Jack Turned 3!

As Jack's birthday rolled around, we immediately knew what the theme of his party had to be...SUPERHEROS!!  The day turned out great!  We grilled out, had cake and candy and cookies, we got a bounce house for the kids and all around had a good time in the back yard with family and friends!  Jack got spoiled with gifts, as usual!

At his 3 year check up he weighed 29 pounds 6 ounces and was 36 inches tall. Still my tiny little man, but the doctor wasn't worried because he is still on the same steady growth curve he has been on since he was a baby! BUT just as a comparison - I took both kids to the doctor last week together (Norah had Bronchitis and Jack had Croup) and Jack's weight was 28 pounds 7 ounces and Norah's weight was 18 pounds 6 ounces! Only a 10 pound difference and he is 2.5 years older!

The cake tables...with no cake..

I didn't get a good picture of the cake, but this is what it was and it seriously looked just like this!  It was awesome!

Backyard Set up!

The bounce house didn't match the theme, but no one seemed to mind!

Bean being the DIVA that she is!

One of my favorites - Sophia Claire

A little slide time!

Breckin!

Lovin' the bounce house!

Jack, Addy and Breckin - my brother's two kids.

CANDY!

Blowing out the candles!

Momma, Daddy and Bean got Jack a Spiderman Bike!

Jack and Piper - she is future wife material!

Spiderman Pinata!

 

This is my favorite picture of the day!

Bounce House Fun!

 

Norah and Miss Tonya - Tonya is our daycare provider and we couldn't be more lucky!

We also did a little fishing and he caught a birthday fish! Can't beat that!

2 year checkup!

We are almost a month late on getting Jack's 2 Year Kan-Be-Healthy checkup done, but oh well. We went this morning and he weighed a whole 24 pounds 2 ounces and was 33 inches tall. I looked back and at his 1 Year Kan-Be-Healthy he weighed 21 pounds 6.5 ounces and was 28 inches tall! So not much weight gain, but he grew 5 inches! Wowza!

Jack is right on track with all of his development which is awesome! He had to have his finger pricked to do the lead test again and 1 shot in his left leg, but he did really good!

Not much else to report!

dr. baker follow-up

Jack's ears received a B+ at his follow-up appointment at Dr. Baker's this afternoon. I mentioned that he had been pulling, tugging, and sticking his finger in his left ear for the past few days, but I hadn't used his ear drops again because I never saw any drainage. Dr. Baker said the day of surgery that unless there is drainage, then Jack wouldn't have an ear infection.

Kelly, Dr. B's P.A., checked Jack's ears and gave the right one a clean bill of health. The left he said wasn't infected, but looked like it had been draining some. He said it could have been if it has gotten wet or that the tube in that ear was still just opening everything up (or something like that), he just said to use Jack's ear drops in that ear for 3-5 days and that should do the trick!

If not, I'm supposed to call the office - if so, we'll see them in 6 months! Whoop! Whoop! Again, so easy!

Oh and Kelly didn't do any type of hearing screening today and I asked him if I should take him to Greenbush and he said if I wanted to that I should, but he said Jack is still pretty young for a true "hearing" screening. He said at his age all they are going to look for is if he responds when he hears noises/name...he asked me if he responds when I say his name? YES. He asked does he follow directions? YES. He then said, well that's about all they are going to be able to tell you at Greenbush. He said he is too young to do a true hearing screening that will allow for us to get a true sense of his hearing ability and the frequencies, etc. that he hears. Remember the test we all took when we were younger, raise your hand if you hear the "beep"! Haha! I hated those!

PAT visit...finally

We hadn't had a visit from Dacia (our PAT lady) in about 4 months! Our schedules kept conflicting, then visits were cancelled because Jack was either sick or the weather was nasty! But Dacia finally made it over last Thursday! Since she hadn't seen Jack in so long this visit consisted of a screening of Jack's skills! This one was a little different then the past screenings because Jack actually has to participate now, where before he was always too young and mainly she observed him and asked us questions BUT this time Jack had to do and say and react to the questions she asked!

