Bad blogger

I've been busy with life and my side job so I apologize for not posting in a while. I'm now only at one store and have great things going for me. Heritage Makers is going to pay me to use some of my kits for their store... so excited! :) Never been there before (at the store) but I've heard a lot about them.

We got Alex's photos done yesterday, he did pretty good but has a scary smile when we tell him to say cheese. (It gets too cheesy). lol. Other news, our dog is back! We got a puppy in November but after 3 weeks she ran away! We were so upset but had given up. We got a call yesterday saying that someone had brought her to the vet and had scanned a chip on her (she's micro chipped). We got her back! She's in heat too (ick) so we have to keep her in the house for a few weeks. This also gives us time to figure out how to keep her here... she likes to leave obviously. We are considering an invisible fence and collar, anyone else use those before? It zaps her and I hate that but she leaves the actual fence all the time. I can't keep paying money for this stinker...

The kids are doing great, going to register Alex for Kindergarten soon and Ariana will turn 4 on Mothers Day. Camden is 20 months now and full toddler... oh boy. He's a cutie, just demanding! lol.

Why do people do this?

I got my monthly "reprimand" from yet another "professional who knows better" today and am still irritated so I felt maybe it's time to let others know just how frustrating it can be to have an underweight child. If you feel my pain I am so sorry... but please call me! roflol. If you don't know the pain then you are quite lucky. I'm just grateful all of my children are skinny or I'd really have some explaining to do!

It all started normally, the way these phone calls always do. The culprit today was Alex's preschool he enrolled into end of January. This is what the phone call was like, identical to most other calls just like this. (By the way, I think they must read a script or something... or better yet I'll write on up with my replies... lol).

Me: "Hello?"
Annoying Nutritionist: "Hello, can I speak to the mother of Alexander"
Me: "This is her..."
AN: "This is the Nutritionist for Head Start and I have been asked to contact you today about your son. We are aware that he's underweight and think this is a real problem." (Well, she round-about did this... as in "is your son underweight... is he picky eating... is he (fill in blank)... we are concerned...)
Me: (Alright, first of all I WANTED to say...
a. Really! You mean our low carb family diet IS working?
b. Shoot, no more skipping meals
c. I really should feed that kid... what was his name again?
d. WHAT? 27 lbs is NOT normal at his age? Shoot, I had no idea!!!
e. You can bring this up with his father later (hey, I always deal with it... it was tempting!)
Alright, I really just agreed, said we were aware of this problem.

She then continues on and starts ATTACKING me from the start. She was angry that we don't allow them to feed him breakfast and lunch like the other kids. *When he started I allowed him to go 3 days with their food and I was frantic because he was coming home at 11:30 with NO FOOD in his little body. Sheesh, that may help him gain weight! He doesn't like what they're serving!!!* When I told her no, I signed papers on this and bring him all of his food while he is there. She then argued that I didn't give it enough time and most kids need 10 to 15 days there to really get a feel for it. Believe me woman, I know my son and give him a whole year, he'd rather starve than eat food he doesn't want!!!

She was really rude but finally gave up on that point. Then she started in with how she sent home a letter about samples of meals to try with Alex. I told her I received it and that it was a nice list but I knew he wasn't going to eat anything on it and wasn't going to waste my time and money sending food he wouldn't eat. She then said "well I have been told you send donuts with him? And no fruit?"

HELLO!!! DONUTS??? WHAT THE HECK???

I send pancakes with him every morning, it's the same food he wants and eats *every* morning. I have permission from his nutritionist that if he wants it and eats it let him have it any time of the day and at any meal he wants. So there! I make pancakes and add flax-seed oil to each of them (good for his bowels). I also add syrup for added calories and a box of orange juice. Yes it's every morning but not some crap donuts. And by the way, if I sent him donuts those are high calorie aren't they? ha! So there!

She attacked what I send him for lunch too. (I send noodles with special spaghetti sauce mixed with all kinds of gunk in it that's healthy and good for him... he doesn't realize he gets vegetables all the time). I also send him juice, either apple or something I send a bottle of the v-8 fusion stuff. SO good for him! Better than the stinking hot-pockets those kids eat sometimes!

She kept harping on what I feed him but finally backed off... they always do. I also informed her that we were seeing a nutritionist and that she's approved what I am feeding him. I then told her that he doesn't drink milk... something she reprimanded me for not sending with him. She told me to try other foods for his meals but I stopped her and told her no, we tried that and it failed so badly. I can't afford to play games with my picky eater, we can't let him lose weight.

Then she started in with the "Pediasure" or "Carnation Breakfast" crap... only a minute after I said he refuses milk. Hello! The new Nutritionist I recently saw *never* threw that one in my face... I love that lady. This one at the school wasn't getting it at all. She had made up her mind before the phone call that I was a slacker mom who was letting her child get hurt. She kept trying to attack me but I've gotten pretty good at brushing off their attacks. Doesn't mean I don't get angry but I know the answers and I know what I'm doing is what I need for my son. I will gladly take opinions if they help but it's always the same thing, none of them have any better answers for Alex.

