Rough 2 weeks with Caleb!

As I said, in an earlier blog, I was going to try and supplement some formula for Caleb. I figured, of course, that it would be a miserable experience and I was right! At first, I could only get him to take some in a sippy cup while holding him but still he would only take 2 ounces at the most at a time. He just wouldnt suck on the bottle at all. I tried several but he would only chew on it then fall asleep. Then in the middle of weaning Caleb got really sick. 103 fever with no symptoms for 4 days. The dr became very worried about him bc of dehyrdration and crankiness. By the 4th day, he cried non stop all day and the 2 nights before he did the same thing all night. So the dr wanted him to get some blood work done to make sure it was only viral and to see if maybe his crankiness was more from bad dehydration. After waiting 5 1/2 hrs in the ER our dr called to see what the hold up was and agreed with us that we could go home for the night since it was 11:30pm and see how he does one more night. We were still not close to being seen! If he was dehydrated or it was more than a simple virus he was going to be admitted. Once we got home though Caleb's fever finally broke and the next morning he was almost normal again besides exhausted! We were so glad we werent able to get Caleb's blood done since it proved to be unnecessary! It did end up being only Roseola which his Dr said she hasnt seen too many kids get it that badly. Poor guy! Im sure the weaning caused a lot of the dehydration issues. I did go back to nursing but by then my milk supply had been greatly affected but at least he was getting something. After he was fully back to health I went full gear into weaning again. It was horribly frustrating since he basically had only taken 6 ounces of formala or whole milk in 2 1/2 days. I was giving him fluids through fruit and yogurt but it was barely keeping him peeing. Finally though, I found the magic bottle that he took!! I found the recommendation online and thought I would try one more. He loves it!! He took 10 ounces the first time! He even strokes it while eating just like he used to do my belly! I actually had a few tears of joy when I saw him taking it so peacefully and imagining him soaking a diaper soon! Now I have freedom again too!! I really thought he was being stubborn but it really was the bottle! Poor little guy! Weaning has been a miserable expierence 2 out of 3 kids. Makes me really question why I ever start nursing them. Im sure if I have another one someday I will nurse them too and go through all of this again. Oh the things we do for our kids! They are just so darn cute!

Love the heat!

Is it bad if I admit that I look at the date and get scared of winter coming in a few short months? I hate winter with little kids. Summer is so much easier! I dont have to put on coats, shoes, socks, or hats. Instead we wear as little as possible to stay cool! Scott hates the heat and I must admit I used to as well, but now that I have little kids (and a pool next door) I love the heat! I love that the playroom is barely messy because the kids spend most of their day outside. I love going swimming most days at the neighbor's pool. I love that it doesnt get dark until 10pm. I love that bath time is so much shorter than in the winter because there are so many better things to do than play in the bathtub. I love watching Caleb crawl as fast as he can anytime he hears a door open so he can explore the outdoors. I love finishing dinner and the girls being able to play out back on their awesome swing set while Scott and I finish eating and talking without kids around about our day. I love watching Bekah do crazy acrobatic things on the swingset, baby slide thing, and really anything her arms or feet can dangle from. Oh yes, lets no forget I love the ice cream from Mrs Curl, going to the park, teaching Bekah how to ride a bike, watching Ryan imitate everything that Cailou did that day on tv, watching Caleb eat bugs, rocks, leaves, and grass, playing red, grean, yellow, purple, orange, and pink light with the girls (I can give you the rules to the Moon's version of red light green light when you are dying to try it out), I love seeing my handsome husband come home from a hot day with his Sexy tan, and finally all the squeels and laughter from all three beautiful little ones God has so blessed me with! So for those reasons yes I am so sad when each days passes and winter is a little bit closer to ruining my fun!

PS. I even wrote this while taking care of a 9 1/2 month old with 103 fever from either hand, foot, and mouth disease or Roseola. Let's just say that he is miserable and I was in the weaning process which has definitely been halted since he was becoming dehydrated. So I guess this means even through the tiring times I still have so much to enjoy!

Got our numbers!

