Diaper rash!

So both the kiddos have an awful diaper rash. I am not sure what is going on with them but whatever it is has caused them to have sores on their backsides. And they don't want to eat. Poor little guys. They are just in so much pain but they are such troopers. Grayson's has come and gone more quickly than Trig's, he's still dealing with a fairly open sore but he is such a trooper.

And that is really the point of this post, that my kids are SO tough. I mean, there are open sores on their butts and they are smiling and playing like nothing happened. Only when I change them are they truly upset about it. Poor Trig has been walking funny for a few days now but he just keeps on playing!

For Memorial Day, in the afternoon anyway, the kids played in Mimi and Grandad's backyard. Naked. That's right, naked. Silly, I know, but I hear it is a great way to dry out some nasty diaper rashes. I wish I could post some pictures, but sadly, that would be inappropriate. I will say that I took some pictures and boy are they cute! They had a good time splashing in the pool and then Trig ran around the yard while Grayson crawled around the playpen.

Grayson has now decided that he can not only crawl like a champ but he also pulls to his knees and even to standing! He is doing a little bit of cruising, I would say that he is in the early stages of cruising. Watch out, world, here Grayson comes!

Mommy is tired, Daddy is on call and Mommy is going to read for a bit (read: 5 minutes) before passing out.


Grayson pulling up











Paging Dr. Grayson

Update and Grayson 9 months!

I'll start with the update on Trig -

His bloodwork came back normal! YAY! No celiac disease, no problems with his blood counts, all normal. And his x-ray showed that his "bone age" is correct for his age. Urine was normal.

So where do we go from here? Well, according to the endocrinologist, we look at his growth between his first appointment (March 31st) and his next appointment (July 21st) and we go from there. All signs point to him qualifying for growth hormone at that time.

In other Trig news, he is saying so many things now. We have some super cute favorites, like "papaow" is diaper, for example, which is so cute. But he is adding words to it to create two and three word phrases. Like he will say "bye bye red diaper". Also one of our favorite Trig-isms is him saying "found you". Let's just say it doesn't sound like "found you" and he will say "Found You Mommy" which is really funny :). He identifies everyone's car really accurately. He says "Mommy's white car" and "Daddy's Red Car", Mimi's, Granddads, even Momo's. He identifies things around the house, too. He calls our guest bedroom upstairs "Daddy's Room" because he sleeps in there when he is post-call. He says that the bed and room downstairs are Daddy's as well so I guess I don't get to sleep anywhere! That said, he says that the house is "Mommy's House" so there ya go. So he is really catching up speech wise. He goes to speech therapy now at an independent place and they seem to think that he doesn't need speech therapy so we are concentrating on the feeding stuff. Hopefully, they'll have some suggestions in that department. ECI is giving Trig his annual evaluation in June and they think that he may actually not qualify for services anymore. We'll have to see.

Grayson is 9 months old! He had his 9 month appointment and he was
16lbs 4oz
26.5inches
17 inch head

So like 5th percentile for everything. Trig was almost a pound lighter and a quarter of an inch shorter but who knows, I think that the measurements are probably off.

So those are the stats but I have to tell you, I think that much of this may be inaccurate. They just don't seem to be very exact. For example, his head measurement was exactly the same as his measurement at 6 months. I asked them to measure him again but they said that the other measurement must have been inaccurate. Um hello? Still, I really like his doctor there and the people are nice. I guess I will just have to trust that Grayson is growing well because he looks great!

He is crawling now but still not very efficiently. He can both army crawl AND crawl on his hands and knees but he does about 5 "crawls" and then gives up and lays on his belly. It's so cute. But he really is getting around rather well and can get pretty much wherever he wants to.

I am in the process of weaning Grayson. First of all, he has recently gotten two teeth (first was his bottom left tooth and now his bottom right has poked through). When he's finished eating, he bites me and I haven't been able to keep him from doing that. And you can probably guess that it doesn't feel too great. Also, I feel that he isn't getting as much as he would get from a bottle, and I think he would be bigger on formula. Lastly, he can hardly concentrate on the process because he is way too busy doing other things, which is why I say that he isn't getting as much as he could be. This may or may not be a slow process but I think it will be difficult for me to give up the night feedings for a variety of reasons - first, it's easy. Second, he actually feeds well. And, well, I will really miss breastfeeding him.