I was thrilled because I always love getting progress reports on how he is developing! All in all Jack cooperated quite well, I was surprised! But he likes Dacia so I think that helps and he is somewhat familiar with her (even though it had been a long time since he had last seen her). She asked him tons of questions, asked me questions, asked him to do things, etc. She had a piece of paper with 5 different things on it - A dog, a cat, a horse, a man, and a bird....Jack knew everything but the horse (I'm having trouble deciding if it's a horse or a pony...as in what I call it when speaking to him). He also showed her his eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair, tummy, pee-pee, and pooper! Haha! There was lots more involved, but those are the biggies. He is saying plenty of 2 word phrases and starting with 3 word phrases which is great especially since he was supposedly having such a hard time hearing us before his tubes.

Jack has also started helping with chores around the house, he knows where to put his laundry away at in his room, he throws his diapers in the trash, he puts our shoes and dirty clothes away (after he pulls them all out of the closet or hamper), things like this - he has even helped take out the trash a few times!

The things we are focused on next is jumping up and then jumping over something, learning colors, and putting on our clothes! Seems like a good list to me!

We have his 2 week follow-up appointment with Dr. Baker this afternoon. Dacia said that if they don't do a hearing screening then she can set us up with a free screening at Greenbush - just to make sure Jack didn't have any "permanent" hearing loss/damage prior to getting his tubes put in! I'll keep you posted!

that was easy

Jack's first surgery to have tubes put in both of his ears was yesterday morning and I'd have to say it was so easy, the whole process! I can remember waiting at my OBGYN's office for a monthly visit longer than we were at the surgery center!

We had to be at the surgery center (not even the hospital so no annoying admitance/paperwork to do) at 7:30am! Dr. Baker does kids on Mondays and Wednesdays and they stagger them in every 30 minutes or so, 3 every 30 minutes! We were third to arrive in our group, but it took about 2 minutes to sign the couple papers I had to sign and for them to get Jack's temp and listen to his heart!

Then I was told I had to wear these "painters coveralls", booties, and a hat since I was going to go back in the OR with him while he was put to sleep (I wasn't really excited but oh well). We waited about 30 minutes and then it was Jack's turn! I went back with him in the OR and he was put to sleep - not gonna lie watching him being put under was a bit freaky! No more than 5 minutes after I got back to the waiting room where Chris and his dad, Doug, we waiting Dr. Baker came walking up the hall, my first thought was oh crap, something went wrong! Nope, he was just finished! We were moved to the recovery waiting room and not 5 minutes later I was let in to be with Jack!

Boy he was pissed and drunk! Haha! He just didn't know what the heck was going on, but he knew he didn't like it! We were back there for 20 minutes or so then it was time to go! Once we left Jack settled down and was fine. We all came home and took a good 2-3 hour nap (Dada slept the longest). Then Jack was ready and rearing to go, he ate lunch like a champ and returned to all his normal crazy, wild, boyish activities!

Dr. said he took out quite a bit of fluid from both ears so Jack should definitely be hearing better and I think he is actually. Tonya also said she noticed him talking more and reacting the first time she spoke to him, instead of her repeating things multiple times! He also slept much better last night than he has in weeks, months! He still ended up in our bed, but he didn't wake up once crying and screaming and tugging at his ears!

All in all I think we made the right choice and Jack is feeling better and that was the outcome we wanted!

surgery on monday

We got in to see Dr. Baker this morning (thanks to a cancellation) and Jack needs tubes ASAP - his words! Jack is scheduled for Monday morning at 7:30!

The surgery itself sounds easy; I get to go back with him and hold him until he falls asleep (the use gas anesthesia so no IV, no intubation), then it only takes 3-5 minutes to put the tubes in and then we will go to recovery for 30-60 minutes and then be on our way home!

Chris and I are both going to stay home with him Monday and then he will go back to daycare on Tuesday!

I'll post an update/pictures sometime Monday or Tuesday!

Wish us luck! I honestly think the hardest part will be not giving Jack anything to eat or drink after midnight on Sunday until AFTER his surgery! That's going to be KILLER!

ear, nose and throat

Yup, that's where we're headed - the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor. I think Jack's doctor has finally given up (or she was scared that I might kick her ACE if she didn't figure something out) and she is referring Jack to Dr. Baker (which I've heard fabulous things about).

I'm hoping we can get in sometime this week (because Feb. 1 is the first day of our new insurance year) so that we don't take the full financial brunt of this ordeal since we've already hit our dedubtible for 2010 everything up until the new plan year is 100% FREE!

So I'll keep you posted! Wish us luck!

healthy?

