Friiiiiiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Did I mention that during all of that crap going on this month, I also have to look for a new sitter? BLECH, UGH, EWWWW is all I have to say about that.

Twins update: Cord is still not supplying oxygen to Baby B while his heart is expanding. Can't do this much longer because the lack of oxygen causes brain damage. The steriod shots given to them to help their lungs develop will be effective as of today so docs feel better if they have to take them now. Another ultrasound to determine delivery later today. Prayer is POWERFUL! Keep em' coming!

I am already behind on my mondo schedule/list thing from yesterday. Didn't get the buttercream made because we went to Grin.go's with our friend for dinner. By then it was booboo's bath, boob, and bed time.... On another note, Meltdown.margaritas with banana.pucker are the bomb!

(Why is there a fruit fly getting all up in my face? I don't have any rotten fruit or dead flowers laying around here. GO.AWAY!)

Geez, this post is all over the place....

For all you moms out there, I have a question about milk and solids. Mr. Miles has been eating 3 meals a day now for a while...well in order to ask the question, let me show you his eating schedule first:

4:30AM: nurse
Breakfast: cereal mixed with fruit followed by bottle (nurse on weekends)
lunch: square meal (meat, veggie, fruit) followed by bottle (nurse on weekends)
Afternoon: bottle (nurse on weekends)
Dinner: square meal followed by nurse
Bedtime: nurse

Now, I know you can't tell how much volume he is getting at the nursing sessions because the milk pumps don't have a meter like the gas pumps do...But he nurses for 20-30 minutes total. Given his intake of food (8-10 oz), how much milk should he be taking after meals? Dean had him home yesterday and could only get him to take 1-2 oz every time. Is this too little? But without me being there with the milk pumps, how is he going to get his milk intake if that isn't enough? I tried Dr.Google for the answer and only got how many times to nurse a day. That is fine for the weekends, but what about the other time when he's at the sitter's?

BAH something else to worry about...

I realized I hadn't posted any pics of the cuteness lately.... this is Miles in his first time in a shopping cart, sitting up like a big boy - in Lowe's of course - the big boy store!

And here he is muching on some toes after trick or treating at Mean Aunt Betty's...

Halloweenie...

Another exciting weekend in the household...

Friday was my day off and we did some household chores and ran some errands. That evening we drove to Sweeny, TX to see my boss's son's HS football team play (even though the son isn't playing due to a torn ACL). It was the closest remaining district game to where we live (in relation to where SHE lives in the sticks...) so we went. Kinda chilly willy, but Milesy was all camo'd up and ready for some footbaaaaalll...

About the time we were getting ready to leave, I started getting that not-so-fun-feeling-again. By the time we got home, I was in serious pain. It took all I had to nurse Miles before bedtime. I had taken a couple Tyle.nol and they weren't kicking it. I told Dean I was going to bed because sometimes I can get comfortable enough to fall asleep and the pain goes away throughout the night. This time....not so much. About 12:45 I got up (Dean was trying to finish a movie and still up in the living room) and I told him it was WAY bad this time. I was crying and just UGH. He took my temp and I didn't have any fever, but he felt it and said it felt kinda hard and swollen. "Gotta go," he says. So I changed out of my Christ.mas light flannel pj pants (I am in the spirit ALREADY!) and packed up Miles. Luckily, he stayed asleep in the car seat all snuggled up with a blankey. Off to the ER we go...

There is an ER 2 minutes from us and I was the only patient so that cut down the time in half. 3 hours later* I had a urine test, blood work, and an ultrasound (Didn't expect one of those so soon) of my right kidney, pancreas, liver and gall bladder. Doc says there is 1 giant stone in there. When it moves in front of the bile duct, that's when the pain happens. 2 times in 2 weeks...me thinks 2009 is the year of the removal now. She suggested to have it removed so now I'm hunting for surgeon. A friend from HS (on FB) recommended one that she works with, but he's out of network for BCBS insurance. Anyone else in the Houston area have a general surgeron or laproscopic guy/gal they recommend?

