Meg's visit with Dr. Jonathan

Meg went to doctor yesterday and visited Dr. Jonathan again. He remembered her well from her referral check up. He also was kind enough to go over her medical information when Meg was in the hospital here in HCMC. What a wonderful doctor!

Her appt was at 230pm and she did great. She coo'd and smiled for him and was quick to show him how much she likes to roll from her back on to her tummy. She is very little which is to be expected after her long stay in the hospital. She weighs a little over 10 1/2 lbs and her lenght is 22.5 inches long. She is doing well developmentally and is on track he felt. Her physical growth is another story and she is basically the size of a 1 month old baby here because of her hospital stay, intubation, etc. My sweet girl is doing well though and he was happy to see her strong will to roll and how much she likes to play on her stomach and hold her head up high. He wants her to see a pediatrician when we return to Canada and felt that a bit of physiotherapy (exercises) would help her strengthen up quickly.

So... good doctor's visit. I was happy to finally meet Dr. Jonathan who is very well known and respected amongst the adoption community. His walls were covered with hundreds of photos of babies and children he has looked after - many of which were internationally adopted like Meg.

Meg was eating 2 oz of formula every 2 hrs when she joined us. We've convinced her that 3 oz every 2 hrs (during the day) is a better choice and for the most part she is starting to finish these tiny bottles. The doctor wanted us to 'bulk up' her bottles so she has a more concentrated amount of formula mixed with her water. She loves her bottle warm. Dr. Jonathan told us not to offer her the bottle more than 1x. If she does not want it when it is time, do not keep 'offering it' to her til the next feeding time. He said that many children have trauma associated with being force fed or bottle prop fed in the orphanages. He encouraged us to read her signs and avoid insisting or 'encouraging' her to eat anything if she doesn't want to. This was good information to have and not something I would of thought of on my own. She is taking her bottle more readily from us though and is enjoying it more each feeding. She won't be offered any sort of solids (rice cereal) til we are home and she is completely comfortable with us. Her nanny has tried cereal and said Meg hates to have it put in her mouth and kicks up a fuss. So... she is not ready for that from us quite yet.

Well, it is the middle of the night here. Meg slept from 8:30pm til 3:30am (yay!) and I just gave her a bottle and now her and daddy are both back to sleep. I think I'll go join them.

Night (or afternoon to you all back home)!