Jack is just about 19.5 months now and I hate to say that so far this fall/winter he has been sick constantly! He is still having the respiratory issues and for some reason his doctor(s) haven't been able to kick it! He gets really congested and then the couging starts, then the gagging and throwing up from the coughing starts, and then we go to the doctor and he gets an antibiotic and within days he is BETTER - but it never lasts long.

Jack will be healthy as long as he is on his antibiotic and then for the first 2-3 weeks after he finishes his antibiotic and then the entire cycle starts over again!? Ugh, frustrating! We still do his breathing treatment(s) daily and he still takes his Singulair every night - I'm almost at a loss.

I have been told that it could be allergies (duh, the Singulair), but that it could maybe be a food allergy too. A few friends of mine have taken their toddlers to an allergist here in town that works with children/toddlers - so this week I'll be discussing that with Jack's doctor because you guessed it - it's time to go see her again!

Other than the sick issue, Jack is right on track developmentally! He is running, climbing and jumping! He has a new found love of books and wants to read at least 5-10 every evening! He also loves to color - on everything!?!? He is talking more and more and has started putting a few 2-3 word phrases together! Here are a few of the words/phrases I hear over and over - everyday, but I still find it just too cute!

• Where's Chahi? or Where'd Chahi go? (Where's Charlie? Where'd Charlie go?)
• Where's Daddy?
• Where'd (insert he/she/they/dog/kitty) go?
• Peedaboo (peek-a-boo)!
• Moooore!
• Chahi! Chahi! Chahi!
• Dawg! Dawg! Dawg! Arf, Arf, Arf!
• Kitty-Kitty! Moow! Here kitty kitty! (the cat call goes for an animal, not just cats)
• Birrrrr (Bird)
• Big Boy!
• Big Dawg!
• Baaal! (Ball)
• Nine! Nine! Nine! (this was the first button he found on his number book)
• Baaabeee! (Baby)
• Caaaaar. (Car)
• Deeeeer. (Deer)
• Baaath (Bath)

He says more words, but these are the most commonly heard and as you can see he LOVES to carry his "a's" out! Haha! It's cute! He also understands everything you ask him. He has started taking directions and following through. Ex: he puts his shoes away, he throws things in the trash, he helps put the laundry away, he knows his bedroom versus Momma and Dada's bedroom, he knows what all of his toys are and will bring you back the correct one when you ask, he knows when he is in trouble and needs to go sit down and chill out - things like this!

I couldn't be more proud of how he is growing and learning, although I could do without some of the "boy" characteristics - kicking and wrestling and climping/jumping up/off things! Yikes! He is going to make me have a heart attack!

At his 18 month appointment he weighed 24 pounds and was 31.5 inches tall (I think). He has about 11-12 teeth now too! And he is no longer my perfect little sleeper and is sleeping in our bed at least half the night, but I figure until I have a reason to kick him out...I'd rather sleep!

growing up

Jack is getting to be such a big boy these days and with that comes his independence, which is good and in some cases not good! When he doesn't get his way he now throws full out tantrums! He throws himself down on the floor and screams! Jack loves playing outside and making him come inside will guarantee a meltdown! I've started letting him come in on his own terms and then having him shut the door - this usually helps until he realizes that I'm not going to reopen the door for him to go back out!

Jack has also started insisting on holding a fork during meals. He uses it sometimes and he gets so excited when he successfully pokes his food and actually gets it in his mouth! It's cute!

Jack is now running around the house and loves it when people knock on the door! He gets so excited to see who it is! He is back in his own crib, but still plays for quite awhile before actually falling asleep!

We went to the doctor last week for Jack's flu shot and he weighed just over 23 pounds and was 30.5 inches long (yes he is getting taller)!

The cutest thing happened this morning when I dropped him off at Tonya's! Usually I sneak out when he isn't looking or I say a quick bye and Tonya takes him the other way. He never really cries too much and I can always hear him stop before I even get off the porch, but this morning was different. As soon as we walked in Jack wanted to play, I sat and talked to Tonya for a minute and then it was time to leave. I told Jack I was leaving and he made a bee-line for me, I thought oh he is going to cry! He walked over arms out (I thought b/c he wanted picked up), but I just squated down and said "Ok, give me hug and kiss," he hugged me and I kissed him on the cheek and he promptly turned around and went back to playing! What a big boy! That was the first time HE ever gave ME a goodbye hug and kiss!

xoxo

jack's 15 month update

This is a few weeks late, but since Jack was sick we couldn't have his "Kan-Be Healthy" visit with Dr. Mijares until yesterday! So Jack weighed 22 pounds 8 ounces and was only 29.5 inches long! Poor guy, still a shorty!

