Inch Worm

January 26, 2012


That little VTech Puppy has passed through Cooper and Quinn and now to Troy and he loves it.  Very cool little baby product.  I love how the puppy follows the bone so when baby has the bone the puppy always comes back to him.

TROY

On January 16th, we noticed the beginning stages of the army crawl.  Now 10 days later, he has advanced to what we have coined “The Inch Worm”.  It is the cutest thing.  He gets up on all fours, rocks a second, and then starts to crawl one little step.  Then he drops to his belly and pulls a step with his arms in an army crawl.  Then back up on all fours for one more official crawl.  This process is quite tedious and he moves at an inchworm pace but it’s pretty adorable AND he is not rolling too much anymore because this method is working for him.  He turned 7 months this week but based on his Aug 15th due date, he turned 5 months on the 15th of Jan.  Another early crawler on our hands!

He had his Pulmonology appointment (Apnea Clinic) on the 16th and they discontinued his apnea monitor!  Woohooo!  He has been alarm free for over two months.  Seperating from the monitor is hard for mama but I knew it was time because he was starting to wrap himself up in the chord and that made me nervous too.  In fact, the morning of the appointment, he had wound it around his neck.   His weight was 16.9 and length was 26.5 on 1/16.

He also had his MRI last week (1/19) and it was NORMAL!  Yeah again.  The Neuro Developmentalist had ordered that due to his swallow issues.   I almost cancelled the MRI appointment because Troy had to be put under anesthesia and the anesthesiologist didn’t know that he had been born prematurely.  She explained that for reasons unclear, babies who are born full term learn the breathe reflex just fine but babies born before 36 weeks have a much harder time learning to breathe regularly outside of the womb.  This puts premature babies at much higher risk of apnea.  (Think I knew that one hee hee).  What I found interesting though was that PCH will not put a baby born prematurely under anesthesia without a 23 hour hospital stay until they are 61 weeks gestational age BECAUSE it takes an ADDITIONAL 20 weeks for a premature baby to perfect that breathing reflex if they have to learn it outside the womb.  Troy was 61.5 weeks.  Of course he was.  Sheeesh.  So they gave us the choice to admit him for 23 hours and run the risk of insurance not paying because he was half a week over the gestational age requirement OR to bring him back in a month or to go ahead.  Initially I wanted to cancel but then I realized that a month from now he wouldn’t have an apnea monitor at home and that I would feel better getting to monitor him 24 hours myself and since I still had the monitor better to do it now.  After she mentioned this, I did recall that Ty had to stay 23 hours for his bilateral hernia surgery for exactly this reason and good thing he did because that was a NIGHTMARE with his apnea afterwards (remember Tanner’s sad 3rd birthday and how the Dr. at PCH put Ty in the PICU just so I would go home for Tanner’s birthday for a few hours after having been on my feet for 40 hours many of which were spent giving Ty blow by assistance because the nurses weren’t coming in quick enough?  Not fun days.)  All that to say – Troy had NO apnea after anesthesia and that made me feel even better about taking him off the monitor now.  (I seem to be in run on sentence mood today).

Additionally, the clinic referred us to Dermatology because his excema is looking terrible.  We discussed the possibility of lactose intolerance being the cause of his excema and reflux and decided to give Soy a shot but we have now been using Soy for two weeks and haven’t noticed an improvement with either issue.   The pediatrician took blood today to run an IGG allergy test so that we can see if he has an allergy that could be to blame (though I hope not).   An IGE allergy test is one run (skin pricks) that shows an immediate reaction.  We know he doesn’t have “that” level of an allergy or we would have been in the ER already.  The IGG allergy test indicates allergies that take a bit longer to have an affect and show up in things like gastro issues and excema.  I don’t know that either of these are really fool proof but I guess it’s a start.  I have used Triamcinolone with both Troy and Tori and it works AWESOME but I don’t like to put steroids on either of them often.  (And Troy is still on Lansoprozole (Prevacid) for his reflux too but it does not completely control it by any means).


Check out those dimples!!!

TORI

Took Tori to the pediatrician this morning for an issue that has been ongoing over the last few months.  His best guess is that she has a spastic bladder.   The bad news of that is the meds they use are TERRIBLE for controlling this (which I likely wouldn’t give her).   So off to a Urologist we go as well as a bladder ultrasound and renal exam.  Fun never stops.

