Joshua has been enjoying lunches out with friends and seems to really be stimulated by being out and about. He charms the ladies wherever we go! People love it when he smiles at them. They turn to the person next to them and excitedly report - "he smiled at me!". I think it makes them feel special so I hate to burst their bubble and let them know he smiles at everyone. Literally everyone. He is such a sweet, sociable baby.
On Friday we went back to Egleston for a follow up appointment at the GI clinic. Joshua had gained one pound since our last visit 4 weeks ago. He is up to 16 lbs. 6 oz. The doctors were very pleased with this rate of weight gain since they only expected him to gain half a pound based on the calories he is getting. I interpret this to mean his body is absorbing more of the nutrients from his milk than expected which is wonderful news! The doctors reduced the rate of his IV fluids so Joshua is now at a 50/50 ratio of calories from milk vs. fluids. We have to work this down to 100/0 before he can have the central line removed. We are making progress. The big news of the visit was the approval to start giving Joshua as much rice cereal as he wants. Woohoo - semi solid food! For now Joshua is getting 2 oz. of breastmilk + hypoallergenic formula mixture eight times a day with rice cereal mixed into two bottles and fed in solid form twice a day.
The big rice cereal introduction was yesterday. It was the first time for Joshua to sit in his highchair and eat solid food! Just like everything so far, he was willing to give it a try. I still can't tell if he really likes it. He opens his mouth readily enough, but the faces he makes when the rice cereal goes in are quite unpleasant. It will be fun to start introducing the good baby food when he is ready.
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