*3 hours Miles slept quiet as a mouse in his car seat, oblivious to what was going on with Mommy.....UNTIL.........the discharge nurse. She comes in all loud and with the loudest voice I have ever heard screams "HOW OLD IS THE LITTLE ONE?" (yes, all caps for emphasis) "6 months. and he's been sleeping the entire time." "OH. THAT'S GREAT THAT HE HAS BEEN ASLEEP LIKE THAT IN HIS CAR......." "WWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" "..........SEAT." Really? 4:15 in the morning and he's awake thanks to that biatch. Oh well, I nursed him when I got home and he went right back down. She had given me a script for Vico.din, but after 5 hours (2 at home, 3 there) the pain was subsiding so I just went right to bed myself.

Slept late on Halloween due to above drama. Made the rounds (more about that crap later) to see the fam and visit Mom's church's fall festival (pics tomorrow - bad Mommy for not downloading them!) of Miles' 1st apple bobbing....or grabbing as it may be. Trick or Treated with his buddy Drew and passed out candy to some neighborhood kiddos...

Here's his first punkin'...

And his first costume....Miles the racecar driver... More pics tomorrow including Maddie the Ballerina!!! :)

Bullet Wednesday

Another bullet kind of day...

• Sitter called in yesterday. Her oldest had been throwing up all night and wasn't sure why. Said it was our call if we sent Miles over or not. Well with all this flu hoopla going on, no thank you. So Dean watched him the first half of the day and I came home in the afternoon to work from home and watch him.
• Dean couldn't really get him to take his morning nap and I couldn't get him to take his afternoon nap. He would fall asleep on me and I would hold him for 20-30 minutes before trying to lay him down. The minute I put him down, he would be up on his elbows and head up looking at me and smiling from ear to ear. We were watching the news before Daddy went to band - around dinner time - and suddenly he wants to nap! But he does look like an angel, doesn't he?
  

• UGH - speaking of sitter, we still don't know if she's going to be staying with us or not. I hate to look for someone just to have to tell them "just kidding." Why won't my mom just quit her job already?! Or Mean Aunt Betty? :0)
• My favorite (and only) cashmere sweater is not handling the milk jugs very well. I am still wearing it anyway, but when I put it on this morning, I don't remember it being so, ahem...short. Then I noticed the jugs were looking lower than usual - BAH - NURSING BRAS! I already had my hair and makeup done and didn't want to pull a turtleneck over all that, so I had to ask sleepy Dean to help me with the straps - pull them up at least a little bit more anyway...
• Another reason for the bra assistance, was because of this awful, terrible, no good, very bad CRICK in my back. I couldn't have reached over my shoulder to do it if I wanted to! I slept hard last night, so I guess I was in a bad position all.night.long.
• We carved our silly face pumpkin last night - pics on the camera at home of course! Miles wasn't too interested since he couldn't put his hand in the mush. I was afraid he would swallow a seed. HA - then my pumpkin would grow a pumpkin in his belly. Or maybe not...
• Slow day at the office when you've only got emails from baby.center, gym.boree, Mean Aunt Betty, with only 1 work related, all day and you've been here 4 hours already....
• Gossip queens at the office are bitches. Know the facts before you open your mouths. Just because you are the one to report something "anonymously" to the ethics.line, doesn't mean you can flap your trap once action has been taken.

IS IT THURSDAY YET?!!!!!!!! (It's my "Friday" this week....)

6 Month Checkup

Miles had his 6 month checkup Monday. In the doctor's words, "He is perfect!" We seem to think so as well! He got 4 shots :0( Pentacel, Hepatitis B, Prevnar and Round 1 of Flu (Round 2 will be in November), along with Rotateq orally. He was such a trooper and only cried when the shots were given because they stung his little legs. As soon as Daddy picked him up, he stopped crying - so then Mommy could stop crying as well.


He is doing everything a baby his age should be doing right now: showing excitement interacting with people, recognizes people, rolls over, can sit upright, "stands" if you hold his hands, reaching for objects, passing them between hands and to his mouth, loves to make noise and "talk" to you. He is eating like a piglet! He has cereal mixed with fruit for breakfast, a jar of meat (beef, turkey or chicken), with 3 cubes (ice trays) of veggies and 3 cubes of fruit for lunch and dinner. Each meal is with milk along with an additional bottle 3 more times a day! He is doing so well at everything he tries to do!


