Help

One of William's new foods is pumkin. He seems to enjoy it pretty well but occasionally it comes back up. So now we have pumpkin stains on several items including MY clothes, which is where I am drawing the line. I am going to forbid my son to eat anymore of this very nutritious fruit unless I can figure out something to get it out. I have soaked the items a couple times in Oxiclean but it doesn't seem to be helping. So if you know of anything that could possibly help, please pass along the info.

High Chair

I am pretty excited to announce Will's high chair arrival. Funny the things I get excited about these days, but this is definitely one of them.

I picked this chair out and had it on one of my registries. Billye and Haley actually got it for us via gift card given back in October. Since we didn't need it right away, I hung on to the card and waited for the day when I could start experimenting on William's palate. I ordered it Monday and it came on Wednesday. Patrick put it together in no time and I absolutely love it! Patrick thinks it's a little girly, but whatever...okay, okay. I know it has little green bows on it, but I really like it, and hey, at least they are green...

I wanted a wooden high chair that was very simple and easy to clean. The plastic ones seem to take a real beating, and I didn't want any places where food could and would become hidden. The pad removes very easily and is machine washable as well as the tray. It doesn't take up too much space either and is easy to move.

My mom had a wooden high chair that all of her 6 children used. That's what got me thinkin' about finding a wooden one. On the card Billye wrote that the gift card was for the high chair and that she hoped it would feed all of my babies--me too.

Anyway, Will has since had a few taste testings in this baby, and at the moment it still looks new. He hasn't quite started to "experience" his food- meaning it's not running down the legs of the chair and all over the floor and wall just yet.

Today we tried Avocados. Will liked them pretty well, and what he didn't eat I finished because I LOVE them!

Yard Work

While Patrick's been off from school, I've been keeping him busy working on his "honey do" list. We worked in the yard quite a bit last week. Olivia came over to help. Tuesday, Patrick trimmed some trees with the chainsaw and Olivia and I supervised. When he would step back, Liv and I would grab the branches and pull them away.

Olivia usually grabbed smaller ones, but when she came to this one and pulled on it without any luck she said, "I think I need a little some help please." She is pretty handy to have around.

Liv also brought me a flower for Mother's Day. She picked it out herself. I hear it was her most favorite of all the flowers she saw. For those who don't know what a Tobacco plant looks like(I didn't either)--this is it.

So now we have a tobacco plant soakin' up some sun on our deck. Olivia planted it herself. She informed me that I must water it or it would die. If I didn't think it was so funny I probably would let it die, but it makes me smile every time I see it. By the way, apparently 'Tobacco' means 'Thank You' in Spanish. I did not know this either, but Olivia is just a wealth of information.

I'm also attempting a garden this year. Scary, huh? You betcha! Joe came and plowed up a place for me in our back yard. Then last Wednesday he came to show me what to do next (Mom and Liv came too). We planted corn, tomatoes, lima beans, okra, watermelon, and a few herbs. So hopefully some of it will survive and be tasty. We'll see...

These were taken on the day we planted the garden.

Olivia is "helping" Will with his hat. You have to keep your eye on this one.

Progress

Ok, I have been wanting to update for a while, but we've been busy! I kept thinking I would have time but Julee is a master at keeping us busy! So now we are home and I have finally found a few minutes to give an update. It's actually pretty amazing what all we were able to get done during our stay. Julee's house is clean. Her laundry is caught up as well as Ceseley's. Her shopping is done(for the moment). Her flowers are planted. Lawn is mowed and seeded. Garbage disposal repaired. A laundry basket is stained. Ceseley's furniture is finally up and her clothes put away and all of her baby bedding in it's final resting place. And thanks to Mom, a few meals in the freezer. WHEW! My Grandpa Miller used to tell my Grandma that she could keep 40 strong men working around the clock. I'm pretty sure Dan believes the apple does not fall far from the tree. Julee gave us several list of what needed to be taken care of and I'm happy that we were able to help. It was fun, busy, and exciting stay, and we were sad to leave.

Now for Ceseley's report. Ceseley is doing better! She has been moved to the "intermediate" part of the NICU. She is still having some trouble regulating her body temperature and that affects her eating. She has been able to nurse and is doing really well with that. So now they are just waiting for her to keep that temperature regulated and hopefully she will be able to go home soon.

On Saturday night, me, Mom, and Will went down to see her. Mom went in first and helped feed Ceseley via holding her feeding tube up so it could drain properly while Julee held her. I went in after while she rested under the lights with her "shades" on. She looked much better I thought. She looked healthier and very dainty. Mom and Julee said that when the nurse mentioned feeding her, Ceseley stuck out her pinkie finger. What a little lady!

Julee sent some pictures that she has taken over the past week this morning. I thought I would post a few...