Ryan and Caleb both had their check ups this week at the dr. Ryan for her 4 yr and Caleb for his 9 month. After spending 1 1/2 hrs at the doctors office Ive decided I will never do 2 children in the same visit again. It wasnt because they were so slow but because I had so much to discuss about each of them. Im thankful for a doctor who does take the time to listen and offer ways to help. Caleb weighed in at 19 lbs 4 oz which is less than a lb heavier than his 6 month checkup. I had been worried the last 2 months that my milk supply wasnt doing it's job for him and had been trying to get yogurt and other milk into him to help him stay full longer and sleep longer! I mean the boy doesnt look malnurished but is constantly hungry because my milk stinks at this time. However, the kid wont give it up and let me give him something else! But after talking to the Dr we are really going to try to get 6-8 oz of soy formula into him each day and also allow him the comfort of nursing and hopefully that will help the boy sleep longer for naps and night time. Yogurt before bed has helped a lot but we are hoping formula will help with naps. Caleb was only 28 in long which is fine, but Im in shock that we have a kid only in the 50 % for height!! That's why he doesnt look like he is getting skinny. Owell average or tall I still love my Little man!! He is adorable!!
Ryan was happy to have her checkup with a doctor she describes as "very nice!" No shots this time bc I wasnt ready for Hep A and I had already promised her that at 4 there were no shots. So we will wait for a shot that I havent looked into yet. However she was of course 90% for height and 10% for weight. My skinny girl! Takes after her mama! I also talked to the Dr about Ryan's still constant problem of wetting her pants several times a day. Scott and Ive come to the conclusion that something just isnt right. We have tried everything and no matter what she still has accident after accident yet her sister 1 1/2 yrs younger has no trouble. I thought Ryan was being stubborn and defiant but the more I thought about it the more Ive realized that that isnt her personality. She loves to please us and do well and hates to be disciplined. So we decided to ask a dr. After a normal pee test (which Ryan thought was really fun) the dr has decided to send us to a urologist to have her checked out. The dr did noticed that the dimple abover her bottom is not centered to her "crack." That could be a sign of nerve problems. I couldnt believe that even a dimple above our bottoms has a reason and can tell us things. God is amazing!!! Anyway, she could be fine but we need to get her checked out to make sure her nerves to her bladder our working correctly. Should be interesting! She may even need to have an MRI done of her spine. Now that Ive been told what could be the problem Im hoping she is just defiant! haha! Boy our attitudes can change so quickly! Im just praying that whatever her problem it is minor and we can get her fixed up so she isnt embarrased as she is getting to an age where she is definitely understanding. Now I have to be ready to forgive myself if there is a problem that she couldnt help after I have been hard on her the last 1 1/2 yrs! That will be so hard to do! I know that her tender heart will have no trouble forgiving me though!

Change!

Ryan will be 4 on Monday!! I cant believe it! I love that girl so very much! My firstborn! Poor girl has put up with so much, but always tells me it is okay and she still loves me! She is a great big sister (most of the time! ha) and a great daughter! I think about her first year and how nervous I was as a new mom with every decision Scott and I made for her and how that still holds true each time she goes through a new phase of growing up. Lately Ive had trouble knowing when she is ready to do more and be more responsible. Ive come to the conclusion lately that we really need to teach her and allow her to do much more for herself and for us. She wants to but sometimes it is just easier to do it myself and less mess. But at the same time since I have 2 others pretty young it actually makes it harder. I would love to spend less time doing things for her and instead have her do them while I take care of the other two. She is ready and always asks so now is the time! Whew! Wish me luck!

Fort Wayne!

Scott was heading up to Fort Wayne to put up siding and change some windows for friends of ours and thought that it would be great if the kids and I drove seperately to be with him those 3 days. I would be able to visit with friends and have a short getaway with the kiddos. The day before I was really certain it would be a rough trip knowing Caleb was beginning horrible stranger anxiety and knowing that 3 kids are hard enough to take care of on my own at home let alone away from home. I really did want to see friends and Scott insisted I try it and leave early if need be. I will say it was a rough rough trip! The drive up (2 whinny girls and screaming baby), the crying Caleb every time I left the room, the wetting of Ryan's panties every hour, the nastiest hotel ever (carpet was so nasty we wouldnt let the girls out of bed), Scott backing into our friend's truck with our van, invading our friend's home the 2nd night so as not to have to keep the kids off of the carpet, getting little sleep, almost falling asleep on the drive home the first hour, a total drive home time of 3 hrs and 45 min when it shouldve only taken 2 hrs, and 3 screaming kids the last 2 hrs. But at the same time I think it was a good trip! I got to have lots of adult conversation, Scott made some money, we got to see and visit with friends, the girls loved playing with someone else's toys, they have amazing parks in Fort wayne that we visited, I didnt have to cook for 3 days, I learned a lot from a good friend/good mom, Girls got to go to vbs one night at our friends church bc they allow 2 and 3 yr olds at theirs and it was AWESOME, and oh yes I was able to hold my Caleb man a lot and bond with him! If we only look at the work and frustration of a trip we can easily miss what we did enjoy. If was really that bad I wouldnt have stayed the whole time. I talked about leaving early many occasions but everytime decided to stay so as not to disapoint the kids and Im glad I did! I survived. I also saw a lot I feel like I do right as a mom and a some things I would like to change! Here I am almost unpacked and feel pretty good after having one amazing day with all 3 kids! Im now ready to celebrate Ryan's 4th bday tomorrow with friends and family!