So far he has tried - and liked - the following foods: rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, mixed grains cereal, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, mangos, bananas. The only thing he hasn't cared for is carrots, so we've been adding 1 cube to another veggie to sneak them in. So far he hasn't caught on to our trick! This week we are going to add yellow squash and pineapple to the menu.


Here's the stats:

Height: 26 3/4" - 50%
Weight: 17 lbs 10 oz - 50-75%
Head: 17 3/4" - 75-90% (gotta hold that big ol' brain!)


Hope everyone has a great week!

Today

***........is brought to you by Blogger.Post.Scheduler as the host is currently out of town on a still undisclosed (and unknown to anyone) anniversary trip with the hubby and the baby***

Our 4 year anniversary was yesterday. We usually try to do something for it. Technically we should be "alone" i.e. without baby, but I feel bad. He has spent the past 2 Saturday nights with Grammy/Great Aunt Betty so we could party like rockstars.... I mean cowboys at the rodeo. I can't send him away 3 weekends in a row! Plus this is a 3 day weekend for us so we should have him for as much time as we can!

Location of this 1 night trip is TBD. 1 night because we have tickets to the Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy game on Sunday at 2, so we didn't want to be scrambling back home to make it in time. TBD because, well...just because. Initial talks were to go to Texas.Hill.Country and visit wineries, but well... you can see what bad parents we would seem, having wine tastings and a glass here and there with a Baby.Bjorn strapped on?? Right now the "plan" (loosely labeled) is to drive north or west. No lodging squared away either. Guessing B&B's are out of the question since those are usually saved for couples' getaways....not that my boy would make a fuss....We love random road trips. I hope the first one as a family of 3 proves to be just as exciting!

It's funny to think we have to take a cooler now to keep Miles' food in. The days of only bringing the boobies are long gone for this little oinker. He's been eating a jar of stage 1 meat (turkey, chicken, or beef), 3 cubes (ice trays) of veggies and 1 whole banana (or peaches or mangos coming soon)! WHAT?! And then milk after that. I serioously don't know how his tummy can hold it all. Must be the reason for his multi-day poops! I thought daily poops were a thing of the past - apparently not!

Speaking of...he's already had 2 poops today. How do I know this you ask? Oh that's because Miles is home with Daddy. AGAIN. Sitter has other plans. Dean actually picked him up yesterday at noon. UGH - the one dilemma in home baby care. Still don't know what the outcome of her BP issues will be. I think I am going to put another ad up on our website and see if we can get more hits on someone keeping him. I am so anti-daycare I don't want to put him in until I absolutely HAVE to...

Melody? Mandy? want to share a nanny?

On to other news:

• Thyroid test results: negative
• Diagnosis: Just a tired and fat (but HAPPY) mommy

T is for...

