A Sneak Peek

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).

I think we got some really good ones. I'll save them until later when my Mom and her decide which ones they want to use but these are some that I like. It was a lot of fun! It always helps when you've got a beautiful setting and a beautiful subject :) (even if she can be a little bratty sometimes!) Love you Meg! Thanks for letting me take your picture!!

Double the fun

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!

Playing in the backyard at Grandma's

Progression of a kiss from Jaden

Luke is 4 months old

Stats:

• Eyes - beautiful blue
• Hair - was a darker brown but is turning pretty light. I'm not sure if he'll be as blonde as Jaden but it looks like it will be a light color
• Weight - he hasn't been to the doctor's but according to Grandma's scale he is 19+ lbs (like 19.6). Edit: we just went to the doctor's/hospital and he weighs 19 lbs. and 9 ounces!
• Length- about 27 inches (according to Grandma)
• Clothes size - at least a 6-9 months! But even some 6-9 months don't fit him. He's such a big boy!
• Smile - will melt your heart!

Just wanted to remember these baby parts...

Jaden playing "piggy" with Luke's toes

Watch out if you're on the road

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!

A couple of birthday parties later...

and at least one more to come with Daddy when we get back to Texas. We had a cake and presents with Aunt Kellie (with the red hair) and Uncle Kicky, Hayden, Grandma and Aunt Megan on Jaden's actual birthday - July 3. Mommy, Anna, and Aunt Megan took Jaden out to lunch to a really cool place that had big race cars and motorcycles hanging from the ceiling. Anna and Aunt Megan played a race car driver video game - that was kinda scary even to watch! Afterwards, we took Jaden to see his first movie - Kung Fu Panda. It was pretty funny. Mommy really enjoyed it.

Then, we had a birthday party on Saturday in the backyard just like Mommy did when she was little. Here are some pictures from our celebrations...

The rocket ship (Star Squad) and "little" Buzz from Grandma

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 :)

A terrific two year old

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!

Jaden's backyard birthday party

Going green - in baby steps

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!)

Recently, I've made an investment in a retractable clothes line. Go ahead Mom - you have permission to laugh at me and say "you thought it was ridiculous when I hung our clothes out on the line years ago!" I did.

I have to say that I feel very good when I walk my little basket of wet clothes outside to hang with cute little clothes pins. And even better when I take them down all nice and neatly folded in my basket. I am proud that I used the sun instead of my dryer. Not only did I save money (esp. since I just found out we pay more than double what my mom does for electricity) and energy by not using the dryer but my air conditioner didn't have to run extra to cool down the house from the heat that would have been created. At least that's how I see it.

Just some pictures

Cookies taste soo good...

especially when you have them all over your face!!!

The joy of being a child

It's amazing to me just how much fun my kids have in the water and the sand each time we go to the beach. Especially Jaden! I try to soak in a little bit of his happiness as I watch him playing. He has such a good time and he never seems to slow down. :)
One of the good things about living where we do is the proximity to the beach. We can be at the water in about 15 minutes. It's close, it's free, it's good for the body, it's good for the soul. What more could you ask for?
We really need to go more often than we do. The kids sleep soooo good after playing at the beach!





Oh and most importantly - Luke made it to the water! Doesn't he look cute in his little swim trunks? (thanks, Dana!)