Welcome, Little One

Monday morning we had a surprise delivery. Julee, my sister, had her little girl. She was born around 10 a.m. and weighed 5lbs 9oz. She is about 4 weeks early, but we are still excited she is here. Julee and Dan named her Ceseley Jane.
I decided to come to VA with Mom. We finally got here around 9p.m. on Monday. It was a long car ride with Will. He was sooo good though. He was very patient with Mom and me.

We stopped in Knoxville and had lunch with Blake and his girlfriend, Grace. Right before we stopped Will was making some interesting noises. Sure enough, when I pulled him from his car seat the evidence was all over his leg and part of his seat. It took quite a while to clean him up. Blake showed up and said, "Is he sick or something?" Fortunately he is healthy and the diaper was proof of that.

Since it was so late when we got to the hospital, we had to enter through the emergency room. I looked a mess and Will looked traumatized. Mom looked a little frazzled. We weren't sure what to do next but Mom received a visitor's pass. Since we had Will, only one of us could go up at a time. But before all that happened, while Mom was talking to the lady at the desk, Will and I were standing a little off and these 2 ladies came up and started talkin' about how cute Will was, which is perfectly fine. What Mom doesn't love to hear those things? But then they crossed the line. They started touching his hands and almost his face. Almost because I pulled him away a little bit and pulled the blanket tighter around him. Normally I wouldn't freak out so much but did I mention we where in the Emergency Room? I didn't know what they were there for, but I did know they were waiting to be seen. And they looked like very interesting (interesting is a generous description) characters no less. I grabbed the hand they had touched and headed to Mom for some sanitizer.

Then I stood afar off from everyone and waited for Mom to finish getting the pass. Well, one of the ladies then came up to me and asked me to come sit by her. I politely said, " No thank you." And prayed for Mom to hurry up. She finally did and I was able to go up first to see Julee. She kept Will for me and I surprised Julee. She didn't know I had come. I wasn't able to see Ceseley because she was in the NICU, and I wanted to hurry so Mom could go up.

On Tuesday, Mom and I cleaned Julee's house and did LOTS of laundry. Julee hadn't washed any of Ceseley's things because obviously she wasn't expecting her just yet. So I started that and am currently still working on that task, but I am happy to report there are just a couple loads left. Anyway, later that evening we went to see Julee and I was able to go into the NICU with her and hold Ceseley for just a minute. She is so tiny! and super sweet.

In the pictures, Ceseley has on an oxygen mask to help her breathe. The tube coming from her mouth is to pump air out of her stomach. It was hard seeing her that way and all the other little babies in the NICU. It was hard not to cry. Julee told me that I couldn't cry or she would lose it too. I did tear up a little while I was holding her but I kept it pretty hidden from Julee, I think? I hope.

Anyway, we are so happy she is here. Julee was able to come home today. Hopefully Ceseley will be able to join her very, very soon!

Annie

On Tuesday night, Mom took the girls (Mandy, Layla, Olivia, and myself) to see Annie Jr. A local elementary school was putting on the play. Two of the girls invloved go to church with us. They did a fabulous job! We were all so impressed. Jessica was cast as non other than Annie herself. I did not know that she could sing so well. Alyssa was "Molly," and she was cuter than a button! Both girls have lots of talent. You could hear them so well. I think that they were probably 2 of the best for sure. Anyway, it was all very entertaining and I'm glad we went.

Alyssa in action. She is the one wearing the white apron.

Jessica and Alyssa singing the finale of "Tomorrow"
(and Olivia's favorite, 'Sandy,' the dog)

And the super cute girls themselves! I was so pleased they paused from signing autographs to pose for me!

Liv

This morning Will and I had a visitor. Cousin Olivia came over to play for a few hours. Will was pretty happy she was there, and Olivia was more than willing to try and help take care of "Baby William." When Will would spit-up, Olivia was quick to remind him that he didn't need to do that to his mom. And then she would tell me, "You gotta get rid a that bay ba!" It was pretty funny.


A little later while Will was napping, she and I went outside to play. She stayed pretty busy taking my picture with her plastic Disney Princess camera and talking on her Hannah Montana cell phone to Patrick. She paused for a moment to sit beside me on the deck and asked if I could identify all of the princesses on her camera case. I did, and when I got to the last one, Sleeping Beauty, she asked, "Why is she sleeping booty?" I told her, "No, not booty, beauty." She said, "booty" I said,"No. Beau, beau, beau," she said, "boo, boo, booty!" I gave up. I think sometimes its better not to try and correct them. It makes life so much more interesting and funny.


One more thing. When Mandy came to get Olivia, I told her, Olivia, that "someone is here." Olivia was laying sideways in the recliner and said very desperately, "Ohhh I hope it's Patrick!" She and Layla are quite taken with Patrick. He always plays with them and pays a lot of attention to them. When the rest of us get tired they can always count on Patrick to keep playing with them. Anyway, she was very disappointed to see her mother come through the door. Sorry, Mandy.

