NICU Follow up

Trey and Bella had their Neonatal Intensive Care Follow up today with Dr. Kim and the Physical Therapist. The NICU team still uses Trey and Bella's ajusted age, and will continue to do so until they are 2 years old. So, even though Trey and Bella's actual age is 14 months old as of tomorrow, their adjusted age is 12 months since their due date was 1 year ago tomorrow.

Trey weighs 17 pounds and 4 ounces (<3 % adjusted; not on growth chart for actual) is 30 3/4 inches long (75% adjusted; 50% actual) and his head is 46 centimeters in circumference (30% adjusted; 10% actual).

Bella weighs 15 pounds and 14 ounces (<3 % adjusted; not on growth chart for actual) is 28 1/2 inches long (25% adjusted, 10% for actual) and her head is 46.3 centimeters in circumference (75% adjusted; 50% actual).

Trey's "soft spot" is now completely closed and Bella's is almost closed with only a finger tip sized spot remaining.

Trey and Bella did very well with the physical therapist. They both walked up and down the children's stairs for her. Trey stood up and took 2 steps. Bella walked across the room without stopping for balance, which they were very impressed by. Trey put a little bead in a tiny container and the physical therapist was very impressed that he knew to turn it upside down to get it out instead of shaking it.

Trey and Bella are on target for their ACTUAL AGE rather than their adjusted age for all developmental skills, including language, fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Though both are within the normal range, Trey is more advanced than Bella on fine motor skills and language development and Bella is more advanced than Trey on gross motor skills!

Both Trey and Bella are very small in size and are falling of the premature growth chart for weight. Dr. Kim suggested giving them as many calories per day as they will tolerate. This can be done by continuing to nurse as long as they will take it, adding fat to their foods (cream, butter, whole milk, syrup, dips, etc.) and giving them Pediasure.

Out of curiosity, Mommy asked Dr. Kim what Trey and Bella's APGAR scores were at birth. Trey's were 3 at 1 minute and 6 at 5 minutes. Bella's were 2 at 1 minute and 7 at 5 minutes. Mommy is glad she did not know this when they were born since its a little scary!

Their next NICU Follow-up will be at 18 moths adjusted age, May 23, 2007.