Coming Early?

36 weeks tomorrow and my cervix is already soft! This might be normal for most but I was surprised because my cervix wasn't soft when I was having contractions 2 minutes apart at 40 weeks with Gavin!
I don't know how many times the doctor said, If you feel... CALL ME! If this happens... CALL ME! She was making me feel very much like she feels the baby will be coming a little earlier than 40 weeks!
We also get an ultrasound on Wednesday. It will be so neat to see what our baby looks like at 9 months versus 5 months. Hopefully our scanner will cooperate and let me post pictures.
Heartbeat: 140
Measuring 36 weeks


Before my appointment we had some extra time to take Gavin to the park. There were some very large geese who didn't fear humans what so ever! Gavin kept trying to catch one. I couldn't believe how fearless he was! Those birds were huge! Please try to ignore my enormously large face!! You try being pregnant 18 out of 23 months and see what you look like! ha.. :)

Our Morning Walk

This morning I decided to suck it up and bear the pain of walking to take my child outside. By the time we got back to the house I couldn't even lift my legs to get them up on the couch! It was all worth it because my little explorer had a wonderful time!



The first order of business was to hand Mommy every leaf he found on the ground.

Found another one! Then we walked... and walked... and walked... The grass had just been mowed and was wet so it made for some cute wobbly walking. Then my little helper boy offered to push the stroller for his Mommy. Hmm... maybe these wheels need a close inspection. Uh oh.. dirty hands... Time to get cleaned up! Time to go home, but first this stroller needs each and every blade of grass thrown off before we go! -- Is he going to grow up to be a neat freak like his Daddy?? His PaPa was far worse than Levi so it is definitely in his genes!
It was a fun morning!

14 Months

Here are some things my 14 month old is doing these days:
Warning: This might turn out to be long!

1. EATING!!!!! Every day I am shocked at the things he is trying! This is all on his own. None of it has to do with his Eating Specialist. Tuesday night he had the same thing Levi and I had for dinner. This was the first time ever! Grilled chicken, rolls, green beans, and broccoli and cheese. He didn't gag once! I actually can't even remember the last time he threw up as a result of eating. It's amazing! He also has been eating cubed fruit, and toddler turkey and chicken sticks, minus the skin. They look like Vienna sausages and smell horrible, but he likes them!!! Today he also ate Rice-A-Roni. He was eating it by the hand fulls and before today even once grain of rice would make him gag. This is giving me enormous hope that his GI will find nothing wrong!
2. HELPING! I now cannot do dishes with him awake if someone is not at the house to entertain him. He will hand you the silverware piece by piece, then goes to the bigger things. It is a race to get to the breakables before he does, which is just about impossible because most things are! He also likes to refold laundry and bring you hangers. Levi has started letting him help carry large things like laundry baskets by holding the other end. It is too cute! If we would let him, he would throw away the diaper after every diaper change. He also brings Levi his clothes, belt and shoes he lays out while getting dressed for work. He has also gotten very into bringing me every tiny speck of whatever it is he finds on the floor. It beats him putting it in his mouth!
3. CLIMBING! Couches, ottomans, chairs, stairs, large toys... ANYTHING tall enough to fall off of and get hurt is worth climbing.
4. TEETH! He now has 6 teeth. 4 on top and 2 on bottom. I just can't believe how fast they are coming in since he turned 1.
5. All GONE! You can hear him say this multiple times a day. When he is finished eating, when you come to the last of something, when his dirty diaper is being folded up to throw away... He also will say it in question form which is just simply adorable the way it comes out!
   
6. WOW WOW! That is his new word thanks to the cartoon WowWow Wubzy. He doesn't watch the cartoon very often but I let him listen to the theme song on the computer, which brings me to #7.
7. THEME SONGS! Since he was just a few months old his favorite TV Theme Song has been the theme from Malcolm in the Middle. He will stop in his tracks and tun to the TV to listen to several themes. His favorite TV show that isn't a cartoon is Jon and Kate plus 8.
8. ON AND OFF! Half of his day is spent filling something up then dumping it out only to fill it up again. We went through a few different bottles before we found one we liked and I had the old bottles in zip lock bags under the counter. A couple of weeks ago he found them and plays with them several times a day, putting them in the bags and taking them back out. I also washed out a juice bottle and he takes the lid on and off 100 times a day. This is alot easier than the stage where he wanted to empty his diaper bag out but wouldn't fill it up himself.
   
9. WEIGHT. At his last weigh in he was 19.4 pounds, so he had gained 2 ounces in a short period of time. For him, that is fantastic! Just a little more to go and he can be forward facing in the car! His next check up is on October 25, which makes me worried that I won't be able to be there for his shots. :( I'm sure they will weigh him on the 7th though.
10. FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS. If you tell him to get a book and come sit down, he will do just that! When you say "look" and point at something, he will go get it. If we put a blanket or pillow on the floor and tell him to Go Night Night, he will run over and plop down on it. I need to get that on video.
    