We had our development evaluation with Ashley (she is married to one of Chris' friends from Columbus, so we know her)! Everything looked good - except the gross motor, which we are all aware of! She gave him lots of little tests to do, one was so simple that Jack was like what the heck are you making me do this?! She gave him an empty water bottle and put 2 little cereal puffs and wanted him to get the puffs out...duh! She promptly turned the bottle over and dumped out the puffs, then she asked him to put them back in the bottle - so he did! She asked him to do it one more time and he looked at her, dumped out the puffs then shoved them in his mouth! It was too funny!

Jack is saying quite a few words, in his eval they look for 3-6 words - here is his list: mama, dada, no, tank cue (thank you), baaaallllll (ball), dog, K (ok), hi, hey, bye, ba-bye, uh-oh, huh-uh (not sure that's a word, but we'll count it). I think that's about it. We are now focused on learning our animals and body parts! I'm excited to see how many he knows by his 18 month appointment!

Jack has also been sprouting teeth like nobody's business! He has 4 on top and 2 (working on 3) on the bottom! All of this in the last 6-8 weeks!

Jack still IS NOT walking! There I said it...gasp! How dare he!? Well that's what I feel like people think when they learn he isn't walking! He is getting close, he is progressing, I'm not worried! Jack has always been one to do things at his own pace on his own time! I'll give it another month or so and I think he'll be running! I have witnessed a couple steps here and there on his own, but I think he just needs a little more confidence!

UPDATE: I picked Jack up yesterday from daycare and Tonya informed me that she had discovered the reason for Jack's bad attitude - his first molar popped through! Poor baby! And he is swollen really bad in the back on both top and bottom!

sicky sickerton

Over the weekend I noticed Jack felt a little warmer than usual, but chopped it up to teething because he wasn't acting any different. Well yesterday morning I took him to daycare and told Tonya he felt a little warm that morning so I gave him Tylenol, but that I thought it was just teething and told her to call me if he got any worse...9:15am I get a text from Tonya saying his temp shot up to 102 - 103 degrees! Needless to say I HAD to go get him.

On my way I scheduled him an appointment to see the doctor (or nurse practitioner since our doctor works at a satelite clinic on Mondays and the other doctor at the clinic was booked FULL). In the mean time Jack is fussy and just wanted to sleep and sleep! We got to the clinic and didn't wait long before we were seen by the doctor (he was loopy and I was not impressed), but he said it looks like he has some type of bacterial infection mixed with a sinus infection - say what? Anyway, he said his lymph nodes in his neck were swollen and there was lots of redness and swelling in his nose. We got an antibiotic and he sent us on our way...

I thought - easy enough... until I checked my voicemail last night only to hear Tonya saying, "I won't be open tomorrow. After you picked Jack up this morning Piper (her 3 year old) spiked a 104 degree temp and they took her to the doctor (after her husband got home from work at 2pm) and they think she either has 1) Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease or 2) Fifth's Disease"...GREAT! I'm familiar with HFandM as it has already made it's rounds through daycare since Jack started, but I still need to look into what 5th's is? Needless to say now I'm FREAKING out b/c I'm hoping Jack doesn't have one of these common/fairly common childhood illnesses that our doctor, I mean nurse practitioner who obviously didn't specialize or even see babies that often, wouldn't be familiar with...I guess I'll just have to see how today goes.

Jack is home with Chris today since I was out of the office yesterday...I'm taking bets on what time everyone thinks it will be before Chris calls me and says, "What is his problem? He has been crying and screaming ever since you left!" Haha!

12 month "kan be healthy"

Jack had his 12 month check up yesterday with Dr. Mijares. All is well in Jack's world, well minus the whole delay on gross motor, but that's nothing new. He weighed 21 pounds 6.5 ounces and was 28 inches long (I think).

The bad news was Jack had to have his finger pricked and then FIVE shots! Poor baby, but he is such a stud! He barely cried and stopped not 30 seconds after his last shot! He even flashed his nurse (the one who stuck him) a flirty smile on the way out!

