October 29, 2007

Bumps and Bruises and lots of tears... I am not sure if those tears are mine or Aiden's or both, but we sure are at the age of falling down, pulling things over and getting hurt. I know it's how kids learn but no one wants to see there little one get hurt. And when you have a stubborn kid (like mine) who doesn't learn after the first or second time it makes it harder I think.
He's so smart and amazes me when he figures something out, like how to get off the futon "safely", or how to open and close the cabinet (after he empties all the diapers in it).
Yesterday he learned he has enough strength to pull over the entire rack of TV trays. There solid wood and heavy and YUP he pulled him over on top of himself. Then not an hour later he did it again. Now there tied up so he can't pull the entire thing over and so far he has left it alone. Then today he decided to slid off the futon but instead of turning around and going feet first he went head first and "knock" on the floor he went.. Tears and all, he was not a happy camper!

I swear people are going to think I beat him up with all the bumps he gets. Most of the time it's just a little bum here or there and in minutes it goes away, but in the last few days he has gotten a few good ones that I though were going to leave marks, but so far he only has one little scratch and a mark near his eye (from yesterday)

I am sure all parents go through this stage and just to think I get to go through it again with the twins, hopefully they will be a little less of a clutzy mess as my little Mr. Destructo!

It is good to see him do things that "all other kids do" and i am very lucky. I have three wonderful happy kids. For all he's been through (I can't say it enough) he amazes me and keeps me smiling. He is just a wonderful kid!!

October 25, 2007

We got shots today.. Aiden went in for his RSV shot and he was NOT happy!!

Our morning starting out with a very tired boy. He refused to sleep last night and once again was up late. This time later then he has ever been awake.. 3AM !! UGH!!
He then had to get up at 8:30 for E. I. this morning with his OT (for drinking). So Mommy made him some pancakes and got everything ready and Jean the OT fed him and worked with him and his cup. He didn't eat as much as he normally would but did very good drinking (hand over hand).
We stopped early and had a little play time cause he was so tired.

I figured after she left he'd want to sleep but he stayed awake which was fine with me, i want to get him back on track. We had a doc appt at 2 and he was in a really good mood when we got in the car. We arrived to see the doc and he was smiles and playing until the shot came. He was still on the table as they "cleaned the site" with there little alcohol pad, and then at the same time each nurse gave him a shot in the leg. This way it's all at once and he doesn't get poked one after another. He flinched and then cried and cried. I felt so bad as I picked him up and gave him a big hug. He calmed down after about a bit and was fine.
I had the doc come in and check him too. i wanted his ears checked cause occasionally he'll pull at his left ear, but they were perfect. He also woke up with two little spots on his leg today. My first thought was OMG my kid has ring worm, cause it's kinda what it looks like, but then I though, he hasn't been around any pets but ours and none of ours have it. Better safe then sorry i had the doc check that too. Well he said it looks fine, and that there is a "funky" virus going around that is causing kids to get spots like this. It's nothing to worry about and if he gets more then two just to give him some benadryl.
All in all it was a good check up I'd say. We are almost 17 months old, weighing in at 24 lbs 12 oz and we are just about 31 inches. So far not a single ear infection, no RSV, no colds, unless you count the 24 hrs we had the sniffles, but I think we have done really well.

Now it's just getting the sleep schedule back on track, learning to drink more from the cup or the bottle, and learning to walk... Then the big one.. Getting the G-tube out...

Oh can we add getting a few teeth in there too.. ha ha, although his gums are puffy and I really really think they are going to pop through very soon. Maybe in the next few weeks.. Maybe this has something to do with him not sleeping well either.. Grrrr them darn teeth..

.. And Aiden has discovered where we keep the diapers.. he thought he was funny (and he was) but we won't let on.. ha ha

October 23, 2007

Bottles, Cups, Straws... We have tried it all..

