7/20/12: C's trip to the ER

When we got home from our trip to the Tetons Monday, Elodie sounded sick, with a headache and stuffy nose.  Tuesday, she had a runny nose and by Tuesday night, Callen had caught it and woke up almost every hour all night long.  Wednesday, he had a runny nose and cough but seemed otherwise okay.  Wednesday night, we were in his room like ten or fifteen times between 8pm and 11pm.  I heard him around 5:30am and when went into get him, his breathing just didn't seem right at all.  Callen was asking for (coconut) milk so we went downstairs to get it and then brought it up to sit in our room to drink it.  I asked Dave, "how long has he been like this?" and Dave said, "for about an hour."  I was very concerned.  His chest was heaving in and out rapidly and he sounded wheezy.  After sitting with both me and Dave, Callen threw up his bottle of milk. After cleaning him up and everything else up, we went down stairs and it was 7am.  I was still worried because he seemed so lethargic and I knew that was something to be concerned about.  I was debating whether to wait to take him to his doctor at 8am when they opened or just take him to the ER, and if the ER, Avista or Children's.  I finally decided Children's hospital so I ran upstairs to change quickly and gather a food bag from him since I knew from experience to prepare to be there awhile.  Then we were off.

There was someone checking in when we got there so I had to wait.  Then I checked in with his insurance card and the lady said the respiratory therapist would come listen to him to see if he could jump ahead in line.  Well the respiratory therapist came out and didn't even listen to him.  He just took us straight back, had Callen stand on the scale to be weighed, and then took us into a room where a nurse was already waiting for us.  They immediately asked me questions, as we undressed him to put a pulse-ox on him, I realized how bad Callen was and that I should have taken him in much sooner.  The muscles under his rib cage would suck up and under his ribs, the skin between his ribs sucked in.  He looked like a starving child from a third-world country.  God totally protected Callen because he could have gone into respiratory failure before we got there.  Anyhow, after they gave him a neubulizer treatment, he got a chest x-ray to rule out anything more serious.  He was so good and sat exactly how he was supposed to.  I think he was just so sick that he did it.  He also oral steroids, and albuterol inhaler and the doctor said he sounded better but she was still unhappy with how he looked.   Plus, he had gotten really hot and lethargic after his treatment.  So she ordered a double round of neubulizer treatment and another albuterol inhaler.  After 6 hours there, he was finally discharged with orders to take albuterol every 4-6 hours, including through the night, for the next 48 hours and oral steroids twice per day for four days.

He got a puppy from the x-ray tech.  You can almost see the blue oxygen tube that they taped to the blanket.

Hard to take a good photo of him without me in it when he sat on my lap for the entire 6 hours.

Today he seemed much better and was running around again.  He's been taking his medicines like a champ.

can't stay still for a photo

This is what happens when you have an older sister.  You ask to wear tutus and crowns.

He had a follow-up check-up at his doctors office tonight and she said he sounded good.  She said to let him run around a little so that the gunk would loosen up in his chest because the only way it was going to get out was for him to cough.

He had to wear a mask at the doctor's office because he had a cough (whooping cough risk).

He wanted to wear his mask home.

So when we got home, I let him go on a walk around the block, but I guess it might have been a little too much because he cough, cough, cough, cough, cough and then threw up all over me in front of all the neighbors. Awesome.  The doctor at Children's had said that it is common for children in respiratory distress to throw up so we went home to give him his medicine.

Saturday 3/10/12: Princess party

This morning I took Elodie to a princess event at church. We heard the Esther story and how a true princess stands up for what she believes, even if it is costly. Then Elodie made a picture frame and dictated a letter (she wrote who it was to and signed her name) to a little 2nd grade girl in South Africa. She also made a princess crown and had her face painted. After taking some photos with her friend, we hurried off to catch the tail end of her friend Asher's 5th birthday party at H0me Dep0t.

shaking her noise-maker and saying "boo!" every time Harmen's name was mentioned in the story

picking out a kid to write to

with her GIANT lemonhead in her cheek

getting her face painted with a flower (which she later called a star)

stringing beads to make a crown

photo with her friend Mya

gluing puff balls on paper at the birthday party.

Doesn't the orange apron go great with the princess stuff? (had her take off her crown as not to upstage the birthday boy!)

her friends. Alexis (Asher's older sister...she's 7) and Kiera (from BSF)

Then we rushed home to see grandma, who had come down to visit for the day. We had lunch on the patio of T0k0y0 J0es and it was just gorgeous out. It was so nice to sit outside and just enjoy the sunshine.

predinner walk

we need to catch up! Sister is FAST!

