The quints were due this time two years ago, so for fun and out of curiosity I weighed and measured them (standing up) and graphed them on the World Health Organization's child growth charts. I definitely need to make an appointment for Seth with our pediatrician as he has really fallen off the curve, which of course grieves and concerns me. He is borderline "stunted" for unadjusted age (5th percentile at 27 months), but 13th percentile for adjusted age (24 months) and I'm not sure which one to use in assessing stuntedness. I just know from looking at him that he is getting farther behind David height-wise, and he just looks skinnier than he has before. He is in the 5th percentile for weight, but happily has gained half a pound since I last weighed him! He still looks like a child we would be concerned for back when I used to go out with the mobile child health clinics in the villages near us.
A big part of my concern is that the pulmonologist in the US said if Seth didn't gain weight faster he would start falling off the height curve, which is exactly what has happened (from 50th+ percentile at hospital discharge to 27th percentile at 18 months to 13th/5th percentile at 2 years - that's a big drop!). Most importantly, the pulmonologist warned that lack of growth would also affect Seth's lung health. Thank God he's weathered colds well ever since that first nasty one (and we had 2+ months of no colds at all - bliss!), but we want his lungs to keep growing and healing. Please keep praying for Seth.
For those who like all the details:
Will is a BIG boy at almost 31 pounds and just over 35 inches tall
David is fairly normal at 24.2 pounds (a bit skinny, but in the average range) and just over 34 inches
Seth is 23 pounds and just about 33 inches tall
Marcie is also 23 pounds and 32.75 inches tall (low average but perfectly proportional)
Gracie is not yet 20 pounds (at 2 years old!!!). She's 19.8 pounds and only just over 32 inches tall. She is tiny but perfect!
We are doing everything dietary-wise to fatten Seth up, trying every suggestion (just about) that people have made, so for those who are tempted to write and give advice, I already use peanut butter, real butter, eggs, cream, other high fat and high nutrient food items; he hates Boost, Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, he won't drink milk with cream or extra powder added to it. If you want to suggest it, I can pretty much guarantee we've done it. If you want to write and tell me how your kid was the same and then really took off and is now a line-backer, I'd love those stories. ;)
Grateful for your love and care and prayers for our kids and us,
Carrie
This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We live in Papua New Guinea and are working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God through Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, works in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6
Sunday, November 2, 2014
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Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones
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- Video of kids dancing and Will "reading"
- Increasingly amazing big boy
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- 3 a.m. illnesses and other exciting happenings
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- Loving age 2!
- Glamorous Gracie
- My new nephew came early!
- Update on Seth; lots of pictures!
- The cuteness is getting cuter!
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Blue Bell Ice Cream and Cinnabon!!!
ReplyDeleteNow those are great suggestions, Jonathan! First world suggestions, but good ones. :-)
DeleteI wouldn't worry so much. I know that is hard to do. However, my daughter is 5 weighs a hefty 36 pounds! I say hefty because we thought she was never going to get there. Her Dr. said that as long, and more importantly, she hits the cognitive milestones, that is WAY more important then a number on a scale. Having said that, it is important that we watch, wonder,and worry when they lose a little. Remember, this is the way God made him and he is perfect to him. I have had to say that to myself many times when I worry about my daughter. She went from 32 down to 29 and so on and then all of a sudden put on a pound a month and so on, losing a little, gaining a few ounces. It will work out.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to pray for my little man Seth. He is just such a love....seems very bright and curious. Seems he is just small! I will pray for weight gain for him and continued excellent development/growth for them all! Seth has always held a very special place in my heart...seems I was always on my knees for that one! So happy to hear they are thriving, they certainly look great! Prayers continue...
ReplyDeleteThis "quintessential grandma" is grateful for your faithful prayers. Seth is a sweetie, unique in his pleasing personality, sweetness, and affability.
DeleteBack when I was a preemie (in the 80s), the doctor told my mother to put Karo corn syrup in all my bottles! Ew! It sure did fatten me up though. I'm with Seth on milk, cream, and Ensure/Instant Breakfast-type things. Yecch.
ReplyDeleteI weighed 3 lbs at birth, dropped to 2 upon being intubated. I had an NG tube but upon coming home, I ate a pretty normal diet - probably more veg heavy than the average Western kid's, and I refused some normal "kid staples". I was PAINFULLY skinny as a child despite my good appetite, though. Now I'm in my 20s and can out-eat most grown men. My coworkers tease me when we have a potluck because I describe every dish on the table as "my absolute favorite!" I'm the tallest member of my family (dad included) and on the thin side of normal.
What about avocado? Seth might like it mashed up plain/on toast, or it's GREAT in smoothies! Here is a recipe for avocado chocolate pudding that requires no cooking.
http://thischickcooks.net/2012/06/01/chocolate-avocado-pudding-for-non-avocado-and-avocado-lovers/
Coconut milk? It has a ton of fat.
Even without avocado, smoothies would be good. You can pack a TON of calories and nutrients into them without making them super filling.
Good thoughts to Seth (and all your kiddos, of course!)
He and the others will be fine. Some kids are just lean little machines. My pediatrician' s kids were always very skinny and wouldn't eat healthful stuff and grew up just fine - the oldest even went to MIT. He always just kept a laid back attitude. For example about potty training he would say that you don't often see kids going to college in diapers! One friend whose child was fearless and would jump off anything (not a cliff, mind you), he reassured her that this would stop after she broke her leg - haha! You are doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any line-backer stories, but I can tell you that both my now-grown children were little and skinny as babies and kids, but grew up into perfectly healthy, proportional adults. My daughter started out full-term at 5 lbs. 12 oz. and is now 23 years old and of perfectly normal size. My son started out full-term at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and is now 21 years old. He is very short -- only about 5' 5", and only weighs about 120 lbs, but he is healthy and happy. Both of them were well fed and healthy, but always always on the low end of all the growth charts. Seemed to just be their genetic lot in life. Keep up all the good work you are doing with Seth and try not to worry. As long as he is healthy, try not to worry too much about him being small. Small doesn't always equate with unhealthy. I love reading about your kiddos and how you are serving our God. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete