Gabrielle saw the pediatrician three days ago. As we anticipated, we got prescriptions for a blood test for anemia, a hip ultrasound, and a renal unltrasound. Gabrielle takes iron supplements, like nearly all preemies, since iron stores form in the last trimester. A small ear pit prompted the renal ultrasound, since the ears and kidneys develop roughly simultaneously. We were less prepared for the recommendation for a surgical consultation for Gabrielle's naval hernia, mostly because we were previously told that it would almost certainly resolve on its own. With Jen's connections at Dupont, we had Gabrielle seen by a surgeon and had the two ultrasounds completed today. While both ulrasounds were normal, the surgeon did recommend surgery. The hernia has become more difficult to reduce, having a small opening. It is likely that part of the intestine frequently enters the herniation, where blood flow could become compromised. This would be an emergency, of course. The current situation is not urgent, however, allowing adequate time for consideration and scheduling. After seeking a second opinion, we'll probably have the procedure done at Dupont fairly soon. On another note, Gabrielle weighed 8 lbs 12 oz at last measurement. The pediatrician's growth curve places her between the fifth and tenth percentile by weight for a two month old (her adjusted age.) She is gaining weight rapidly, however, and her head is growing particularly fast. With these findings, the pediatrician predicts that she will soon achieve normal size for her adjusted age. She is now 19 3/4in long, and her head is 14 7/8in in circumference. Although Gabrielle has continued to gain weight steadily, we are concerned that she has not eaten well for Nanna and Mike over the past two days. Hopefully, she will eat well for Pop tomorrow. She can be very fussy about feeding. Thankfully, she ate well for us this evening.

Gabrielle has settled into her new apartment, and so have we. Moving was a blast, as it always is. Help from family and friends helped immeasurably, though. I've commuted to midtown Manhattan for a week without difficulty. Jen also returned to work this week--four days per week. Pop watched the peanut today, and Nanna watched her yesterday. I take a 6:34 train from Trenton tomorrow morning, since I work Saturdays. I'll spend Monday at the Johnson's house watching Christina and Gabrielle as part of our child care sharing arrangement.
Brie's last weight check was 8 lbs 8oz 2 days ago. She goes to the pediatrician on Monday for her four month check up. She will get another set of shots. She did fine with the first set, just a little cranky for the rest of the day. It will be nice to see how much she has grown. Her newborn clothes are getting small. Nanna washed all of Brie's 0-3 month clothes so they are all ready for her.

We stopped using the heart and lung monitor on Friday. No more wires! We'd been using it only at night for the past couple of weeks, without incident, of course. The pediatrician told us Friday that we could send the monitor back as soon as we were comfortable doing so. The other big news is that Gabrielle weighs 8 lbs today!

We've had a busy couple of days. I made a whirlwind trip home to meet with two optometrists in the region and briefly visit with family. After leaving my last appointment, I ran into car trouble. Luckily, I was parked on Main St in Muncy near the auto parts store. I replaced the battery and was on my way back to Glenside. Gabrielle kept Jen busy while I was gone. On Wednesday evening, she spent three hours screaming whenever Jen's bouncing was inadequate. Earlier on Wednesday she saw the audiologist who said that there is still fluid in the right ear. They'll re-examine Gabrielle's hearing in 6wks, by which time the fluid may have resolved. She hears well with her left ear. Last night, after I arrived in Glenside, the baby weighed 7 lbs 13 oz at bath time. This morning we're expecting a visit from Shelley and Brian. They're making a round trip to Phila today to pick up a tool--stopping to see the baby on the way, of course!

The past few days we have spent at the beach with our friends the Johnsons. We had a great time. The weather was not very nice and we did not spent any time on the beach, but it was still nice to get away. A lot of our days were spent relaxing at the house or walking near the beach. This was a good time to go to the beach because it was not very crowded so we were comfortable bringing Gabrielle out.

Today we went to the pediatrician to adjust her dosage of her Zantac. She was 7lbs 3 oz at the peds today. Last night she was 7lbs 0.5 oz on our home scale. We are not sure which is more accurate, but either way our little peanut is over 7 lbs. We actually switched nipples in her bottles to a faster flow and she seems to be eating better. It used to take Gabrielle an hour to eat 2 oz and now she eats 2.5 oz in 20 minutes. She is using less energy and eating more! We are still working on nursing and she is getting better at it. Hopefully soon I can get rid of the pump when we are together.
Yesterday Gabrielle went to the Audiologist again. She still failed the hearing test in her right ear. We now have to go have a more in depth test done. Hopefully it will turn out okay. Her hearing in her left is normal so hopefully the right will turn out to be okay as well.

Today we weigh 6 lb 13.75 oz. Last week we saw the pediatric ophthalmologist for the last time with a report of mature retinas and no retinopathy of prematurity. In two days we see audiology again to retest the right ear. Today is an uneventful day with lots of eating and sleeping as well as a walk to Rita's and a bath this evening. The Baby Bjorn carrier works very well now that we're bigger.

The next couple of weeks are busy, with my four-day training in Texas followed by our week in Cape May at a friend's relative's house. The baby won't go on the beach if it's too busy or too hot, but we'll have a good time hanging around with the Johnson's (tall guy in my wedding). We move to Levittown/Falls Twp, not far from Trenton, on June 29. My residency in Manhattan starts Monday June 2, and Jen is finalizing her plans to return to work at about the same date. Jen's Dad and Nanna will help with childcare, and we may work out a baby swapping deal with the Johnson's to provide another day of care. Of course, we've been instructed not to use group day care for about a year.