While processing the shots for this post, I had to take several song breaks.  Tori heard me tell her Daddy that I wanted “Me” time tonight.  Jim asked what that “me” time would be and my list included listening to my music.  The second those words left my mouth, “me” time flew out the window.  My music lover left her plate half full and took off for my bedroom for “music time”.  She loves for me to blast our music and then sit on the bed with her and sing as loud (and as dramatic) as we can.  We sang Baby, and One Less Lonely Girl and Stuck Like Glue (Sugarland) over and over.  Singing “You and me baby were stuck like glue” to my daughter (and having her sing it back) was much better than “me” time.

TY

January 17th was Ty’s 8th birthday.  We aren’t celebrating it until next weekend though along with Tori for her 4rth.  On his actual birthday, he carried the phone around throughout the day “just in case” anyone called to wish him Happy Birthday.  He LOVES talking on the phone you know.   For dinner he requested Pita Jungle so we took him there and to Cold Stone.  On the way home he says “Mommy some people didn’t remember to call me today.  Can I call them when we get home and tell them they forgot?”  It was 9:00 PM.  I giggled thinking that was a wonderful idea and an amazing ending for Ty’s Happy Birthday.

If you don’t know my Ty personally, this may seem odd to you.  Typically, if a child noticed a missed birthday call, it would be because they were feeling sad about it.  NOT the case with Ty.  For Ty, it was a WONDERUL opportunity to GET to use the phone.  :)   I limited him to family members only (Erin, Kristi, and Michelle M. – I spared you 10:00 phone calls hee hee – he asked).   He had Tanner and I laughing so hard because HE was laughing so hard making those phone calls.  When he talked to Uncle Dusty, he laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe and was doubled over.  This made Troy start cracking up too.  Dusty always teases him on the phone saying such things as “Ty the next time I see you I am going to throw you off a high roof and roll you to the dump in a garbage can”.  Again – I realize this sounds “bad” but if you knew Ty you would recognize this as Ty humor.  He LOVES to listen to Uncle Dusty’s pretend threats.   I think he put a smile on every face he called.  (Oh and he wanted to call Kitty Cat but I wouldn’t let him because Rob and Cat get up too early).  I loved that he requested calling his Aunt Karen in California early on because he got to talk with cousins over there too.    He would say it was a wonderful birthday and thank you to everyone who forgot to call him.  He appreciated it IMMENSELY.  Trust me!  LOL.  (And I also must mention that he L.O.V.E.D. that Uncle Daniel called and sang Happy Birthday in Spanish hee hee.  Only Daniel.)

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I have been working on a room redo for Tori.  I will post pictures when I am finished but not quite there yet.  The other day my mom came over and I wanted to show her the room so I quickly picked it up and shut the door.  Ty asked me if he could show her and I agreed.  He led her to the outside of the door and said “I’ll do the honors.”  Cracked me up.  Where did he get that?

He will have me smiling all my days won’t he?

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When I was at Phoenix Children’s Hospital last week, I was pulling into the parking garage and had the following conversation with the lot attendant:

Me:  Hi!  May I have a reserved spot for high profile vehicles please?

Attendant:  I know.  I know.  I saw you comin’.  Recongized you.  Recognized the car.

At this, I look over at Heidi who was my traveling companion and say “Someday I am going to look at you and say ‘Remember the days when even the PCH parking lot attendant knew who I was?’

Here are my top reasons for encouraging babies to STAY FULL TERM in mama’s womb:

1.  Neurologists – Ty and Troy

2.  Cardiologists – Ty and Tori

3.  Pulminologists – Ty and Troy

4.  Gastroenterologist – Ty and Troy

5.  Ophthalmologists – Ty

6.  Dermatologists – Troy

7.  Urologists – Tori

8.  Orthologists – Ty (What is the “ologist” for the ortho doctors?  I don’t think that is it.  Just guessing)

9.  Anesthesiologist – Ty and Troy

10. Neonatologist – Ty, Tori, and Troy

11.  Developmental Psychologist – Ty (Troy – Neuro Developmentalist)

12.  Pharmacologist :)

13.  Is there such thing as a Craniologist?  (Troy)

(And so I don’t neglect all the “Therapists) – Feeding Therapy (Ty/Troy), Occupational Therapy (Ty), Physical Therapy (Ty), Vision Therapy (Ty), Developmental Therapy (Ty)

Think we have now addressed a hefty amount of the body including the skull.

