B's 6 Month Appointment

he did great...Keaton...made me want to crawl in a hole. He spent the better part of an hour on the floor kicking and screaming...for no reason...just because he could. I think it's worth it to hire a sitter for any upcoming appointments.

Benjamin got the rotavirus oral vaccination and the pentacel (DTaP, Polio and HIB combo). He puckered his lip and then smiled at the nurse! With his fat thighs, I'm certain he didn't feel too much!

He is 28.75in and weighs 21lbs6.8oz...both 97%...his head is 43.6cm (40%) - where Keaton always was with length and head size - except K didn't weigh this much til about 14 months, haha!

He's doing perfectly developmentally (according to the ages and stages form). She said we could introduce a cup with water in it at meal times...

And that was that!

a poem about Benjamin

this lil piggy went to the doctor

this lil piggy got undressed

this lil piggy got on the scale

this lil piggy peed on the scale

this lil piggy weighs 19lbs.6.5oz.

He got one shot, puckered his lip and off we went :)

Since we have successfully avoided the pedi for a month (basically, haha) they (the receptionists, aka: Keaton's girlfriends!) they were so excited to see the boys :)

that's all for now :)

Update on Keaton

We got him into the pedi this morning...

Time for me to vent. I'd like to make a note of how ridiculously stupid it is for there only to be 1 office open (note: our pedis office consists of 7 offices located throughout Raleigh) the day after Christmas. Could they not just be short staffed at every office? I'm thankful we got in when we did (930am) when only about 5 families were sitting in the waiting room, as opposed to 10am when there was standing room only! But still...am I the only person who sees the problem here?

ANYwho...Yesterday afternoon, Keaton was wheezing while breathing. He only had a couple episodes of this and the episodes only lasted a few minutes. He didn't seem to have trouble breathing (nor did it slow him down!) We had a long night with Keaton coughing a lot up until about 3am. He sounded great this morning, but, knowing that we were going out of town, I couldn't leave without knowing all was ok.

The pedi said that his congestion is NOT in his lungs (praise the Lord) his nose is definitely "congested" (really? the snot all over his face couldn't tell you that, you HAD to look up his nose?!)

She re-filled his Albuterol for his nebulizer and gave us a prescription for basically a "Wheezing suppressent" (Zach has the paper at work and I can't remember the name). If he starts the wheezing while breathing again, we're to start the suppressent for 5 days and see what that does.

I find it very interesting in the past couple of weeks, I've found the following things are linked to asthma in children: Tylenol, vacccinations and c-sections. (And isn't it funny...they tell you to give Tylenol before your child receives vaccinations....hmmm)

Both boys are down, time to finish cleaning and packing.

Continued prayers for Keaton would be greatly appreciated. As well - that Benjamin doesn't come down with anything, that I would get better (I'm fighting a cold, too. Can't seem to beat it since I'm not getting any rest) and safe travels for this weekend.

I'm the enV of all my friends...(and 4 month appt)

THAT'S what happened this weekend. ::headsmack:: I got a new phone! I got the enV2 in maroon. I'd been eyeing it for along time and, long story short, I have to give up some of my birthday money, but it was definitely worth it - I no longer feel the urge to throw this phone out the window anymore.

We had a very.long.night. Benjamin got to sleep for about 45 minutes and then woke up screaming...he never really slept well until again until about 5am when I decided to try to see if he'd sleep in the swing (future reference, this will be the first place I try!) It was a really long night and I was really worried he may have an ear infection. We tried everything. Rocking, bouncing, swaying, shushing, nursing, bottle, letting him cry, etc...nothing was helping.

We got to his appointment and they thankfully got us in pretty quickly. We got him weighed and measured (more to come...I know you're on the edge of your seat!) and I got confirmation that a few spots of dry skin on him is indeed eczema. He got one vaccine shot (Pentacel - DTaP, Polio and HIB combo) and the oral Rotavirus vaccine. I asked the pedi to make sure it wasn't his ears or throat or anything. She said it wasn't - both looked fine. But felt his gums and said that his two, bottom front teeth were fully in & the gums were "bulging" - she informed me that he may not get teeth for a couple months, or we could get them in the next week. Joy. (I'm not taking it too seriously as we were told at 2 months K would be getting teeth "any day" and he didn't til 9 months or so).

Atleast we only have Keaton's 2 year molars to go and we'll be done with his teething madness.

OK, stats:
Head cirum. - 42.5cm (50%)
Weight - 17lbs. 10oz. (90%)
Height - 27in. (97%)

To compare - at 4 months, K was:
15lbs. 12oz. & 27.5in.