Dr. Mijares does want me to take Jack to a dentist to get x-rays to make sure he actually has teeth since we still have ZERO and none in sight! Ugh, I'm thinking I'll do that when I get around to it - nothing to rush, if he doesn't have teeth he doesn't have teeth, right? Nothing I can do about that!

xoxo

11 Month Birthday!

Today Jack turned 11 months old! I can't believe we will be celebrating his 1 year birthday in just another 4 short weeks! Time has flown by...I remember like it was yesterday sitting at the house on maternity leave thinking, "OMG - what have I done?" Haha. It definitely took some time for me to adjust to being a mom, but now I wouldn't change a thing!

Here's an update of some of Jack's developments:

• Jack is pointing.
• Jack is clapping.
• Jack is waving.
• Jack gives kisses when asked and sometimes when he isn't asked.
• Jack says Mama, Dada, No, and Huh-uh reguarly and I'm convinced he knows who Mama and Dada are when he says them...well Mama for sure.
• Jack doesn't like when he see Mom walk by and not come to see him - he screams until I come back to get him!
• Jack still loves daycare.
• Jack loves to give you a pat on the back for picking him up!
• Jack is starting to observe the world around him more and more everyday.
• Jack has mastered his "split scoot" and I'm not sure he will ever crawl.
• Jack is starting to try and discover how to pull up to things and if I give him my hands to hold he will stand up by himself, but I haven't found him standing next to any furniture yet.
• Jack drinks 3-4 bottles a day and is now back to eating his baby food as well as table food!
• Jack has ZERO teeth.
• Jack loves to flirt.
• Jack has a mean bone in his little monster body.
• Jack is starting to use toys in the manner they are meant (drives trucks around on the floor, etc.)
• Jack throws fits.
• Jack is starting to semi-sleep better (I'll regret that).
• Jack loves to throw things.
• Jack goes from sitting to knees and back to sitting.
• Jack will stand when placed as long as there is someone to entertain him.
• Jack can sometimes sit up on his own, but this isn't consistent and mainly only happens in his crib or pack n play.
• Jack weighs just under 21 pounds - I'm not sure on his length as Chris didn't pay attention at the dr. this week.

This is all I can really think of. All in all Jack is doing great (minus the whole pneumonia thing)!

xoxo

Pneumonia

That's right, Jack has pneumonia! Can't my little monster ever get a break? Poor little man, but he is such a trooper. Let's get a little background info going - 3 weeks ago I took Jack to the dr. b/c he had spiked a 102 temp when I got him up one morning (it was a Thursday), and she said it looks like his allergies had drained all down the back of his throat and into his ears leading to double ear infections thus the temp. She gave him antibiotics and we started singulair for the allergies. He was on his antibiotic for 10 days and had his last dose last Monday morning (not yesterday, but the monday before that). Friday I noticed he was a little coughy, but chopped it up to allergies. Saturday I went to Chanute for a wedding and stayed the night, but when I got home late morning Sunday it was quickly apparent to me that Jack was panting as he was breathing. Chris said he chopped it up to allergies - I on the other hand had a totally different opinion, so after Jack then proceeded to spike a temp of 100.3 we headed to Urgent Care.

Urgent care tested him for RSV, Strep, and the Flu - all negative. The dr. sent us to the ER though b/c he said it was obvious Jack was having trouble breathing and having to work really hard at it and that he needed a chest xray TONIGHT! We headed up the road to the hospital, so long story short after a breathing treatment with added steroids, an oral steroid, an antibiotic injection in his thigh, and one more breathing treatment Jack finally started to breath easier!

The chest xray revealed he has pneumonia, also both of his ear infections are still going strong! Ugh! His fever only lasted a few hours and he is feeling much better today! Thank goodness! It's scary how something that didn't seem like such a big deal quickly turned into a big deal!

xoxo

10 and a Half Month Update

I know, I know - I've been a bad blogger lately! I have some time so I wanted to update (document) some of Jack's favorite activities! This will be in bullet point form!

