Saturday, December 14, 2013

When your husband is in Pharmacy school...a reprise

You can find the what I learned about pharmacy school in 2011 here. I wrote that after his first semester was finished..now to think he's only got one semester of classes left!  It's hard to believe we've made it this far! I'm so proud of you!


1. When your husband is in pharmacy school you plan dinner menus around class testing schedules
2. When your husband is in pharmacy school quizzing mechanisms of action replace cuddling in bed.
3. When your husband is in pharmacy school three ring binders are considered living room decorations
4. When your husband is in pharmacy school your son's bedtime stories consist of powerpoint slides read aloud.
5. When your husband is in pharmacy school he takes a moment to discuss medications with surgeons before appendectomies and wisdom tooth removals
6. When your husband is in pharmacy school his friends perform various reflexes and responses on your 2 day old baby and get really excited when they work.
7. When your husband is in pharmacy school you will come up with the hashtag #pharmacyschoolwidow to describe your life during finals week.
8. When your husband is in pharmacy he tells you about the uterus he saw in class, and even though he saw you give birth, you feel self-conscience.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Mama knows best

I hope you learn this lesson quickly, however if you are anything like your mama it will take years.

I know that if you stay up all night, you will be tired the next day. No matter how tired you are, I will not give you any coffee.

I know that you really want to put that hot food from my plate in your mouth. This will hurt more than you will enjoy it.

I know that you really think that if you lean forward from a sitting position you will magically get to what you want, but in reality you will just fall face first into it.

I know you think the dog is fun, but if you open your mouth when it comes near you, it will try to lick your gums. That is gross. Dogs are for petting, not kissing.

I know you think pulling your dad's arm hair is funny....okay, I admit, it is funny.


Miles, at 7 months and 3 weeks old you are a character. You are starting to show real interest in things around you. You no longer are content just sitting and watching, you want to be grabbing, moving, doing.  Your loves in life are paper, popcorn tins, fruit snack packages (closed), and pretty much anything you are not supposed to want to play with, like the nasal aspirator. You could care less about toys, except for books.  I can't wait to see you with wrapping paper on Christmas.  You still have no teeth, and we just recently found out that you can't eat eggs for the time being. (that was a messy lesson) You are still perfect and we love  you.

Monday, December 2, 2013

7 months/Thanksgiving

 
 
Before I begin this post, let me just say that I'm thankful.  Okay. So we started last Sunday in the middle of the night with a stomach virus.  Miles' outfit above should show you the dire condition of our household. Trevor and I were both down for the count. It involved two trips to Walgreens to obtain medication for him, and it had snowed. So off Miles and I went to get it, since the over the counter medication he needed at the house expired in 2011.  Yes I took Miles to Walgreens dressed as he was above.
 
Tuesday morning Trevor seemed better, I still felt a bit sluggish and Miles was good to go. Trevor went to class, I spent the day trying to muster up the energy to do the dishes, prepare to leave for our trip, and board the dogs. We left Weatherford at 4:30 pm and got to Missouri around 10 pm.
 
Wednesday morning the stomach virus resurfaced. Trevor was up all night Miles didn't sleep well, having slept 5 hours in the car right before bed. By Wednesday night we were all exhausted. My mom came home and told me not only were we having the 10 members of my immediate family over for Thanksgiving, one of my Aunt & Uncles and Grandma would be coming too. At this point, I just wanted a nap.
 
 
 
On Thanksgiving Miles tried a bite of the pumpkin pie filling and then proceeded to throw up every ten minutes for an hour.  (no this was not spit-up) We went to bed plagued once again by Trevor's stomach virus coming to call every 30 minutes. My dad makes a 3 am trip to the gas station for medicine.
 
 
 
Friday morning we woke up and Trevor was still sick, so Miles and I went to find a store open at 8 am the day after Thanksgiving in small town, Missouri. We got a different kind of settle your stomach medicine. And spent the afternoon laying around.  By Friday evening everyone was feeling good enough to rejoin the family. Miles was playing on the floor with a relative (name omitted to protect the innocent) and was laying on his back. Said relative pulled his right arm across his body in an attempt to roll him to face a toy. We knew immediately he had something wrong. He fussed right away and seemed to be more upset when we moved his arm. We noticed his shoulder was fine but below his elbow seemed to just be hanging limp. After about 10 minutes of observation, we decided to take him to the emergency room. It was 5:30 pm on black Friday.
 
