Well Baby

Today Rowenna had a well baby doctor appointment. Baby girl is lookin’ good! Ya Baha’u’l-Abha!

I am totally in love with her pediatrician. It hit me today how absolutely lucky we have been to have her pediatrician and her cardiologist. I have heard absolute horror stories about how little ones with Down syndrome are treated by the medical community and here we are with two amazing doctors.

Her pediatrician adores her. She praises Rowenna’s chunky thighs, oohs and aahs over her Kewpie swirl. She treats her like a typical baby and treats me like a typical parent. When something related to Down syndrome comes up, she knows what she’s talking about.

How lucky we are to simply receive quality medical care. So many parents deal with doctors who feel that kids with Down syndrome will never amount to anything or know nothing about Down syndrome except the incredibly outdated research and stereotypes of the past. Rowenna’s doctor always uses the proper terminology which is more than I can say for some medical professionals we’ve met along the way. She knows what challenges lie ahead for us but speaks of them with a “we’ll work on this together” attitude. She’s on board with our ideas for how to help Rowenna.

Most importantly, she just sees Rowenna for Rowenna. It’s never “because of Down syndrome” this or “because of her limitations” that…it’s just Rowenna is doing great and here’s what to expect next.

So where does Rowenna stand these days?

• 15 pounds, 2 ounces of total cute. 25 1/4 inches of yumminess.
• Surgery scar healing incredibly well.
• Eating 5 different purees with wild abandon and drinking 6 bottles a day!
• Rolling back to tummy and tummy to back.
• Grabbing toys, holding them tight, transferring from hand to hand.
• Putting everything in her mouth.
• Smiling big and working on a laugh.
• Responding to music by swaying and occasionally “singing.”
• Officially working on her first tooth. (Confirmed by pediatrician today!)

Go Rowenna go!

Check out her Kewpie doll swirl! It even casts a shadow!

So proud of my little girl! One last shot of Florida…oh how I wish we were there. It’s cold here!

Lovin' My Baby Girl!