We can scratch that off the 'to-do' list for the week!

4 months

Well, silly me posted pictures instead of talking about B yesterday! He turned 4 months! How quickly this time has passed!

He is usually a very happy baby (compared to K up until this point!) He loves "talking" - he jabbers all day long! He is super smiley and makes me melt with every gummy grin! He is trying so hard to roll over (I'm not encouraging it!) He loves his toes (who doesn't?!) He loves chewing and sucking on his hands. He still would rather be in the wrap snuggled up next to me than any other place (and I would rather that too!)

He's been sleeping thru the night since about 6 weeks (minus the snafu with HFM and a few days after...) He just doesn't like to nap (taking after Keaton)

He loves being in his jumperoo and jumping and making the silly thing make all sorts of noises.We've had to move it up to the 2nd level - we're not sure if it's because he's that long or if it's his weight weighing it down (I'm not kidding!)

He loves his big brother and watches everything he does (and laughs when K gets into trouble! hhahah!)

We go on Monday for his 4 month check up and 2 vaccinations (1 shot and 1 oral) ((I promise soon, I'll write about what we're doing and why!)) I'm SO excited to see how much he weighs, I really do feel our scale was pretty accurate in saying 18lbs....we shall see!

So that's my baby at 4 months! I could eat him :)
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On the mommy front, I'm just about done with Christmas. I've been busy doing a lot by hand this year and it's been so much fun.

To go along with my peppermint marshmallows I "made" peppermint all purpose cleaner! I bought some 7th Generation All-Purpose cleaner and some peppermint essential oil. In a separate spray bottle I poured 4 oz. of cleaner and a bunch of drops of oil. I shook it & started cleaning...ahhhh, Christmas on my counters! yummmmmy!

I can't wait to show off some of my hand made goods, but not til after Christmas!!

I was also accepted to write for another blog, 24 hour menu. It's a recipe blog that I really enjoy reading. I'm super excited about this! I've really been enjoying coming up with ideas and writing for {busy mommy} as well.

Time to throw dinner in the oven! Til next time

What could be next?

Ok, I confess. I'm at the end of my rope with illness in this house.

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, B got his PCvax yesterday morning. Around 1230pm, he started crying. Fussy day? Maybe? Reaction to the vaccine? Shoot, I cry when I get a shot and I know what's going on, I can be OK with a 3 month old being upset over it!

As the night wears on, B is showing no signs of being calmed. He wouldn't nurse, but he would take a bottle - so we did that as often as he'd let us.

Most of the night is a blur. But I know he got a bottle around 330am.

I tried to nurse him around 7. He wouldn't have it. Same thing at 8.

At 830, I finally called the pedis' urgent care number and left a message for a nurse.

At this point, I'm thinking ear infection since he wouldn't nurse.

The story that ensues after this, as Angela would say, "You can't make up this stuff..."
*Note: sarcasm & my thoughts will be italicized. :)

830am - I call and leave a msg. on the nurses' line (their msg. states they have 1 hour to call you back)

950am - I finally call back (they're only open until 1230pm, so I want to make sure if he needs to be seen, we can get him in) The receptionist informs me that my msg. was not received, she jots down my info and promises a nurse will return my call ASAP.

10am - A nurse calls back (one of our favorites from the office - she remembers me and treats me like a human, a concerned, sleep deprived mom - something I really needed) She asks me to bring him on in since he was running a low grade fever over night. She gives me (awful) directions and off we go (to who knows where!)

1040am - I arrive at the urgent care center and sign in. I sit down in a VERY, hot waiting room (I ran out the door so I just threw a sweatshirt on over my nursing tank...it's 29 degrees outside...I can't just whip off the sweatshirt ...ok I could have, but, I chose not to...)

...some time passes and I realize that people are coming in and being called back - no one has asked us for our information yet or anything...I finally go up and ask if they need my info. One receptionist who knows us from our office, looks at her "desk mate" and says, "SHE didn't get your info???" I smiled, said, "No..." She rolls her eyes and says she'll be with me in a minute...

By this point, B is screaming his head off, and there is a family speaking in Spanish about the "baby who wouldn't stop crying"...nice...I did take 5 years of Spanish...and do remember a bit....

a few minutes later, we're called back. Before leaving the waiting room, I noticed a thermostat - it says the room temperature was 81! 81 degrees!!!

We get in an exam room and I notice it's probably 20 degrees cooler, however, I still remove my sweatshirt. The nurse informs me "The Pedi" will be with me in just a few minutes. I'm glad there wasn't a clock on the wall...I'm sure 20 minutes passed...

