UGI scope scheduled

Wed, Feb 6th at 8:45AM - Children's hospital.
Had a very bad night with Miles.... teething or another ear infection? No idea.....
more later.....

Happy 3rd Birthday Mason!!

Mason turned 3 on Saturday. I can hardly believe it has been 3 years since I became a Mommy! The years have flown by but some days have seemed crawled by!! His party was so fun! We had a train party and even had a circus train for the kids to ride on. Almost everyone enjoyed the ride (there were a few kids unsure of the train and the noise it made). Most parents took a ride (or two or three) and even Nana took a ride! Mason and Miles wore their overalls and looked quite the part of the engineer. I'll post pics later......

Miles had a check-up with a new GI doctor on Thursday and we loved him! He did a milk allergy test (even though it was inconclusive, at least he did it), changed 2 of his 3 medicines and scheduled him for a upper GI scope. The new medicine for the constipation is working so much better already. We are still waiting to hear when the UGI is scheduled, so I'll post when I know.

I also turned in an application for preschool (k3) for Mason for 2008-2009 school year. It is such a huge step and makes me so nervous! Things like this remind me how much of a grown-up I am. Sometimes I forget.....

Speaking of being a grown-up, I need to go get the boys some dinner.

Nennie

Oh..... where to begin? My mom's mom is a one-of-a-kind lady. I have worked on writing this post in my head for several weeks and online for another couple of weeks. I never know where to start. To say that she is a strong woman is not giving her the full credit she deserves. She raised three children all by herself and while things were never easy, she always provided and made the best of a hard situation. She did what she needed to do and did not quit.


Nennie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986. She had surgery and then chemo. She was never sick from the chemo and never lost a single hair. She is such a fighter and never lost hope that she would beat the terrible disease.

She has 3 children, 9 grandkids (not including all the spouses) and 9 great-grandkids (if I can do my math correctly!). She lost her oldest daughter to breast cancer in 1994. I cannot imagine losing a child at any age - even as an adult. She stayed with Navena at the hospital every day and cared for her when she wouldn't let the nurses. She took care of her like any mother would care for their child. Fortunately, most mothers do not have to care for their adult children. I cannot imagine the physical and emotional toll it must take to bring a child into this world and then lose them to such an awful, long, painful diesease.

Nennie has always been terribly independent and I would even say that she prided herself on being able to always take care of herself. Several years ago, she started losing her eyesight. She has Macular Degeneration and slowly lost not only her eyesight, she lost the things that meant the most to her - needlepoint, crocheting, pottery, reading, driving - her independence. She is dependent on someone else for most everything these days. For her, that has to be the hardest thing in the world.

Sometimes she gets down and wonders why she is still here with us. Some of us remind her that her family needs her. She is our prayer warrior. She prays for each and every member of our family daily. I have told her that God knows we obviously still need her praying and interceeding for us. I know that I don't always have the time to pray for my family or boys like I should. But, as long as Nennie is around, I know that she is and I thank God for every additional day that he gives her on this earth.

She turned 86 in October and I can not even begin to think of all the things that she has experienced and the changes that have come along in her lifetime. Highways, microwave ovens, VCRs, DVDs, cell phones, computers (which she has probably never once used) - so many things that most could not imagine a day without. Some days I think that it would be nice to not have so much technology in our lives, but without it, I couldn't brag on my Nennie. If you are reading this and are one of her grands or great-grands, please take a few minutes to give her a call and let her know how much you love her. I know that I am going to do so this evening.

Swim lessons and yoga

Mason had his first solo swim lesson this morning. Until now, he has been in a mommy-and-me class and I have been in the water with him. He was hesitant on the drive there about going in without mommy, but as soon as we got there and it was time for his class, he took to the water like the little fish that he is. He did great and loved getting into the water. In fact, he had trouble staying seated until it was his turn. He kept wanting to jump in and swim! He has a great teacher, Mr. Chad. I think that it will be great for him to have a male teacher for once! And, today it was just our best buddy Dylan and Mason in the class. Semi-private lessons for the two of them! I'll post pics soon.....


I think that I did a few too many yoga classes when I was pregnant with Miles. I went until I was 38 weeks and the instructor freaked out when he found out I was due in 2 weeks! Miles is trying so hard to crawl. He gets up on all fours and rocks, rocks, rocks back and forth. He pushes himself backwards (under tables and chairs, into corners or other places to get stuck and/or hit his head on). He has also started lifting his knees up from the ground so that he is in a push-up or plank position.


The last few days, he has started pushing his hips to the ceiling in what looks like a down-dog.

