Photo Dump

I seem to have collected some pictures on my camera over the past couple of  months that deserve attention.

First, there are the pictures from Easter... 

Easter pic with Nana and Papa

Then there are some general everyday pictures that are worth remembering...

Playing with brother's "puter"

Note: This outfit was NOT my doing...

Brayden eating at the kid table like a big boy

Finally, we took the boys to the zoo (Brayden's first "official" zoo trip). Technically he has been to the zoo before, but it was as a newborn... he slept the whole time.

Landen being a "raffe"

Camel ride with Daddy

Brayden and the pigeon

Landen got to feed the "migos"

Brayden is fearless!

Pretty bird

me and my boys (tired)

Landen saying, "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!"

The “Other” Call You Never Want To Receive…

Landen has entered a phase of “I hate wearing clothes of any kind.” To some degree it’s cute, because he’s still 2 and can get away with it. To some degree it’s practical, as we are potty training and taking off clothes to get to the potty in-the-nick-of-time can be challenging (so there is more of a likelihood of success in timing if the clothes are no longer an obstacle). To some degree it’s just not great, as having a completely nude child running around can get kind of awkward, playing has an increased potential to be hazardous, and finally any potty accidents that would normally be caught by clothes/underwear/diapers could quickly result in disastrous situations. This is where the phone call you never want to receive enters the picture.

Preface, there have been two instances of urinating on the floor previous to today’s event, but they were when we first began potty training and we pretty much chalked it up to drafty air. Today, however, is well into the potty training regimen, where I feel confident in referring to Landen as being potty trained (at home).

The phone call: I’m sitting at my desk at work carrying on with my usual tasks when the phone rings. I look to see who is calling and notice it is Keith. Keith has been able to stay home for the past two weeks with the boys and really work with Landen on potty training, (He’s a wonderful husband and daddy!) so I was expecting the usual call from him once Landen woke up for Landen to say “good morning” and to tell me about the days plans. Today was different. Keith didn't sound like his usual laid back self. Landen was crying in the background. I ask Keith how things were going, and he responded with, “Well… Do you want to hear a story? It’s kind of… um… gross.” I braced myself, but made the unfortunate mistake of giving him the “go ahead.”  Keith explained that today was one of those Landen refuses clothes days, and that all of the sudden he hears Landen calling out, “I pooping, Daddy!” Normally, when Landen calls out such an announcement, it is as he is running to or sitting on the potty. Apparently, this was NOT the case today. By the time Keith made his way to Landen (I have NO IDEA what part of the house they each were in that caused the delay), Brayden had already discovered the pile. OH THE NIGHTMARE! Brayden had it on his hands. I cringed. As Keith continued with the explanation of the degree of this disaster, all I could think about (and say) was PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME BRAYDEN DIDN'T EAT IT! Keith stopped what he was saying (I think), and very un-confidently assured me that he didn't THINK Brayden ate it because Brayden didn't have it on his face, but he wasn't certain. Oh my word! I have no clue how the remainder of the conversation ended. I have no idea what part of our house now needs to be quarantined. All I know is that Keith said he took care of it and that Brayden PROBABLY didn't eat Landen’s poop.

Yuck.

Sometimes you just gotta go... even if it's in your own driveway...

I DO thoroughly enjoy all the stages my kiddos go through as they grow, BUT sometimes the stages overlap (i.e. potty training of the oldest and utter curiosity of the youngest) and that part, well, is rather unpleasant.

Eggs Benedict & a Peach Smoothie

Warning: if squeamish avoid reading the last bit of the blog... just look at the pretty pictures :) Don't say you weren't warned

Landen is making some awesome progress with potty training. FINALLY! He gets SO excited about wearing big boy underwear! We are so proud of him! He does, however, not have much success using the potty at school. I think it’s a pressure thing… At home, he knows mommy and daddy are trying to help him with a goal that HE wants. At school, it’s more of a forced issue. He is really cute getting excited about his underwear. He keeps running up to me/Keith/anyone saying, “I wearin unnnderwear! Wanna see?!” then proceeds to show off is undies with the biggest smile on his face.

Landen (not wearing his glasses bc he was cuddling with me)

Brayden is such a precious little guy. He just LOVES his big brother (who absolutely ADORES him, too!)! They are learning how to really play together now, and it is such an awesome thing to watch.  We initially thought Brayden had a virus last week, but the more investigating we do, the more it seems he is having some milk sensitivity. Previously, we had been giving him formula (or breast milk) and that seemed to be fine. Then we started mixing a little milk in with the formula (still okay). Once we started mixing more milk and less formula, his diapers started going rotten.  Last week, we really began the 3/4-7/8 Milk to formula ratio. Things went bad, quick. Terrible diarrhea, vomiting, gas, fussiness, etc. all entered our lives. Over the weekend, we were at my mother-in-law’s house and we gave Brayden just straight milk with no formula and he starts projectile-vomiting, all over Keith’s mom. (SORRY!!!)  Keith’s mom and brother are both lactose intolerant, so it wouldn't be entirely out of the question for one of our children to be. We've decided to try soy milk for a while and see how that goes. Last night, Brayden had soy milk and kept it down fine. Time will tell.

This just makes me laugh...

Brayden playing on brother's tricycle

Keith just finished his first clinical rotation. He did SO well and I am so incredibly proud of him! He has the next two weeks off, so he’ll be keeping the boys home with him. This couldn't be better timing, with Brayden’s digestion issues and Landen’s potty training.

And finally….

We’re having another baby!

 Being pregnant, for me can be a bit frightening. I've had some crazy complicated pregnancies so far and that can be unnerving for anyone involved, but I know that whether I have preeclampsia again, a full term normal pregnancy, or something completely different, I know it’s in God’s hands. With that, I find immense peace! It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride so far. Aside from having morning (all day EXCEPT morning) sickness and my typical bizarre cravings, I have had some a lot of bleeding/cramping. It started on Friday, 4/26 and lasted through Sunday, 4/28. Then I had a terrible (like the worst one ever on planet earth) 24 hour stomach bug. I had a little spotting after that, but not bad. Then, on Saturday, 5/4 I woke up bleeding, it was a little more than spotting but not significant; by Saturday evening, it was EXTREME. As of last night, the bleeding had stopped completely. So far, after exams and ultrasounds, there is no known cause for the bleeding/cramping and baby looks just fine! BUT because of the bleeding, I am not allowed to lift anything = not my kids, not groceries, not car seats, nothing bigger than a 5 lb bag of sugar. On the upside, I have gotten to see the little peanut several times, and I have to go back this afternoon for another peek.

Please keep this sweet baby and my body in your prayers, as he/she is trying to have a safe little home in the body that doesn't seem to want to cooperate.

Cravings so far:

•         Beef stew
•         Eggs Benedict & a Peach Smoothie
•         NOT banana sandwiches (it may be a while before I eat one of those again)
•         NOT rice & beans (again with the time-to-recover)
•         Green grapes
•         Lumpless yogurt… I can’t explain it other than the fruit chunks aren’t going over well
• Filet Mignon