"The Pedi" (N) walks in and looks at me (T) like I have 4 heads. I inform her how it was so hot out in the lobby, she smiles...I just know this is going to be a fun appointment...

N asks me what is going on. I explain the shot/our delayed schedule, the no sleep, the screaming, the non-eating...She stops me in mid sentence as if she wasn't listening and says, "Let me listen to his chest..." whatever...

N: "He sounds great!"
T: "Yeh, he isn't congest..."
N: cutting me off again, "Let's look at the ears..."
"Oh, Beautiful ears! Not infected!"
T: "Oh good! That was what I was wondering it was! I'm so glad. Do you think..."
N: cutting me off, again, "While he's on your lap facing me, let me look at his throat" (B is as irritated w/ "N" at this point as I am and is screaming bloody murder - she got a nice good look and exclaimed "He has Coxsackievirus!"
T: Ok....
N: "You probably know it as Hand Foot Mouth..." (she goes on to explain what I already know about HFM...it's awful, that's about it...)
T: "Oh great!"
N: "Yes!"

I swear, she genuinely sounded EXCITED that this is what it was.

T: "So how long..."
N: (do I need to say it...she cut me off again!) "...Does it last? Well that depends on the child, but you are probably looking at 5-7 days..."
Why ME?!
T: "Ok, so what can I do?"
N: (She for real rolled her eyes at me) "There isn't a "cure" for it...I can't give him medicine..."
T: "OK...so what can I DO?"
N: (deep sigh) "Well, keep him comfy..."
T: (deep breath...) "OK...my child has not eaten since 3am...WHAT can I do to get him to eat?"
N: "Keep him hydrated..."
T: "And how should I do that if he will NOT nurse??"
N: (another deep sigh) "Well... the best thing to do would be to mix 1/2tsp of Children's benedryl and 1/2tsp. of Maalox and squirt it on the back of his throat...The Maalox will coat his throat and help him swallow...The Benedryl will act as an ((insert big medical word I don't know)) and basically dull the pain..."
T: "Ok, Benedryl and Maalox. Interesting. Do you have a pen so I can jot that down?"
N: "You don't need to write it down. It's easy to remember...1/2 tsp. of each...You should also get some Pedialyte and pretty much sit on the couch and give him dropperfuls..."
T: "OK, so Benedryl & Maalox and Pedialyte..."
N: "NO, you don't mix all three.... Just the Maalox and Benedryl.."

Seriously. If you cut me off one more time, lady...

T: "Oh, one other thing..."
N: (she had her hand on the door and didn't remove it until she actually left the room at the end of this next section...) (deep sigh) "...Yes..."
T: "He gets really fussy when we lay him down flat. That's not characteristic of him...Would it be helpful to lay him on an incline..."
N: "You don't have to do that. He's just wanting you and comfort..." (she opens the door to leave)
T: "No, I really don't think that's what it is...could it possibly be hurting him...."
N: (once AGAIN) "Of course it's hurting him...it's burning when he tries to swallow..."
T: "OK...so there is not a thing I can do?"
N: (as she opens the door and walks out...) "Just TLC, have a good day..."

wow...

For starters. I'm sorry that you have to work on a Saturday, and probably a Sunday too. But you know what. You knew that when you made the choice to become a "Health Care Provider." I'm sorry you got the shaft and you have to work this weekend, Hey, at least you get to be on the cool side of the building! Maybe you wanted to be at the Christmas parade with your kids...guess what, I wanted to sleep last night and I bet my husband did too! Such is life...

I'd also like to add that (in case any medical professionals read this) when patients (especially tired moms!) come in for answers, don't treat them like they should have read your medical text books before coming in...please don't act like I'm wasting your time...and hear me out with all my questions...

And "N" if by some RANDOM chance you read this, I still had a handful of questions that I needed to ask you. If you would have allowed me 30 seconds to allow the fact that my child had HFM to set in, I could have thought of them...now I'm stuck with a handful of questions and left to Google them (B/c I'm SURELY not calling to speak with you tomorrow!)

(For those reading and think this sounds harsh, yes, it may be, but I'm exhausted and worried for my baby....oh, and this is NOT sarcasm!)

"Oo-OO"

says the monkey. And in our case, our little Monkey :) Keaton has started making a monkey noise whenever we see a monkey (note: Monkey's are not often seen in this part of NC, merely in books and on toys) :)

He's expanding his vocab everyday. I'm simply amazed at what all he can "say" (I have to translate most of his words...but the fact that he's associating the same sound, usually the correct sounds, with an object or idea, is awesome). His favorite word is still "No" :) His newest is "Bah" for bath.

