Fifteen Months Already?

Chase actually turned 15 mos. old a week and a half ago, but we just had his well-baby(do I still call it that?) checkup this week. I was a little anxious to meet our new pediatrician, but she came highly recommended, and Chase and I both ended up loving her. Since our MD pediatrician's office still hadn't forwarded his records, I had to recount the highlights of his first year. They were forewarned about the size of his impending file, and I think the nurse thought I was joking. I told her I had his discharge paperwork from the NICU and all of his x-rays on a cd, but this little man comes with quite a novel. I still haven't organized the explanation of all of his services and appointments. The original folder I kept them in was busting at the seams so I resorted to keeping everything in a bin, which is now housed in our basement with lots of other unopened boxes to eventually go through. Anyway....the doc was seriously impressed with my memory for many of the major events, and I told her that was our entire life last summer. You don't forget transitions on and off a vent, the day your child needs a blood transfusion, all of his medications, what tests he passed, or the day you hear the washing machine in his chest. She was even surprised I remembered how much he weighed the day he came home. This blog of course, has been a godsend for recounting all of these details.

On to his actual exam, and starting with the best info first. I am proud to report that the whooshing sound of his heart murmur is apparently no longer there. Since his last echo was almost a year ago, and the opening was still very small at that point the actual sound was worse than the PDA itself. She couldn't hear a thing, and even though he was squirming around like a madman, she was confident in this report. I still have to call Hopkins to see if they still want him to have one last echo done since that was the follow up recommendation. The pediatrician kept saying he was truly our miracle baby and couldn't believe how well he was doing.

Chase now weighs 20 lbs. 14 ounces(7th %tile), and is 29 1/2" long(8th %tile) and has ten teeth including his twelve mo. molars. He unfortunately got two shots but was a trooper as usual. I did find out that he should be able to get Synagis again this year, and we just have to wait to get the final word from the docs and insurance of course:)

Now for Mommy's rundown of how he's doing! Chase eats everything is sight. He will try just about anything and much to Daddy's chagrin, he even likes pickles and olives. Chase will not hesitate to grab an avocado out of a bin at the grocery store-and will even seek them out in the fruit/veggie bowl at the house. We haven't really been forcing the issue with utensil use, but he does enjoy scooping with a spoon and attempting to spear with a fork. Its more like a shovel motion than anything.

Chase clearly has his preferences, and will smack his hands against his tray or lap if something isn't available or is taken away. He has become very vocal and babbles at the top of his lunges in most public places. Most people seem to think its cute, but I unfortunately got a few annoyed looks this week. Just yesterday he said "mama" clear as day when I went in to get him out of his crib in the morning, but he still won't say it consistently. "Dada, baba, woof, and vroom" are still his main vocab. Only when my mom is around will he say "bye-bye". He tries to imitate some initial sounds, and he loves mimicking oral motor movements and sounds. Especially when its followed with cheers from us. Although he still isn't walking he gets around holding onto furniture with one hand most days, and he will occasionally let go to stand on his own. Chase has been very into blocks and his shape sorter recently, and as much as I would love for him to complete a 3-piece peg puzzle, the pieces are much more fun as cymbals. Do you think those Melissa and Doug peeps thought about how much it would hurt to get smacked with one of those wooden pieces? Chase thought it was hilarious. I on the other hand thought I had a broken nose. Gotta love him. He is growing up so fast!

What was I Thinking?

So after the day I've had, I feel it's only fitting to quote the classic 80's movie "Lethal Weapon". Danny Glover's character Roger Murtaugh to be exact. I volunteered to play in a charity softball event today, and after nearly 9 hours on the field, its only appropriate for me to say "I'm too old for this sh**!" I feel like I'm in pretty good shape, and really how tough could a charity softball event be? Little did I know that I was venturing into a day long commitment with 16 uber-competitive teams.

Our Team

Chris and I representing the "Hutch" family

It was very hard being patient-it was high-arc pitching

My cheering section in their Phillies gear

A few weeks ago my brother mentioned the game was coming up, and the teams need at least one girl to be eligible to play. The event is held to honor the memory of a very close friend of my brother's who died tragically at 26 yrs old in an accident last year. His passing took its toll on our community, and now being a parent myself I can only imagine what his parents and family went through. Brian was an avid baseball player and fan, and a softball tournament in his name was a perfect choice. My brother prepped me that some of the teams were "no joke", and I couldn't help but think as I walked to my old high school's baseball fields "Was I in over my head?" I sadly recognized lots of faces not only from the countless baseball games I attended to watch my three brothers play over the years, but also because I babysat for many of these guys when they were little.

Our first game ended up being against a team made up of many of West's '98 baseball champs, and many of the guys still play on a men's league. Although we knew we were up against stiff competition, I was also confident in the fact that many of the players on our team where all-stars that played varsity baseball at West. To say we were a little rusty at first, would be an understatement. We got creamed 18-0 and the game ended early due to the mercy rule. I was embarrassed by my limited performance, and the entire team was determined to redeem ourselves. Luckily this year it was double elimination. Personally I also wanted to show Jason and Chase that I could hang, and not make a fool of myself. Especially because Jas likes to regularly call me "old".

I haven't thrown a softball in years, and despite a little practice with my brother and mom yesterday, I still couldn't throw to save my life. Luckily I can hit the ball, and I'm a pretty fast runner. So over the course of the next two games(we kept winning:) I think I managed to rack up some nice hits including a double and an RBI. I got a little full of myself and stole third in one of the games; only to see my demise with the very next batter when I was tagged out. Oh well...

Fast forward to our last game, late in the evening. My cheering section of spectators had long gone home, and as a team we were all starting to drag. The last team we played consisted of a majority of players I knew, and it ended up being a good game. Ultimately, I think we were all a little tired, and burnt from being in the sun most of the day. We ended up getting eliminated with our loss, but I gathered that I wasn't the only one secretly hoping we didn't have to return for another set of games tomorrow.

All in all, it was an awesome day for an awesome cause. I know had I been a stronger player they would have been able to make a few more plays. Will I play next year? I told the coach maybe if I only had to bat or if I actually practiced and relearned how to throw the stupid ball.

I'm scared to see how I feel in the morning...after all I celebrated a birthday this week, so I am getting a little to old for 4 back to back softball games!

I Love My...

Puppy!! Summer and Chase are best buddies. I have to add some videos so you can truly see the love. Although she is 12 yrs. old, she still has lots of energy, and tolerates Chase's daily antics.

"Excuse me, I believe I was here first."

Hanging under the coffee table

"What? Should I not be doing this?"

Chase loves to roll all over Summer. When she gets tired of him she leaves the room. Unfortunately because he's so mobile, he is usually following in hot pursuit.

Summer is patiently waiting for Chase to dump the rest of the toys out of his drum. There are certain ones she feels should belong to her. She is obsessed with a rubber fish at the moment.

As you can see, Chase decided using Summer as a drum was a good idea.

She grew impatient and decided to try to get the fish herself!

Besides his toys, Chase also likes to share his food with Summer. Some days he resorts to sneakily pushing any unwanted food off the side of his highchair tray-where of course she is patiently waiting:)