1/7/12: C walks long time

C is walking more and more and looking mighty proud of himself. Tonight he started walking from the window the kitchen, walked around the table, through the kitchen, around the counter, down the hall, all the way to the couch in the family room. I said, "yay Callen!" and he giggled and beamed.

I could hear him "uh uh" at the pantry. Then he walked all the way down the halfway to me sitting on the couch and did the sign for cookie and then toddled back to the pantry door and signed cookie again. So cute.

So happy I've booked a photography trip for this summer! I was jumping up & down in the kitchen this morning and both the kids were just laughing at me. :) Grand Tetons, here I come!

1/4/12: Walking more

Today, Callen's been walking a ton more. It's like he's decided that he wants to walk from place to place and he looks so proud of himself.

L went to the dentist today. She was SO excited! She did great and got her photograph taken for the "no cavity" club. She has a little staining in her molars that they are going to keep an eye on for future cavities so now we instituted a no candy, no gum policy.

Killer sunset on the way home!

Callen's figured out how to walk with his toy :)

12/25/11: C walks!!!

Callen gave us the best Christmas present. He walked! We were at Jenny's house and he walked for several steps a bunch of different times. His expression was priceless. He looked SO proud of himself!!

He's also now got all four teeth on either side of his front top & bottom teeth cut through the gums. Poor guy had three of them come in all at once but he's handled it really well (maybe a little cranky here or there) and didn't require any tylenol.

We went to Christmas Eve service at church last night and even got some family photos before we left. Callen did okay for the first bit but then he was over it so I missed most of the sermon. Elodie did really well so we rewarded her by letting her open a gift from us when we got home. Unfortunately, the gift was this animated dog and it didn't work properly so we had to return it. At least we had a few gifts for her today that I had wrapped, put under the tree, and forgotten about (two board games).

Christmas morning we skypped with Amanda & Cadence (Zeph was already in bed and Andrew & Cami were sleeping on the couch) for about an hour. Then it was scramble to get eaten, showered, and ready. I wanted to take some family photos before we left for Jenny's house and have the kiddos open their presents. Elodie got a tag reader from Mimi & Poppi and some tag reader book sets from GG Ethel. Auntie Jenn gave both kids some neat books. Callen got another beloved Bear Bear from Mimi and Poppi, so we have a replacement bear just in case. Callen just LOVES his Bear Bear.

Then we drove to Jenny's (a few hours late...oops!). Callen ate lunch and then we put him down for his nap. While he slept, the kids played and Jenny, Dave, & I hung out and chatted. Eventually, Callen was up (and WALKED!), Dave & Jenny made dinner, we did presents, ate dinner, and then hung out for a while longer. We headed home at 9pm and were home around 10:30pm. We had a ton of fun! We just didn't want to leave. :)

12/21/11: C walking and peeing, and L santa

So today C had his first walking experience. Now, grant it, it was a short one but it was still him walking under his own power. I heard him whining a little bit at the kitchen table so I went over there to see what he wanted. He was just standing there trying to reach his milk. I gave him his milk, which he quickly started to drink from, and then when he stopped, he shuffled his right foot forward about an inch, then his left, paused, then moved his right again. At this point in time he could reach the chair so he stopped. YAY he walked... now it will probably be a few more months before he does it again.

Later on that same night it was time for C to have a bath. Sometimes he poops right before so I have to clean him off and then carry a naked baby to the bath. I usually put him down outside the bath and he stands there, holding onto the tub, jumping up and down while I get the water to the right temperature. The toilet is right there and that usually where I sit while I am messing with the water. This time, however, when I put him down I had to move something before I turned on the water. As I was moving the "something" (I cant remember what it was) I felt something hit my foot (I was wearing my crocks) I turned to look at my foot and there was C excited about his bath and peeing on my foot. I quickly moved my foot but the damage had been done. His pee had gone through the holes in my crocks and soaked my sock... yay for peeing kids. While I was not to happy he seemed to be very happy :)

Finally L had her first encounter with Santa. She went to spend a couple nights with her aunt and uncle and they went to Pet Smart to get some pet food. Santa happened to be there and L said she wanted to see santa. My aunt and uncle asked her why she wanted to go and she said she just did. They asked her if she knew who that was and she said that "yes, he is just a man in a funny suit." My aunt said they didn't encourage her in anyway she just went over there and stood in line. She chatted with a little boy in line about how santa was late and such and then when he finally showed up she got on his lap and gave him a big hug. The santa guy said that she was a good hugger. My aunt and uncle said she was really cute the whole time.

