Getting there...

Each and every day, Iris seems to come along a little bit more. Her nurse is only going to check her stats and weight every two weeks now, as Iris is gaining steady and doing awesome. She called me a little bit ago to update me on her visit today. She said Iris was a little guarded with her at first, as she thought she was going to give her a shot, but no shots today. Her oxygen saturation was perfect and her weight is fabulous. The little thing bounced up to 18 lbs 5.5 oz. Almost a 1 lb weight gain. AMAZING. It is possible she could make it to 20 lbs by her first birthday, which happens to be next month. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? Where has the time gone? I cannot believe she is so close to a year already! She has certainly come along way.

Iris has become incredibly fond of Lowden. And vice versa. It is really cute to watch those two, and Lowden is the only one who can get these terrific belly laughs from Iris, the ones the crack both Jesse and I up when she does it. Lately, I will sit on the floor and have her sit between my legs, and she is constantly reaching for things on the other side of my leg, and when she does, ta-da, she is on her tummy. She used to hate that. But now, she will simply push up with her arms and just sit like that for a bit. I have been having Lowden sit farther away from her, and try to coax her to him. Not working yet, but I think it soon will, and then that boy will definitely be in trouble....as will I.

So, now I am going to have another birthday party to plan. Iris' birthday falls on a Friday. I am torn between having it that weekend, or if I should wait until the following weekend. I have a feeling that no matter what weekend I decide on, it will snow or rain or cause some kind of drama for me in someway as it did for Lowden's, but, I guess that is what I get for having winter babies. I just truly can't believe she is going to be 1 already!

Along with the 1 year birthday, there are changes to be made. According to safety laws in Iowa, if she does indeed weigh 20 lbs at her 1st birthday, I may choose to face her front in her car seat when driving and also put her in a larger car seat, and not a infant carrier. I will also be experimenting this next month with her formula. She is still on the non-dairy formula and I will switch her to the dairy based formula to see how she handles that. I think she will do fine, as I used a little bit I had sitting around last month when I was running low of the other stuff. She seemed to handle it just fine. If she does fine with the dairy based formula, at 1 year, she will be ready for whole milk. I have also started giving her baby food. She likes her carrots, but not much of anything else, picky girl. I'll keep working on the other veggies though. She is still not fond of food with any sort of texture though, so that is something else we have to work on.

Any way. I am so excited. I am taking on a very part-time job at Curves. Which will afford me to have a free membership so I can start working on those New Year's Resolutions. I am excited, and it will only be a few days a month, so I won't miss out on much time with the kids at all. Work on the closet has ceased for a while. We have been too busy, and it has been soooooooo cold. I am beyond ready for Spring. Bring on the rain and thunderstorms.

Ok, I am worded out for now.

Until Next Time...

Anna & The Kings

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Looking Back

I have been meaning to update everyone for the last week now, but I have been busy and scatter-brained, so now here I am, catching you all up. I hope that everyone had a terrific Christmas and is settling into the New Year and grasping those resolutions. :) *snicker*

I named this blog entry Looking Back, because I have been doing a lot of that lately. Over 2008 that is. It was SUCH an overwhelming year! It was amazing, because Iris came to us, but so scary because of her needing to have open heart surgery. It was also a trying year. After the surgery, as many of you know, we had lots of complications with Iris, and I will be honest and say, my patience were tried most days. Some of those that read this blog have been through what we have with Iris, and understand it was the best year, but it was also one of my hardest years. There is no way to explain the emotions that go through a parent who has to watch their child go through painful surgeries and or just bad experiences, period. I am not sure if I am repeating myself here, probably, but I want to say it again. Many friends have said that we are so strong to have gone through this. But I don't really feel strength has much at all to do with it. Only love. We love our two children more than anything and we would do whatever it takes to make them healthy, and I tell these friends, they would do the same thing if it were under the same circumstances. I won't say it wasn't hard. Man, it was hard, and painful, but who was the one feeling the real pain? And look at her now! She is amazing!

Lowden has been through so much. He not only had to deal with getting a new sister, and having that sibling rivalry, but he has also had to deal with all the extra care that went to his sister and not him...yet, he adores her so much. Just thinking of his tenderness with her makes me want to burst out in tears. I know that not only now, but when they are older, he is going to be the best brother any little girl could ask for (whether it is admitted by them or not:)

So, now when I look forward into 2009, I see a lot of hope for how our family is going to grow. And by that I don't mean more children, Heaven's NO! (internal giggle) I believe the magic number for our family is 4, we are content there! But things are getting a little easier and there is so much comfort for me in that. I have been trying some baby foods with Iris, and she is slowly developing more of a taste for them, and not gagging as much with them. She still gags a little, but she no longer throws up from it. Well, she no longer throws up at all, which is SUCH a blessing. I can't even explain how happy I am about that. Now, if I could just get her to sleep more!

I'm all worded out, so, until next time....

Truly,

Anna & The Kings

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