11. BEING SILLY. When Gavin looks in the mirror he always sticks out his tongue. He likes to give "zerberts" He has a woody wood pecker laugh that cracks us up. He also has this laugh that makes him sound like an evil scientist. He will pat his lips to try and do the Indian Call. Levi calls it that because I am part Blackfoot Indian. He will dance to most any music and cracks up when somebody joins him.
    
12. PITY! This is something he has gotten quite good at. If he is being rough with me when Levi is in the room, he will slap my arm then look at Levi for approval, completely ignoring me telling him no. When Levi tells him to be gentle, his bottom lip pokes out, a little fake cry comes and he can even muster up teary eyes. This is nothing compared to what he does when I tell him to be nice to his NaNa! He can get HER to apologize for his actions!! I have never seen such a stunned face as when I asked my mom to tell him to be gentle for me the other day. I couldn't help but laugh. He just stood in the middle of us not knowing who to pout to! Even though NaNa got onto him in the softest voice known to man, you would have thought she growled right in his face!

35 Weeks

I am 35 weeks now. Wow!
It is strange to think how far along I am. On one hand, I was pregnant before Gavin learned to crawl and that seems like ages ago. On the other hand, how am I almost due ALREADY??

The reality of doing day to day activities with 2 under 2 is really hitting me lately. It is one thing to imagine chores with Gavin plus a newborn, but what happens when Baby #2 doesn't like Mommy leaving the room? What happens when I am changing an explosive diaper and Gavin is on his way through a baby gate I forgot to close? I can carry the baby while Gavin crawls up the stairs, but what do I do when it is time to come back down? There are SO many scenarios! I have to remember that we will only be living in a house with stairs until the middle of December. I just have to last until then, then things will get a little easier.

I complained a lot about lack of sleep, and even though I am blogging at almost 1:30 in the morning right now, sleep has come back into my life. Finally after a month (or more) of begging and pleading Levi to sleep in the other room, he caved in. With the entire bed to myself, plus the purchase of a memory foam mattress topper, and NO SNORING! I am able to get to sleep around midnight. Even though that still seems late, it beats growling at the sun rising because it beat me again. I still am joining Gavin for his naps, but what pregnant woman doesn't need a good nap??

My body is feeling very worn. Crystal, when we ate with you and Carl, you had said the band on your pregnancy pants was the only thing keeping you in, and now I think I know what you mean! When I stand up I have so much pain in my lower abdomen, I am stuck leaning over for a few moments before I can go up completely. My hips are hurting at night, and I've heard the saying, "I am sore in places I didn't know existed" my entire life, and always thought that was a joke. It is no joke!! Picking up a 1 yr old, running up and down stairs, and bending over to pick up toy after toy after toy is getting harder and harder each day. And darn it, if my bladder isn't the baby's favorite kick toy!!!

On the other hand I cannot wait to have a newborn in the house again! There is just nothing sweeter than an innocent love to hold and stare at for hours. When I was pregnant with Gavin and bought baby clothes, Newborn sizes seemed so big. (Was something THAT big supposed to come out of ME?!?) Now when I look at newborn clothes, they seem so tiny! I can't wait to pick up my baby and see those little knees still up by *it's* chest!

I just took a picture of my 35 week belly. I know I need to get a real one and not one taken by myself in the bathroom! Levi swears we will be surprised with twins! I was talking with my mom a few days ago about if the baby is a week or two late and her comment was, "Oh no, there is no way this baby will come late, you are too..." Care to finish your sentence mom???? :)

This was at 30 weeks: What a difference 5 weeks makes!!!

Now for a little update on Gavin:
He is feeling better and is getting back to his old self. He did however develop pink eye (again, how he gets sick I will never know) and needs eye drops 3 times daily. He HATES it and I hate having to make him go through it. Only 2 more days to go!
He is turning into a big helper which I will talk more about on the 24th when he turns 14 months, but I want to share a funny (or not so funny!) thing he did tonight.
I was in the kitchen getting a drink and Gavin was walking around behind me. I turn around and my child was taking his clothes out of the dryer, walking them through the kitchen and throwing them in the trash can! It was one of those cute little times you just smile and laugh and say, Thank You!!
Maybe he is letting me know he is ready for a new Fall wardrobe!

GI

This afternoon we saw Dr Fiedorek at 2:30.
Well let me rephrase that. Gavin's appointment was at 2:30. We finally got in 2 hours after that.

