8 Months

Scarlett is 8 months old today!  She is about 15 pounds, 4 oz. and 25 inches long.  She likes to watch Signing Time and Sesame Street while momma does the dishes.  She kicks anything that comes near her feet, and beginning to push back when we put any pressure on her feet.  She has one full tooth, and two others on their way through.  She still doesn't eat much in the way of solids (or formula, for that matter) but she is improving a little every day.  She gives the biggest, drooliest smiles and is generally happy most of the time.  Everyone has noticed how much more interactive she is lately, which I think comes from being home so much more than she has been in 6 months.

Rocking her new glasses and hat.

It has been 6 months since her brain tumor was discovered in December; 5 months since the tumor was officially removed.  She has had 8 surgeries, and about 90 days in the hospital.  We have come so far, yet have a long way to go.

Her MRI has officially been given the "all clear" by both neuro-oncology and neurosurgery!  No tumor!

Her right brain hemisphere has decompressed well and looks relatively normal now.  Her current shunt (her second) is over-draining, which is causing the bones of her skull to collapse inward.  While this does not bother her too much, her neurosurgeon has decided that it will need some attention - a few surgeries (including a third shunt) over two weeks later this summer.  The two teams will have to negotiate to find a good time - between chemo cycles but before she is one year old (bones heal better before one year).  While more surgery does not sound fun, we want to make sure we do everything we can now to ensure her life is as normal as possible when she is older.  

She begins the next round of chemo next week, so this weekend is our chance for a little fun - hopefully we can make it a nice Father's Day for Chris!