So I am going to keep chugging along and try to not let my monthly "this doctor knows better than you" crap bother me. It's a nightmare, I am so sick of this. Why can't people leave him alone? I have other issues to deal with and his eating habits, although not my favorites, are not the top of my list. He eats well and he eats a lot, so what if it's the same 5 foods all the time???

My big boy!?

So today we bought a new potty seat, our last one was, well, needed to be replaced. (By seat I mean the ring the kids sit on when on the big potty...) We got it home and let the older two try it (if this means they go I do it! Alex still isn't potty trained enough for Kindergarten this fall... he's so stubborn).

Well Camden was obsessed with it so I let him take off his diaper and sit on it. I told him after a few minutes he needed to put his new diaper on and Camden told me "no thank you" (he's so polite, he always says this which makes us laugh). I told him yes but after a minute said "fine, you can wear a pull-up if you just get off the toilet!" I left the room for a minute to find a pull-up. When I came back I realized that Camden had peed! Ack! He was on the potty and peed! Granted it was ON THE FLOOR. Yep, he didn't know to hold his pee-pee down and went on the floor. I was laughing for sure. Then he says "mommy, I done. I get down". (Told you this kid talks!) I took him off and was just cracking up. I am definitely not going to push him but dude, if he wants to go then maybe Alex will be pushed finally? The dr thinks the other two are holding him back but come on, Ariana is potty trained!!!

Anyways, cool story for today. Got to run!

Happy Birthday Alex!

Happy Birthday Alex! We took him to Disneyland (we bought passes again) and that was *such* a blast. Last time we had passes we were pregnant with Camden, let them expire after he was born and haven't been back. Unfortunately it seems Camden is highly allergic to half of the flowers there... poor guy was miserable. He did enjoy himself though and Alex had a total blast! Aunt Catherine came with us and that was so nice, she was able to help stay off a few rides with Camden while Ray and I enjoyed them with Ariana and Alex (thanks hon!) Alex is a total dare-devil and Ariana did really well and wasn't scared of rides she hated before. Tonight we're having a birthday party at home, he wants Spider-Man. Sheesh, how did he get so old? He only heard about him through Preschool... what can I say? :)

I loved this shot... got one of Ariana doing this too...

Alex was "reading" the map at California Disney while we waited for the parade

By the way, this photo was in front of the castle. Unfortunately, where is the castle Catherine? It's okay, the kids weren't even looking! Maybe next time! lol

Happy Birthday to my miracle baby!

Alright, so this is going a little early since he isn't 5 until March 13th but we're spending all day at DISNEYLAND for his birthday so we can't be doing this blog thing tomorrow. lol.


Alexander was born on March 13 although he was supposed to come on the 12th. Actually, rewind, he wasn't really supposed to come until May. It was a difficult pregnancy and 2 months early I developed severe pre-eclampsia. I drove myself to the hospital blown up like crazy, thinking I was okay but deep down I knew what was going on. They admitted me and pretty quickly had me starting magnesium sulfate in one of the 5 delivery rooms at St Mary. (I was in a delivery room because the other option was to share a room and that was not a good idea. Magnesium shuts your body down so any light or noise really bothers...) I was in this beautiful 'coma" state for a few days. Lets just say that was miserable... I could only lay on my left or right side, wasn't allowed to get up at all to go pee (catheter thank you) or even sit up, and was in this horrific maternity bed with a bar because it breaks apart when it's time to deliver. Nice doesn't cover it... lol. I was miserable but doing what I had to.

By Wednesday I think it was I was stinking pretty badly and sulfur was coming out of my pours (ick). They gave me permission to shower but after looking at my signs said no, I was going to have to remain laying down and take a bath. I didn't care! The worst part was that hubby was at work so a nurse had to come help me, the whale at that point, take a bath. Nice... hello nice to meet you, let me get naked and have you help me. (I didn't look like myself so let's say it was pretty scary!) I was removed from the magnesium at that point and was feeling pretty happy, even got to sit up a little bit that day. I even got to use the bathroom that day, what a nice thing!

Apparently I over-did it though because Thursday evening I knew that time was going to be up soon. They kept talking as if my bed-rest was going to be permanent for a few more weeks but I just knew, the spirit told me the time was soon and my baby was going to be here. Ray and I actually had a nice quiet evening alone in my hospital room watching cheesy movies and eating bad hospital food that night. We needed that time alone together to talk about our baby and hold hands without medical people all over us. I was scared of course but Alex was alert the entire time. I kept being warned on magnesium that he'd be lethargic but nope, he was active the whole time, almost to let me know he was okay.

Thursday night was torture. My blood pressure started shooting up so the machine kept going off all the time, I started getting a scary bad migraine, and I was really starting to get uncomfortable. I think my body was starting to try to go into labor... don't remember. That night was miserable. The next day our dr comes in and said we'd be getting a c-section at 7 pm that night. All day I cried, reasoned, and then accepted that it was time. I was hurting and my migraine was flairing up so I was okay, I didn't get to eat all day. The doctor came back that night to tell me he was *going on vacation* and I had a new dr. She wanted to try inducing me... okay... so I finally ate something. lol.

