Wednesday, May 20, 2009

ON THE CHARTS, baby!!!

We went to Dallas yesterday so that Brooklyn could see Dr. R, her gastroenterologist. My mom went with Brooklyn and I because Dave has started a new job and couldn't take time off yet. We had a really good appointment with Dr. R. Brooklyn had gained almost two pounds in eight weeks and weighed in at 18 pounds, 10 ounces! She had also grown an inch longer. The highlight of our day was finding out that SHE HAS HIT THE THIRD PERCENTILE CURVE ON THE GROWTH CHART!!! This is such a big deal for us! Brooklyn is on the charts!!!

Dave and I actually had predicted that she would weigh a little more than she actually did. She is looking so, so good lately. Over the past month, her little thighs have gotten chubby, she even has a little roll of pudge on each leg. I can no longer touch my thumb and index finger around the biggest part of her thigh. She has little fat creases on her wrists. I don't think that she will be wearing these size 3-6 month clothes very much longer! I am loving watching her gain weight. She is still considered tiny for her age...but this is amazing to me. I am constantly showing our friends her newly developed chubby thighs...my baby has never looked like this before! It's a thrill for me. It's a visual sign that her health is slowly improving and that things are gradually getting better for us. A reward for everything we have been through and how far we have come.

Dr. R was very pleased with Brooklyn's weight gain. He showed me some of Brooklyn's growth stats that I had never seen before. I knew that her weight was considered "not on the charts." I have seen her "own curve" plotted on the growth charts many, many times, several rows below the curves. But I did not know that in January of this year, she was considered to be in the 0.52 growth percentile. That is ridiculously small...I had no idea exactly how far below the curves she had been. In March, Brooklyn was in the 1.77 percentile. And yesterday, the 3.86 percentile. I wonder what the numbers were last year....he didn't show us that. I am sure they were even lower. But wow. The progress she is making. Dr. R said that he is much less concerned that Brooklyn will need surgical intervention now because she is growing well. (sign of relief!)

Dr. R is not changing up any of Brooklyn's reflux medications right now. She is still spitting up a lot. She alternates between swallowing it back down and actually spitting it up. He said that most children with severe reflux outgrow it between a year and 18 months. However, it is unlikely that Brooklyn will outgrow hers within the next few months because of her laryngomalacia and stridor. He said that the laryngomalacia is further aggravating the valve that causes her reflux. Dr. R also said that if Brooklyn has not outgrown the reflux by the time she is two, it is a sign that she will probably continue to require medication for at least several more years.

The only change that Dr. R made was to take Brooklyn off of her milk of magnesia. She also has to take Miralax now and we are to give her a teaspoon twice per day instead of once per day now. She has been having problems with constipation since late December. The combination of Miralax and milk of magnesia has been the only thing that has worked for her. If she does not get BOTH of them each day, she cannot go. But Dr. R was concerned about having to continually increase the dosage on the milk of magnesia. So I am hoping that this change doesn't get her back off track again.

Anyway. It was a really good, really encouraging appointment. Dr. R told us to keep up the good work again. Dr. R wants me to call him after we see Dr. G2 (pulmonologist) next month. He may increase one of her meds (Bethanechol) at that time. But we don't have to go back for THREE months!

8 comments:

Jennifer W said...

What great news! I am so excited for you. I have so much fun tracking Avelyn's growth chart, I'm so happy you get to see her ON the chart now!!!

Hope said...

That's great news! Way To Grow, Brooklyn!! I'm so happy she's finally getting chubby!

Beth said...

Wonderful, wonderful news! Go Brooklyn, you big girl!!! :o)

Carrie27 said...

That is GREAT news!!!

I just had to put A on some Miralax for her tummy problems. She has been having a hard time with her tummy, now that she can verbally tell me what is going on with her.

I hope that Brooklyn outgrows it, because at 2, I wish my daughter did.

I know that you all are over the moon! Congrats again

Cibele said...

I am doing the happy dance! YAY , good job baby, good mommy. I am so happy for you 2!

MrsSpock said...

Whoo hoo!

Sarah said...

I told you in your last post how big she was getting...that is awesome news!!!! Way to go, I know how it is to finally be "on the chart"...even though our kiddos follow their OWN charts. Keep up the good work Momma ( :

Jennifer W said...

PS - let me know when you're going to Houston. I want to make a trek there this summer to see my grandparents. Maybe we can meet up for lunch or something!

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