He has tried to put his feet on the floor from here (and has gotten one foot on the floor) like he is just going to stand up. So funny! I'll post a video of this later. One other note, we are still waiting on the appearance of his first tooth. He is chewing on everything he can get into his mouth. The top 2 teeth look like they are closer to cutting through than the bottom two. I am not sure what he is going to look like with top teeth and no bottoms.

We have an appointment on Thursday with a new Ped GI doctor for Miles at Children's Hospital. I am excited to get a second opinion and hopefully get some answers. Or, at least have some confidence that there really may not be a medical explanation for the constipation and reflux. They did tell me to plan on a 2-3 hour visit, so I am guessing that they plan to run some tests that day. I will post updates when we get back.

Sunday's run: 4 miles => 44:20
Tuesday's run: 3 miles => 30:53

Ears are clear!

Great news today.... Miles' ears are totally clear of all infection and fluid! So, no ENT for us! YEA! We did talk extensively about the reflux and constipation and he gave me some information about feedings, solid foods, medicines, etc. He also advised me of a new GI doctor to try, so I am going to call and schedule another appointment.
That's all for now. The boys are resting, so I am going to as well!

Post Christmas update

I have not posted in quite a while, so I wanted to get online and share some new achievements. Mason was at the pediatrician's office the other day with Miles and I and he stepped on the scale. My "baby" weighs 38.6 lbs. I couldn't believe it! He has gotten so big in the last year! He continues to love playing with his train table and trains. He is loud and energetic and a typical little boy. On Monday, he fell (or jumped, depending on who tells the story) off a chair at Mother's day out and cut his eyelid (in the crease). Yet another scar to prove his manhood, I suppose!

Miles is always a delight. He is still having GI problems. The medicine and super-expensive formula do not seem to be helping at all. We have an appointment with a new GI doctor in early March, but are trying to move that up. We also have a follow-up at the pediatrician's office tomorrow to do an ear check. If he still has fluid on his eardrums (he did still 2 weeks ago), they plan to refer us to an ENT. So, we would appreciate prayers for a good check-up and clear ears tomorrow morning.

On a happier note, he is confidently sitting on his own now for much longer periods of time. It is so nice to put him down and know that he will still be sitting when I come back. And, he is getting closer and closer to crawling. He is on all fours and rocking back and forth. He wants to move forward so badly, but just can't coordinate the movements yet. I know it will happen so soon and he will no longer be sitting where I put him when I come back. So, it is exciting and scary all at the same time!

A couple of pics and a video

I have to pick Mason up from "school" in a few minutes, but wanted to post a few more pics.

Dylan Jo, Mason and Miles


Daddy and Mason


Mason and his new train table


The boys in front of the Christmas tree


Video of Miles sitting in his room on Dec 30th (click the arrow twice)

Mema

I have had two amazing women that have been a huge influence in my life. They are my two grandmothers. Nennie (my mom's mother) is 86 and Mema (my dad's mother) is 84. I have been thinking about both of them so much lately. Maybe that is a product of their age, and maybe it is a product of mine. Today, I have had my thoughts on Mema. She is an amazing woman. She was able to spend Christmas day with our family - her 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, she had absolutely no idea who we all were. She has advanced alzheimers and is in her own world. But, that is not what I want to dwell on today. I refuse to remember her as the shell of a person that the terrible disease has made her. I remember her strong. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. She taught me how to bake -- her homemade rolls and pecan pies (with the most perfect, flaky crusts that you can imagine) were out of this world. She was a lady through and through. Until very recently, she wore dresses every single day and only put on pants to work in the garden or in the yard.

Her faith in God carried her through many tragedies -- the death of her husband, mother, son and sister. She cared for each one of them through long illnesses and I never once heard her complain or ask why her. She had an amazing spirit, a fire in her. The family house had a large back yard and they had chickens in the yard. Apparently, one pecked at my oldest brother when he was a young boy and she went out and immediately wrung its neck (literally). She didn't wait on the men, she didn't blame my brother for doing something to the chicken, she defended her grandson and took care of the situation. It really makes me laugh to picture the situation. Chicken Little was dinner that night. I loved spending time at their house growing up. There was always plenty of family there. I learned so much from her. I learned the importance of family and God. I learned how to cook (or at least I tried!!!).

I watched her live out Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

She is all these things and then some. She is to be praised for the life she lived and the witness she provided. My prayer is that she does receive the reward she has earned and that she meet my Grandaddy, Uncle Rickey, Mama (her mother) and Aunt Pat at the heavenly gates very quickly.