For a year we have tried different things and all it took was bringing home some babies. ha ha
As funny as it sounds I just had a feeling from him seeing his sisters take a bottle that maybe, just maybe, he would try it.

So I put some chocolate silk in a bottle (that is what mommy drinks and he likes it too) and handed it to Chuck. After the look I got I said to him, just give it to him I want to see what he does.
Can you believe he took an ounce and a half.
Now I know to any new people reading this, that is not a lot, but if you've been around with us for a while then you know for Aiden it's fantastic. He has been really good with it since. He won't really hold the bottle on his own very well but if you hold it with him he'll drink from it. So far, chocolate soy milk, regular whole milk, and water. He has also done really well with the juice box type cup we were training him with. he know can suck up the straw.

Let's just say with all this, when his OT showed up on Thursday morning last week she was siked. She said we made her month. THAT'S MY BOY!!!! Making people happy..

So now if we can get him to take the cup with a straw or a bottle (either one) on a regular basis then BYE BYE G-TUBE!!!! Now that is music to the ears...

As for him adjusting to the girls, well it took a bit. A few days went by and he was use to Morgan being here, then we added Riley to the mix. I'm sure he must of been thinking "what the hell" "are they going to get one of these things every week??"
But so far so good. No super major break downs. i will say he has been a little more clingy and his sleep schedule is all messed up (not due to the girls making noise, it's just he now decides he doesn't want to go to sleep) but I am hoping we get him back on track. He was already a kid who went down late (usually by 10:30pm) but the last 5 days he has been nuts and you have to fight with him to get him to pass out by 1am, sometimes 2.. Grrrrrrrr

As you can imagine this is not adding to us getting any sleep and with Daddy going back to work on Monday (cringe) it's going to be a rough week alone with 3 little ones.. I'm sure I'll have a few breakdowns.

Speaking of which, Aiden is in his swing (yes at 16 months he still loves the thing) and is over tired, talking to himself and every so often yelling out a fake cry like I'm beating him. That is what he does when he is super tired.. So I am going to attempt to get him into bed before 10:30 which gives me a little over an hour and we will see how it goes..

Aiden and Daddy at the Pumpkin Festival...

Waiting for Mommy to give me a fry...

I got one... haaa haaaa


Going for a walk with my Mommy and my sisters..

And.... We're Off!!!!

October 14, 2007

Can we say a bit jealous! I was surprised but YES he was a bit on the jealous side. We got home from the NICU (we all went together to pick up Morgan) and Aiden fell asleep in the car. We came in the house put him down for his nap and all was ok. When he woke up, Morgan was already awake ad i was about to feed her. I put her in her crib to get Aiden and she started to squack the cry a tiny little cry. As soon as Aiden heard her she layed on the bed like I tossed him away and just cried. Full tears and all. I felt so bad, my little boy all of a sudden didn't want to share his mommy. We've now had two overnights and we will see how he is this morning, but yesterday he was much better. I can only imagine in a few days how things will be when Riley comes home too. The poor little guy is going to think these tiny little squeeky things are multiplying. Awww
Don't worry little man, you will always be Momma's little boy and I love you sooooo SOOO MUCH!

October 11, 2007

Aiden did very well agin today with E.I. and drinking. I think he is getting his bottom two teeth soon so that may be why he was cranky yesterday too. His cheeks have been red on and off and the kid is chewing on EVERYTHING. Well he puts everything in his mouth any way, but the last few days he is chewing really hard on things.

We have some adjusting to do now too since his sisters will be home by the end of the week end. Morgan tomorrow and Riley by Sunday. I thin he'll be just fine though.

I posted some pics there not new but ones I liked and forgot to post previously. Check out Aiden in his new wagon. We copied our blog friend mommy who has triplets and has the wagon.(The Guinn's) I always loved it and once I found out I was having twins I searched the internet looking for it. I lucked out and got the wagon and a trailer before they stopped making the trailer. Then lucked out cause they got them in stock again and I ordered another trailer (for friends or storage) just about 6 weeks ago. Now there not available any longer.
Anyways he loves it and the great thing is the infant car seats fit in them too, so halloween will be a blast. The other pics are random too, like I said just pics I liked. Enjoy

First day with the new wagon

At the baby shower, getting a ride..

