Another busy, but fun weekend is past. We celebrated Grandpa Mike's birthday (they didn't reveal my number, so I won't reveal his) and got to visit with Aunt Kaci and Uncle Justin, who made the trip down from Indy. (Little) Justin is getting better at playing some of the grown up games, so he enjoyed himself and I think was proud of himself too. He needed some help with dominos, but still managed to beat everybody.

Gabe has some pretty swollen gums, which we think has been the main factor behind some other troubles. He has had a perpetually snotty nose, the persistent fluid in his ears and some increased moodiness and decreased interest in the milk. It has been a concern, but over the weekend he has increased his oral intake of the milk. The last three nights he has taken almost 5 to 5 and a half ounces by mouth before bedtime. That is the most he has taken orally at one time. The past three mornings he has taken over 3 ounces at the first feedeing, compared to the 1.5 oz he had been taking in the morning. Over the weekend he took around 14 ounces orally all day, compared to the under 10 he had been taking. He is also getting a little more comfortable with slightly increased textues. I have been playing around with some fresh fruits and veggies and the food processor to make our own baby food, and he really likes this better than the stuff at the store. That has helped increase his oral intake at meal times. Yesterday he took almost 4 ounces of food at each meal. We are still using the mesh feeder and increasing the variety we put in there. OT, Ginger, gave some more suggestions to increase his fiber, since constipation has been another issue we've been dealing with. We add extra formula to increase caloric quality, so that is in turn aggravating the constipation. We have tried apricot nectar in his cup and raisins, blueberries and fiber cereals in the mesh feeder. I think we are slowly seeing the benefits. That's all I have time for today. Lots to do!!