 
This is Miles as he was getting checked in. He got his temp taken and they made sure his hand was still warm and had circulation. He got weighed and then we waited to for them to take us back to a room.  As soon as we saw the nurse, she knew he had 'Nurse Maid's' Elbow. She took his wrist and just popped it back in place. Miles cried a little during this but more out of annoyance than pain.  The minute after she felt the pop he had picked up his hospital bracelet and was only interested in playing with it.  The doctor came in to sign our release papers and off we went. In and out of our first ER trip in under an hour.

 
Saturday afternoon Miles played with his cousins.
 


Sunday we started the drive back early so Trevor could get home and study. After 3 hours we stopped to feed Miles and top off the gas tank.  When we went to restart the car the battery was dead.  After 30 minutes and forty dollars on a self-jumper we were back on the road. It just seemed like a fitting end to an eventful Thanksgiving week.  Here's to hoping all the excitement has passed and Christmas will be boring.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

6 Month Check-up

Miles Man,

You've been here almost 7 months, but somehow each month I get later at scheduling your doctor's appointment.  We went last week, right on your dad's 27th birthday. Like usual, the doctor said you were doing everything right on track.  He encouraged us to give you some soft solids so you could start learning to chew. So far you've attempted: kiwi, banana, avocado, sweet potato.  You also eat pureed veggies, basically everything but green beans. You think it's better to spit those out. But, I'm not giving up on them! You tolerate fruits.  You always make a sour face when you eat them. We my give you fruits 1/4 the time. I'm fine with you mostly eating veggies. For protein, you mostly eat egg yolk. Oh and breast milk, you still nurse 5-6 times a day.

 
Here you are a the doctor. You loved the crinkly paper. You weighed 17.4 lbs and were 27 inches long.  Your head finally evened out at 47cm.  You are in the 50th percentile.  I love this picture show the sheer fatness of your little feet. They are so thick! You also don't really have wrists...just little pudgy rings around your hand. :)
 
You still love to make lots of noise. You say something that sounds a lot like "hi" and you love to say "ahhhh" I know these probably mean nothing, but it's the easiest way to type your sounds. You smile constantly and are fixated on your feet and lips. You love to suck your lips in, so it looks like your an old man who lost his dentures.
 
 
You still bring joy to our lives daily. We couldn't love you more!


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Things Miles will never know....

Today, I read that by the end of the year that all the rest of the Blockbuster stores will be closing.  This lead to me to think about what Miles will never know existed.  The things he will tilt his head and give me the "huh look?" when I talk about.

Renting movies- you know, circling the store with your friends, deciding which movie your parents won't be mad if you rent. Debating who's rental card it will be rented with, and where you will watch it.  One of your friends may have had to call and check with his parents if the movie was okay, on his Nokia phone.

Hear a busy signal- Miles won't get to experience that nail biting, 2-second pause before the phone rings or goes to the busy signal when he calls his best friend to see if he wants to run over and play. He won't experience the joy of calling back 10 seconds later. Or,  discovering the redial feature.

He will never sit in front of a boom box waiting for just the right moment when his favorite version of (My Heart Will Go On --compete with movie clips) comes on the radio, just so he can press record on the tape player portion. He won't know the excitement that goes with recording all but two seconds of his favorite song. He won't feel the frustrating of the tape running out, just before the song is over.

Miles will never see an unedited/bad photo of himself.  He will never flip through the family album and think 'why is there only half of my arm in this picture". His mom will have deleted those. He will never have red eyes. His pictures will be carefully cropped, blurred, and brightened. He will also never wait at the one-hour Wal-Mart to see what treasures await him in a roll of film fresh from the latest church camp-- where there is sure to be one of your favorite guy pal's eye ball.

Miles will never get to lick the stamp when we mail our electricity bill. Or 50, for the Christmas cards.

Miles will never wait as he listens to dial-up internet sounds, praying for a quick collection and fast stars shooting across the Netscape logo. He won't go to MapQuest, and print of directions to the weekend's canoe trip.  He won't get to ride shotgun and try to follow those written directions and accompanying map.

Miles won't know the agony of missing his favorite TV show. He won't understand the frustration when his parents aren't sympathetic to fact that it's Jonathon Taylor Thomas' last episode of Home Improvement and he doesn't want to go see his Great Aunt. It will simply be waiting back at home for his viewing convenience and he can skip the commercials.

