I got a new lens today (which I looove!). Anna has been so good about letting me test things out on her. Even though she didn't even really want her picture taken I think she looks beautiful.
Look at those fat cheeks! Doesn't he make fat look good?
This is the new gadget we picked up last night. It's a little tray for the Bumbo. It's wonderful! I highly recommend it for anyone in the market.
I'm not certain of the reason- traveling, time difference, over-indulgence of junk food at Grandma's and on the road- could be any one of these or a limitless combination but my little Jaden has had the hardest time of any of us adjusting to being back at home. He just seems "wound up". He's got to run and jump and hit and throw. Everything he does seems to have an extra "jolt" of energy. I know he needs to get outside and burn it off but it's been about 96 degrees without counting the heat index and the mosquitos are big, persistent, and abundant! They seriously will bite you through your clothes - I'm not even joking. Chris killed one the back of my shirt at Lowes yesterday when I told him it was biting me. They are out any time of the day too- not just in the evening like normal mosquitos. They don't call Clute "The Mosquito Capital of Texas" for nothing I'm learning. Then, there's a little issue with the bug spray. I'm nervous about using it unless absolutely necessary. The other day Chris sprayed Anna so she could be outside with him for a little bit while he was working. He even sprayed her out of the house. When she came in a little while later the smell was still so strong that it burned my throat a little and made Luke cough. This is even special stuff without Deet for kids. Wonder what's in it instead?
One of the things I wanted to accomplish while I was visiting my family was to get some nice pictures of my little Sis for her senior pictures. I enjoy taking pictures but my subjects are mostly limited to babies and little kids - mine! This was a good opportunity to test my skills with something different. Let me tell you it was sooo much easier than babies and little kids! She never complained that she was tired ("are you done yet?"), she didn't make me chase her, she smiled when I asked her to, she held poses and made adjustments when I told her to. It was actually fun!
I think it was a win/win situation because since I know her so well I also know how she looks best, I can catch her when she's making goofy smiles, and I'm not afraid to tell her if her hair is messed up. The result is that we don't waste time taking pictures with silly things wrong. (I really hate that! There are so many times when I wished the photographer had told me that my hair was goofy or I needed to put on some powder/lipstick/whatever.) I can take some pictures and show them to her. Then we can make immediate changes to get what she likes (and what Mom likes).
It started on Friday. My little Luke was just not himself. He was fussy and crying. He was really hard to comfort. Sometimes he felt kinda hot and sometimes he didn't. I went ahead and gave him a little Tylenol figuring something was bothering him and just hoped it was a little headache or something that the medicine would fix. He had a rough night and and even rougher day. I took his temperature under his arm and it was normal. I was so confused because he felt warm? I thought maybe the thermometer was funky. It has been in the diaper bag for a long time - I just kept it there for traveling and don't remember where it came from. My mom was watching him during the afternoon and took his temperature (rectally - doesn't sound pretty but its more accurate). The reading was normal. Okay. So, I started trying to think about what it could be. Headache? Teething? Belly ache? ???
Sometimes he seemed like he wanted to be held and sometimes it seemed like it hurt him to be picked up. Sometimes he wanted to nurse and was fine and sometimes he wanted to nurse but would just cry. He seemed sleepy but didn't sleep longer than probably 20 minutes when he did fall asleep. And he just cried and fussed and did his shrill little scream. Clearly he was not feeling well. And clearly I was quickly becoming EXHAUSTED! Finally on Sunday morning when things were not getting any better and the Tylenol I had been giving him didn't seem to be helping much I told my Mom that I thought I needed to take him somewhere. But where? We are 1400+ miles away from home and its a weekend! I was worried about taking him to the ER because I wasn't confident a doctor there would be that familiar with a 4-month old - at least not if the problem was something outside of the normal things (sore throat, ear infection). I am very lucky that my Mom is a labor/delivery nurse and has regular contact with the Pediatricians at her hospital. She was able to find out who the Pediatrician on-call was and he agreed to see my little guy on this day - a Sunday even. He checked his heart, his lungs - both good. (for those of you who have noticed his sort of loud and gurgly breathing - the doctor said its fine) He checked for a hernia - okay. Belly was soft - good. Then he got to his ears. He checked the right - he said it was a little red. Fun! Then he checked the left and guess what? It was red as well. Double fun!
He gave us a prescription for an antibiotic. Thank goodness for that man. My little baby is doing soooooooooo much better already. He has been smiling, he's napping well, he's looking around and he's pleasant. My little Lukey is back! He still has times when he's fussy but we've continued giving him Tylenol (he recommended every 4 hours for 2 days) and it's helping.
So just cross your fingers, say a prayer, send positive thoughts - whatever works for you - that we make it back home without any more trips to the doctor or hospital!
Jaden playing "piggy" with Luke's toes
Megan's got her driver's license!
She was really nervous but she did great! She actually is a pretty good driver. She's cautious and not cocky like most new drivers are. Great job Megan!!!
Grandma (or "Ga" as Jaden calls her) was home with the kiddos while I went with Megan to take her test. When we got home Jaden was still sleeping but Luke was sitting in the bouncy chair. I didn't notice until I started to take him out but he was wearing a pull up! All the diapers were upstairs so Grandma just stuck a pull up on him. The best part was that he had a little wedgie and one cheek was sticking out!
Aunt Megan turned 18 on June 27th. She was away at the National Youth Leadership Conference in Philadelphia so we had a cake for her too!
Look at that smile! He got a "Big" Buzz from Anna. This one has a real laser and voice commands! He disappeared into the front room to play with his new toy all by himself.
Hayden :)
One year ago...
Two years ago...
You've come a long way baby!You are a two-year-old through and through! Everything you do you do with gusto! It seems like your energy will never run out. You have the most genuine and heart warming smile. And when you cry and great big tears drop from those sweet brown eyes you break our hearts.
You are definitely "rough and tumble" but you are also so sweet and gentle. We love you more than words can say. God was so kind to send you to us. We are thankful that he gave you the strength you needed to grow and get stronger even though you were born before you were ready. We can see this strength in you everyday and we know that it will carry you through whatever lies ahead. God bless you, Sweetheart!
Since I quit working and got my first subscription to "Organic Style" (not around anymore) I've been trying to be more "environmentally conscious". I don't really buy cleaners at the store anymore. Once in a while I'll buy something that supposed to be "natural" like the new Clorox green line or Mrs. Meyers. But I usually just use the good ol' basics - vinegar, baking soda, and borax with a little liquid soap thrown in. I even try to buy liquid soap that is not made from a petroleum derivitive - so as not to support our dependence on the oil companies. These are getting easier to find in regular stores - by the way. I've changed almost all of my lights over to the enery-efficient versions. I try to use towels, rags, and cloth napkins instead of paper towels. I try to limit things like bottled water or anything else "disposable" that takes up space in land fills. With all that said, I've still got a long way to go but at least I'm moving in the right direction. (I'll list some vices so I don't look like a "goody-goody": disposable diapers - tons with two boys in diapers! -, baby wipes, I haven't gone down to the city building to buy the special bags I need to recycle, washing some clothes in hot water still, enjoying too long of a shower, anti-bacterial wipes in the bathrooms, and much more!)