• Thyroid....After much Google MD'ing, I am certain it is my thyroid that is messing with me. I am not a hypochondriac like my sister who claims to have every disease and ailment known to man (is it a good idea for her to be in the health industry?) But seriously. The past several weeks I have been T.I.R.E.D. like around 9:00 I am struggling to keep my eyes open. Also, the weight gain I talked about the other day is another "symptom." It's driving me crazy not knowing, so I just called the doctor's office but got the nurse v/m. Probably because it's their lunch time. UGH - why do health professionals need lunch breaks? I want to know my results!
• Tooth....as in Miles' first tooth! It's here! It's broke through the gum! And we didn't even know it! Yeah, I know. WORST.MOMMY.EVER! But seriously, he was munching on my finger on Saturday and I didn't feel anything. Then yesterday it was time for booby, but our friend stopped by for a quick visit so I had to give him something to pacify him for a minute and then CHOMP on my finger! AAAHHH! It's on the bottom in the middle, you know standard first teefies. I am nervous now because my great niece who has my great-great-nephew (I know, I am OLD - actually Dean is but that's besides the point!) is 10 days older than Miles got his first 2 teeth about a month ago and his mommy had to quit BF'ing because he was a biter! EEEEKKK! I can only imagine the pain this will cause....Any tips or tricks to keeping him from not biting? My neighbor said she would gently tap on her daugther's cheek, say no, and then if she did it again she would squeeze her cheeks and say no. Eventually she got the point and didn't bite anymore.
• Time...How does my boy know what time it is? Or what day it is for that matter? Since I have came back to work, I get up at 4:30 to nurse him before work. I don't do it on the weekends (so we can all sleep in) and he wakes up on his own anywhere from 7:15-8:30. So I decided over the weekend that starting this week, I wasn't going to do the early morning feeding anymore. And because 5:00 AM sounds SO MUCH BETTER than 4:30 AM! Monday, my alarm went off at 5:00. I pushed the button for the video on the monitor. Guess who's flipped to their back, eyes open, fingers in mouth? Yes, that would be Miles. But now that I got up 30 minutes later, I don't have time to get ready, get my crap together, and feed him too. Of course the husband is freaking because he doesn't know what to do with him for 2 hours - milk, cereal, play, what? UGH. So I scramble to get ready and have him get my pump, phone, badge, keys, and shoes together so I could squeeze in a 20 minute nursing session. WHEW - I was all discombobulated by the time I got to the office. But my question is still how come Miles sleeps late on the weekends but expects this 4:30 feeding Monday-Friday only? Makes no damn sense to me. Suffice it to say, I compromised and woke up at 4:45...

The D.R.A.M.A. continues...

So the van ride home yesterday was mostly silent. Then (like I knew she would) as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, she held up the keys and asked who was taking the van home because she wasn't driving anymore.
*INSERT SILENCE*
Hello - someone needs to take the van because I am not the driver anymore.
*INSERT SILENCE*
Finally someone spoke up and said that we never intended on not having her as the driver, no one made fun of her driving abilities, this was nothing personal, just a group decision to change the departure time....in so many words.

After 20 minutes of "discussion," it was determined that yes, she would still be the driver, yes we would leave at 6:00, and yes she was totally not happy with it.

As it turns out, I have my yearly PAP today so I didn't have the pleasure of riding at 6:00 this morning. I asked someone who did ride how it was and if they did leave and arrive on time. They did - she complained the entire time - and they got to work on time. VD holds grudges from here to eternity and has said as much. She hasn't spoken to a couple of ladies here in 15 years because of something that happened eons ago. I don't plan on staying in that grudge category of hers. Nor do I want the stress, tension, and DRAMA that comes with remaining on this dramatic ass, soap opera of a van.

This, hereby, is my resignation from Van #7878.

And onto another stressful front...Dean called me yesterday and said he had more bad news. The sitter told him that she recently found out that she has high blood pressure. They are going to begin treating her with drugs to try and get it down. If this doesn't work, the doctor told her that she needs to change her lifestyle to be less stressful i.e. quit keeping Miles. She said he is not stressful in any way, but just less activity. This baffles me because another reason for reducing the BP is because they are trying to have another baby. If MY baby causes you stress, why would YOUR baby not? UGH. She said if she does have to quit, it would be near the end of November - early December. Perfect time to look for a new sitter during the holidays, right?

So basically in 3 weeks, we are going to start looking again - just in case. Because it took forever last time and I don't want to not have a Plan B "in case" she does have to quit.

See - get rid of one stressful point in my life, just to have another take its place...

But isn't this all worth it?

Boot Scootin'

Mom got new boots, so of course Miles had to get new boots! Aren't these the cutest things you have E.V.E.R.S.E.E.N???? OMG! But they are too big. Smallest size they had was 3 and BooBoo is maybe in a 2 right now - don't know - he doesn't dig shoes really so he's never in them. Plus his feet sweat too much without anything on them! So to wear them, I had to put 3 pairs of socks on just to keep them up. But he kept kicking his feet and they came off anyway. They were a great photography accessory for a while though!