If any of my kids has to see yet another OLOGIST, I am going to be dog tired and crazy as a loon and will need to be referred to a Zoologist myself because I will probably need to be locked up for a short stay.  :)

 

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(Written yesterday :)

No picture today?  Too busy.

It is 4:35 PM and I FINALLY get to sit down a minute.  Man oh man life is busy.  I know that I don’t corner the market on this issue and I am going to be preaching to the choir here but I am feeling pretty accomplished today so I am going to celebrate it for a moment.

Got kids out of bed – woohoo – that is a feat sometimes – CHECK

Made and cleaned up breakfast (I used “made” in the loosest of terms) – CHECK

Got through Tanner and Ty’s school day – CHECK

Picked Up House – CHECK

Did five loads of laundry and have only ONE more to go before ALL laundry is TOTALLY done (you have no idea how long this has taken me) – CHECK

Made and cleaned up lunch – CHECK

Fed baby several times :) – CHECK

Got baby down for naps twice – CHECK

Bathed baby and Tori – CHECK

Got ready myself – woohoo – CHECK

Took a couple of pictures of baby before he decided he wanted to nap first – CHECK

Talked to Mom and Heidi briefly on phone – CHECK

Called Uniden and complained about phone issues.  They are sending replacements – CHECK

Called Surgeon’s Office to confirm details for Ty’s umbilical hernia surgery on the 6th – CHECK

Called PCH Pediatric Developmentalist to discuss eval – CHECK

Called  PCH Neuro Developmentalist to get MRI results for Troy – Tests in and all normal – YEAH – CHECK

Rebandaged Tori’s wound.  She cut her finger on a shopping wrack at the story yesterday.  She really gouged it good.  – CHECK

Emailed Amanda about the Memorial Lunch on Friday – CHECK

Answered a couple other emails – CHECK

Called Pediatricians Office to schedule and appointment for Tori and Troy – CHECK

FINALLY undecorated my house from Christmas – CHECK

Made popcorn for Ty because he claimed to be starving – CHECK

Got Tori down for nap – not easy – CHECK

Went through in my Lost/Found Pile and split into four bags to be distributed to family – (Brooke I have two pairs of Braxytn’s shoes) – CHECK

Cooked meat and put spaghetti in crock pot – CHECK

Sat down long enough to write this post – CHECK

I am working hard folks.  Working hard.  :)

Now a few more things before Jim comes home but I can do them all sitting down!   You would think I would be much skinnier with all the exercise involved raising four children.

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Karsyn, Ryker, Cooper

January 24, 2012

I took these shots of my niece and nephews way way way back in JUNE!  I feel SO badly that it has taken me this long to get them processed for my sweet sister.  Life has been very hectic since Troy has been born and I just didn’t get it done.   I look at these now and laugh at how much Cooper has changed in seven months.  He is a beautiful baby.  Additionally, it has worked out quite conveniently that Cooper and Troy have similar body styles because Troy gets Cooper’s  hand me downs.   Because these shots are of my babies, I will post a bunch for your viewing pleasure.  :)

Miss Karsyn is our little smarty.  She is doing so good in school this year and is as sweet as could be.

These pictures were taken at Jodi’s Dad’s home up in Payson.  (If you recall, I did post a few pictures about the snake incident way back when.  The snake was in a hole above Karsyn’s head while we were shooting this and we didn’t know it until later).

Jodi wasn’t planning to be in the shots but I insisted.  :)

Cooper will be appearing the most in this blog post because this was his one year shoot (with siblings).

Had to snap a shot of Tori and Jodi’s niece – they were too cute.

Ryker was my wild card for the day.  You just never know what stunts toddlers will pull on a shoot.  I got some funnies to post a bit further down.

Ryker has a BIG personality and is oh so expressive.  He cracks me up.  I enjoy WATCHING Ryker talk.

