Baby Torchia's News: September 2009

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I updated the blog, but it has been a VERY busy month, so I have an excuse. Lila turned 3 months old a few days ago and is still doing very well. She had her second follow-up appointment with the surgeon last week and weighed in at 9 pounds, 15 ounces. He was very pleased with her progress and she is staying her course around the 5th percentile curve. We don't have to go back to see the surgeon again until she is 5 months old at which time we will schedule her surgery to repair her umbilical hernia, which is still present. The surgeon said it will be a routine outpatient surgery procedure so we will worry about it when we come to it. Lila is starting to smile a lot more, has been cooing a lot, and even rolled over from her stomach to her back today (although it was on the bed with a little incline helping her out so I'm not completely counting that yet!).

As I said before, this has been a very busy month. My brother got married, Lila was baptized, Brody turned 2 years old (potty-trained, moved upstairs to a big-boy race car bed, and stopped taking naps!!), and I started a new job. Tom took the week off for Brody's birthday and we got to take some mini-vacations around here taking Brody (and Lila) to an animal park, to Idlewild, and to the Aviary. Brody loved having his dad home so much and it was so nice to spend so much time as a family with all of us there (even if Lila did sleep 95% of the time).

I want to take a minute a say thank you again to everyone who provided positive thoughts, prayers, and support for us through all of this. I keep hearing of all the people who were praying for us all along and it continues to amaze me how far that web of people stretches. We are so fortunate to be where we are today and I truly believe that is largely in part to everyone's support. At my new job, I am working with more medically complex kids. Seeing these kids and what they and their families face every day really puts it into perspective what a blessing Lila is and how lucky we are. I don't think I will ever drive past Children's Hospital without getting chills, or look at the parents sitting outside without going back there in my mind to our time in the NICU when we wore those pink stickers displaying "NICU Parent." So thank you, thank you, thank you...

And now for some pictures, because every post is better with some cute pictures!

Living Treasures Animal Park:

Brody wasn't too sure about the zebra, but he wanted to feed him...

Our "genius..."

Figured it out this time!

Idlewild Park:

Brody on his first roller coaster - you can see the top of his hat next to Tom in the 2nd row. You had to be 36 inches to ride and Brody just made it (I think his hat put him over the requirement!).