Changes

I can't believe that my little man is going to be 4 tomorrow. 4!!! I remember when he was the size of Iris and causing his own kind of "smaller" trouble. And now he is a big boy with lots of 4 year old attitude. Where has the time gone? He amazes me more every day. When I pick the kids up from daycare, it is like, all he can do to wait to get in the car before he starts asking me question after question after question. And, he is truly a boy. This kid loves all things rowdy. He loves his cars and trucks (what seems like a gazillion of them on the floor willing me to step on them and go flying in the air) and he loves to wrestle with his daddy or his papa. He is such a sweetie. Last night before bedtime, he gave me a kiss, and Iris a couple because as soon as he does, she gets her big ole toothy grin, that girl adores her brother! And he keeps giving her kisses to keep making her smile. And then, he woke up coughing and couldn't get back to sleep, even after Jesse put Vick's on his chest, so I went in and laid with him, and he was all cuddly. We both finally fell asleep, then I heard the Thunder Snow and woke up. It is weird hearing thunder in the winter!

Iris gained 3 ounces this last week. Not 7 like the week before, but a gain that I am still happy with, and steady. She had an occupational/physical therapy appointment yesterday. We were supposed to do a swallow study, but I wanted to show her occ. therapist how she was coming with a bottle. She will chew on it, and when formula comes out, she will swallow it without gagging. So, her therapist asked if we should try the cup that we like to use. It has a bigger silicone spout and Iris is teething, so she likes to chew on it. She did AWESOME with it. Maybe took around 1/2 ounce from it total, which, to me, is a lot. She did great.

I feel changes coming, for both of my kids. Lowden is growing into this awesome little man that is so inquisitive, which, I'll admit, sometimes I go crazy trying to figure out how to answer his many, many questions. And Iris is getting easier, and developing the sweetest personality, although she's got a bit of her mommas fiestiness (sp) in her, but I love it.

Christmas is so close. And, I love Christmas, but I am ready for it to be over. Just the hustle and bustle of it wears me out. I am ready for a steady routine again.

I have kind of rambled all over the place on this one. So, until next time...

Truly,

Anna & The Kings

No Bib, No burp rag

As in, we no longer need them, period. I am MORE shocked than any of you. TRUST ME on this.

So I haven't updated in a while. Last week on Wednesday, Iris' visiting nurse called as usual to update me on her stats. She said she literally called me as soon as she walked out of the daycare, she was so excited. Iris had gained 7 oz in 1 WEEK!!!. I was elated, to say the least. She couldn't believe it either.

So, Iris also rarely throws up now. And, if she does, it is like a few drops that just accidentally leak out of her mouth, and sometimes her nose, but even that is seldom now. I have also been experimenting with a bottle and a pacifier. Iris loves the pacifier, but not to suck on. She has tooth #3 coming in, her top right incisor and so she goes to town chewing on the paci. With the bottle, she also likes to chew, but of course, some formula comes out too. And, she doesn't gag on it, she SWALLOWS it! *AMAZING* She will even suck on the bottle a couple of times, and swallow, but when she realizes that it is going to keep coming out, she gets mad at it.

She is going to have a swallow study done here soon. I am hoping it is at our appointment with the occ. therapist on Thursday. We will see. I will call to verify sometime today or tomorrow, just so I know. Anyway, Iris is doing fabulous, and if anything, getting incredibly feisty. Which, of course, I love!

Lowden is going to be 4. I truly cannot believe this! His birthday party is on Saturday, and I have a LOT to get done yet for it. Cleaning to do, oh, the cleaning :( Jesse is scrambling trying to get the walk-in closet completed so he can show it off. I hope he gets it done! Not much left to do in there though. Lowden is obsessed with anything CARS* (the movie), and also cars and trucks, and he likes Transformers*. He is such a boy! I gave him a bit of a haircut yesterday. It was starting to look like a mullet. EW. So, I had to do something about that. It looks cute, and he looks even older now! My little man is growing up!

Yesterday, Lowden, Iris & I went over to visit some of my friends. Their little daughter is 4 days older than Iris. It was a really good time although, driving home afterward in the sleet in rain was NOT so much fun. I can't wait to get together with them after the holidays again, it had been too long!

I promise to update as soon as Iris has her weigh-in on Wednesday again, and also let you know how her occ. therapy appointment goes.

Always,

Anna & The Kings

9 Month Checkup

I had Iris to the doctor yesterday and today. Yesterday we had our appointment with the new pediatric gastroenterologist....Dr. M. He was quick and to the point. We basically talked about her medical history, and he said he needs time to review her files and her most recent tests before he decides what to do with her. He did however say, that he wants to do a swallow study on her. Now, I am not sure how this will be done, considering Iris does not really swallow large quantities, barely even small quantities. I am sure we will find out though. So, I am waiting to hear back from him for our followup appointment. Iris' appointment today was with her regular family doctor for her 9 month well child visit. She is sitting between the 10th & 15th percentile for her height and weight and her head is in the 50th percentile. Although it is not GREAT, she is at least still ON the growth chart. She is a bit behind with some of her motor skills, but that is to be expected with everything she has been through, and we are already seeing a physical therapist, so we are on the ball with it.

Anyway, just a quick post to update you all. I know many of you want to know the outcome of her appointments, I promise to update you all again when we find out about the swallow study.

Much Love,

Anna & The Kings

LESS Truly Is More!

It is a bit ironic how we figure out new things that work for Iris. Take for instance, this last Sunday. I am the one who wakes up with the kids, everyday. But, Jesse got up with them on Sunday, as I had not been getting very much sleep at all the last two weeks. Lowden had been sick, with a cold and a cough, and he was waking up a couple times at night, and Iris was waking up in the middle of the night as well. She would gag on her own saliva and throw up. Anyway, I had told Jesse that we were going back to using Nutramigen for formula, instead of the Neocate, as she holds it down better. I did not tell him that we are using up the old stuff first. There were two scoops of Nutramigen left in the can, so he used that, with only 4 ounces of water. Low and behold, Iris did NOT throw ANY of it up. (Cue the angelic choir) Iris did not throw up at all that day. So, we have been following this regimen for her, and she is soooooo much happier. I cannot even explain. She is like a different baby. And, much to my GREAT pleasure, she is saying "mama" now. More like "mamamamamamamamama....." but completely adorable!

Tomorrow we go and see a new doctor here in Cedar Rapids. He is a pediatric gastroenterologist. I am excited to meet with him and have already started making a list of questions for him. I am hoping he will decide to run some tests on Iris, but who knows. As much as I dislike putting her through the stress of tests, it needs to be done so we can rule things out, or get closer to an answer for her, if there is one. Tomorrow we also see the occupational and physical therapists. They will be happy about Iris not throwing up as much, and I am going to talk to them about some oral cues she has been doing to see what they think. I gave Iris a cracker last night, she put it in her mouth a couple of times, and scraped it on her two bottom teeth once, but didn't show much more eating interest in it than that. But that is alright, at least she didn't gag from the taste of it in her mouth.

Ahhh, so Lowden's 4th Birthday is coming up. On the 20th to be exact. And, we are going to have a birthday party for him. I am excited for him. It should be fun, as long as the weather cooperates and all our family is able to make it to our house. We shall see! I can't believe my baby boy is going to be 4 already!!! Time truly does fly!

Oh, and Jesse is building me a walk-in closet (my hideout) for Christmas. He has the walls up and the insulation in and it is mostly drywalled. He made great progress on it in just one day. I am so excited for it! What a handyman!

I promise to update you all on the appointments tomorrow, but it may be the weekend by the time I get around to it.

Much Love,

Anna & The Kings