL to see! It is so good to see her expressing herself in more ways!

We have begun giving Sierra some solids. I started her out on a jar of baby food that was rice cereal mixed with applesauce. It took her a little while to get used to the taste but she seems to like it. She slurps it down. Avocado is supposed to be really good for babies, so I decided to give her some. I mashed it up and mixed it with milk. The first time I gave it to her, she took a spoonful, made a face, and promptly went to "sleep." I continued to try stuffing it in her mouth which was a messy job! She didn't open her eyes once. Then I put her bottle in her mouth. Her eyes popped wide open and she stayed wide awake while she drank the entire bottle. At first, I was wondering if it was a coincidence or not, but she did the exact same thing every time that I tried giving it to her. One time I was playing around and would switch back and forth between the avocado and the bottle. Avocado in...time to fall asleep; bottle in...time to wake up! She's got this playing possum down to a T.

Sierra's OT (occupational therapist) says that she cannot believe how much Sierra has improved after HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy). She says that she would love to see an MRI to see if it shows any thing different since HBOT. Her OT says that Sierra has already surpassed what the doctors thought she would do.

Sierra is beginning to push her chest off of the ground and pull her knees up under her. It seems like she is starting to take a few steps toward creeping (crawling on her hands and knees.) Of course she is very delayed, but we are hoping, praying, and believing that she will walk someday, contrary to what the doctors say.

BTW, I just have to say that our dogs absolutely adore Sierra. I call Bucky her buddy and Shylah her guardian angel. We usually put a blanket on the floor in the living room and let Sierra lay on it. The other day, my mother was here. She picked Sierra up and put her in the bouncy seat but left the blanket on the floor. Shylah came in the room later and walked up to the blanket. She sniffed it and started whining because she didn't know where the baby was. Finally she found the baby and was happy. =)