Christmas Eve & I Can Stand All By Myself

Monday, December 24, 2007

Visiting our friends Scott & Shirley

Grandpa cooking our Christmas dinner

Mommy and Tessa

Tessa and grandma

Tessa's great grandmother

It's been a long night and Tessa's ready for bed

This evening we were all at Tessa’s great grandmother’s house celebrating Christmas eve. All of a sudden Tessa stood up all by herself in the middle of grandma’s living room. I almost missed it if it wasn’t for Aunt Maryann telling me to look. Tessa was so proud of herself.

Tessa Sends Me Off With A Wave

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

This morning as I was leaving Tessa at Kiddie Academy she waved goodbye to me. It was so sweet and just melted my heart.

Mommy Goes Back to Work

Monday, December 17, 2007

Today was my first day returning to work and Tessa’s first full day at day care. On the way into Kiddie Academy I promptly slipped on ice outside the main gate and fell on my side. Tessa was fine. I think she was more stunned seeing me fall. As I went to hand Tessa to her teacher, Miss Rose she began to cry. Thankfully by the time I walked back from putting her coat in her classroom and I peered over the wall she was fine. At the end of the day when I picked Tessa up she seemed happy and Miss Rose said Tessa had a good day.

Tessa Is 15 Months Old

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Wow, it really is going so fast. I can not believe that Tessa is 15 months old. In the past month Tessa has learned to wave goodbye, is imitating my movements, can stand independently for a few seconds, can use a spoon when she wants, is off the bottle except for when she wakes and goes to bed, and is screwing the tops off and on bottles and jars. The only area we have not seen improvement is in her expressive speech. The speech therapist is still not concerned though.

Tessa’s Follow Up Neurological

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

This morning I took Tessa for her follow up appointment. The neurologist seemed pleased with Tessa’s overall progress since her last visit in September. He was however concerned that she is not gaining enough weight and wants all this blood work done. He said he fully expects all the results to be normal but wants to be safe. He also mentioned giving Tessa Pediasure to gain weight. I’m so confused each doctor I go to says something different. I think I’m going to wait before I do anything until the end of the month at her next pediatrician appt and get his opinion. Tessa’s next follow up appointment with the neurologist is in March.

Tessa Saw Santa

Thursday, December 6, 2007

This evening Michael and I took Tessa to have her picture taken with Santa. Initially she sat with Santa but would not look at the camera. By the 4th test shot she had it and started to cry. Michael tried holding her but that didn’t work. Finally I held her while sitting on the arm of Santa’s chair as Santa leaned in towards us. Looking at the above picture as you can see there is part of my body that they were unable to crop.

Afterwards we took Tessa to Johnny Rockets for dinner. This was the first time we have eaten dinner out as a family. For most of the meal Tessa was fine. Towards the end she boredom set and Tessa began making that screaming sound she does when she wants attention. I was embarrassed and kept trying to quit her so not to disturb the other customers. Michael had more of a nonchalant attitude.

Trial Run at Daycare

Monday, December 3, 2007

Today I took Tessa for the first time to daycare. She only stayed for an hour. Tessa started to cry when I left which was heartbreaking for me. I sat outside in the parking lot just in case. When I came back Tessa was sitting on the floor with another little girl. The teacher’s assistant, Doreen said she did just fine.

Another Visit to Eye Specialist

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Today was Tessa’s follow up appointment with the eye doctor. Again the doctor had a difficult time trying to obtain a measurement of Tessa’s eyes. After speaking with Michael the doctor decided to take several photographs of Tessa’s eyes and use them as a measurement tool. He then said we need to see Tessa one more time but that we could schedule her surgery. Tessa’s surgery is now scheduled for February 6th.

First Thanksgiving As A Family

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Tessa with her grandparents

All of us

Donna, Christine and Tessa

The Ludwig/Traut Family

Today we had Thanksgiving dinner at Christine and Bill’s house. My parents came as well. This was the first time they had seen Tessa since the day after we came home from China. They were surprised by how much Tessa had grown. Again because we were around strange faces Tessa tended to cling to Michael and me. Both my mom and Christine were reluctant to hold Tessa because she cried in their arms. We did though have a really nice day.

Someone Has A Temper

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

This morning Tessa became quite angry while being fed her yogurt. As I pulled the spoon out of Tessa’s mouth she banged her fist on the highchair table while giving me the meanest look. It caught me completely off guard. I decided to make a joke out of it and we both wound up laughing.

Tessa's Second Pediataric Appointment

Tuesday, November 20,2007

Today Tessa had a follow up appt with her pediatrician. Tessa needed to get some shots for daycare. The doctor said since her last visit 5 weeks ago Tessa had grown a half inch and had gained almost a pound. Her weight wasn't that accurate though because she kept moving. Overall he felt good about the progress she has been making.

I’m Starting To Learn How To Eat From A Spoon

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Today for the first time Tessa put the spoon in the bowl correctly and into her mouth. Of course she only did it a couple of times before turning the spoon every which way and pudding was everywhere.

I'm 14 Months Old

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Wow, the months are just whizzing by. Before we know it our little girl will be a year and a half old.

Visit to Eye Specialist

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Today was Tessa’s follow up appointment with the eye doctor. He was impressed with Tessa’s eye. He felt that without the patch she was now probably alternating between both eyes when seeing, using each eye separately for different things. The eye doctor decreased the patching to one hour a day. Unfortunately again he was unable to get a good measurement of Tessa’s eyes. He will try again next month. Without a good measurement he is unable to schedule surgery. The eye doctor is now thinking that her surgery may not be for a few months. When we tried to push for a month the doctor was evasive.

Magnets

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Today for the first time Tessa was able during her physical therapy session to put her letter magnets back on the blackboard. Up until now Tessa would pull the magnets off and usually throw them on the floor. Michael saw her do it first and then called me over to watch.