Juno is 7 months old!

Our sweet little Juno turned 7 months old about a week ago!

This was a big month for her. She spent almost all of it in her Spica cast, which was not as bad as we thought it would be. Juno put up with it--she wasn't very happy during her time in the cast, but she wasn't miserable. One week before she turned 7 months, the doctor changed her cast to a broomstick cast, which is much more comfortable and allows her to bend at the waist.

We successfully weaned her off of prescription painkillers, which is an accomplishment because she got physically addicted to Lortab after her surgery. But she's clean now!

She started eating "big girl" food--rice cereal, carrots, applesauce, bananas, and crackers and drinking water from her sippy cup. She loves eating anything she can hold in her hand, but isn't interested in being fed by a spoon.

Part of the reason we started her on solid food is because she lost about a pound while in her Spica cast. That doesn't sound like a lot, but when you only weigh 12 pounds, it certainly is. Her pediatrician is concerned, but I'm not (yet). All my babies are itty-bitty and all her muscles atrophied over the last few months, so it makes sense that she lost a little weight. I won't worry until she is cast free and not gaining.
Her sleep suffered while she was in her Spica, but she's getting back on track now and most nights she sleeps 3 hour stretches. That sounds awful for a 7-month-old, but after getting up every hour with her for 6 weeks, it is heaven.
Juno hasn't quite figured out the pincer grip (she still clutches things in her fist), but she can transfer things from hand to hand and put them in her mouth.
Juno has no trunk control or upper body strength to speak of, but she can sit up if she leans against the upper bar on her cast.

She may not have upper body strength, but she has some killer abs. She can lift her heavy legs all the way up and hold her toes while she is lying on her back!Overall, Juno is happy, healthy, and thriving. We are so grateful for her sweet, patient spirit! She is such a blessing to our family.