Hello! We had a great appointment at the NICU follow-up clinic today! The neonatologist plotted Ruby's growth on a chart and interestingly, her growth curve is the same as a "typical" child her age. She is below where she is supposed to be in overall weight and height on the chart, but the curve is exactly where it's supposed to be. They didn't expect her to follow the curve at all. Her neonatologist even said that she is exhibiting some catch-up growth! He expects her to be in the 3rd percentile soon! How amazing is that - going from being WAY off the charts, to slowly creeping on to them?! I am ecstatic! They were all SO amazed at how great she is doing! Her neonatogist asked me what I was feeding her! It just cracks me up!

He was also extremely impressed with her gross motor skills. Ruby was laying on the table and grabbed the stethescope with both hands and put it in her mouth and he just couldn't believe she is the same baby that weighed 3 lbs at birth. I was, of course, a beaming, proud mother! We discussed all of her systems and eyes and her neonatolgist pointed out that there are premie babies born that have much worse brain damage than Ruby and are completely blind too because of their prematurity- just proves that nothing in life is guaranteed. I feel very fortunate for this wonderful news and for Ruby's health! It's a miracle.

We also had a great visit at the NICU on Wednesday with Ruby's primary nurse, Bev. It was so strange to walk into the NICU again. It brought back a flood of memories and feelings for me. Seeing Bev brough back a lot of emotions too - she was the cornerstone of Ruby's care and was so diligent in making sure that I was informed and that Ruby was always top of mind for everyone. Bev is the reason that Ruby got out of the hospital so quickly and I will always hold a special place in my heart for her. We wanted to see Ruby's other primary nurse, Caroline, who is also wonderful, but she wasn't there. Ruby threw a little bit of a fit and we only stayed for 20 minutes or so. She was thinking - I remember this place, get me OUT OF HERE! It was so wonderful to walk out of there with Ruby in my arms and know that our lives are so much different since the last time we left there together. It's really quite amazing how much things have changed. Just this time last year, I had just recieved the devastating news that Ruby might have trisomy 18, that she might die, and here we are living our lives somewhat normally! WOW! Sorry for the rant, I just have to reflect sometimes on how amazing our lives have been and how far we have come.

Thanks for checking in! I'll write again soon. Love to you all and have a wonderful weekend!