Turkey & black Friday

So we had a wonderful thanksgiving! Derek and I made our first turkey together and it was delicious! We also made pumpkin cornbread, sweet potato souffle, tapioca bread stuffing, bacon wrapped asparagus! Derek was wondering how it would all turn out considering I had to make everything dairy and soy free, and he saidhe wants to keep all the recipes for next year!!!!!!! Everything was so good! We cheated with the cranberry sauce and white gravy(which I couldn't eat) and got those from can/package. I've included a pic if my plate and warm apple cider!

Black Friday, well Derek was the one who got out and ironically my boys were up anyways! Dreycin woke up an would not go back to sleep until like 3 or 4 am? We think he is getting 2yr old molars? And B, well he has had a growth spurt and has been waking up at night for the last week.

We got out this morning with the boys at 8am, went to the mall shopped at sears, gap, toys r us, target, and old navy. Derek had originally gotten out at midnight to go to old navy but then he found out they didn't open until 4am here in Albany! So out we went, and got some really good Xmas presents, mostly for us, saving at least $50 or more on everything! And black Friday is totally worth it here in Albany because the crowds were easy peasy! This year we also stopped by tRu and it was totally lame, nothing found for the boys that we wanted. We dont plan our trips just look around! We came home around 1pm and Dreycin and I slept for almost 3hrs!!!! Nice to come home and nap after last nights fiasco!
I'm looking forward to cyber Monday to see what else we can score.

5 years 11-22-06

Wow hard to believe 6years ago, friends begged me to go to Duke's after I had been flying all day long back from Panama........and I met my husband. Then 5 years ago I married Derek in NC at justice of the peace, just us and a couple we knew. Afterwards we spent a weekend in Wilmington at a bed & breakfast, it was wonderful. Then a month later I had my fairytale wedding in downtown Dallas with family and close friends. It was beautiful, feels like yesterday but at the same time long ago. We have both been through so much together, grown as individuals and as a couple. It's been quite an amazing adventure. Our two baby boys are what I am most thankful for, we are truly blessed in all aspects of our life. Our family is complete, and our love for one another continues to grow.

As for where we stand today, I'm content being a stay at home mom something I didn't get to experience with Dreycin the first year. Derek is about 30credits away from his BA in criminal justice, and has decided to re-enlist for another two years in Marine Corps. After that hopefully the economy will be better and we can make our way back home to Texas.

I am lucky to have Derek as a husband, after all who makes their wife dairy and soy free doughnuts with chocolate glaze and lets me sleep in on the weekends ;) MY MAN!!!!

Post op week 1

Well I would have to say that pain meds may make D a little more outgoing??!! We started off Thursday morning with a movie but it quickly turned to him wanting to play in his playroom, jump around, run. I was glad he was feeling better but didn't want him to get hurt during healing process. We were told no ride on toys, no sitting on hard surfaces, at least for 2wks until our F/U appt. Well that is way to hard with an overactive toddler on codeine! We had played with playdoh, but I could tell he was needing to move to another activity. My mom kept him entertained with shaving cream, which he really seems to enjoy! He loves to drive his cars thru it, and then my mom ties in a second activity.....car wash at the kitchen sink! Derek was home too, which helped to keep Dreycin from running around! I forgot to mention in the other post that Dreycin has started saying "Cindeeee" when he really wants my attention, I also think it's bc my mom has been here saying it alot. So this is what I've been hearing since surgery, and mommy :( yesterday Derek tried to do something, I can't recall but he said "No daddy" and came to me. It's been much easier than the first day, but his appetite was still very low.

Well the weekend went well too, appetite still low we took a few walks just to get out....BTW still loving my Joovy! Dreycin has taken this with such stride, a few bumps in the road but overall better than i thought the first day home.....and we now have two favorite movies! Peter pan and Pinocchio! We got out today, ran a few errands and he did pretty good! We have f/u appt next Wednesday.

Surgery Day

This was one of the most traumatizing days ever for me as a parent. Compared to the ear tube surgery, that was a cake walk. Just from 7months ago D understands so much more, and knew something was different that morning we walked into the hospital.