12/8/11: C climbing on step stools

I keep finding little guy on step stools or makeshift ones all over the house. Tonight he was whining and I looked over and he was standing on the step stool in the kitchen and was apparently stuck so I helped him get down. Earlier tonight, we found him on toy drum just big enough for his two little feet to stand on trying to get stuff off the tv stand. He also discovered today that if he climbs the stairs that he can reach the back top of the dresser drawers and get everything we've put out of his reach. Smart little dude. Last night, he fell off Elodie's step stool in the bathroom (under daddy's watch). Yesterday, he was on his knees on the step stool, leaning over trying to turn the dishwasher on. Then later, he was on his feet on the step stool trying to get stuff off the kitchen counter. He's also discovered he can climb onto his toy airplane on his knees and then he'll do a little dance. It's really cute but each time I see him up on his knees, I'm afraid he's going to fall and hurt himself. This kid is constantly splitting his lip open.

And no, he's not walking by himself yet. So close though. Tonight he took one step to me about 3 different times. He cruises furniture though and is a super fast crawler.

And no, no words yet. He says "yaya" but it's not a word. He does say "dada" and I think it means "daddy" but who knows for sure. He does know some signs. He waves and claps. He puts his hand up to his ear for "phone." He signs "milk" (moving his fingers) for everything. Sometimes he wants milk, but more often he wants something else, whether it be food or something he sees on the counter. So we offer him milk, he'll swing his hands really big to push it away and shake his head. So then we ask him if he wants to eat or wants food, and then he'll usually put his hand to his mouth (sign for food). He used to sign "more" but he won't do it anymore. He'all also pull himself to standing hanging onto my legs and put his arms up to say "up."

Oh, and C's actually slept through the night the past three nights in a row. Hallelujah! Must be a God thing b/c the only thing I've done differently is put a cotton jammie on under his fleece footed jammies (but I've done that in the past with no magic sleep through the night function) because it's been really cold. Anyhow, here's to praying this stays this way for the rest of his life...the sleeping through the night thing. :)

If C has something in his mouth and Dave or I has to tell him "no" for some reason, C will start to cry and put his hand in his mouth and throw all the food that was previously in it out onto the ground. So annoying. And when he gets mad, he'll throw whatever he has in his hands.

11/7/11: C walks w/toy

Callen can walk pushing his toy airplane. Of course, he pushes it around sideways, instead of the way it's meant to be pushed.

Wednesday, 10/15/08 update

So I haven't blogged in a week but that's b/c my sister Katie & her daughter Sara arrived a week ago Monday and we all got colds. So basically we haven't done much but wipe lots of little noses and big ones too.

We thought we were going to get our first snow of the season (& Sara's first snow ever) over the weekend but it never came...just lots of freezing rain. It was still quite cold when I took them to the airport this morning...44F.

On Saturday, we did drag our sick selves up to Loveland to meet Dave's sister, nephew, & niece at Build-A-Bear for his niece's 7th birthday. We had lunch with them before we headed home and put the girls down for a late nap.

Other than that, we spent a lot of time researching and helping pick out a new fridge, washer & dryer for Katie's new house, (D even watched the girls for almost 4 hours by himself) and we went to a dealership to check out a car. I watched the two little ones while Katie test drove the car, but in the end we couldn't get them down to the price they wanted so they'll try again in OK.

L's walking pretty well. She started walking last week and hasn't looked back. She always wants to walk now and is walking all over the place for really long periods of time.

I think she's glad to be an only child again though. She's been so great by herself today. The girls were constantly fighting (physically and for my attention). It's nice to have my little one back to herself...hopefully she'll stay nice for tonight while D's at class since I'm still under the weather. These were the colds from hell....they are just lasting forever!

I took many photos of the girls and video clips too so I hope to be able to sort through them all and get some up at some point.

All in all, it was great to see Katie and spend more time with Sara (she's getting so big and has so many words...great smile too!), but I wish we had been able to hang out more and do more things instead of being sick.

L is finally walking!!!

So yesterday (Tuesday 10/7/08), L took a couple steps. She was holding onto the bar stool and then walked to me (I was sitting on the couch). Then later, she was standing next to D in the kitchen holding onto the cabinets and she wanted a toy Sara had so she took a couple unassisted steps toward the toy.

Then this evening, I was down in the basement doing laundry and Katie was in the kitchen with L. Katie made L stand up and walked with her around the counter and then L walked the rest of the way all the way into the family room by herself! Then I came upstairs and caught some walking on video for D. She's still walking on her knees but she was definitely walking tonight!!!

Video clip 1 of her walking
Video clip 2 of her walking

Friday, 9/5/08 two steps...

Today, L took two steps toward the couch. I put a book on the couch and stood a couple feet away. Then I told L to stand up, which she did with my help, and then I told her to walk to the book. :)