Therapy

Zoë had her follow up therapy appointment today at Valley Children's Therapy with the neonatologist, OT, PT, nutritionalist and nurse.  What a team!  I was nervous that Zoë would be thrown off by all of the people in the room, which seemed to be the case in the beginning, but once she was down on the floor playing with some toys she was just fine.  It was interesting to see what the team did to test her development and I think they asked us every question in the book!  She got the "gold star standard" for a four month old and is well on her way to accomplishing all of her developmental goals by the seven month mark (when we go back for another appointment).  This team will continue to use her adjusted age until she's two.

Some recommendations from them...

-We should stop using the Bumbo chair.  Apparently, it sucks for developing the muscles Zoë needs to sit properly because the seat is lower than where her feet stick out and that doesn't help her learn how to sit the right way (she could learn to be hunched over, not cool man).  We are going to use the Boppy to help support her (she doesn't need much!) and we need to find a high chair so she can sit in that to eat.

-We need to stop encouraging her to stand.  Apparently (especially because she's a preemie) her reflex is to push against whatever her feet are touching and we need to encourage her to contract her body rather than push out because she'll need those muscles to crawl and eventually walk.  Apparently standing on our laps or in her jumper/excersaucer encourages her to use both legs at one time doing the same movement rather than alternating, which is what she'll need to be able to do to crawl AND walk.

-Having a variety of toys is great, and we're also going to get a 4ft long mirror to put on the floor so when she's on her tummy it lengthens the amount of space she can see.

-She's graduated to a level 2 nipple in her bottle because it's taking longer for her to eat.  Other than that, her feeding looks good (whew!).

Overall, she's doing really, REALLY well.  We won't see Sharon, the neonatologist, again :(, but we'll see the OT and PT again in three months when we go back.  It's so nice to hear everyone gush over her (it always has been) and see people who take such good care of her.  Zoë is a lucky, lucky girl!