This is Miles, Daddy, and Cowboy Drew hanging out before the rodeo at Aunt Shayla's "house." Neither one really digging their hats... P.S. I must make note that it was Pink Monday for breast cancer awareness. That is why Dean has on this semi-pink-looks-like-I-washed-a-red-shirt-with-a-white-one shirt on. Unfortunately, Miles doesn't have any pink garb and everything I found at the stores had hearts or butterflies on it - not for my cowboy!

This is me, Miles, and Cowboy Drew getting ready for the Grand Entry - have to steal pics from Steph when she posts them as Mama Brenda only used her camera while we were parading around. Also my shirt was PAH-INK! But look at my little cowboy standing up!!!

Our fam at the rodeo. This was right before Mr. Miles took a siesta in Daddy's arms, even with that loud music and horses galloping around!

YEE-HAW!

By Saturday I was finally feeling back to myself. Still a little sniffly, but otherwise back to normal. Finally I can leave the house – first time since Tuesday! We dropped Miles at Grammy’s house and headed out to the Pasadena Rodeo. We had a hamburger @ our friends' camp (some stay all week to work the rodeo and others have kids who show their animals) before the show. We enjoyed the saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, calf scramble, mutton bustin’ (kids ride a sheep with helmets on! Miles is so there!), and bull riding. Johnny Lee was playing afterwards. The Silver.Spur.Club was next - the hangout/bar and usually with a band playing here too. Of course when that closed down we headed to the after party! Got our drank on until 3:30 am!!! Dean was my DD so I could party like a rock star with Shay-la-la! Of course I charged my camera all day to journal the occasion and then left it at home-UGH. Will have to steal pics from Shay if she ever posts them. I did take a couple with my phone though....

And yes, I finally have a new pair of boots! My first since high school! Kind of an early birthday present I bought myself, but hopefully I'll get a real present from my honey too!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Miles has mastered sweet potatoes and bananas. LOVES the bananas! Unfortunately when I made a late Wal-Mart run last night, they were out of like, everything! You could tell it was the 1st of the month because that’s when all the welfare checks hit and people go shopping! Anyway, they didn’t have any good fruit, even frozen, so this week its peaches again, but carrots are new! Tonight he is going to his first rodeo and will be in his first grand entry parade!! Can't wait! Pics coming tomorrow!

Later Buckaroos!

Highchairs are for Babies

At the last minute, we decided to go out for dinner last night to Cracker.Barrel. By the time I got home, pumped (Miles had just eaten), got our recipes together for the shower this weekend, it was almost 6:45. Everything we have to cook is frozen, thus a really late dinner.

Anyway, we headed to our new Cracker.Barrel for some grub. Packed Miles' bottle and food. Drove the 8 minutes to CB and realized...we can't feed him from the car seat and we didn't bring the Buggy.Bagg for the highchair. I think he's still too small to fit comfortably in a highchair without a little cushion. (Plus the buggy.bagg comes with a little attached pillow to put in front of or behind him for more support!) So 8 minutes back home to get it, and 8 minutes back. Thus, a really late dinner after all...

Me: "Table for 2 plus a highchair, please" - WHAAA? Did I just say that?
CB hostesss: "Sorry we don't have any."
Me: *looks to Dean* "They don't have any highchairs?"
CB: "Sorry. We don't have any AVAILABLE right now. They are all being used."
Me: *thinking to myself* considering this is a brand new restaurant in a booming suburb full of young families with lots of new babies, shouldn't you increase the number of highchairs so you don't "run out?" Seriously...
CB: "We could seat you and just bring you a chair when it's available."
Me: "Ok, that's fine." *mumbles to myself* Feeding a hungry baby from a lap who is new to solids in a public place should be interesting....

After we are seated, Dean actually holds and feeds Miles. He did SO good. Opens his mouth when the spoon comes, swallows and wants another bite. Dean said that he would give him a bite and after he swallowed it, he would slowly start to kick his legs against Dean's legs then getting faster. When the next bite was put in, he would stop kicking, swallow, kick, bite, swallow, kick, bite. It was like it was his signal that he was ready for the next bite. Too funny!

