More photos

Not too much to say today, just some more photos. This is Ariana and her cousin Jamie who is 5. I was babysitting and thought what the heck! Jamie and Ariana look a lot alike which is really funny because they only share a grandpa, her mom is Ray's half sister so genetics are only shared with the girl's grandfather. Kind of funny actually... The girls had fun but Alex just wanted to take photos himself and kept playing with an old camera we let him play with. "Say cheese mom". Guess I take too many photos or something? lol.

My Boys

Well I was bored this morning and wanted to play with my camera so I set up a "shoot" so to speak and got some fun shots of my boys... thought I'd share them. Ariana wasn't in the mood for photos. I'd type more but Camden is sleeping in my arms so typing a lot is out at the moment. Too bad he he's clingy and won't let me put him down... poor thing.

Doctors appointments- Alex and Camden

Alright so Camden is behind (6 month checkup at 7 months) but that's because of insurance NOT because I'm a bad mom. Just had to clarify. lol.

Camden is doing great, he had 3 shots and did really well although is crabby this afternoon of course. He weighs 17 lbs 12 oz and is 29 inches long meaning he's average on weight and high on height (97th percentile for height). Tall and lean, same as my other kids. lol.

Alex got a little nuts during the appt but he was just chatty is all. This is a new doctor so he was questioning Alex's weight and kind of ticked me off. He first asked why he is so small, I explained that he was premature and he cuts me off to say "well he shouldn't have that as a factor anymore... what's wrong with him?" I then explained that Alex had a cleft and has some sensory issues because of it and that seemed to help a little. I also threw in that I was scrawny like him *all* my life (well, until now, I've gotten to a healthier weight finally). Why no one believes that last one is beyond me, I should show the doctor pictures next time. I do think it's a combination of all of those issues but apparently I know nothing. I do like this doctor but he blew off a lot of my concerns... for example Alex has some weird dry patches of skin and he blew it off as "you live in the desert, he's bound to have dry skin." Sure except he's never had this problem until these last few months so why is it suddenly in such odd places? I may give BIL a call, he's a family doctor...

Alex at 4 years is 24 lbs and 37 inches... tall and super skinny. I know it's not normal but he gained 2 lbs since his third birthday so hey, I figure at least he's growing right? Oh and Alex got 4 shots today. They did it all early, the MMR that's supposed to be given for him to go to Kindergarten was today too. (A friend mentioned they may want to do those *again* in a year for school but the school can suck rocks. No way, the MMR is bad for him and I'm refusing to do this crap again). By the way he did so well, he yelled at her that it hurt but never cried. That's my big boy.

Well I'd better run, they're ripping the house up... ugh.

Spring 2007 Scrappage

I made this page tonight using the beautiful scrap supplies by Lisa at http://www.lisa-2006-lisa.blogspot.com/

Happy 4th Birthday Alex!

Not sure why his birthday is so hard for me, for most of us it just means our baby is getting older and not a baby anymore. That’s part of it for me. I think the other half is simply re-living what we went through with him.

4 years ago was a nightmare for me and I wouldn’t give it up for anything, no one think I am complaining. We had found out we were pregnant on August 23 (yes, the day I went in labor with Camden actually, ironic isn’t it?) We had some scares early on but sailed until we hit 20 weeks. Then the crap hit the fan I swear it. We had genetic counseling and they found a dialated kidney. We had to go back to check that and they thought he had a problem with his heart. They threw around "Trisomy 18" but that was also shot down very quickly thankfully. They finally settled on his having an umbilical cord issue and we had to watch that from 24 weeks on with NST’s twice a week and once a week Biophysicalprofiles (meaning in depth ultrasounds to measure things). His umbilical cord was 2 vessels instead of 3 meaning he wasn’t getting everything he needed and needed to be watched very carefully as his size will start decreasing.

At 31 weeks I started swelling very rapidly (Saturday morning) and by Monday I drove myself to the hospital with an insane migraine when the nurse didn’t take me seriously. I was immediately put on magnesium sulfate (which I wish I had been warned it was so horrible!) I was put in a quiet dark delivery room to hang on for a while. I don’t think I can quite explain how horrific I looked, I had 15 or more lbs of shear water weight, the nurses who helped me later saw me when visiting the NICU and did NOT recognize me... it was *bad*. I was confined to that bed on either my left or right side only... for almost a week... I didn’t get to get up ever (catheter) and it sucked to say the least.

I was taken off the mag on Thursday for a little while and got my first cleaning that day (I was so bad I had to take a bath, wasn’t able to even sit... that was *so* embarassing with that poor nurse bathing the whale I was...) My blood pressure shot through the roof that night and I was so scared, they kept telling me I’d be there for a while but we all know when something is wrong... Friday morning they prepped me for a c-section because I was so sick and was supposed to get it that night.