515am woke up nursed B, got in shower while Derek dressed the boys.
555am I got everyone all the bags in the car to leave for hospital.
630am We arrive at hospital and are taken to private post op room. Nurse and transporter are there getting vitals on D, putting bands on his right ankle. He was not a fan on the bands. we also had to change him into a little gown with whales, penguins, and something else, along with the no slip socks.
715am we were taken to pre-op hallway where there are other kids waiting for surgery. At first Dreycin did ride on stretcher but after less than a minute he started crying for mama. I did manage to snap a picture of this. So i carried him the rest of the way. My mom was carrying B. Now was when D became extra clingy. We were informed the doc would not get to hospital until 8am. That was kind of a bummer because D was antsy, whiny and now would have to lay on a stretcher with mommy. He was entertained by my broken screen iPhone (don't worry it's taped up)!!! We were also told an amazingly inspiring story by D's nurse about her child's rare birth defect and how her strength in God helped her get thru.
720am Anesthesia came and talked to us. They told me he would be given gas thru a mask that smelled like bubble gum, once he was under they would start an IV on him, start surgery, after surgery he would be given fentanyl thru IV and lidocaine to numb surgery area.
805am two female nurses came over and one tried to coerce him to come with her by giving a piggy back ride, but he wasn't buying it. That was when they just had to pick him up and carry him to OR, crying screaming he was calling for me and I was crying too. I had sent him with his blanket and baby boy doll but that did no good, he judgement understand why. We had been telling him for a few days that we would be going to hospital and he would be having surgery, but nothing could have prepared him for that.
My mom an I returned to post op room I nursed B, drank some cold coffee, texted Derek and family updates and worried sick about my baby boy. Sweet little B kept me smiling though, cooing at me. Thank God he was with us, kept my mind from going crazy.
905am the dr comes in tells us that the surgery took longer than he thought and he says he did the best he could. He drew what he did in surgery for us, and says that everything will be fine. He gave me instructions on what to do, appt, etc. Very nice dr, although I dont think he liked me in the beginning because I had so many questions.....
920 D was brought to our post op room in tears, and then screams and then more tears. He was sweating, having a hard time coming down from the anesthesia I believe. He just kept screaming, finally one of the nurses came and shut the lights off I put on some soothing music on pandora and he drank a small cup of apple juice. We changed him out of robe which I think made him feel better. He finally dosed off in my arms, until discharge.
1035 discharged from hospital. I carried D to the car and only put shoulder straps on him, sat between him and B then gave him his 8oz of almond milk. I would have given it to him earlier but the nurse wanted him to start on clear fluids. D was not allowed to eat after midnight the night before surgery. He also ate some crackers, and a piece of banana.
On the way home we stopped at walgreens to get antibiotics and pain medicine. I almost lost it with the pharmacist because she was having a hard time understanding English.....while we were waiting in car for meds, I went ahead and nursed B. Dreycin was talking, pointing out big trucks and drinking some juice.
1115am we got home and went straight to the mattress Derek had put on living room floor. Derek got home for lunch, but Derek tried to say something and he said No daddy. I couldn't move from that mattress or Dreycin would start to cry or get up too and I didn't want him moving around too much. Then the episodes began, where every time he pee'd he would scream and cry. I cried too while I cradled him, like when he was a baby. This day was the most difficult so far as a mother, my heart was aching and breaking inside. I had already given him pain meds as soon as we left walgreens. Around 1pm he started to fall asleep on me. After he was sound asleep I ate, nursed B, went pee and then went down for a nap myself because I was exhausted. I awoke to D saying Abielo(what he calls my mom) and Cindy! I guess I was pretty out of it for him to be calling me Cindy! We finished watching Lion King from earlier and then watched sesame street. He had some applesauce and bread. The afternoon went smoother after nap time, we didn't move from the mattress. due to the attention I was having to give to Dreycin my mom decided to delay her flight from surgery night until Friday morning, she called into work and they were very understanding, thank goodness. She took care of B all day, sure felt like I was neglecting him :( but I know Dreycin needed me more.
Derek got home from work and we decided to get Chilli's(pretty allergen friendly menu for me!) we were under tornado watch but Derek got out anyways. We started to watch Cars 2. Shortly after he left I told my mom I bet the lights are gonna go out, so I called Derek to ask where all the flashlights were. Sure enough 10min after talking to him the lights went out. we played I spy with the flashlights and read a few books. Derek got home with food and we had a flashlight picnic! Dreycin ate really well, corndog fries and broccoli with a chocolate shake....daddy also gave him some red velvet cake! After the meal he wanted to play with his railroad toy his Uncle E got him for his bday, and I swear he played with it until he went to sleep at least 2 hrs. We played a little bit more of the movie and decided I would sleep with D in his room on a mattress. I had pumped milk in freezer and my mom was gonna sleep with B. Dreycin did great thru the night, Derek got up And brought us his pain med every 4 hrs. D would take it and go right back to sleep, ad slept until 715am. When I got up at 6 am I pumped 9ozs! I am very thankful for my mom.