He has started signing milk (one that I never showed him, except in his sign language book!) in addition to more, eat, done/finished, light (sometimes), drink (sometimes), hi/bye (haha), and it seemed like there was another one, but I can't remember right now.

Benjamin had his vaccination visit today (we're spreading out his shots so he doesn't get a ton in one visit. It means more trips in, but, I feel better about it this way - I'll write more on this later) He just got one and took it like a champion :)

I was also curious as to his weight because he is wearing 6-9 month clothing (Not entirely, but some things, depending on the fit)... My little chunk at 3 months and 6 days weighs in at.......

16lbs. 1oz.!!! This is "nearly off the charts" (97%) for his age. (K weighed 16lbs. at 4 months) Unbelievable!

I want to apologize for not posting a lot of pictures recently. I've been taking them, but when ever I upload them to Blogger, they post all weird and if I try to caption them, they go out of order...I'm not stupid but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong!! It's RATHER frustrating and I keep meaning to shoot someone an email at Blogger, but...I keep putting it on the back burner...along with calling PlaytexBaby about sending me a new pump since mine died :( going to our old apartment and visiting the Hahns and Macks!!!!...and about 18 other things!!

What Should I Call This?

Let's see...where to begin!

Benjamin turned 3 months Saturday! 3 MONTHS!! It is just flying by! He's awesome :) He sleeps great - better than Keaton does now! He loves being in the sling and wrap - always falling asleep in the wrap and yesterday at Target, he fell asleep in the sling!!! I was thrilled! He smiles at me all day long, he's starting to think Keaton is something pretty entertaining and always has "stories" to tell :) He's *usually* asleep by 9pm (the past two nights we've had some going to bed problems) and will usually sleep until 730, if not later!

BeBe just left. She got in Sunday at lunch time for a quick trip. I must say, Benjamin loves his BeBe!!! He just smiled and cooed at her the whole time! :) And of course, Keaton loves her too :)

We all got adjusted yesterday and it felt wonderful!!!

We went to the Mill Outlet Village (a fabric store here). It was a place I've wanted to go to since moving here, but this was the first trip...I LOVED it!!! The people were so nice and so helpful! I got all my materials to make a "mod mommy nursing cover" :) I'm hoping it'll happen successfully and I can add that to the list of items I want to include in my store :)

I also got some unpacking done! HAHA! Yes - we moved in about 5 months ago, but that's ok! I got my spice rack hung and all my spices up (I can't stop smiling when I see it hanging!) and I got an "over the door" shoe back on the back of the laundry room door for a lot of my "little" pantry items that would get lost in the pantry.

We had snow flurries today! They lasted about 3 minutes :)

As far as pictures, I will upload some later, blogger has been having issues when I try it lately and I just don't have the patience for it!

We have a playdate tomorrow and Friday, we got for Benjamin's vaccination appointment. I'm hoping to get him "officially" weighed. (we did it on our scale the other night, which I think is more accurate now that he's over 10lbs or so)...but it said 15.5lbs (wouldn't surprise me....he's a chunky monkey) :) Check back for pictures :)

Quotable Keaton and B's 2 month appt.

I'll start with Benjamin's appt. first...

The results are:
Height: 24in. (75%)
Weight: 13lbs. 12.8oz (80%)
Head Circ: 40cm (50%)

Those who picked 14lbs. +(since we're rounding up) and 24in. - woohoo!

This would explain why he doesn't fit in size 2 diapers anymore! Sheesh!

We decided to do a delayed schedule regarding his vaccinations, so he only got his DTaP and the Rotavirus (oral) vaccinations. He took it like a champ, screaming more when she was listening to his chest! Silly boy. The only "complaint" was that he does indeed have eczema, just like his brother! This is an easy fix (hopefully! Keaton's was!) and not a "big deal" Just something to keep an eye on! He's currently hiccuping and cooing away in his swing - no one would ever know he just got jabbed with an icky needle!

Keaton. What more can I say!?

He's added a couple more words to his repertoire lately - the "biggest" being sunshine (ton-tine)...But, the most hysterical thing he's done lately regards his favorite word ("no"). B woke up while we were eating breakfast yesterday morning. Usually, he'll be content with Zach or I holding him until I'm finished eating and can nurse him, but he wasn't having that this particular morning! So, I got all situated and started to nurse him at the table so I could finish eating my breakfast. Keaton was giving me a weird look and I said, "What? Isn't it couth to nurse at the table??" Keaton screamed, "NOOOOO!!!!" haha, love it!

Ok, B is ready to eat and it's time for the news! :)