My doctor went on *vacation* that night (no kidding) and so another doctor took my case. That brainiac decided to induce me so it was a long painful night with labor and a freaking migraine going on... smart move huh? They started pitocin the next morning at 9, by 10 his heart rate was dropping so I had my emergency c-section after all. He was born at 11:47 weighing 3 lbs 11 oz and 15 inches long. He was blue when they took him out for a good minute and a half, never will I forget how terrified I was to not hear him crying. He did squeek so we knew he was okay. They bundeled him up and I got to see him for a minute (all I could see was a teeny face). That was the coolest thing, I said hi and gave him a kiss and he stared at me. I treasure that photo.
They took him to the NICU and I stayed to get stitched. I didn’t get to see him again until the next morning 24 hours after he was born but hubby did bring video and photos that night. The first time I saw him I was able to put my hands into this box (incubator obviously) and touch him. He knew my smell, that meant a lot to me that he knew that it was mommy and rubbed my fingers on his tiny face so sweet... I got to hold him that night when he was 36 hours old for a few minutes and that was so neat.

He stayed in the NICU in the incubator for a month. It was hard being a first time mom and the nurses were not always nice to me. (They thought I wasn’t there enough even though I did the best I could and never missed a day to come sit next to his bed). They also made fun of me when I wasn’t sure how to change a diaper on him. I knew how to do it but had never changed a baby in an incubator with cords all over him, that was akward.
He did have some set backs, had to get an iv straight into his heart (that scared me). He had a stomach infection too that took a week of me not being able to hold him and a round of medicine and x-rays each day. He also developed jaundice, another few days of minimal touching. Needless to say he never breast fed. At 3 weeks we found he had a cleft palate (although were told it was simply a "misformed" palate and we didn’t understand what the heck they were talking about).

He did come home finally at 4 lbs 7 oz, so teeny! He had to wait 2 years to get the cleft palate repaired and had a lot of therapy (the therapy started right as Ariana was born). He still is in therapy for speech and I’m trying to get him back into Occupational Therapy to help sensory issues.

He is such a strong spirit though. He has a positive attitude all the time and loves to have fun. The child is fearless and scares me jumping off things all the time. He is very caring too and sensitive to what others are feeling. He sure takes care of his mommy, he always has come to think of it.

Thanks for letting me ramble. His birthday is so bittersweet and I couldn’t be more proud of how far he’s come. Gosh I love this kid!!!

Crazy kiddos

Well we are finally feeling better and the kids are more than ready for spring (and so am I for that matter). I want to get my house cleaned out and fresh air in but we'll wait a few more weeks to do that one. Meanwhile we are busy planning Alex's big 4 year old birthday party (his birthday is March 13 but the party will be that Saturday, the 15th). He's getting some fun toys for his birthday and his "Winnie the Pooh" party should be fun.

I also am looking into Preschools for both him and Ariana. I am debating whether Ariana gets to go and if they will even take her seeing as she'll only be 3. I know a big obstacle this summer will be getting them both potty trained but maybe the school thing will motivate them. It would be weird to only have Camden at home but I think it might get some errands done for me occasionally and much quicker than the circus we endure dragging all three around by myself. (It would be easier if the kids knew how to stay with me...) Sigh.

Well I meant to post more but Alex and Ariana are jumping on Alex's bed and Camden is not amused because they are in the boy's room interupting his nap. Sigh, no break for me today. ( Great, I just heard him encourage her "come on Ariana, you can do it. Just jump....") Good thing it's a Friday! Oh and in other news I am starting a scrapbook challenge online where once a month we scrap a letter and create a letter book. I probably will jump ahead as time allows but here is the first one.

Blah, this flu will never leave

Yes, we've been hit also by the flu that never ends. We've had someone sick for the lats 4 weeks. Ariana got a fever this last Tuesday, by Saturday Alex and I had it and today, Monday, Ray and Camden have it. Blah. But oh, the fever doesn't stop there. Let me explain our horrible weekend!

Saturday was a nightmare. I woke up with a migraine, sinus infection, and fever so imagine how good I felt. lol. Alex also had a fever which always makes us nervous as he has a bad history with fevers. Poor Ray was trying his best and thought he'd go get me some medicine at the store for the sinus infection. He calls soon after leaving to tell me his car stalled and won't go anywhere. My parents are able to help him out thankfully but it took over 4 hours to get him home again. During that time my migraine got worse, my body ached, and I had three whiney kids climbing on me asking for snacks, movies, you name it. ((Sigh)). The worst was Alex though, his poor fever got to 103 and when it gets much higher than that he gets seizures. I didn't have any children's tylenol (did I mention Ray went for medicine? lol). The motrine wasn't helping either so I had my dad and brother come give Alex a blessing. Thank goodness for them!

Sunday was better but still cruddy. My sweet dad came over and made us homemade chicken noodle soup and even did my dishes (gasp). It was bad for him too, there were a lot of dishes with us being sick and he hates to do them. I felt bad but grateful for the help. My mom and brother came over also and helped a little.

Today I feel better but poor Ray is stuck home sick. Let me tell you, I don't want to have to watch any more cartoons for a while! That's all we could do all weekend was marathon movies for the kids so mommy could rest. Ick.

Well I hope everyone else is doing better than we are and aren't catching it!