Mimi is 6 Months

Hey guys
So yesterday Mimi turned 6 months old. Holy cow, these 6 months have gone by so fast. She had her 6 month well baby visit yesterday. My husband came with me because I am stil on crutches and could not drive. It was really nice to have him there for several reasons. One reason is, I knew that the Dr. was going to pressure me a little about the flu shot now that Mim is 6 months. I know that vaccinations are important, and I used to get the flu shot for myself every year for the past few years, but I just thought, with her limited exposure to other children I would rather risk the flu then add another shot to the three shots she already was due to receive that day. I love my pediatrician, but you can tell she is pro pro pro all vaccinations possible. She definitely put the pressure on, but my husband and I just said that we didn't wish for her to have it now. At her age it is two shots for the normal flu as well--not just one. She did receive three other vaccines as well that day. I was happy my husband had to see what it is like too--it is really hard to watch them do this to your kid and hear the shrill screams. The nurses are pretty quick and they do multiple shots at the same moment so the child doesn't have to anticipate another stick in the leg.
Now you may or may not like this part--we also got her ears pierced at the apt. I got my ears pierced when I as 5 and I still remember how painful it was and how easily they can get infected with little child hands touching them all the time. My husband's sisters both had there's done as babies and he said they never got infected and they barely cried after the initial piercing. I didn't want her to have the pain, but I knew that we would eventually want them pierced and that at this point she doesn't have the ability to purposely grab her lobes and play with them or get them infected. So now they are pierced. Two nurses did it at the same time so both ears were done in one click, then they quickly gave her her shots. I nursed her for a few minutes to calm her and she was asleep in the car within 10 minutes. She was her happy self the rest of the day, I did give her some tylenol when we got home and she took a 2 1/2 hour nap. I have to clean them and turn them twice a day--which is a battle because I know it's uncomfortable for her--atleast for the next few days.

Other notes from her apt....She was 75th percentile for height, 85th for head circumference and 95th for weight. I asked if I was feeding her too much and she reassured me I was not, and actually told me to start giving her 3 solid meals a day and not just 2, and keep nursing (she has about 20-25 oz breastmilk daily, usually 5 feedings). She said now that she is getting more mobile, her weight will even out a bit. She (pediatrician) also said I can stop sterilizing the bottles and just put them on the top rack of the dishwasher---which saves so much time, and she can have more veggies and start some plain yogurt--but no meats until 9 months. She said to try to up her water intake a bit because she is having really hard stools, so right now I offer a cup of water with solid meals, she said offer water in between meals as well. Developmentally she is right on track and doing great. She goes back at 9 months.

I can't believe my little baby is 6 months old.

New from the mommy front--I am still on these dang crutches!!!!! This wednesday marks 6 weeks post-surgery and I am allowed to start weaning myself off the crutches. Basically you allow gradual weight to the leg while walking with crutches, then eventually you stop using the crutches. I can begin to drive again and am allowed to swim or walk laps in the pool and do only walking as necessary--meaning no exercise type walking yet. I will start doing physical therapy twice weekly for ten more weeks, then I should be back to my normal self. I have lost 3 lbs since the surgery, which is pretty impressive for not doing anything! i think it is all breastfeeding. I need to be very careful over the next month or so--as Mimi eats more solids I need to reduce my calorie intake due to less milk being needed from her. Hopefully this will happen when I'm able to get the gym to help too. The 3 lbs weight loss may also be from muscle loss :-( fron not using my right leg at all. The PT will help with this though. I've also been applying for jobs. I had my first ever phone interview last week. They had 73 applicants, 23 of which got phone interviews, then they are only bringing in TWO people for real one on one interviews---so I'm not optimistic but I have nothing to lose. I don't HAVE to have a job until July. If I did get the job, Mimi would transition from parttime to fulltime daycare at the daycare she is already at. I also am looking for a job that does flex hours--meaning I could work 4 ten hour days and have one day a week with Mimi.

No other real news to report. Sorry this was long--I know how pediatricians suggest/do thing differently, so I'm always interested in what others say about there baby's appointments as well.