6 month nutshell

I will start this update with good news.  I finally got cleared from the neurologist so we no longer have to make the long drive over the Mesa to get my head checked.  So that is good news because I wasn't really sure why we had to be there at all.  The next doctor's appointment was for my six month checkup.   After having a different doctor for the four month checkup, I could tell Momma was glad to have Dr. Irwin again.  He doesn't ever seemed concerned about anything and makes Momma feel like she is doing a good job with her choices.  I had to have two shots and drink some nasty liquid, but it was over quick and I was over it in no time.  I am one growing boy!

My 6 month stats:
Weight 16.1 lbs  23%
Height: 27 in  68%
Head: 44 cm  72%

I now have one tooth with the second just days away from poking through.  I am scootching around the floor on my belly like crazy but haven't quite figured out crawling yet.  Momma thinks it will be soon, but I just don't understand how to get my hands and feet up at the same time.  I have been sitting up on my own since five and half month, and that sure is nice to be able to see so much more stuff.  My big sister is just starting to really play with me and I am infatuated with her.  She is so silly and loud.  I just want to know where she is and what she is doing at all times.  As far as eating goes, I love food.  I have cereal and fruit in the morning, fruit or veggies in the afternoon and another bowl of cereal before bed.  I love sweet potatoes and fruit, but am NOT liking green beans....Yuck!   I am rotating between nursing and bottles when I am not eating solids.  So that's me in my 6 month nutshell.

4 Month Stats

My four month checkup was a little postponed because of our visit to California.  We ended up going in when I was actually four and a half months.  And because we were late, Momma got me in to see a different doctor.  Boy did I miss Dr. Irwin.  Not that the new doctor wasn't nice, but he got Momma all stressed out.  He showed her some charts on how my growing wasn't following a perfect curve and wanted to prescribe me medicine for a little rash that doesn't even really bug me.  But the good news is that this meant that I get to start eating solids.  Momma and Daddy helped me eat my first solids, a bowl of yummy rice cereal.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first, but am quickly getting the hang of it and think I am going to like this eating stuff!

My stats for 4 months:
Weight: 14.4 lbs., 17%
Height: 25.5 in., 53%
Head: 42.5 cm., 63%

What is this?  I think I like it!

My First Independence Day

Daddy got the 4th of July off work and it was decided that we would do a fun outing.  Because Lilah had been so adamant to see crocodiles recently we decided to head out to the Wildlife World Zoo where they had a new exhibit called Dragon World.  You could tell Momma wasn't sure if we should go because it is all outside and she didn't want to get too hot.  But it was decided that we would just get up and head out early so we could beat the heat as much a possible.  When we woke up in the morning it was overcast with threatening thunder showers!  It was the perfect day to go.  We loaded up and headed out.  As we got closer, the sky got darker and darker.  But we headed into the zoo.   The first issue was that Momma got one picture with the camera before the battery died.  So I will use that as the excuse as to why there are no pictures of me at the zoo.  Luckily they used Daddy's phone to get pictures of everybody else.  I promise I was there too!

The first thing that caught Lilah's eye were the beautiful peacocks that were all over the park. 

 Then she and Daddy headed into the kangaroo exhibit while Momma sat down and fed me.  Just as I was finishing we felt our first drops of rain.  

Those drops quickly turned into downpour and we ran for cover.  It was pretty fun actually.  We had company while we waited for the worst of it to pass.  

 

Sister and I were tucked into the stroller and Momma and Daddy would take turns pushing us from area to area at a run.  We saw some monkeys have fun swing on branches and one little baby monkey that was clinging to it's momma while she was swinging.  

We walked quickly through the Dragon World exhibit because it was covered but just with shade cloth and it turned the rain into big drops so it was more like walking through a shower.  Everybody was soaked except for me when we got out of there.  The rain started letting up from that point and we were able to continue to without getting too much wetter.  

We spent a lot of time in the aquarium.  It was dark and quiet and I took a nice nap.  Then we had a nice lunch and then headed home.   

The day ended as a quiet evening at home.  I think I heard a couple of load booms and whistles while I slept but it could have been my imagination.  

Weekend in Munds Park

In honor of our friend Audrey, we took a weekend away from the heat to head up to Munds Park.  Audrey was turning one and her Mom and Dad had her party up where they keep their trailer at the RV park.  So we booked a spot in the park and headed up on Friday evening.  Because we have a tent trailer we were tucked into the littlest spot in the whole place in between a sea of big trailers.  But we quickly made our selves at home.  The first night we had dinner and visited a little with friends and then all went to bed.  Besides sister yelling to use the potty in the middle of night, it was a very quiet night.

