Another First

This morning was my first day back at work after a full two weeks off with Alex. It was a tough morning for us all. I was lucky to have a quick kiss goodbye after he woke up. Patrick was on call for morning Daddy duty again.

This past week was very active for Alex. He learned how to move forward and hasn't stopped moving since. That makes dressing and diaper changes very difficult. I learned how to put a diaper on while he tried to scoot on his belly and to put his clothes on while he wiggled and turned. Patrick did not have that great opportunity and so this morning was taken aback by Alex's twists and turns.

Every time Patrick tried to put Alex's diaper on, Alex would decide he wanted to get moving so Patrick had to flip him back over. Alex thought this was a very funny game. "Daddy wants to dress me, so I'll flip over and try to get away." Daddy did not think it was that funny-he had things to do so he could get to work himself. After several failed attempts to get him in his diaper, Patrick flipped him back over and firmly told him to stop. Alex was laughing as he was turning back over until he saw Patrick's face and heard the firmness in his voice. He was in trouble.

Alex started crying knowing he had done something wrong. This was his first time getting in trouble. (and it won't be the last)

As I promised

Not now

Alex is not going to have his surgery tomorrow. Big, frustrating story. In a nutshell-the anesthisiologist doesnt feel comfortable putting him under when he still shows signs of bronchiolitis. I took last week off to help him get better and this week to make sure he stayed that way for surgery. My days are about gone, the stress-levels here are high, and it all seems a waste.

Positives: (because that is how I work)
1. I got two weeks off with my baby boy.
2. Alex is getting better.
3. I got to watch Alex practice crawling forward instead of daycare telling me he did.
4. We do not have to fork over $2,ooo for the procedure and doctor costs.
5. My house is cleaner.
6. I get to nap everyday.
7. Alex sleeps very well at home and is less cranky in the evenings.
8. I get to feed Alex solid food instead of just a bottle.
9. Roman got to go for walks.
10. My husband got to eat many wonderful meals and snacks.

Well, that made me feel a little better. Thanks for listening/reading.

Forward, March!

That's right. He can now move forward. Not on his knees or very far,though. He scoots on his belly in order to reach for soemthing he wants. His bottle or the computer cords are great incentives for him to get moving. I will try to get a video so you can share in my joy soon.

Yea Alex!!!

Dr. Update

Yesterday Alex went to the ENT to see about getting ear tubes. Well, the doctor did say that 6 ear infections in 4 months was a bit extreme but wanted to see what was causing it. Since Alex was sick, the doctor was able to see how he breathes through his mouth now. He looked into his nose and didn't see any swelling so he concluded that the only other reason he would be congested would be his adenoids. Supposedly Alex got a bad infection that caused them to swell up. This would make the mucous trap in the sinuses and push up into his eustacian tube toward the inner ear. The adenoids have to be taken out.

Next Thursday on January 21st, he will get them removed and get tubes in his ears. It should take about 30 minutes total and he will be unconscious. Since he is so little, he should heal pretty quickly.

They cannot do the operations when he is sick. Since he has a little fluid in one ear, this bout of sickness could turn into another infection. A couple days before the surgery he is going to take antibiotics to try and kill anything that might be there. Since he has RSV/Bronchiolitis, I am keeping him out of daycare this week and next to try and get him to rest up and heal quickly.

Be praying for us. I know that it is a routine procedure and will be quick and relatively pain-free for Alex, but he is my baby. I would rather he didn't have to go through any of this. I would take it all on myself if I could, but of course, that wouldn't make anything better for him. Hopefully this procedure will keep him from getting sick as often from now on.

That makes Three!!!

Alex just cut his top tooth!!! The other is just a little bit behind. No wonder he was so fussy. Usually, even being sick, he smiles as though he is okay. Today was different. Fuss, fuss, fuss. Yea Alex!!

Messy Fun

This is what eating looks like after he learned to shake his head!

Did I say that?

Well, looking over my last post, I realized I lied. Alex is sick again. Yep, it took just one week back at daycare for him to start coughing, sneezing and getting snotty. Isn't that just my life? I am so used to having him sick, it doesn't even shock me anymore. I just wish he could have lasted a little longer so we could visit the fam this weekend.

He goes to the ENT for his eartubes this wednesday. (well the preliminary appointment at least.) With the new snot in his nose and chest, I wonder if he has another ear infection. Just my luck if he did.

Can you hear the frustration in my typing? ARGH!

By George, I think he's got it!!!

Alex has decided that he now likes to eat from a spoon!!! My little man can now wolf down an entire baby food jar (the littlest ones) of food. Of course, I am not feeding him, daycare is. But he is eating! They are feeding him twice, along with his bottles. I don't know how they do it without giving him a full bath afterwards like I feel I need to do sometimes. The are good. So far, he has eaten everything I sent-even the vegetables. (A football player in the making, Mom!)

Speaking of daycare, Alex has decided that he no longer needs to nap longer than one hour a day and wants to crash as soon as I get him home. Monday and Tuesday he slept in his day clothes because his evening nap ran into bedtime. Now I know better and put him in his jammies as soon as we get home, feed him a bottle (because a spoon is too hard to use when that cranky) and put him right to bed around 5 o'clock. Will this ever stop?

At least now he is over his ailments. But, all it takes is one sneeze from another kid, and we will have some majorly frustrated Franklins.