Baker and I are doing well. He's doing a SICU rotation right now and seems to be enjoying it. He took me out on a really great date for Mother's Day. We went to a nice dinner then to a comedy club and it really was a great night. Baker got me a really awesome and tiny video camera so that I can take videos of the kids! I also got two really sweet cards, one from Baker and one from the kids. I feel very loved and I am a very lucky woman for sure.


Kiddie Park Carousel



Riding with Daddy





Grayson and our friend Lindsay




9 months!

Time to update

Yep it's time to update. I have really slacked on this blog!

The last time I updated, Trig had just turned 2, ugh!

So I'll start with Grayson. He's doing great. He's still small but he's growing like a weed. He's about 16lbs now or a little over which puts him at like the 6th percentile. Whatever, I'll take it, he's on the chart! He'll have a 9 month checkup soon and we'll see where he's at then. He was almost exactly the same size as Trig at his 6 month checkup (13lbs 4oz, 24inches) and he's now about 16lbs, 25.5 inches (as measured by the dietitian that visits Trig) So that's a pound and a half more than Trig at this age, according to my records. So yay for Grayson! He's coming close to sitting up on his own and also coming close to crawling. He does get up on his hands and knees which Trig didn't do for a long time. Still, I think he's closest to army crawling. He got his first tooth today, his bottom left, and I think that the other will be here really soon! He's had two bumps there for months but now I am seeing even more swelling and redness (poor thing!) so I think that they are going to poke through soon.

I also have to say that Grayson is a really really happy baby. Nothing really seems to get under his skin and he's really easygoing! I'm lucky that way. He smiles and laughs at everything. The only thing that bothers him is being left alone for too long - he definitely likes a LOT of attention!

Onto Trig - he's doing well. He finally saw the endocrinologist which was a really big appointment. I went in with high hopes but expected to be crushed again, being told that he is just a small kid that will eventually catch up. That's what everyone has told me so far and that has been so hard to hear because I know that's not the case. Finally, my persistence has seemed to pay off. The endocrinologist DID take me seriously on his growth issues and is determined to do something to help us. He ran a bunch of tests on Trig, lots of blood and a urinalysis, and hopefully that will all come back clear (as we expect it will). I am awaiting results now and actually put a call into the office today to see if they had the results yet. SOOOOO, assuming that all comes back normal, and and based on another measure of his growth in July, he will probably start growth hormone therapy at that time. Scary, I know, but I have had a feeling in my heart that growth hormone is what he has needed all along. This is all based on a bunch of criteria outlined by the FDA, which the doctor was familiar with (yay for being up on the research!). Okay, so he is SGA (small for gestational age), premature, and has had no significant catchup growth by age 2. Results are good when growth hormone is started soon, preferably before age 3. So this was the right time for this.

So what does all of this involve? Well, again, assuming Trig gets a clean bill of health except for his growth issues, he will start growth hormone in July. This means daily hormone injections administered by yours truly or daddy, depending on who is game for it and if daddy is home I guess. It is really scary to think about but again, I believe that this is the right course of action for Triggy. We'll see where we go from here.

Now onto the feeding issues - the doctor hopes that the growth hormone will increase his appetite, meaning that he may actually eat more! I hope that happens. In the meantime, I have found a place that does feeding therapy (YAY!) and so we are starting that next week. He will have weekly appointments to work on speech and feeding. I am very hopeful that this will help, because Triggy really does not eat at all.

That said, his speech is really taking off. He says SO many things now and I actually really need to write it down sometime. He identifies most basic colors and even some that aren't so basic (he loves to call things purple). He is starting to identify shapes. He came up to me today and brougt me a toy and said "purple circle". It was pink but he thinks that pink is purple! He can identify all of the letters and tell us what they say. For example, he can say that the N is an N and make the sound. He is starting to learn the alphabet even, he has a frog that sings the alphabet and I've heard him sing through G and anticipate which letters that the froggy is going to say. Like he will hear W and then immediately say X (which is one of his favorite letters I think).

Baker is in the midst of his month of Trauma, which I think is interesting for him. He works in shifts, 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am. It's fewer hours that way but it is really difficult for him when he has to switch between days and nights. When he's on nights, he comes home and goes straight to sleep and gets up in the afternoon. He actually gets to spend more time with the kids when he is on nights because when he is on days, he doesn't get home until 7pm, and the kids go to bed shortly after that so daddy is just there for bath and bedtime. Which of course he enjoys - Trig particularly is cuddly and fun at bedtime.