Remember how his medicine turns him into a different child? Well today Levi and I got to experience what a carefree, completely comfortable and outgoing child is like. He had no problems walking all around (it was a large waiting room) pulling things out of other people's bags, trying to open doors and play with other children's toys.

One poor little girl, about 7 years old, was playing with one of those big activity cubes you find in doctor's offices. Gavin played nicely beside her then all the sudden reached over and pinched her arm with his slobber covered hand! Her eyes opened wide, she looked at her mother with this, What Do I Do? look, then glared at Levi and I. I felt so bad!

About an hour later, he saw a little boy about 3 years old and decided he needed a good pinch too. I was so embarrassed! Gavin usually doesn't wander more than a few steps from us and is perfectly behaved!

So finally we got to see the GI. He went over Gavin's history and decided we need to go ahead and scope to look for problems. He will also do a biopsy of his stomach and esophagus and draw blood. Dr Fiedorek said there is a rare disease called Eosinophilic esophagitis (allergic esophagus) which is similar to his esophagus having eczema, that he will be looking for.
The procedure only takes about 7 or 8 minutes and he is ordering medications and anesthesia as if Gavin is allergic to be safe.
Since Gavin has an upper respiratory infection, he wants to wait 3 weeks before doing the test.

The tests will be done early morning on October 7, at Children's Hospital.

Oh yes, I asked the doctor about the effects this "out of control" medicine has had on Gavin. He said he would not give this particular medicine to his children and recommended we do the same. He still has a slight ear infection and the doctor recommended we take him back to his pediatrician in 3-5 days.

Please be praying with us that the tests go well. Also please be praying for Levi and I. As the day becomes near, I will be sleeping less and less and the morning they take my baby away from me you can bet I will be an absolute wreck.
I have never once left my baby with him crying out for me. I cannot imagine what this will do to both of us!

Side Effects May Occur

Warning: Excitability may occur, especially in children under 2.

Excitability. That is the understatement of the year!!

This week has been a very interesting week due to the side effects of Gavin's medications. One of the medicines is to be given every 6 hours. Around an hour after each dose is given, my child transforms into a completely different child!

He gets so much energy he doesn't know what to do with himself. He also is SILLY!

Every day Gavin brings me book after book to read. He sits and listens for as long as I am willing to read.
On his medicine he brings the book along with a mask or hat for me to wear, turns on his loudest toy, swings his arms and only listens to a few pages before he throws the book and searches for a new one.

The "excitability" of this medicine has taught him to spin in circles, hang and swing from the table, and believe it or not, talk back.

Gavin climbed on top of my hope chest. He has never been interested in climbing on this before.
Mommy: "Gavin sit down."
Gavin: "No"
Mommy: "Yes sir, sit down."
Gavin: "No"
Mommy: "Yes"
Gavin: "No"
He had never even said "No" by itself before that day. What on earth!

It also does something to his tongue. He pinches it, sticks it out all day and even tried to lick my tongue. He also took a textured paci today that he has always spit out. It isn't swollen, so I figure it goes numb or tingles.

All of this I can handle except it makes him hit. There is a 2 hour span after his medicine that he wants to hit everything, including himself. He slaps his face and throws things around. I have kept my patience and gently hold his hands to distract him because I know it is not him, but the medication.

His other medicine has caused diarrhea and a loss of appetite. I am afraid of dehydration and weight loss. He still has 5 days to go.

Gavin's visit with a Gastroenterologist is tomorrow at 2:30. We are praying that he will feel no tests will need to be done that require anesthesia.

Update

We took Gavin to the doctor this afternoon. He has an upper respiratory infection, ear infection and sinus congestion.
I don't know how he manages to keep on playing!

Give me your pain, my love

It is 3:45 a.m. I decided to blog to officially put an end to tonight. Around 2 a.m. Gavin suddenly woke up screaming. He hasn't felt well since Friday and it has slowly gotten worse. This morning he woke up with a matted eye and it turned pink as the day went on. He is gagging on anything that comes anywhere near his mouth, sneezing, coughing, mild fevers, and taking multiple naps.

As I said, Gavin woke up at 2 a.m. screaming. He was inconsolable. This is not something we are used to experiencing. We tried reading his favorite books, singing songs, lots of hugs and love and nothing seemed to work. I FINALLY got him to take a bottle and he fell asleep.

10 minutes later....

He wakes up again screaming. Again we try everything we know to calm him down. Finally I go to YouTube and play his favorite Noggin songs. This works, but he starts coughing and throws up. He smelled like vomit and I thought a bath might distract and cheer him up. I was wrong. He looked simply awful. Oh how my heart cannot stand my love being in any type of pain.