• Jack is a clapping fool! He loves to clap - he claps when he is happy, he claps when he is mad, he claps to himself in the back seat, he claps when I sing, he claps when he screams! He is all around just a CLAPPER!
• Not only is Jack a clapping fool, but he is a dancing fool as well! He loves music (which became apparent to me around 4 months of age)! He loves his nursery rhymes, sung by myself or his singing book, he loves the radio, he loves phones that play music, he loves commercials with music (especially that new "I can't believe it's not butter" commercial with the lady from Will and Grace - anyone know it?), but the best part about his love of music is his DANCING! He will bounce up and down and shrug up his little shoulders and can that boy keep a beat! He has good rhythm! He bounces in perfect beat with the music and when he gets really excited he will also throw in a little swaying front and back! When standing up he will bend his knees and bounce his whole body up and down! It's so CUTE!
• Last week Jack starting pointing - doesn't sound like a big milestone, but it's so cute! I have to admit the first few times he raised his arm up and pointed; Chris and I thought he was doing the "gay" hey wave! But after watching him a few times I realized he was pointing at me, then I noticed him pointing at lots of things! So that's a new favorite of his!
• Jack also will give kisses when asked probably 40-50% of the time and then randomly he does it without being asked! I love it!
• Jack also has become more and more in love with the fact that he can shake his head "no"! He now knows what it means as well - see he is starting to reject his baby food (that's a whole 'nother story) and if he even sees me pick up the container or the spoon he screams and shakes his head no! It's cute, but FRUSTRATING!
• Jack also loves balls - play balls/toys that is! He loves to throw them and then scream til you throw it back! He pretty much is throwing or pushing anything off of anything! And he thinks it's funny - Momma on the other hand does not!
• Jack still has ZERO teeth, although he has been working on them pretty hard lately!

That's pretty much it for his new tricks. A quick update on the physical therapy and leg situation: We have been working with him a ton and he has been spending tons of time in his Jumperoo and Walker and he is now standing (no PT needed) so we have decided to forego the physical therapy for now. I talked with a PT I know and he said that until Jack is at least 12 months old we would probably be wasting lots of time and money. He still isn't crawling, but army crawling (backwards only) all over the place, he is still getting up on all fours and bouncing and every once in awhile lunging forward. Yesterday he was on the bed while Chris was packing his suitcase and Jack went from sitting up onto his knees to look over the edge of the suitcase! He has also been working on sitting up by himself - that's still a work in progress though for sure!

We took Jack to the doctor last week (he has had really bad allergies which lead to double ear infections) and he was still only 27 inches - maybe 27.5 inches long and weighed 20 pounds 2.5 ounces!

Well this turned out much longer then I had anticipated! Thanks for sticking through it! :-)

xoxo

Great Debate Update

I thought an update or more info was necessary after some of the comments I have received on the whole teething debate. Everyone thinks it sounds like teething to them, which is good and bad in my case.

I have tried Tylenol alternating with Motrin - doesn't seem to help much. We've tried the Teething Tablets - didn't see anything come of that at all. I haven't tried Baby Orajel, but I'm going to get some (hence we I haven't tried it), but I looked last night and I seriously DO NOT SEE ANYTHING in his mouth! No swollen gums, no white spots, no nada!?

I mean I totally wish/hope that he is teething because I'm dying to let him try more table food and I'm starting to wonder if he even has teeth anywhere under those gums - I mean he is 9.5 months old for goodness sake!

But I did start him back on his reflux meds this morning because the more I watched him the more I thought he was showing some signs of reflux - rearing his head back, not wanting to lay down on his back, the non-stop hiccups, it's always worse at night after he has ate all day long (Tonya says he is fine all day at daycare, but around 5:30 or so he gets super duper cranky!), wanting bottles over food - this soothes the pain in his throat, the wet burps have begun again as well and waking at 2am screaming.

Either way - his reflux meds won't hurt him and we can try weaning again in another few months and if it's teeth then teething TOTALLY sucks! We'll see hopefully here in the next week or so if we pop a tooth through or if his meds take his symptoms away (it takes about 5-7 days for the medicine to start working again - grr...).

xoxo

Great Debate

With myself that is...I can't decide if it's teething or reflux?

Jack has been a bit of Mr. Cranky Pants here lately and I can't tell if it's that he is teething or if it's his reflux? We took him off his reflux medicine on the 3rd of March to see if he didn't need it any longer because who wants their baby on medicine if it's not necessary?

I had actually forgot about the fact that we stopped his medicine until this weekend. He is either teething or having reflux pain and I just can't decide which one? He is chomping like an alligator, not wanting to eat his baby food, cries sporadically (screams in pain), is cuddlier than normal, drools, hiccuping more often, chews on his fingers, only wants cheerios and puffs or other finger foods, taking bottles well, he isn't spitting up (but he never really did with his reflux - it was "silent" - yes that is a medical term), no fever, he has been waking up earlier in the mornings screaming, screams when he wakes up from a nap (which is unusual - he is usually in a great mood upon waking), so all in all I don't know what the culprit is?