That night was worse... I had a migraine but tylenol I kept throwing back up so I could get no relief. Honestly, worst headache ever. The next morning I was crying because I was in so much pain and only 2 cm to boot. They started pitocin but after an hour Alex's heart rate had dropped so off to the original c-section we went.

When he was born I am told that he was blue. I didn't get to see him and was so heavily medicated I don't know if I could have focused that far away. I was worried, I remember not hearing him cry. It took a good minute to get some whimpering... never the healthy cry I thought I'd get. They bundled him up and before they whisked him off to the NICU they showed me my baby, the only glimpse I'd get until a good 24 hours later. I remember saying his name and this sweet little bundle opened his eyes like "hey, I know that voice". We made eye contact and I knew at that moment he was going to be okay. They rushed him to the NICU after that and I fell asleep while I was carefully stitched back together. Don't we look lovely? roflol. Words can't explain how much it means to me to have this photo... and by the way look how *teeny* he is!

His NICU stay was a roller coaster of course but lasted 31 days. It was torture asking when he could come home, they never knew. He had no problems breathing but did have a problem eating. It took 3 weeks before they discovered a "hole in the roof of his mouth" (never were told our son had a CLEFT)!!! They found a bottle for him though. He also had jaundice and a stomach infection, that one was bad because we couldn't hold or touch him for the week he was on medicine for that. (Ugh). His first bath was in the NICU, everything really.

(Our first time getting to hold our son... 36 hours after he was born)

When he finally came home we were of course elated! He had severe reflux, although it may just be he had an immature stomach. After a meal (which took 30 minutes to eat a bottle and he ate every 3 hours like clock-work) he'd vomit half of it up projectile... it wasn't pretty.

He was joined very quickly (much to doctors un-happiness) by Ariana a year later. Camden of course when Alex was 3.

Alex had his cleft surgery done at 2 years old and despite his 2 febrile seizures he's done really well. He's gone through physical therapy, occupational therapy, Speech (now going through it), an MRI on his spinal cord, and many other tests. Through it all Alex has had the happiest outlook. He never cried when he was poked with another needle, never screamed when he saw a doctor. He's taken it in stride and even as a newborn taught us so much about patience and a radiant spirit.

I've learned so much from him and feel blessed to be his mother. Words can not explain how special his spirit is. Someone said once to me that "kids who have been through struggles just have stronger spirits" and while I agree I know this just isn't Alex's case. He was strong long before he came and he will change lives in the future. He is amazing, every one of his therapists adores him. Even in the NICU they loved him. He is just a miracle, that sums it up.

So that's the "short" version of his birth. I only re-tell it once a year so I'm sorry if you have already heard it. :) I want to post a birthday post seperately.

Going ons

So things aren't too bad around here lately. Alex has another ear infection, the boy puts his ears below the water in the bath so he can hear things differently and gives himself infections. (He has tubes in his ears, ironically they were to drain fluid... he never had an infection before the tubes 3 years ago but has had them since!) Grr...

Ariana is potty training... still. She's got it, she just chooses to wet her pants because she's distracted or just lazy depending on the moment. Stinker... it may kill me. Speaking of, Alex is doing pretty well. I have to buckle down and follow the preschool routine of going every 30 minutes, sounds fun (eye rolling here). If it works though...

Camden has been patting his bum lately and saying "stinky" when he is, heaven help me I don't want to train him right now. I feel badly but shoot he's not ready. (Or is it mommy isn't ready?) I really don't think it's time yet but we talk about it with him... can't leave it off too long I guess. But so soon? lol.

Things are going well for Ray, he's got spring break coming up and we can't wait to have him around a little more for a week. Unfortunately he's got the week before Alex's preschool so daddy will be home and Alex won't. (So cruddy I know, this was the story of my life with my dad teaching at a different high school though).

Oh someone save me! lol

Oh my goodness, what a day!!! We have late church so when we get there I already have tired/crabby kids half the time. Well today, with nice weather (it was 70 today!) my kids were super active!!!

First of all we start sacrament meeting and Ariana wets her pants, through her church dress. I was NOT happy, great way to start off church. I took her to the bathroom, changed her panties and tights, and took her back hoping that her dress didn't smell too badly. Unfortunately it did, it smelled like pee... so nasty! I took her to the mothers lounge (it's closer) and put the only change of clothes I had on her... a pair of jeans, a shirt, and no socks. Nice...

Back in sacrament meeting she and her brothers decide to wrestle... on the pew... loudly. Alex used his loud voice half of sacrament, Camden kept yelling, it was so peaceful. I was exhausted already! I took Camden to nursery (he did pretty well thankfully) and the other kids were in Primary. I thought great, this will go more smoothly.

Wrong. Ariana wets her pants again despite the fact that we've already tried to go in the potty. She gave a talk today, her first talk. Instead of being so proud of her I'm just darn annoyed right now, after her talk I had to go drag an un-happy Camden out of nursery and take all three kids home (both boys protested and complained).

I am so frustrated, it's almost like it wasn't worth it to drag them to church. I know this will pass and I am not alone, heaven help me!!!

So that was our fantastic day today, Ray won't be home until later or I would have left the boys with him...