I am just busy being a mom. I know, I never have any particular updates on me. My life is consumed by all that I have written. It's my job and it's a good one! I do get overwhelmed sometimes but I have to have perspective - so what if the house doesn't look perfect (though I do a decent job keeping it up if I do say so myself), I am doing a good job being a mom and trying to find a little time for me. Reading a book here, cross stitching there, having a glass of wine when Baker is on nights and watching recorded TV - not all that interesting but fun for me to wind down. I have started going to the gym more often which is nice. Trig loves the kids club and they take wonderful care of Grayson. They're always holding him and playing with him. I am also keeping busy with the Alliance - my group of residents' wives. The group is always doing fun activities. Baker and I do go on dates when we can and when the grandparents are willing to babysit :). So we are trying to lead as balanced a life as we can given the circumstances. Only a few more months of intern year for Baker!

Here are some pictures for ya!


Our friend Melissa with Triggy!


Daddy and Avery, Melissa and Bryan's daughter


Daddy and Triggy at the zoo on a train ride




Mommy with Grayson on the train ride


Triggy loved the fish at the zoo


More train ride


Grayson loved smiling at his daddy at the zoo


Grayson loves YAYA!


Peek a boo!


Bluebonnets at Momo's church


Our landscaping project - not quite finished, I'll post more pics later


Grayson and his godfather, Derek


I want to ride the trike up the stairs, mommy!


Grayson loves crawling around in his cloth diapers


Admiring mommy's plants


Trig loves the mailbox right next to the park


At the mailbox again!


Grayson dancing on a rock!

He's TWO!

So Trig is finally two years old. I can't believe it!
Eating went down the tubes again but he is talking up a storm. Yesterday was a wonderful moment when he said "I love you" and "bye bye" when I put him down for a nap. That's a far cry from not talking at all! He's obsessed with the concept of off and on and it's awesome because he knows how to apply it to all kinds of situations. He also literally just started saying "uh oh" yesterday and it really is the cutest thing ever when he says it.
And, Baker turns 30 tomorrow! Finally he's as old as I am :)
Wishing you a happy 30th, my love!

Almost 2!

So Trig is really nearing 2 years old. WOW! I can't believe he's almost 2!

Today Trig had a hearing test. He passed with flying colors and he was such a good boy when they were putting things in his ears and putting him in a soundproof room to play sounds to him. Really really good boy, I was proud. He is saying more and more words now so maybe he's going to catch up! I sure hope so. Now we know that his problem is not hearing so at least there isn't a physical reason for his speech delay, though I suspect as I have suspected all along that he actually did lose his hearing in a significant way around his first birthday which really affected things - I mean he was starting to say a few words then suddenly stopped and really didn't pick things back up until recently.

Eating is going better too. Well, it was, and then Triggy got sick and eating ceased. Poor thing has allergies and I think it turned into a bit of a cold. Grayson has the same thing. Doc prescribed loratidine (Claritin) for both of them and it seems to be helping to dry them up. I mean, poor Grayson has had a hard time sleeping because he can't breathe! I think that they're both doing better now. But Trig's eating has picked back up - he actually ate a LOT for him this afternoon.

Grayson and Trig both had checkups this week.

Grayson's 6 month stats - 13lbs4oz, 24inches, 17 inch head circumference. Not on the chart for height or weight but 33rd percentile for head. Exactly the same as his brother at this age, weird, huh????? He took his shots like a trooper. Was sleeping and fussy afterwards but otherwise no worse for wear.

Triggy was 21lbs6oz, 32 inches, 18.5inch head (also 33rd percentile or so). Not on the chart for weight by any stretch but barely on the chart for height! Yay! And of course on the chart for head, that's how my kids are, giant heads!

I think that's about it for the kids. I had a laporoscopy last week to get rid of my endometriosis. No biggie but I was out of the game for about a week. Much better now, yay! Baker is having his 30th birthday party tomorrow and it should be fun. Can't wait to give him his gift, hoping that he loves it.

More talking for Triggy!