Getting a tubby at Nonny's

The face Aiden made when we were at the zoo and saw the Chimps.. lol

October 4, 2007

Aiden had his first OT session today for "drinking" and did fabulous with his new cup and exercises he will need to continue doing. He sat in his high chair, ate his breakfast, drank his milk, and it was like any other day. The key to this drinking thing since it is a new straw cup and he is working with a new person is to keep it fun. As long as it stays "fun" then he doesn't know it's work and will just become natural to him. His E.I. OT worker said he did really really well and that she anticipates that he will do fabulous with this. In 6 months we may be rid of the g-tube for good. We'll see, butt that would be nice.

He also got his flu shot the other day and two boosters so he has been a little cranky but all in all in a good mood. We just got the paper saying he qualifies for the RSV shots this year too which is great considering we have done well to stay away from colds and we will have two new little ones home from the NICU soon, maybe in the next two weeks.

He is now 24 1/2 pounds and 30 inches and growing. He's still crawling up a storm and cruising on everything and anything. It's also bumps and bruises age, cause I sware he is a clutz like his mom sometimes, but he is learning and to see that is just amazing. I try to picture 6 more months from now when the girls are home and he is even bigger. It blows my mind that he is growing so fast. Time really flies when you have kids! just as long as I don't turn around and I'm 53 and he's 21, THEN I think I'll lose it.. LOL

September 28, 2007

Happy 1 Year Aiden...

Today Aiden is one year old corrected age!! I can not believe it has flown by.. He is doing wonderful, and will be starting his Early Intervention with the feeding specialist. Hopefully that will go smooth. I don't have much else to update since he was at my mom's since Sunday, the day after I had the girls.

I will say this.. It was soo good to have him home and have him see me and know who I was and just smile and want to hug me right away. It's such a good feeling that he's getting bigger and misses you and knows you and just simply loves you.. I wanted to melt, it was so sweet.

SURPRISE!!

Quick update from Dad while Mommy recovers...

Say hello to:

Morgan! (3lbs 14 oz, and the elder by 3 mins)


Riley! (4lbs 7oz)


And one very excited (and now very tired) daddy. More updates later!

September 21, 2007

A quick update...

We got the person we wanted for OT. Aiden happen to already be on the waiting list for speech (it was suppose to be for drinking) so that got him in and we got Jean!! YAY i am so excited!!
She will be coming every Thursday in the morning with his other EI worked Nancy now and will work with him to transition to a cup and help us learn new techniques.

YAY YAY YAY!!! Is all I can say..

September 20, 2007

Aiden had his eval with OT today for "feeding issues". As you all know he eats like a champ, it's drinking that is a problem. First off he will probably have the g-tube for at least 6 more months. YUK! but we got some good tips and ideas from the OT and she is trying like heck to get him on her case load but since there are other kids waiting, we know how that works and well it probably won't work out. It stinks cause she specializes in feeding and drinking and works a lot with kids that have gtubes, but they can't pick and choose, so keeping our fingers crossed we can get the lady we saw today (who was fantastic with him) I'd be oh so happy..

We have some mouth exercises to do to create stronger muscles in his mouth. Aiden has learned to eat with his head back a bit (chin up) which if you try it, makes it hard to swallow. It's easier if you have your chin a little down (I know you are all trying it now huh)
So we are going to work on him keeping his chin down a little. Also working with a new cup that I am going to try and hunt down today. Then when he eats off a spoon we need to alternate putting the food on the left side of his mouth then the right. Back and forth for a bit then a normal bite. This will exercise his tounge which works well but is a little weak.