Miles may not know a time when marriage was between just a man and woman, he may always remember marijuana being as legal as cigarettes.  He won't know a time before information about everything is literally at his finger tips. He's going to grow up in a great and scary (for me) time I'm sure. I can't wait to see what developments his lifetimes holds.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

6 1/2 Months

I wanted to write down some of the things you are doing recently so I don't forget:
1. You love to smack your lips. I have tried to record it a few times, but you always stop!
2. Your dad taught you how to high-five
3. You can stand while you hold on to the couch
4. You like to 'play the piano' on my phone
5. You love reading books and will hold the pages while we read.
6. You know how to stick your tongue out
7. You love eating veggies but could care less about fruit. You especially don't like peaches.
8. You've started sometimes lifting your hands to be picked up.
9. You hang on while you are being carried.
10. You've kinda had a rough week with naps and sleeping. I hope you get this sorted out soon
11. You've gotten over your first cold!
12. When you wave you flat your entire arm up and down

Monday, November 4, 2013

Miles first Halloween (and a cousin visit)

Miles has a very successful first Halloween. I am not one of the people who take their baby house to house to secure mountains of candy. (although I do not judge you if you do) But I wanted him to trick or treat, purely for the pictures and because it was his first Halloween. 

Miles went as the ever popular Ninja Turtle, Michelangelo.  When  Trevor and I decided this would be his first Halloween costume, we had no idea that apparently the Ninja Turtles had made a comeback! We picked it because we both enjoyed the cartoon growing up, and mainly because we had everything we needed to make the costume for free! Except a pair of nunchucks, which we got on amazon for a whopping $.87! Score!

(costume before 'renovations'
 
Am I the type of mom who would reuse an old dog turtle costume? Yes!

 
 
So we prearranged with some great friends to go trick-or-treating at their houses.  What amazing friends we have. Miles didn't receive one bit of candy. Instead he got a new book, some awesome socks, and a variety of baby food in fun flavors that mean ol' mom just doesn't buy. What a great first Halloween!
 
As if that wasn't enough fun the weekend was capped off by his cousins coming to visit!
 
 
I can't wait until Miles is old enough to join in the shenanigans! Overall, a great end to October/beginning of November! What a good time to be a 6 month old!



Wednesday, October 30, 2013

More things I don't care about

When Miles was brand new, I posted about things I didn't care about, and what I do. You can find that first post here.

Since I've had 6 more months of parenting experiences, here are a few more current areas of which I don't bother.

1. Miles never slept in pajamas until just recently when it got cooler. Before I put him to bed in exactly what he was currently wearing. Why in the world would I create more work for myself by making more dirty clothes?

2. Miles loves water and baths, but he only gets them about once a week, sometimes he goes longer. He's not exactly romping around in the dirt. I love his baby soft skin and don't want to dry it out or slather it with lotion. I do make sure his face is clean though, I can't stand a dirty face on a baby. Gross!

3. I don't think I have ever washed a baby sock. Why in the world would you wash a baby sock? Fair warning, these socks have been in use for 6 months with no signs of being retired or washed. He doesn't wear them even a whole day, only out when it's chilly. He doesn't spit-up/poop/spill food on them. They are just fine.

4. When Miles and I are home in the day, I never have the TV on. But, he does see the computer screen occasionally. When Trevor's gets home, the TV turns on and Miles is mesmerized. Okay, I did let him watch 15 minutes of Mickey Mouse Club House because I NEEDED a shower.

5. I try not to let the dogs lick him, really I do.

6. Miles just recently started eating veggies. I didn't bother with rice cereal and he's had a few bites of fruits and clearly enjoys veggies more.  I walked out of the restroom at Chick-fil-a one day and saw Miles with a French fry full of honey mustard in his mouth. Grandparents (smile). You win some, you lose some. 

7. I really enjoy a schedule but when grandparents are involved I've realized it's better for everyone if we just go with the flow. I'm a firm believer in 'babies don't keep'. Snuggle away Gramma!

8. Miles has tummy time daily, but I think he will make progress as he is meant to. I didn't practice sitting with him from an early age. One day about 3 weeks ago, I sat him on the bed and he wobbled. Two days later he was sitting on the ground unassisted for a photo shoot. He will crawl and walk when he's meant to. I will enjoy him while he's still wobbly and cuddly.

9. Miles loves reading books. He has no idea what toys that make noise are. I'm holding out as long as possible. Down with batteries!

10. I really wish I could think of a number 10....but I can't. I'm okay with that.

Monday, October 28, 2013

6 Months and a Trip to the Beach

So at last we spoke, Trevor had just had an appendectomy. Approximately four days later, Miles and I set out on our extended fall break.  This included an elaborate plan of spending a few days in Missouri before we flew to Florida with Trevor's parents. 