So Triggy seems to be picking up more and more words. At least it seems like it. Some may sound funny but it is becoming clearer and clearer that he is trying to form words, repeat them, and is even jabbering. FINALLY! Some of his favorite words include clock, duck, truck (these all sound the same sometimes, though), grapes, off and on (A HUGE FAVORITE), Mimi, Daddy (but not Mommy, just mama, but only sometimes). I am sure there are more but it's late at night and my brain doesn't work. But I had to get it down on "paper" that Triggy is starting to improve. The point is that he is at least trying to say more words and communicate better. It's really great to see that he's finally making that effort and I think he will be happier when he can communicate better with his world.

In other news, I just made their doc appointments - Triggy's 2 year appointment and Grayson's 6 month appointment. Same day, I split the difference between their "birthdays" since they're not quite 18 months apart. I absolutely cannot believe that I have two children less than 18 months apart!!!

Also, Trig is eating more, I think. He is at least trying new things. Some things he doesn't like but at least he is TRYING them. He is really in love with bread right now. So we've expanded his list of favorite foods to include pizza, hot dogs, grapes, raisins, blueberries, banana bread, bananas (sometimes), bread, crackers, yogurt bites, and I think that's it for the absolute favorites. Sometimes there is a specific favorite on a specific day, and then it's not a favorite anymore. Like tonight he ate half of my BBQ sandwich. Probably because it had a lot of bread, but still. I think he is eating more consistently which is the most relieving thing. Like, if we sit down to a meal, Trig will eat at least SOMETHING. That really helps. Also it seems like drinking milk does not completely sabotage a meal. If he needs to drink milk, he will still eat food. It's not ideal to let him drink milk first but I say whatever we have to do to get through.

Ok it's late, nighty night.

Chugging along!

So I now have a 5 month old and a 23 month old. Time really really flies, doesn't it? I almost have a two year old!!! One more month from today!

Trig is doing well. I think he is starting to pick up more speech every day. He's back in Mother's Day Out and he clearly loves it which is wonderful because I can sure use the time off, too :)

Trig had another speech evaluation from a place recommended to us by his doctor. We went there last week and there is good and bad news - his "reciprocal" speech, or what he understands, is right on par or even ahead for his age. This I knew but it is really good to hear it confirmed. My baby is a smarty-pants! BUT, his expressive speech, or what he actually says, they placed at 8 months. I think that this is a bit exaggerated but the point is he needs help and he clearly qualifies. They said that it may take a few weeks to process and get approval but he will start therapy 3 times per week (!!!). This is going to be really difficult but if it helps, it will be worth it.

Other than that he is doing great. He's getting over a cold and so his eating really stopped for awhile but has really picked up again. It really is a series of peaks and valleys when it comes to his eating. We'll have a few solid weeks of GOOD eating (well, good for him I guess) and then he'll get sick and we have to start over again. It's frustrating. I actually think that at his 2 year appointment he will actually have a documented weight loss and maybe doctors will take me more seriously when it comes to his weight and size. In the meantime, we'll just wait for pediatric endocrinology to evaluate him.

Grayson is wonderful. He eats way more than his brother ever did. He started solid foods and he is eating so much more enthusiastically than Trig. He gets so excited that he gets food everywhere. Things were never that messy with Trig! I might actually have an eater! He's still got two teeth on the bottom that are on the VERGE of poking through but it seems like they've been that way for awhile. He seems chunky to me but he's still a very little guy, not on the chart just like his brother. If he keeps eating the way he does he's GOT to catch up, I think.

Baker is working his tail end off. I miss him so much. I have learned to kinda just do things on my own, though. I just wish he was around more not only for my sake but so that the kids can play with Daddy because he is just so much fun.

I'm doing good! It's TOUGH but there are such wonderful moments. Smiles, laughter, Trig's new words, Grayson's stares with his deep blue eyes, makes it all worth it. They're both in mother's day out now so I may actually find some time to myself and I MIGHT get caught up on my huge to do list, and when that happens, I am going to teach myself to sew! Yep, it's my new goal. and I'm GONNA DO IT! I'll start with small projects but my goal is to make things like a few items of clothing for the kids and maybe a cloth diaper or two. But we'll start with pillowcases haha. It will be an adventure! Oh and while I am crafting I really should catch up on my scrapbooking. I am about a year behind. oops.

Other projects include two birthday parties. I swear there is always something going on that I need to work on! But I love throwing a party :) Triggy's will be at gymbor.ee and Baker's will be at his parents' house. Mexican fiesta, should be a good time!