Two months have gone by to the day since I last updated.  Some of you have been kept in the loop through word of mouth through family and friends, and others have not.  I apologize to all of you since everyone has been such huge supporters of us since Lauren came in our lives.  Allow me to fill in the blanks:



Lauren has grown so much over the past little while.  When she was weighed last week, she was 17lbs and 6.5 oz.  A far cry from the tiny 5 lbs 11 oz she was born at.  Her growth is right along the 50th percentile (out of 100 children, she's almost smack dab in the middle), so she's doing FANTASTIC!  Her weight gain needs to be monitored as not enough calories will deprive her of the energy she needs, and too much can cause an excessive weight gain that would hinder her movements.



But there's so much more to talk about.  Lauren's reaching range is increasing bit by bit, and her mobility is a slow progress, but it is indeed progress.  Just tonight, as I was holding a soother in her mouth while she was feeding through her g-tube, I was able to get her to mimic my head nodding as I said "Yes".  Even when I tried to shake my head "no", she nodded back "Yes, Daddy!" 



Rita, Lauren and I went off to McMaster Hospital on Tuesday for some routine checkups, and everyone is pleased with her progress.  There haven't been any real issues, so there's no concerns.  Rita and I have definetely become the experts in regards to Lauren, and we have an amazing pit crew. 



The real exciting news is that the three of us were able to make it out to Lauren's first non-family inspired social event!  We went to a friend's house for a birthday party, and impulsively we decided to try to take Lauren, and it was a great success!  Lauren talked up a storm and finally met people who have been waiting so eagerly to meet her for the past 9 months.  We only planned to go out for maybe 2 hours, but the three of us lasted about 4 and a half hours out there!  HUGE milestone!



Now, before I right the next part, I want to assure you Lauren is doing well and is just fine here at home.  This is going to be a personal reflection that I would like to share with all of you about something I've leared from Lauren.



You never know when your life is going to change.  It could be a sudden change in job, a good friend moving away, or a new found dogma that you can't help but succumb to.  Lauren has changed me in so many ways, and she's taught me to try to not rush through life.  Although I'm the busiest I've ever been in my entire life, it is important to sit back, relax, and have a smile at your accomplishments.



Lauren has not met the "standard development" mlestones that most babies would have met by now.  She does not roll over, nor does she crawl.  She does not cry out at night, nor does she projectile vomit food that is good for her.  But she does sit back and look at you with such interest, and when wraps her tiny fingers around just one of mine, she lets me know that everything, in its own way, is going to be okay.  "Stay here with me, Daddy" I can almost hear her say with every squeeze on my finger.  "Read it again, Daddy" as she squeezes again.  My personal favourite, and this comes with the long, hard squeeze, is "I love you, Daddy". 

There have been a couple of times when, in just taking care of Lauren, she has had a mucus plug that prevents her from breathing, and she loses her colour, and things get a little scary.  Tonight was one of those nights.  Again, I stress that Lauren is fine and doing well, but I do want to put this out there.

Sometimes I wonder if I do enough.  I am so busy with work and school, I wonder if I’m making enough time for Lauren.  I do what I can do make everyone happy, including myself, but you never know when your life is going to change, and things like tonight put it all into perspective.

Lauren is a very special child, and I don’t think there is one person who disputes that.  I am going to make sure I spend enough time with her, and let her know that I love her more than she can imagine.  I urge all of you to do the same with your loved ones.  Don’t let a day go by when you don’t tell them you love them.  It could be as you go off to work, a quick phone call, heck, even unloading the dishwasher so they don’t have to do it.  Love is truly an amazing thing, and it is what binds the human race together.  Share your love.