So after he finishes eating and we have ordered, I go ask for a highchair because you know they haven't delivered one yet. No, sorry. still being used. UGH But I will go check to make for sure.

CB boy returns to my table with only a booster seat. Not your typical plastic booster. More like a mini version of their wooden chairs, with arms and a back, that sits in a regular chair.

CB boy: "This is all we have right now."
Me: "OK we'll give it a try."
CB boy: "Well let me know if it doesn't work so I can come get it."
You know, for the next parent who comes in looking for a child seat because apparently they only own 3 boosters and 3 highchairs. WTF?

At this point I am wondering if the Buggy.Bagg is even gonna fit because this little booster is so small, but Miles will be flopping around if we don't have it for the extra cushion....It fits, thank goodness. We strap the booster to the chair and the bagg to the chair and Miles to the bagg. Tucked in the little pillow behind his back and VOILA!

My 5 month old in a booster seat at the Big Boy table!

Peas & Pac-Man

So this weekend, I finally made some homemade baby food - Go Mom! I made sweet peas and peaches. It really wasn't too difficult at all. Just cooked them on the stove till soft, (threw the peas in ice cold water to help soften the hulls), added a bit of water, whirred it up in the Magic.Bullet and VOILA!

I made this:

I have no idea why this picture refuses to be landscape. It is saved as landscape but weirdo blogger wants to reformat it for me.

And Miles made this:

He is doing SO good with eating. Just earlier last week, he wasn't getting the whole concept down of opening his mouth for the spoon and now, when you come at him, he "Opens BIG" (Mom repeats this over and over and over while feeding) and retains most of it in his mouth with an audible swallow. SO.CUTE! So for the next few days its oatmeal cereal for breakfast, chicken and peas (not mixed) for lunch and dinner! He is such a big boy I can't even stand it!

On Friday, for 10 hours, I made this:

It's a birthday cake for Stacey who was having a surprise 30th birthday party, 80's style. Her mom said I could do whatever, so thanks to some ideas on cakecentral, this is what I came up with. Rub.iks' cube on top, Straw.berry.Shortcake, and Pac.Man! I had made a SS figure out of fondant/gum.paste, but her head was top heavy and Thursday night fell over and broke. I was very sad because I worked several hours over several days to make her :( So I had to just print one out on card stock... Her mom really liked it and everyone was thouroughly impressed. I gave myself a good pat on the back for this one. I liked how it turned out, even though Dean said I didn't center the middle layer on the bottom one - and of course this is what I looked at all night long...that and my uneven Rub.ik's color squares...

Here's the fam rockin' to the 80's: Mom in her sideways pony, god-awful earrings, and hanging off the shoulder shirt. Dad in his AC/DC shirt ($4 Good.will find) and Miles in his...yeah supposed to look like some dude that Steph picked out from the 80's. He did have a headband on and Drew matched him...hmmm... hopefully she'll comment who they were supposed to be. What I really wish you could see is my LEGGINGS! They were so old school it was not even funny - they were white (wishing I could have found black for SO.MANY.REASONS) even with the little lace at the bottom of the legs! A good time was had by all. Stacey was truly surpised and I hope she enjoyed the party and the cake!

So I have been having milk.production issues as of late. As in, only like 2 oz per pump. Seems kind of pointless to me when I am not even making enough for one bottle....but after this weekend I am going to try even harder to get what little I am making into my little boy.

When he woke up from his morning nap on Friday, he had snot running down his face for the first time. Then he started this little hack, hack cough - like so pitiful it sounded fake. Called the pedi and the nurse said we could come in, but with him being so young, all he would suggest is home treatment anyway - humidifier at night, saline suction his nose. Call if something changes.

Saturday morning the snot was yellow. Call to on-call doc. Again, same thing. Was worried I would have to send the cake with Steph (and she was way nervous about cake travel!) and miss the party. Luckily it changed back to clear snot, so we were a go for the party. Just when I think I'm going to give up on the BF'ing, I have more reason to keep at it. We're getting into flu season around here and 9,000 people I know are sick with something. Miles needs all the antibodies and strength he can get for his little body so I will keep on truckin'.....