I needed Ryker’s cooperation for a trio picture and we waited too long to do the group shot and missed our window.  Still I must confess…I really enjoy his antics.

Karsyn inherited the family trait of needing to eat babies up.  She often grits her teeth with babies just like me.

One thing that was really odd about this shoot, and I mentioned this before, was that I kept having the haunting feeling the whole day that my baby was missing and I wasn’t watching the baby.  I would catch myself having anxiety about a baby that was not yet in my arms.  On the way home, I told Jodi about it and she said that likely meant my baby was about to be in my arms.  Sure enough, Troy arrived about 1 week later.

Ohhhhhhh do I love these three!!!!

 

 

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Ahhhhhhh…the celebration of new life…melts my heart every time.  Baby girl is due next month and I am looking forward to meeting the little darling.  My husband Jim has been working with J for about six years now so it was fun for me to get time alone with this sweet couple and interrogate J on HIS version of what happens in the office (hee hee).  It was no surprise to me that Jim is often late for dinner because of late evening parking lot chats with J.  ;)   It was also great to meet M in person.  We have had the opportunity to establish a friendship via email but face to face time is a bonus.   I hope we get more of it in the future and I can’t wait to do newborn pictures!  Lots of pictures of Dad and Mom already head over heels with baby so I’ll get on with it…

Pregnancy shoots are awesome for silhouettes (IMHO) and it’s a rare find to get a semi-clear ridge line so I was very happy to find just the right spot.  :)

And if you are wondering…no I am still not taking new business.  I did previously schedule a handful of newborns for the beginning of this year (one in Jan, Feb, and Mar) but that is all I can take right now.  Troy is still needing most of my time so there just isn’t enough time left in a day to schedule any more sessions.  I am keeping a contact list though for those wanting notification when I start back up this year so if you are interested in being on the contact list, please let me know.  I think I will just have to ease back in once he is a bit more independent.

Thank you J and M!  It was fun getting to spend an afternoon with you and I can’t wait to meet your daughter!

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Baby Toes

January 5, 2012

I told myself that the one picture I had to have was of Troy playing with his toes.  That is one of my favorite shots to mark this age.  I realized this week that I had better hurry up and get the shot because Mr. Rollie Pollie is getting awfully mobile.   He gave Mommy just what she wanted.  :)   I couldn’t pick a favorite of this pose so I’ll have to show you four.

This outfit was his Dedication outfit (first worn by Ryker Troy).  I thought Jodi and I needed a good capture of this precious little white suit.

Not sure if you can tell in these shots or not, but Troy’s head shape is coming along very nicely 4 weeks into his DOC band.

I needed a stand up shot so you could see the whole outfit.  My faithful assistant wasn’t really dressed for the occasion.  The shirt he is wearing is a MineCraft shirt – that is a Creeper.  :)   Ty is playing MineCraft too and I giggle reading their instant messaging back and forth across the house.  Very cute.

Someday Tori and Ty are going to ask me why I took so many pictures of Tanner and Troy together.  Very simple reason.  Tanner is old enough to serve as a prop for keeping baby happy and Tori and Ty are not quite as helpful.  :)

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Me to Troy:  Hey Troy!  Do you need some Troy time with Mama?

Ty:  Why don’t you have some Troy time in my room?

Five minutes later, it was everybody time because Tori and Tanner had to jump in on the play party too.

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Yesterday I was watching Ty play James Bond 007 Xbox Demo in his room.  He loves an audience.

Me:  Can I give that a try?

Ty:  You want to do this?

Me:  I probably will just die but let me try it and you can tell me what to do.

He gives brief instructions faster than I can possibly follow.  I start the game and he laughs and laughs at everything I do.  Then he starts getting a bit stressed.

Ty:  Can I just help you out with this part?

Me:  Ok.

Ty:  I am just going to get you over the bridge.

Ty:  Well I just need to get you past this truck.  It has explosives and you might die.

Ty:  ….and the tower.

Ty:  I’ll just get you to where I stopped.  At the end.

Translation:  You stink at this mom.  How about I just finish up this game for you because I really don’t enjoy being the audience for your miserable performance.

Ty:  Maybe Daddy could show you how to do this.

And that was my favorite line of all.

 

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