The next morning it was a little chilly and sister got to wear long sleeves and long pants.

We had a big breakfast (well Momma had a big breakfast then I got the usual).  We loaded up in the car and headed out for an adventure.   Momma and Daddy wanted to scope out some campgrounds close by in hopes that we will be able to head up for another camping trip or two this summer.  The roads were bumpy and put me right to sleep.

I woke up when we were stopping for lunch.  We parked at an empty campsite and had a nice picnic under the shade trees.  Then Momma fed me while Lilah and Daddy went down and played in the lake for a couple of minutes.

I think Sister was having fun, based on the amount of dirty on her face.

After lunch and a nice drive we headed back to the RV park for Audrey's birthday party.  Here is the birthday girl opening her present from us.  I spent most of the party asleep on either Momma or Daddy while sister played with all the kids.

Partied out!

Sister still having fun, and even dirtier

Saturday night in the RV park was a little rough.  I think people forgot that we were in a tent and weren't very quiet so we all went to bed a little later than usual.  Sunday morning we woke up to even chillier temperatures.  Momma took the opportunity to dress me in a cute jacket that I never had a chance to wear.  It sure was cozy.

Our weekend was great.  And I did really good too, for my second camping experience.  But we were all worn out and the drive home was a little miserable.  There was lots of traffic and I wanted out of my seat.  Momma and Daddy were a little frazzled and tired when we finally got home.  I think they are looking forward to some camping where we can truly get away.

Gram saves Momma

It was eventually going to happen, but Daddy left for his first long work trip since I arrived.  It was the first day home after the accident and Gram had come to visit.  It also happened to be Father's Day.   We had a nice morning.  Gram and Lilah made Daddy his favorite breakfast, biscuits and gravy.  Then he was off.  And Lilah and I were in the very capable hands of Momma and Gram.

It was such a fun week.  Lilah got Gram to take her into the pool every day.  Momma and I spent a lot of time inside because it was hot out.  We all went on an outing to the library one morning.  Lilah got some play time in and I got to take a nap in the stroller.  Lilah and Gram did some painting projects, including painting fingernails.

My big accomplishment of the week was that I turned 3 months old and on that day I slept through the night for the first time.  Momma was very excited.  But I think I was just catching up after the rough couple of days.  I still am too hungry to sleep all the way through most nights.

Happy 3 Month Birthday!

Then one morning we went on adventure.  Because it was supposed to be 113 degrees out, Momma and Gram got Lilah up early and we headed to the zoo!  We arrived right at the perfect time because they were busy feeding the animals.  Momma says this was one of the best zoo trips she has had because all the animals were out.  I spent most of the time napping though, waking only when Lilah would get excited and yell.  But I can tell it is a fun place and can't wait until I am excited and yelling with Lilah.

Jaguar having some breakfast

Gram and Lilah looking for the bears

I don't remember the bears!

The wild dogs came down for a swim

Mandrills strutting

Both lions were out relaxing after breakfast

Me relaxing after breakfast

Lilah got to ride the carousel with Gram while I ate.

I love my Momma and my Sister

Before we knew it, Daddy was home.  On the last night Gram was here everybody got a chance to go swimming.  Even me!  My first swim in the pool was great.  I wasn't sure what to think at first, but once I relaxed I really liked it.

Momma wouldn't have been able to do a whole week without Gram. Lilah was constantly fighting with Momma about sleeping and eating and whatever else she felt like fighting about.  But Gram isn't much different than Momma so I think Lilah was feeling like she was outnumbered.  I didn't really care either way, I just loved having some good time with Momma while Lilah got to play with Gram.  We sure do love it when Gram comes to visit!

The Bad, the Bad, and the Ugly

This blog is all about my first year, my monumental moments, so that we can all look back and watch me grow. In an effort of full disclosure I am going to write this blog. Momma wasn't sure she wanted me to tell the story, but it was after all, a big moment in my life.