I'm going to check his mouth good tonight and if I don't see anything then I'm going to start his reflux meds again in the morning I guess...He still doesn't have any teeth so I have nothing to compare to in the teething behavior department.

Wish me luck...

xoxo

Leg Update...Finally

After a long 9 days and many fights with the doctor's office we finally got some answers about Jack's x-rays!

EVERYTHING IS NORMAL!!!!!! Yea!

We will start physical therapy in the next couple weeks to learn some exercises to help strengthen his legs and hopefully we will get on track with becoming more mobile!

I'm just super relieved that Jack isn't going to have to wear a cast or braces - all I could picture was Forest Gump (reference picture above)...

xoxo

9 Month "Kan Be Healthy"

Wednesday Chris and I took Jack for his 9 month "Kan Be Healthy" (Kan is a play on Kansas - I do know how to spell) check up with Dr. Mijares! I was excited, but also kind of dreading it b/c I knew we were going to have a problem.

I don't know how often I've mentioned this, but Jack does not stand - or doesn't stand well at least, not even assisted. You know like if I help him on my lap for him to stand or on the floor...he won't stand. To me in the last couple weeks it has become more apparent that he doesn't stand on his right leg really at all - he will hold it out and not put it down at all or will put his foot down on his toes and just kind of limp noodle the right leg. He has never been big on standing so I figured he was just being stubborn and would do it on his own time, but after 9 months I was starting to get a little concerned. It's odd though b/c sometimes (rarely) he will stand and seems to be fairly solid, but always more so on his left side and his right leg is always the leg to buckle first.

So anyway, I knew Dr. Mijares would want to check things out. So we were sent to the hospital to get x-rays of his knees and hips. I'm still waiting on a call from her with the results, but this is what we can expect: 1. If everything looks OK with his knees/hips then she is going to set us up with some physical therapy appointments so that I can learn some exercises to do with Jack to help build his leg strength. 2. If the x-rays do show something to be WRONG with his knees/hips we will have to go to KC to a specialist to have him checked out and she said most likely they will put him in a cast or braces for a period of time (hopefully a short period of time). Let's say I'm definitely hoping its more of a lazy bones problem rather than an actual bone problem!

In other news, Jack looks great in all other areas of development! He was 27 inches long and weighed 19 pounds 8.5 ounces! My little chunker!

He is still working on trying to crawl but does get up on all fours and bounce or rock back and forth now! He still hasn't figured how to go forwards, but he can worm himself all over in reverse! He is happier then ever and his personality is really starting to shine! He smiles and talks all day. I'd list the "sounds" (I won't refer to them as words) he makes, but there are so many. His faves are mama, dada, ba ba ba, oh, no, duh duh duh, uh uh uh, he whispers - it's odd I know, pst pst pst, ya ya ya, gaga. He really makes just about any sound you can imagine and he is starting to string them all together as if to make a sentence! He loves to share (not sure he knows that it's sharing?), but he will gladly try to shove, I mean gently give you his button! He screams with delight as people enter a room, he also screams with dismay when you leave! He loves to sit on your lap and bounce like he is riding a horse - we love to say "ride 'em cow-jack!".

I'll post an update when we hear from the doctor!

xoxo

Health Update

Here are a few pictures of Jack getting one of his many at-home breathing treatments this past week! He wasn't a big fan of the mask - even if it had fish eyes and gills...we ended up just holding the hose in front of his face and that seemed to still do the trick!

I took Jack for a follow up appointment with Dr. Mijares Friday morning; His lungs are clear, his right ear was clear, but the left was still a bit red she said but it wasn't sucked up like it was on Monday! She said to do the breathing treatments as needed if he started wheezing or anything and to just finish out his antibiotics for his ears and he should be good to go! What a relief!

On a side note - I'm now sick! I went to Urgent Care Friday after I dropped Jack off at daycare and ended up being diagnosed with Bronchitis and a bad sinus infection! Yuck! I got a steroid shot in my butt - a first for me I might add! Two antibiotics and an inhaler to help with my breathing! I think the steroid shot really helped over all and I've been feeling pretty good for the most part!

But now I think Chris is coming down with a touch of something and he has to be gone traveling all week for work - which will suck for him, but might be good for Jack and me so that we don't get his germs!

xoxo