Well, hope you enjoy these new pictures. I will try to get more on soon.

Sick for Christmas

Well, it is official. Alex is sick again. He got RSV that led to bronchiolitis that led to two ear infections. He was okay until the 23rd when he started coughing a whole bunch. On Christmas Eve, he coughed so much, he threw up his breakfast. I took him to the doctor (they were open for walk-ins) and that is when I learned of the illnesses. He got a shot to jump-start the ear infection antibiotics and then medicine for ten days.

Well, today I ended up taking him back to the doctor. He had a fever of 102 last night and 103 this morning. After Tylenol and half a bottle, he threw up and cried. The doctor said that we have to stop the meds. He got another Rocefin shot today and will get another tomorrow. The worst part-or maybe the good part-he has to see an ENT for ear tubes. Tubes in my baby's ears!!

I don't know if I am more afraid of him getting this done, or the amount of money it is going to cost us. I feel like a terrible mother saying that. We are so tight right now and him going in to the doctor every other week is really running us dry. Maybe next year will be better.

Found this hat at Baby's R Us. Reminded me of Grandpa. Isn't he adorable?

How blessed we truly are.

As many of you already know, we are not buying gifts this Christmas. I was pretty bummed about this, until we went to Walmart tonight and I noticed just how few toys there are for babies under one year old. The cool ones were pretty expensive and the others were just blah. I bought some yogurt and asked if Alex wanted to get yogurt in his stocking and he started laughing! He is so easily amused. I guess that just proves that the Christmas I had imagined was more about me than Alex, Patrick or Jesus. Maybe God is working on me with this.

I love giving things to people and was limited in my gifting, so I gave one big gift. With some of my Christmas money from my father-in-law, I decided to buy a goat. Yes, I said goat. World Concern is an organization that provides sustainable gifts to people in 3rd world countries. They teach the recievers how to feed, milk, and care for the animals they are given. I could have bought a pen and vaccines for the goat, but that was over my budget. I was so excited to get this goat!! Everyone knows just how practical I am. What is a more practical gift than a goat for a starving family? That really made me second guess the extra goodies we typically buy each other with little thought and a lot of money that will eventually break, get lost, or even regifted.

How blessed we are to have what we do! Yeah, maybe the bills wont all get paid this month, or there might not be as much money in the "MISC" fund, but when all is said and done, God has already provided everything we need. The rest is just frivolity. It is easy to get swept into the American trap of having to have things-lots of things-just so we can appear up-to-par with the crowd. As I sit in my living room typing on my laptop computer, I am realizing just how much of this stuff is for show and to help me be lazy. What would my life be like if I got rid of all this stuff and lived with just the necessities God has already provided? Many would say it would be miserable. But do those things really bring us the happiness, or is it the peace and security we think they provide?

This Christmas, I want to focus on God. The real reason all this got started. I will remember the many blessings (even the ones that brought tears of sadness at the time)that He has gifted me with. I want to start redirecting my thought patterns to focus on God and His will for me and my life. He didn't promise an easy life, but He did promise one with Him. That is enough for me.

--The pictures below are a few weeks old, but still worth posting. Gianna loves her cousin and was willing to pose for the kiss. She is so sweet.

Sittin' Pretty

My little boy got to sit in the grocery cart today for the first time. I got one of those cart covers for my baby shower and, though the back was made for a skinnier seat, it worked. Alex was very cautious and amazed at his new view He barely moved at all, just his eyes darting every which way. I think he liked it (in a quiet sort of way.)

Since he got his shots yesterday, he got a fever last night of 102.5. I stayed home with him and called the doctor, but she said not to really worry just yet. He is much better now after a few long naps. He didn't smile or play a lot today, but I still loved being here with him. He wanted to be held a lot--and I didn't mind a bit.

Pop Goes the Weasel!

As I was sitting in church today with my little man gnawing on my finger, I felt something peculiar. It felt as if he had something other than just his soft gums in there. What was that thing popping out?

He has shiny, thin, white tooth!

It is barely noticeable, but very much there. I wanted to show a picture, but he keeps sticking out his tongue every time I try to see it.

My baby has a tooth!

Santa!!

His first Christmas tree!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

video bummer

Well, I was going to post the adorable video we took of our little man playing with his feet while sleeping and then kicking like a dog having a hunting dream.  This blog won't let me add video anymore, so I emailed them to several of you.  If you didn't get it and want to see it, leave me a comment and I will send it to you.

He's Free Indeed!

After much agonizing debate, Alex has been weaned from the burritto-style swaddle blankets.  He has had quite a time trying to control his arms enough to let him sleep.  He will rub his eyes when sleepy, and doesn't seem to know how to make it stop.  It is quite funny. 

This also means that he needs a blanket to keep him warm.  When using a regular blanket, he kicks it off at night and pulls it up over his face to chew on.

Ready or not

Well, the doctor okayed forAlex to start solids at 4 months, so we tried.  and tried, and tried again.  He hates everything!  He will cry when the spoon comes close to his mouth.  I guess he is not ready yet.  I know it is still early, he is only 5 months and we still have plenty of time.

What he is ready for is sitting!  Look at these pictures.  I tried sitting him up and not holding him, and he stayed for three whole seconds!  Since then, about a week, daycare and I have been working on this new found talent.  I am so excited to see all the new things he can do.

Anyone else love me enough to follow?

Please help me feel special.  I will follow on yours.