After a 6 hour car ride with a 6-month that loves having attention, and doesn't love being in a car seat with no entertainment, we arrived in Missouri.  We spent Saturday looking around with Angela (and Miles' newest friend in-utero) at second hand baby stores.

Sunday we went to church. I could write a whole post no how wonderful it was to be at our church, but I will save that for another time. We met up with friends that I've literally known all my life. It's such a blessing to be around those who you know so well, you can admit to them you don't bathe your baby more than weekly. (judge away) Don't worry, I gave him a bath right before church.




Monday off we jetted to Florida with Grammy and Papa!


Miles spent the next few days sleeping by the ocean,

 
going for walks on the beach,

 
 playing in the condo,
 

napping in Grammy's arms,
 
And enjoying sunsets.
 
Three days into our vacation, Trevor joined us! It was nice to share a few baby-free moments.
 

 
It was a nice recharge for what has been an epic third year of pharmacy school. And I dare you to tell me that Miles and I aren't in pharmacy school too...
 



 
 
When we returned to Missouri, on the most awful plane ride ever, we met up with my favorite cousin, VRum. After taking pictures of Miles in-utero, it was only fitting that she work her magic on his 6-month self.
 




 
If you want to see more of Miles' 6 month session click here
 
In short, my family is the best. Thank you Grammy and Papa for taking us along on the Florida adventure and Valeri for doing the (one thing) you are better than me at. :)
 
 
 
 



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Appendectomy Adventure

On Monday morning at 3AM, Trevor woke me up telling me his stomach hurt. This isn't an unusual thing for him to wake me up about, but this pain was different than normal. It hurt when moved, when he touched his stomach, when laid on his side. I have seen him in way more pain then he was currently in, but something was nagging at me that we needed to get him checked out. So off the 3 of us when to the Emergency Room. We were the only people there and saw the doctor right away. He ordered a CT scan after he examined Trevor.
 
 
Trevor went off for the CT scan and returned about 20 minutes later. By 5 am we were told he had appendicitis.  They started an IV and fluids. Here is Trevor right after he got his IV in.
 
 
By this point, I figured I should call his parents and let them know what was up. I was on the phone with his mom when he started having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. He started turning beet red, getting hives, and swelling. Mostly on his face, neck, arm pits, and palms. This started a downward spiral.
 



I ran to get the nurse, because I didn't know where the call button was. They gave him some Benadryl and a steroid shot. He got shaky, cold, nauseated it just piled on. They came back and gave him a warm blanket and a shot of Zofran for his nausea.

That put him right to sleep.  Miles and I hung out while we waited to talk to the surgeon. Miles was such a trooper, having been there since 3 AM and in his baby car seat so I was free to help Trevor with what he needed.
 
After we met with the surgeon they took us back to the waiting area, where Trevor signed the papers to have his appendix out. We waited there for about an hour while they took a lady's gallbladder out.
 
 
 
They gave Trevor some Versed and prepped him for surgery.  He was feeling good and just a bit apprehensive about he recovery.
 
 
Miles and I waited in the waiting room while Trevor was in surgery, about 40 minutes. The doctor came and told me that everything went well and that Trevor would be waking up and they would come get me in 15 minutes or so.
 
45 MINUTES LATER, they came to tell me he was starting to wake up. He was a pretty slow waker-uper. His oxygen levels weren't staying up very well. Miles had his only melt-down of the day while I was trying to get Trevor dressed and ready to leave. It was a bit hectic.  We left the hospital about 1:30 Monday afternoon.
 
Trevor slept the rest of Monday away and most of Tuesday, only waking up to eat and practice deep breaths and fake coughs. He struggled with being light-headed until about 4:00pm on Tuesday. We got a little bit of studying in, despite his recent operation.
 
 
This morning he headed off to class for the 2nd day since he had surgery. Pharmacy school isn't very forgiving when you get behind. Besides walking slow and not being able to lift more than a gallon of milk for two weeks, I think he's gonna be good as new.
 
I'm very thankful this all happened before I head to Missouri tomorrow, that it happened to be the one day the surgeon was in our town, and that we caught it before it ruptured. Times like these make me thankful for the supportive friends we have here, and miss having our families close. 





Friday, September 27, 2013

5 Month Miles

Dear Miles,

You turned 5 months old on Monday. It was a beautiful, coolish fall day and we were far too busy playing on swings for me to write this post.  I'm stuck in this weird place right now of wanting you to stay babyish and seeing you become more aware of the world  around you.  It makes me think to the future and what type of things I want to teach you as you get older. In the same breath, I'm cuddling you during naps and thankful you can't quite sit up yet. It's confusing place to be as your mama.


