6 Months, Much Anticipated

6 Months

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26.75 inches

16 pounds, 4 ounces

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Rolling and Rolling

Cooing

Tripod Sitting Sitting Up

Hungry, but Not On Solids (Yet)

Sleeping through the Night (Yay)

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Bending Arm

Reaching for Toys

Still Trying to Pass the Cookie Test

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Little Guy

Fussy

Bay-Cole  Be-Cole (changed due to family protest of the husbandly kind)

Happy Half-Birthday to sweet little Baby Cole!  We have anticipated Cole turning 6-months since about 6 weeks after he was born.  His doctor told us that would be the age by which we would see if he passed the Cookie Test, which is the test typically used to indicate a need (or lack of need) for surgery.  For babies with Upper Brachial Plexus Palsy, the doctors tend to wait 6 months for elbow bending, and if they can bring something (like a cookie) to their mouths in a natural way, they probably won't need surgery right now.  You can check out our last post to read our prayer and hopes for that visit.  Many of you have asked us for an update, sorry to make you wait so long!  

So no, Cole did not pass the Cookie Test.  Though he can sort of bring his hand to his mouth when sitting up, he does it in an unnatural and probably compensatory way (using the shoulder too much).  Cole's doctor earned our trust yet again, in that without us even saying what our hopes were, he vocalized them as his recommended course of action.

 ~Wait~

More waiting.  This has been what we have been doing for the past 6 months and are thankful to continue to do!  The doctor agrees with us that since Cole is continuing to make progress on his own and with therapy, let's wait a couple more months to see if he can pass that Cookie Test.  If he starts plateauing, or isn't passing that test, then we will have a conversation about surgical options.  

Thank you so much for praying and thinking about our Little Guy.  He is a gift from God, and so is the extra time we can wait!

Time to Pray!

Please say a prayer for our appointment at the Brachial Plexus Clinic tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.  Cole is a week away from turning 6 months, so this might be a big surgery-determining appointment for him.  Then again, they might give him until one more appointment to pass the Cookie Test.  That's what I'm hoping for, because as of today, he is not able to bring something (such as a big yummy chocolate chip cookie) to his mouth from the sitting position.  But, he is making progress all the time!  So, maybe if they give him a couple more weeks?  Either way, we are so thankful for each and every prayer lifted up to God for Cole.  Cole bends his arm regularly now, plays with toys, puts his hand in his mouth when reclined.  He can touch his eyes and reach straight out for toys (when reclined).  I just pray for Dr. Ratner (and us) to have wisdom to make the best decision for Cole's little (chubby) body.  Only God knows exactly what kind of damage is there and what Cole needs, and if he needs surgery then I want him to get it!  Thanks everyone!

For those of you dying to see new pictures of my kids, here are a few:

 

And if you made it to the end, a fun video of my kids playing together!