I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by.  Parents of all ages would tell me that before Greta was born; they grow up so fast.  I'm eating their words now.  She talks, walks, gives people the stink eye, laughs, plays with her little friends, objects to certain foods---she is now a real person.  I still look at her and wonder what she'll be like as an adult---what will her profession be?  Where will she go to college?  What will her hobbies be?  She enjoys eating animal crackers, playing with keys, anything related to water, being outside, going on walks, playing with doors/cabinets, seeing her friends (Oliver, Josie, and Sam), push toys, Beans and Biscuit, eating anything that Dave and I are eating, Doritos, licking mirrors, and "helping" to fold laundry.  I am thankful each day that she is a happy, easygoing, and carefree baby.

We had a visit to a Developmental Pediatrician at Riley last week.  I had some concerns about her gross and fine motor development---she still doesn't crawl, pull herself up, and is able to get up from a seated position/laying down position.  I also have noticed she does seem to have much use/utilize her ring or pinky fingers on both hands.  Thankfully, Dave's Aunt Michele (who is a hospitalist at IU North) was able to call on a colleague, Dr. Julie Keck, to run some of my concerns by---she gladly agreed to see us.  Dr. Keck also shares a similar birth story--her son suffers seizures and other developmental issues from a birth injury.  While Greta NEVER has experienced anything of that magnitude, Dr. Keck and I were both robbed of a cheerful birth of our children.

Dr. Keck did notice that she has a strength difference from one side of Greta's body to the other---her gate is not symmetrical, and she has poor muscle tone in her core and chest.  She is concerned that she suffered a degree of hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) during the birth, causing the poor tone.  She is also concerned that there is some brain damage to the white matter on the left side of her brain (causing the weakness on the right side).  We are seeing Dr. Chris Jackman, a Neurologist at Riley in a few weeks.  She wants to a MRI to look further into Greta's brain---I am confident that the MRI will give us a better idea of Greta's minor challenges.  Again, I'm thankful these are minor---while in the waiting room at Dr. Keck's office, there were some kids that were clearly in more challenging positions----spectrum disorders, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.  Greta presents herself as a normal 1 year old toddler---I hope she is able to overcome these delays, developing into a normal little person.

We celebrated Greta's birthday on Saturday.  We had a WONDERFUL turnout of family and friends.  I don't have pictures yet---I'll get them soon.  It was a magical day---Greta received some great gifts---the best?  An empty box of milk duds from her Aunty Jennie.  Yep.  An empty box.  Forget the blocks, push toys, clothes, books ..... an empty box made her day.