Take that, physical therapy!

Ahem. Sitting. UNASSISTED. Suck on that, PT!!

Here. There. Everywhere.

Physical therapy for an infant is proving to be a harder thing to set up than it will be to actually do. I've had to fill out paperwork, mail it back to the hospital and now have to speak with a social worker before they will even consider setting up an appointment for Alexa. I don't even know why I have to speak to a social worker. I don't abuse my daughter, that's certainly why she isn't learning how to sit sooner than later. We have insurance, so payment isn't a problem. I feel like it's more of a hassel than a help.

Money - where in the hell does it all go? It literally goes from one hand and flies out of the other. Get rick quick ideas - send them my way. It's simply not financially wise for me to go back to work right now. I could, but then every dime I make would go towards putting Lexi in a day care facility, and not even a great one. I need some kind of work from home job. I'm debating selling jewelry, or even Avon. I need to research and see what's more feesable.

Geneology - finding out where my family came from is a hell of a task. I've spent several weeks on this now, and FINALLY have found someone who may know a bit more than the rest of us. Here's to hoping he's still alive and living where it says he is.

My birthday is in less than a week, and I'm excited but not all at the same time. A year ago I couldn't go out because I was pregnant and bordering stuck in bed. This year, we're financially strapped and I may not get to enjoy it anyway. A lot of people don't care about that, its JUST a birthday. But it's more than that to me.

Naps are proving to be something of the past for my wee one here. She isn't cooperating with them much lately, and instead crapping out on me around 6 o'clock in the afternoon, when we need her to be awake.

That's where I am right now. This is what I've been dealing with. This adulthood stuff sucks.

Jumparoo!

Her legs, although she is now a lengthy 25.5 inches long, still do not touch the floor, even on the lowest setting. However. Scott - being the wise man he is - and no, I will never say that outloud again, figured out that if we put a blanket below those little legs, someone can FINALLY exercise!



Next up - how I have to go back to St. Joe's for Alexa's physical therapy. That place, much as they were wonderful to us, is the LAST place I wanted to ever take her again. Sigh.

Let's Get Physical.

And not in that fun sweat banded, Olivia Newton John way...

So aside from Alexa seeing the ped on Tuesday for her illness, she also was there for her 9 month well baby visit. My baby is NINE months old. She's been here longer than I was able to stay pregnant. She did pretty good this time - weighing in at 14 pounds and is now 25.5 inches long. Considering 9 months ago she was 3 pounds and 17 inches, I feel its safe to say we've come a long way, baby! She's on the growth charts FINALLY with her head circumference, but is still on her own curve for the weight and height charts. Clearly Alexa feels 'Screw your growth charts.' Which hey, normally I'm all about, but this time some not so good came out of her appointment as well.

Alexa isn't meeting milestones for babies in a timely fashion. Hell, she's not even meeting them in a timely fashion for her adjusted preemie age. She is capable of doing some things, sitting up unassisted for a few minutes on her own, rolling over completely in all directions, passing toys from one hand to the other, and certainly she gets an A+ at knocking her spoon out of my hand at feeding time. She's got great hand-eye coordination. She pushes up on her arms and gets her knees bent into an almost but not quite crawl position. My humble opinion - she's lazy, and slow moving in doing things. She chooses to do them in her own way on her own time line. The Doctors' humble opinion - she needs physical therapy.

I will be receiving a referral letter in the mail this week to send Lexi off for an evaluation by a physical therapist. I will then - MOST LIKELY - have to take her for weekly treatments with one. She needs to gain strength in her torso and arms, and even in her wee little legs, so she can learn to do all the things babies her age are doing.

I assure you, this will be 10 times more trauamatic on me than on her. Alexa does not like to be pushed to do things she doesn't want to do. It will break my heart to see her cry when someone MAKES her do something. It will break my heart even further to see those real little tears roll down her chubby cheeks because her Mama can't run over and scoop her up and tell her it's ok -not this time. I have to let her learn, and I KNOW it's what needs to be done, but that doesn't make it any easier on me. With any luck, she'll like it, and will adjust accordingly and in a short period of time. I've been making Alexa work those little arms and legs for weeks, but clearly I'm missing out on some important thing here, because otherwise she'd be doing things already. Here's to hoping that this works out well. My little one is a fighter!

Babies having babies

There is much focus as of late on one Bristol Palin, and her teen pregnancy. I have several thoughts on it, but mostly - I feel for her. She's 17 years old, her mother was just nominated for the Vice Presidency of our country, and she's been tossed into the public eye at a time when she is most vulnerable. Her mother was right in confirming her daughters' pregnancy; I feel there weren't many other options. She could lie about it, and watch it blow up in her face. Or she could confirm it, and go about dealing with the horrible commentary and words that would be spoken about it, not to mention the looks given in her direction.

I have been where Bristol Palin is now. Being 17 and pregnant with not one blessed clue what you're doing is terrifying. Of course, I had a different outcome with mine. I can only imagine what it has to be like to be planning out your future in the spotlight. Planning out your pregnancy, your marriage, your life - all while the entire country watches. It's an entirely different kind of celebrity. No matter what she does now, she will be scrutinized, and watched. Many are comparing her to the likes of Jamie Lynn Spears. Let's be real here - this girl is no Jamie Lynn. She has her head on her shoulders, not up her ass. She was raised by a woman who cares more about her childrens' futures, than about how much money they can make this month. There is simply no comparison.

She has the right to choose how to plan her own future. I applaud her for her decision to raise her baby and do the 'right' thing. I would applaud her for choosing otherwise as well though, whether it be abortion or adoption. She is a woman, and as such has and deserves the right to choose.

I only hope that the scrutiny dies down. Let her enjoy her pregnancy, and her newborn. Let her mother do her political campaign, and leave her daughter home in Alaska to plan her wedding and her baby shower. She deserves, at the least, that much.

Small Update.

Alexa seems to have come down with her first illness. She's leaking snot all over the place and running a fever. We were at the Ped yesterday who told us that her ears and throat look good, so at least its not an ear infection or a throat issue. She's just really congested, really miserable, and its not making things around here pleasant. She more or less slept threw the night last night, waking only briefly as opposed to the night before where sleep wasn't happening at all. With any luck, this will pass in another day or so, and we can resume life around here as normal again.

Interrupted.

Please ignore the break in blogging - I have a sick baby on my hands. First time she's ever been sick, and I'm up to my ass in snot, fevers and tears. Wish us luck.