Happy 6 months Baby Eric!

Yesterday was Eric's 6 month birthday! :0)

Today, he finally lifted his head up to about 45 degrees while we were resisting tummy time!!!!
Eric has also been talking to us alot and to his toys. He loves to look at himself in the mirror, just like his daddy ;0) and has been eating his rice cereal once a day now for about 2 months. He doesn't like the taste too much, but will eat it to make us happy! He has been teething for about a month now too. He is slobbery and has chomped on my finger so hard, I could have sworn he has teeth already! He has been pulling at his ears (another sign of teething so I have read) and twirling his hair when he is sleepy!

Last night, he slept from about 7:30 pm to 7:00 am!!!!! We all got a much needed rest! He also stayed up from 7:00 am until around 1 :30 pm and is still napping at 3:50 pm!! WHHOOOOHOOOOO!!!

The last doctor visit was on Thursday when he got an RSV shot. This prevents him from getting RSV which would be very serious in our situation if he got that sick. We have to go in once a month on the day to make sure he stays immunized. His latest weights and measures are:
Weight: 9 pounds 4 ounces!!!
Length: 21 1/4 inches (this still hasn't changed much in a few months)
His blood pressure caused some concern by the kidney doctor. It was a little on the high side, which is not uncommon in kidney disease/failure patients, but if it continues to be high, he will be put on blood pressure medication. It always seems like once we get to stop one medication, we start up something new.

Here is a list of all the medications we are now on:
Formula-Similac PM 60/40, Polycose, MCT Oil, Kayexalate (to get out the potassium)
Medicine-1 shot of Epogen twice a week to creat more red blood cells; Bicitra to keep the pH levels correct in the body (kidneys regulate that normally); Bactrim an antibiotic to prevent UTI's (urinary tract infections) due to bilateral stage 2 kidney-bladder reflux (his urine goes to the bladder then back up into the kidneys); Iron drops to keep his anemia in control; Poly-Vi-Sol Vitamins w/out Iron daily vitamins neccessary for babies and preemies.

Eric was on Zantac for acid reflux, but he seemed to have outgrown that, so I stopped giving it to him. The doctor said that was fine, and we would resume that one if the acid reflux shows up again.

We go to the kidney doctor (the resident) at BAMC on Fort Sam tomorrow as well as to Willford Hall on Lackland Air Force Base to get a kidney ultrasound. I get to drive all the way across San Antonio with a baby all by myself for the first time! YIKES! Anyway, Eric hasn't had an ultrasound to check things out since he was in the NICU so this will be interesting.

We also go to his other kidney doctor (the real doctor) on next Wednesday when they will do the bimonthly blood draw.

On Nov. 16th, the child development specialists come over at 1:00 to see how Eric's "skills" are coming along. In Oklahoma they are called Sooner Start and preemies as small as Eric automatically qualify, and since Eric was so tiny along with a major health issue, he qualifies in any state to be looked at and have any kind of therapy needed. (physical therapy, mental therapy, or just catch up therapy!)

They have also had a urologist (we usually go to a nephrologist for kidneys) call to see Eric as well as an Endochrinologist and Geneticist. They are suspicious of some kind of skeletal "syndrome" but, I guess we will see!

Ok, now for some pictures! Enjoy!

PS~ Thanks to Stephanie for showing me how to add links to my friends (including hers) blogs! JJ has also let me know how to put videos on here, so be watching for that too!

Thanks guys!!!

Here I am with Eric in our front yard. This is before our RSV shot!

Here are Mike and Eric checking themselves out in the mirror in the living room above the fireplace. Cutie pies!

Here is Eric sunbathing by the pool the other day. It got up to 90 degrees that day! Me and Eric watched Mike clean out the pool!

Here is Eric being happy that cereal time is offically over for the night! He is holding it in his mouth and trying to smile it out so he doesn't have to swallow it! Sneaky baby!

A fishy snuck up on us,

sooo....

We had to Eat it!!!!

Eric's cousin Aaron came over to visit and wanted to hold "Baby Awwick" so I let him sit on the couch for a quick picture.

Here they are playing together! How sweet!

That is all for now, I will post something new this week with more pictures and updates!