This picture was taken back in Februay. Olivia was singing "Hush Little Baby"

The girls had come over to play on the slippin' slide. Unfortunately they didn't bring swim suits so their clothes got wet and only Olivia had another clean shirt. Layla is wearing one of my t-shirts. This was actually taken in 2006. Just goes to show you that even after all the slippin' slide play, Patrick is still willing to entertain them. Last summer (2007), Olivia was on a "Best Friends" kick. She would hug you around the neck and say "Best Friends!" It was so cute and sweet. She is a major stinker but we can't help but love her! We love this picture. Olivia looks like the happiest girl in the world

love hurts

Will is driving me crazy with all the chewing madness--especially when it's my chin he goes after. For some reason he thinks it's the perfect place to gnaw. Teeth or no teeth, he bites hard! Since he is basically perfection (I know, I know...he is only 5 months, but he really is a great baby) regarding everything else--omitting the near continuous flow of spit up, I'll let this slide.

Bath Time

Will loves taking a bath.

I love taking his picture.

Happy Easter

Yes, I am very behind. I am well aware that Easter was about 4 days ago. But Easter came early this year, and there has been a lot going on here so I'm just now getting around to sending you our best, so deal with it.

I would really like to be creative. I have been trying for a really long time. Most of the time whatever I am attempting to do fails miserably. This little bunny cake I do consider a moderate success. There are a few things I would do different though if I choose to ever make it again. Layla and Olivia really liked it anyway.

And now for my greatest creation yet - Unfortunately taking pictures is not my forte either, and this one is a bit blurred like the ones I took the day of Will's blessing. My camera and I don't always get along. Sometimes it takes great pictures and other times are like this. Usually when I don't have much time to fool with it, like Sunday mornings, I get blurry pictures. So frustrating. I'm trying to figure out how it functions (after almost 3 years). Anyway the camera and I are at odds right now. But we will work it out. My camera doesn't hold grudges.

Anyway, Happy Easter!

Weight check

No, not my weight check (although that might be a good idea), Will's...

Will went in for his weight check yesterday. Guess what. No change. He weighed 12lbs 6oz. Again. I was a bit distraught by this. Seeing as how I had fed him every time he even acted like he might be hungry. He was putting on weight too. His cheeks were bigger and his clothes were fitting snugger. But he is just now getting over an upset stomach. That started on Easter. So, now we have to return next Wednesday to find out more.

It's not all that surprising seeing how he only was able to drink pedialyte for about 24 hours and most of the time he hardly could tolerate that. When Patrick dressed him on Wednesday for his appointment, he looked smaller. His little onesie was falling off of him. It made me sad.

But today is a new day. Will's appetite is back now and going on strong. He keeps down most everything, so I think the worst is over. I'm hopeful anyway...

If only...

I have often wished life was a little more like musicals (Mo, you know what I'm talkin' about).

4 months already?

Will had is 4 month well check-up today. Everything looks pretty good except he is measuring a little small. He is only in the 10th percentile for height and weight. So now we have to go back in 2 weeks to measure his progress.

At 2 months he weighed 10lbs 10oz. This month he weighs 12lbs 6oz. He spits up a lot. Anyone who has been around him for very long (e.g. 20 minutes) will know what I'm talking about. So I kinda think he has done really well to gain that much. However, I do believe the spitting up is getting a little better, at least it was today anyway. So maybe he will finally be able to put on some weight. Looking at him you wouldn't think he is small. Well, I don't, but what do I know?

He was a little fussy after getting the shots--I would be too. But some Tylenol and a good long nap fixed him right up. I took these pictures a little later when we were playing and exercising (Will exercising-not me. Unless you count reaching for the toys he would throw away from his little play mat). He was just so dang cute playing there. I couldn't resist...

Tired of Tummy Time

Will has most definitely learned to soothe himself by sucking on his thumb

Momnesia

Sunday evening on our way home from Grandma's, I was sitting in the back seat with Will trying to keep him from fussing. I had left his hand toys at home so I was doing the best with what I had: keys, cell phone, and my face and hands. None of those really captivated him much, but I was trying. Patrick was sick so we had left him at home and rode with my mom. It was dark so I thought I would call Patrick to remind him to turn the lights on for us outside. As I was rummaging through the black hole that is my diaper bag, I suddenly panicked and new I had left it at Grandma's. She lives about 30 minutes away so this was quite inconvenient. I told Mom what I had done and she just looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Weren't you just keeping Will entertained with it?" I then realized it was in my lap.

A little later that evening my brother who lives out of state called. I asked if he had gotten the package I had sent to his daughter for her birthday at the beginning of Feb. He said they had received it along with another package from me--the one I had sent to Janel for her baby. So that helped clear up why she hadn't received it yet. Wow. I have completely lost it, and I bet this is just the beginning of the madness.