I know, I know, it's been forever since I've posted, but trust me that's a good thing. Zoe is doing so well these days, that life is so normal we are now crazy busy with all the things normal kids do, school, naps, play dates, snacks, errands and silly time.
Since September when I last posted, Zoe has made leaps and bounds. Preschool has been so good for her. She started at the beginning of September and from the first moment, was never intimidated. The first day of class she grabbed her walker and went right in the room with the other kids, didn't look back at me once! She is in a class with 7 other kids who also have some sort of developmental delay such as speech or fine motor skills. She is the only kid who isn't yet walking so she definitely has to do more work to keep up, but the other kids are great incentive for her. In school they work on gross and fine motor skills, sensory activities, story time, singing, snack time and if the weather is good oitdoor play. Zoe has discovered the trampoline and she could jump on it for hours if they would let her.
Her eating has also progressed amazingly well. She is just about back to the weight she was before her tube wean began 6 months ago. They say it takes about this long to get a kid up to speed with eating, and they are spot on with Zoe. It's incredible to watch her eat, as long as it isn't yougurt or applesauce she'll eat it. Her favorites these days are pizza, rotisserie chicken, broccolli, bananas, quesadillas and believ it or not, egg rolls and Vietnamese Pho soup. She eats things most 2 year old wouldn't touch, although like any 2 year old she has days where she only wants to eat chicken nuggets and tater tots. Her eating habits and skills have developed so well that she got kicked out of feeding therapy a couple months ago and moved into speech therapy instead. On Zoe's last day in feedign therapy, one of the other mom's said something to the therapist about how she hoped her child would eat like Zoe some day- imagine that: a kid who didn't eat a thing a few short months ago is now another mom's inspiration!!
Zoe's speech is progressing slowly but surely. The stronger her eating skills get the more toned her facial muscles get which helps with speech. She has several words now (most of which are intelligable only in context and to jason and I). She uses several phrases like "I did it". "All done" and "love you". She is very proud of herself when she masters a new sound. Lately her new favorites are animal sounds and singing songs like Old MacDonald and Baby Beluga.
Zoe has now started getting physical therapy once a week in additon to the OT she recieves at preschool. We are working on strengthening her core muscles, thighs and glutes so that she can feel more confident in walking. If she can hold onto a finger, a wall, a table, or somehting like that, she will walk anywhere, but she still doesn't have enough control of her lower half to feel confident enough to try it on her own. Every now and then you can "trick" her into a few steps, but she's so stinking smart she won't do it again. We are fitting her for orthodics on Tuesday, which should help her stability and hopefully give her a little more courage to attempt walking independently. She's gotten really good with her walker and now uses it to get around whenever it is near instead of just crawling, even though crawling is quicker.
We have been havign lots of playdates with kids Zoe's age which she is enjoying so much more than a few months ago. Preschool, I think, has helped with this. She is much less intimidated by kids than she was before starting school. We have done things like zoo trips, aquarium trips, park rides, "playing house" and whatever else strikes a 2 year old fantasy. She just feels so good these days, I swear, if it wasn't for that little back pack, you would never know anyting was wrong with her.
Zoe's comprehension is also growing by leaps and bounds. She is starting to giggle about things that are actually funny, like the cat jumping on the kitchen counter, or us laughing hysterically. Every now and then she sees something on TV that she now understands is funny. She is totally into animals these days, particuarly cats and dogs. We adopted a stray cat in August and she thinks it is about the coolest thing ever, She loves petting Guiness, the cat, and watchign him run aound the house. She is also noticing that everything has a place and tries to put away Jason's shoes or her books when she is done with them. She also loves helping with chores like folding clothes, helpign to cook and washing the garbage cans with lysol wipes.
I'm sure there are a million other things I'm forgetting (this is what happens when I don't write for 4 months) but I'll try and be better about it. I've been swamped working on costumes for 2 plays and doing a few art shows with my purses and so the time I used to spend on Zoe's blog now goes to cutting out costumes and doign fittings. Again, this is a good thing, it means Zoe's is a normal kid with a normal schedule and that Jason and I have a bit more time to spend on oursleves again.
Zoe and I went to Portland last week with my sister and her daughter to talk to some of the incoming NICU nurses about what it is like to be a parent in the NICU and how nurses can help. It is always so rewarding to go down there and see our old friends and meet more familes going through what we did a few short years ago. We now know so mnay families and children that have gone through their own struggles for various medical reasons and I never cease to be amazed at the strength of these children and the unconditional love of their parents. If there is one thing Jason and I have learned in this journey it is that we are never given more than we can handle and that with a little faith, a lot of prayers and a lot of love- anything is possible and to never ever give up.
As another Thanksgiving goes by and another holiday season starts, we are once again so grateful for another healthy and happy year. Zoe never ceases to amaze us with her perseverence and courage and we are happy to try to keep up with her on her quest to conquer her obstacles.
Zoe with Guiness the Cat
Like Father, like Daughter
Zoe as Baby Gaga for Halloween
Zoe on a playdate in Tacoma
At a public art display in Tacoma in September