I will say this, the OT was VERY amazed with him. She said for a 24 weeker he is doing fantastic and my fears of him being autistic should be out the window. He is on track with so many things, he focuses on you and tries to repeat or copy. He's eating and trying to walk, he crawls. He is doing so much and so well and i just wanted to cry I was so happy.

It's normal mommy worries I think I have and as for the drinking well it will come. We just have to keep eating and drinking fun and not crunch down on him or he will look at it like a negitive thing and start pushing away and then the real struggle begins. Once they get to about 12 to 18 months is when it's hard if they decide they don't want to do something. Aiden is already there, cause when he doesn't want to do something HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT!, but "keeping it fun" like she said helps them like eating, drinking and/or what ever else your doing.

So we will see what comes in the next month of working with the new exercises and cup and seeing if it helps. OHHH She did also say it is very common for gtube kids to take longer with things like this AND also the fact that he gets liquids during the night when sleeping will contribute to him not drinking during the day too. SO we are going to stop his overnight feeds (we alternate formula and water, 16oz over 6 and a half hours) we will now bolus him 4 ounce of fluid after a meal, depending on how much he drinks on his own)

The good think, no more detaching tube during the night, and wet milk smelling baby at 3am, which consists of washing and changing him, and changing everything in the crib.. UGH!!!

Wish us luck!!

September 13, 2007

SO.. my little bug is a night owl all of a sudden. The last few nights he has been up til the wee hours. This seems to have nothing to do with his napping during the day. We have gone all day with only a 30 minute nap and he was up til 2:30 in the morning. The next night he was up until almost midnight, and tonight , it is now almost 1am he is in his swing with hopes he falls asleep. He is just about out, and I am sure over tired, but as normal I am sure he will be up in the morning no later then 9am. He is usually up about 8 but if we are lucky he sleeps a little later.
I am not sure what he is running on, but maybe he can pass some on to me. I could use the energy.

Other then that there isn't much to update. Still no teeth lol, and still no consistent cup drinking. We talked to E.I. and his worker if going to talk to the girl who does OT and see if she will be willing to come to Wakefield (where we live) and work with him. If not, since Wakefield is not in there district, we will lose our E.I. worked who has been with Aiden since he started E.I. and have to switch to the company that services Wakefield.
I don't want to lose the person we have cause she is really good with him, but he needs to learn what a cup is for and to drink from it. Obviously we (me and Chuck) are not doing something right, or not enough, or what ever, but to get the G-tube out, my little bug needs to use a cup.

He's also getting braver at letting go of things, he did it twice today and tried to walk to me. It was awesome and of course he fell on his bum, but just that he tried was so cute.

He truly is an awesome kid. He's come so far and has learned so much. I know I worry about everything when it comes to him, but I'm his mom that is my job right? And besides, anyone who has traveled down the road I've been down would worry too. It's normal I think, and who doesn't want only the best for there child...

I'll have more pics soon of our first trip to the Southwick zoo a few weeks ago, and of Aiden in his new wagon that I got in June for him and the girls and just put it together. We are also going to a trip to Franklin Park zoo this sunday so I'll post them pics too.

August 29, 2007

I never did post the pics of Aiden practicing with his sippy cup. He looks like a pro in the pics. We are getting a little closer but I still think it's a ways off..
There are also some pics of his 1st mac & cheese dinner, and him on the swings. We took him to the park the other day and I put him on the swings for the first time, he loved it so much i had to bring him back yesterday to take some pictures.. Enjoy..

OREO LOVE

YES BIG NEWS!!!!! WE DISCOVERED OREOS!!!! LOL and clean up was fun too..