It all started on a regular Friday morning. Momma was busy running around trying to get us off to Stroller Strides. After getting me dressed, she fed me, and I fell sleep, so she put me in my crib. Then she was chasing down Lilah trying to get her dressed, hair combed, and to the car. Lilah was insisting on taking her stroller to play with after class and Momma agreed, mostly just so Lilah would head towards the car. She opened the door to the garage and told Lilah to take her stroller out to the car. Then she came back in the house for me. She was rushing because class started in 5 minutes and she hates to be late. She came out the door to the garage, yelling at Lilah to stop playing and get in the car. All the sudden her foot hit Lilah's stroller which was parked right outside the door. She manged to get her other foot down, but it hit the lip of the small step up and rolled. And down we went. It all happened in just a blink, but I felt myself in her arms and then I was falling. BAM! My head hit the concrete. I landed in between Momma's arms. I started screaming instantly! It really hurt. Momma screamed out and then started panicking. She checked my head, I think to make sure I wasn't bleeding and then scooped me up and took me into the house. She was pretty much hyperventilating and just kept saying "Oh no!" and "I am so sorry." She was making phone calls, but I couldn't really pay attention because I was crying too hard. The phone call to Daddy helped calm her down. And once she was calmer, I was too. I don't even really remember what Lilah was doing. She just took it in stride and came back in and started watching her shows. Then I started to get really sleepy. My body just wanted me to go to sleep. I heard her talk to the nurse at the doctor's office and agree to take me into the emergency room. She got me into the car and we took Lilah up to Daddy's office. Then we headed to emergency. Momma kept talking to me and poking and prodding me. I think she was trying to keep me awake. By the time we got into the emergency room I was awake again and my head was still hurting so I started crying hard again. Then next thing I knew I was being checked out by nurses and doctors. They all kept asking Momma the same questions and she was giving them good answers so they didn't seem to concerned, but they sent me to get a CT scan.

Then the doctor came in to tell Momma the bad news. They found a scull fracture on the CT scan and needed to keep me overnight for observation. The doctor said that it was a non-compressed fracture, which was a good sign. But if any issue were to arise they were not comfortable at that hospital to be able to treat me, so they were going to transport me to a children's hospital all the way over on the other side of town. I stayed awake through the whole ER experience and was smiling at everybody who came to look at me. Before I knew it, Daddy and Lilah came to bring Momma an overnight bag and say goodbye. While Daddy talked to the nurses and doctors about the necessity of moving me, some nurses put in a big needle into my arm and took blood. Then the put in this awful thing on my hand that they called an IV. Daddy took this quick picture of me as the the ambulance drivers loaded me up.

I fell asleep for some of the ride, but when I woke up I was totally fascinated because I could see all the cars out the back windows. I could tell Momma was tired and upset, but the ambulance guy was really friendly and kept her talking. The we were admitted to the ER at Cardon's Children Hospital. Momma took some pictures. It was hard to see the bump on my head because it was the whole side so the only way to see it was to look at me straight on. It was one big bump!

I was pretty hungry but they had me so hooked up to wires that Momma couldn't get me positioned well so that I was comfortable and would eat. We sat in the ER for almost two hours before they finally moved us up to our room.

Blood pressure, pulse ox, IV - too may wires! 

Once we were in our room, things settled down a lot. The nurses were awesome and loved to fawn over me. Of course I made sure to keep them coming back with my smiles and cooing. They all loved me. We settled in pretty quick, I ate, and took a good nap. They took off all the wires except the IV unless they needed to do a check. Momma took this picture of my feet because it looked like I was in prison. I think she felt that way. I really didn't mind one way or another.

Daddy came to visit for a little while and then headed home to be with Lilah for the night. Momma didn't sleep much that night and kept checking on me. My swelling got a little worse overnight and I could tell it worried her. But after a good visit with the pediatrician, she was calmer again. She was hopeful we would be out by lunch time. Daddy came back mid-morning. We only needed clearance from the neuro-surgeon. The hours ticked by. I kept flirting with nurses. The attention was really great. I was feeling totally normal as long as they kept the Tylenol coming.

Then we finally saw the doctor. He said that the first hospital had done a horrible CT scan and he needed to do another one before he could release me. After an awkward interview with CPS that was mandatory, Daddy had to go home to have the house checked. Then he headed to the airport to pick up Gram who was coming in the for the week. She had to come to the hospital with Daddy and we continued to wait. They finally got me down for my scan around 4:30, then we waited some more. The doctor came in to say that yes, I still had a fracture and did have a small amount of bleeding. But there wasn't anything that concerned him too much and I could go home. He gave this scan picture to Momma and Daddy. I think they were curious to see it, but wished they hadn't after they actually saw it. The two lines on either side is normal, but the big one right down the center is not.

Finally after all the reports were entered and everything was clear, we set off for home. As we left the hospital the winds were kicking up and we got to drive the first little bit home in a dust storm. I was so glad to get Momma home because she was a wreck, and now that she knows I will be ok, seems to finally be able to talk about the whole thing without getting weepy. My check up one week later went just fine and I have one more X-ray and doctor's visit before we get the all clear, but I am confident this will soon be a good story told around the dinner table. My first ER visit, my first ambulance ride, my first CT scans, and my first night in a hospital. And Momma hopes it will be my ONLY!