My mind constantly shifts from 'beginning with the end in mind' to 'savor each moment' so I try to accommodate both. You are the bright spot in so many people's day. You eat lunch every day with a group of pharmacy students who adore you. But you light up the faces of the volunteers serving lunch each day. On Monday, you hang out with the Methodist ladies, on Tuesday the Church of Christ ladies hold you while I fill up my plate. Wednesday you get adored by the ladies at the Catholic church. On Thursday there is a man with the Assemblies of God who thinks you are great. They remember you from week to week. All of them comment on how happy you are, and how friendly you are.

 
A day doesn't go by that someone doesn't offer to take you home with them. It makes me thankful you are mine to take home. You have a smile for everyone, just like your dad. I hope this trait stays with you forever. I dream that you will be the type of man who is kind to everyone. Everyone is always surprised when I tell them you are five months old, they all say you seem older. I think it's because you have such a great personality. You seem to know how to make people smile.

You still have the fattest feet and hands. I love to squish on them. I think your hair has started to grow a bit more and your eyes are the most clear, deep blue. A lot of people describe you as a pretty baby. You are wobbly, but love to sit and look at the world around you. You love being outside. You love being around lots of people, especially ones you recognize. You love to stare at your hands and put them in your mouth. You love listen to stories and look at picture books. You think I look silly when I exercise.

I love you sweet boy, it's been a great five months.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

saturdays

Saturdays are my least favorite day. In an effort to make them more enjoyable, Miles and I ventured to the park today.  One of the parks here is about half a mile away. It's perfect for a short stroll, since we don't have a second car, and Trevor's at work. So we set out this morning it was nice and cool.

 
 
Miles has finally got to the point that he can hold his neck up without looking like a bobble head while swinging. This is actually his second time on a swing, but being the stellar parents we are, we forgot to take pictures the first time.
 

 
 
He loves the cool weather, the shady spot, and the breeze. He flaps  his arms and squeals while he slowly swing back and forth. 

 
 
Of course, I'm poised in front of him making silly faces and snapping a few pictures. I love his big blues.

 
 
Now for nap time, lunch time, and nap time again!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

My baby's getting big (week 21)

In less than a week, Miles will be 5 months old. He's getting big. I remember this every time I pick him up. I remember this every time I try to lay him down in his crib and his feet brush the railing. I remember this every time I cradle him and his legs dangle over my side.

I realize I'm lucky to be able to have witnessed every one of his 148 in full. I think it my have to do with the fact that my best friend is due in a few weeks, another friend just gave birth, and yet a third friend just announced a pregnancy.  I (kinda) miss my newborn. I don't miss the feedings every three hours, and I don't miss the constant diapers, and I don't miss the unresponsiveness.  But every time I look at Miles I see him graduating from college and getting married and moving away. Trevor likes to play on this craziness and tell me he's going to move to Italy, just to see my reaction. It's mean.

So, now that I've married him off,  let's talk about week 21. The dude loves to roll, sit up and stare at the what's going on around him, and is showing more of a preference to people he knows. I also think he may be growing because he's been taking epic naps and seems to be eating non-stop. Oh, and he's been fussy. Besides all that, he's so much fun. He loves to babble, grin, and slime us with his drool. I am excited to see his reaction in the next few months to all the holiday fun! Happy week 21 Miles.


Friday, September 13, 2013

Week 20

This week started out with a fun trip to Shawnee to attend Baby Jacob's baby shower! We are so excited about Jake's arrival!  You can see where we found out baby B was on his way here. (It's #7). :)

So here are some shots from the shower.

This is Miles and Jake (as the baby bump) holding their first BFF sign.

 
This is a bib that Miles and I made for Baby B. (I shamelessly stole the phrase from an old facebook group a friend made, is it even still a group, Carissa?)

 Here are the 4 of us.
 
 

Here's Miles with Lindsey's mom. Practicing her grandma skills!
 
 
 
So after the fun  of the baby shower, it was time for Miles' 4 month check-up.  He is doing fabulously! His stats:
 
Weight- 14 lbs 8 oz = 15 percentile
 
Height- 25 1/2 inches = 75 percentile
 
Headsize= 44 1/2 cm (about 17 1/2 inches) = 95 percentile
 
It blows my mind that in the last 20 weeks he's more than doubled his weight, grew 6 1/2 inches, and  I don't even know what to say about that head! Thank goodness it exploded once he was OUT. :) 
 
His shots has made him fussy and clingy and irritable! Thankful that he's generally a very happy baby, because the last 3 days he hasn't been!