Good times

Things are great in the Oliver household.  Here's why:

- Pops (Meggan's Dad) came to visit all week and it was great to have him here.  We went to the zoo, had a fun hike in Estes Park, and enjoyed some local Boulder events.  He helped us around the house and in caring for Rachel.  He also taught Rachel to walk by herself and to click her tongue.

Recent Pictures

- Meggan was on course all weekend to learn how to do dry needling as a PT in Colorado.  Jason had Rachel this weekend by himself and we both enjoyed this nice change.

- It's beautiful in Boulder these days.  It's been warm (up to 70 or more degrees most afternoons) and the leaves are wonderful.  But tonight it is supposed to cool off, snow 6 inches, and tomorrow may be a snow day at school.  We have plans to go skiing this weekend!

- Rachel is great.  She did really well with her medical testing last weekend, and is thriving.  Over the course of the last week she has become way less needy and will play on her own again.  She is walking some and this mobility and independence seems to make her happier.

Specifically, she completed her blood, urine, and allergy testing.  She is not allergic to a single thing, which is fantastic.  Her blood test showed that she is low in protein and there was some abnormal reading in one of her liver enzymes.  We have been referred to the Growth and Parenting Clinic for low-weight infants to meet with an infant nutritionist and a multidisciplinary screening on Nov 15th.  In the meantime, the plan is to try and get Rachel to eat and drink as much protein as possible.

We're not concerned that anything major is wrong and Rachel seems really great to us.  She also eats really well and we believe that her diet is healthy, well rounded, and full of lots of protein.  It is possible that I (Meggan) wasn't able to produce enough milk for Rachel over the last few months, so I'm trying to nurse her whenever she seems interested.  This is now including some early morning nursing, which isn't going to help our sleep situation but right now our priority is calories!  (Jason's priority has always been calories and now Rachel is following suit.)  Rachel will not drink whole milk or pediasure, and will no longer drink from a bottle at all.  She will take a sip or two of smoothie from an open cup, so I've made a smoothie that inlcudes cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit and tofu!

So if any of you have any extra pounds you'd like to shed, go exercise a little and while you are willing your weight down, try to see if you can give some to Rachel for us.

Thanks!

For any die-hard Rachel fans, there should be more videos posted on our you tube videos of her playing in leaves, etc.  Can you still find them if I don't post them up here?  Let us know!