August 20, 2007

So, we had our eye doctor appointment today and one eye is the same and one got a little better.
Aiden's right eye is far sighted but has become a little more near sighted so that means it's improved a tiny bit. His left eye, the one that turns in a bit at times, he is near sighted in, and it has stayed the same. The fact that neither is worse is a good thing, but the out come is in the future he will need glasses. Right now there isn't a point unless he starts to favor one eye more then the other or it effect his every day activities. Also if his "lazy eye" starts to turn in more and more often then that is a sign he will probably get the glasses a lot sooner them we anticipated the doc said. She also suggested we can patch his right eye an hour a day, with hopes he keeps the patch on, and that will exercise his left eye. This could help it to stay centered better.

Other then that little man, or should i say big man, is doing well. He is sitting up with no issues any more. He is crawling all over the place, and pulling up on every thing and anything. He's cruising around holding the edges of the table and futon and doing pretty good with that now too. He's also started to go forward rather then just backwards in his walker. (he only gets to use that at Nonny's house, we don't have one here there isn't enough room)

We still don't have any clear, clean cut words besides dada and mmm, oh and every so often mummmmma.. But I still don't think he associates them with us yet.
We are trying buh-bye, up, and hi (he does get hi every so often too) so maybe soon we'll have some new words popping out..

I've also discovered that playing in a bucket is a good thing. He plays with his toys and seems to like it so far, well 3 out of the 4 times he has done it, and he can't get out yet so I know he's right where I put him if I have to pee.. LOL

Things are good, my boy is getting big, and still has no patience like his mother ha ha, and amazes me every day.. I am excited for him to walk and be able to hold my hand.. SO cute, and helpful since the twins will be here in about 7 weeks.. YIKES!!

August 8, 2007

Fussy Baby!!! UGH!!!

So What do you get when you add hormones, a huge belly, sore hips and back, lack of good sleep and a fussy 1 yr old?? A mommy who is about to go crazy!!

Yes that is me. We have been trying to change Aidens schedule so he goes to bed at 8:30 rather then 10:30. Some nights it works other nights not so much. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it either. Even if he is tired and has had his nap held he still refuses to go to bed. Other times he will go right to sleep. Besides that, he is a fuss bucket at night the last few days and I"m going coo-coo. Part of the problem is now that he can crawl he thinks he can walk and stand too (and he cant) As I have said, he has the balance of a drunk man, so pulling up on something is one thing, even though he still falls doing that and sometimes not so graceful. But trying to hold on with one hand and do something with the other or step away is another thing. I know kids need to fall but he already has a bruise on his forehead that is finally going away and well no one wants there kid getting hurt all the time either.
So I set up the pack and play since our apt doesnt have the space for him to crawl and not fall into something that will somehow hurt him (I just know it) and he will play in that and pull up and cruise the sides, until he get board and wants to get out and have a free for all.
He doesnt want the jumper, or the swing, or the pack and play. He wants to go go go, or for you to rough house with him and toss him all over creation like daddy does. (Which is the best sight cause he laughs his little butt off) however Mommy in the present time is just not able to do the same. I have not gained a ton of weight but enough to feel it, and this belly is bigger then I have ever had. Bending as most of you know is not easy so the up and downs with him is limited. Once daddy goes to work, its tough. He is such a strong kid with such a strong will and wants to do so much. I feel guilty at times cause I am not able to be so rough with him and chase him around as much as I would if I was not carrying the double mint twins.

I guess its gong to be time for more outings to Nonny"s house so he can be better entertained. Gas may kill me going back and forth so much but its worth it to have a happy baby.

Other then that he is doing really well, if only we could get that damn cup down. Every day we try and I have now started to just give it to him and not do the hand over hand so much. He drinks from it and then plays with it and dumps it. Ya know how kids are.. To be honest, I think he might have his tube just a wee bit longer then we want him to have it for the simple fact that the kid has no interest in drinking.. I think once he is a little older he will take to it just fine, once he can understand the concept of a cup. For now well its day to day, and that is all we can do.

I took some new pics today.. hope you enjoy

PICTURES

Pics were added also to the July 13th posting and here are some from the 4th of July.. DOn't worry the corona was closed.. LOL