After his bath he throws up again and again. We didn't have time to put jammies on him before he was covered again.. myself and the bedspread included. Fortunately Gavin spotted Leah, a stuffed lamb that plays a lullaby and says a prayer, that he has always found comforting. Neither of us had on much clothing from the mess so we cuddled skin to skin and listened to Leah's songs.

He fell right asleep.

I hope this lasts.

As soon as the doctor's office opens tomorrow I am making an appointment.

Now if I can only get him in jammies without waking him.

My poor boy. At least he is asleep. His eye starting to turn pink from earlier today.
He literally had not been out of the house since last Monday. I don't know how he manages to get sick.

Sick Saturday

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Last night I went to bed not feeling so well and this morning I woke up feeling worse. I have a cough, the sneezes, fever, gunky eyes, and lots of sounds coming from my diaper!! I thought it would be a good idea to show you what I do in the morning, but instead I am showing you what I do when I am sick.

Daddy made blueberry muffins and I liked them! Since I am sick, Mommy moved my highchair into the living room and let me watch Mickey Mouse Club House while I ate. Then Mommy felt SO bad for me that she let me eat my yogurt right on the couch! But shhh.. don't tell Daddy! After my yogurt I tried calling 555-GRANDMA but nobody answered! I thought that maybe if you heard my pitiful cough, you'd send me a present! I wasn't feeling well so Mommy gave me some medicine for my fever and I tried eating some fruit. My tummy didn't want any and I threw it up. :( Mommy took off my PJs and cleaned my face. She laid me down on the couch and before she had time to get new clothes, I had fallen asleep. My early morning phone call must have worked because when I got up from my nap I had a surprise! Grandma and Grandpa sent me a present! Mommy read me my new book and said after my bath I could try on my new shirt. It fits! -- See me standing in my car? You wouldn't believe the fuss Daddy and Mommy make over it! I've only fallen twice! Geez! I felt much better after my bath so I decided to be a big help and "organize" everything in the kitchen cabinets. Mommy had just ran out of things to put in the dishwasher so this gave her more to clean! She told me thank you, but there was something fishy about that thanks... I was only trying to help! :)
Mommy was just telling Daddy the other day that she loves the Rainforest Cafe and they should take me there someday. Since you have one in San Antonio maybe we can go to yours! I hope you enjoyed a Saturday morning with me and thank you for my surprise!!

Gavin Facts:

Just some little truths about my favorite 1 year old:

• Gavin turned 12 months with 2 teeth, and 13 months with 5! The 5th tooth was a total surprise. I happened to notice it while brushing his teeth. This would explain the MANY restless nights.

• He has a new animal sound. "What does the cat say? "MEOW" It is super cute and sounds just like a cat! It is my goal this week to get all his animal sounds on video to share.

• Gavin recently got his FIFTH haircut. He received his first when he was 8 months, so he needs one once a month. It grows so fast!! I would have pictures to share but my husband protests each one so I have to do them secretly when he is away. If Levi had his way, Gavin's hair would be past his shoulders! I do it myself because it frightens me to trust anyone else with scissors that close to my baby's face!

• Gavin is eating new foods!!! He will eat bread, (Sara Lee cinnamon bread is his FAVORITE!) sliced cheese, and for the first time today he ate thinly sliced deli meat! I had to hold in my excitement when he took it just fine! This is a HUGE step for him!! He will also eat macaroni and cheese. It has to be small spirals cut in half. Yes that is tiny, but anything bigger he will gag on and throw up. He is also eating yogurt and I allow him to use the spoon himself. He is getting to be such a big boy! My next goal is to have him eat fresh fruits and steamed veggies. Anything with that type of slimy texture makes him throw up, so I have my work cut out for me.

• Gavin has learned to collapse himself when being taken away from a desired object. He has only done this twice and didn't try it again when I picked him back up. Neither time had a whine to go along with it, but it is a sign of what is to come soon enough! -- Or could I be so lucky to skip the terrible twos?? Yeah, I wish!!

• Gavin completely forgets I exist the moment my mom walks through the door. His loves his Nana! She is the only person he will cry for when they leave our house. (he will for me on occasion but usually only when he is tired.) He also recently will not come to me when I go to my mom's to pick him up after an afternoon of fun. It hurts my feelings a little but it is nice knowing he isn't upset when I am gone.
  

Gavin fell asleep on the couch like this last night. I thought it was too cute! Unfortunately he woke up at 3:00 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. I am not sure why. He wasn't fussy at all. He was just awake. Since I hadn't fallen asleep yet we went downstairs and watched tv until 5:30. It was nice to have a little company. I have been falling asleep as the sun is rising recently, then joining Gavin for part of his nap. I am tired of being tired!
And here is the reason I have time to blog today. Levi came home early today and is taking a nap with Gavin. It is nice to have alone time!