I will write more later about post op day 1.

The pic below was when we were going to pre op hallway.

Bronson 11wks

We had his 2month appt on Tuesday, he weighed in at 14.14lbs 75% percentile and 24inches long 90% percentile. I postponed his 2month checkup due to blood in the stool coming back. Also, I found out pretty much everything on Bronson's labs came back abnormal, on the low side except a few things that were elevated. So I was devastated, we moved up his appointment to Nov 30th to see where to go from here. The blood in stool comes sporadic, and in very small amounts. Yesterday we had two diapers with a few spots, the day before nothing. It's frustrating to say the least. He also has eczema on his tummy, which is another indicationof allergies! But he is sleeping very well, still eating every 3hrs, in size 3 luvs, and wearing mostly 6-12month clothes! A few weeks when we were home Bronson rolled over from tummy to back and since then he I has done it numerous of times. Thefirst time he did it I thought oh he is too young it must be because he was on our bed! Feel bad for not writing down when he first did it.....Bronson has gotten more use to tummy time, has started noticing toys and trying to bat at them! His coos are constant and he can carry on a conversation all day long! He is growing up way to fast for this mama!!

November already?!!!?

I have really good news, Bronson has had no blood in his stools for 1week and 1 day! I have been somewhat soy free, meaning I have slipped up alot because soy is in EVERYTHING! The whole family is adjusting to mommy's new diet, and i think Derek is benefiting bc he too has issues with dairy! But I truly think it is the dairy that B is sensitive to. Bronson was suppose to have 2month appt but I pushed it out, just felt uneasy about giving him a bunch of shots when he is just getting better :(

On another note I'm frustrated because the past two days Dreycin has developed a runny nose with congestion and Bronson is having an issue with his tear duct and it's constantly watering. It seems never ending with two kids and being sick? Not to mention im scared B will end up sick. I just want everyone to be well and to have fun, because being a stay at home mom with two kids sick is no fun :( and my heart breaks that they dont feel well.

We have alot to look forward to....This weekend Papa Joe is coming to visit then my mom gets here on the 8th for Dreycin's bday, and Uncle E(Derek brother) comes back from Texas thisSunday! My dad will be here too for the weekend. We are so blessed to have had such an influx of family since moving to Georgia, and Bronson's arrival! Then next weekend Derek and I have the USMC ball, and Dreycin's 2nd bday! I just can't believe my baby will be two :( how time flies. I plan to write a blog about him in the coming days but for now I'll write about my lil B man who is now 2 months old.

Bronson weighs around 14lbs(home scale) wearing size 2 disposables...but I'm still cloth diapering during the day while at home. He is a very happy baby, always smiles and coos back at me and Derek! He is still feeding every 3-3.5 hrs, but at night he eats around 1045 and will sleep until 4 or 5! The other morning he slept until 6am! Bronson sleeps with me sometimes or will sleep in his co sleeper connected to my side of the bed. He is wearing mostly 3-6mos clothes, but I can see us being onto the next size very quickly!!! He is not a fan of his car seat, but loves his lil lamb swing and usually naps there in the mornings. He is not really a fan of tummy time but will sometimes sleep on his tummy. He uses a soothie pacifier, but doesn't need it 24/7. He loves to be held :)

Halloween was pretty fun this year, Dreycin got to dress up 3x! He was a monkey, fireman, and dinosaur (recycled from last year). He did get scared a few times especially when it was really dark, I would ask him if he wanted to walk up to the house and he would say "no, scared" I didn't force it, no trauma needed! The actual night of Halloween we went to a big neighborhood and went trick or treating it was a nice way to end October!