Our Week in Pics {Misa's Visit}

My sister and her family came to visit us a few weeks ago for two weeks. It was fun seeing the kids interact and to finally hold Hollis.
Here are some of my favorite pics from the week 2 week stay. They are in no particular order other than how I uploaded them. HA!

Blue.

On this day last year we found out our world was about to get rough and tumble, with the sweet baby BOY I was carrying.
Not going to lie, we were all completely shocked. I was just dead sure we would only ever have girls. A boy was just not even in my realm of thinking.

When the sono tech was searching around I remember seeing things and whispering to Chad "boy?" But then thinking no way, I just don't know what I am seeing. Moments later she confirmed it. It was a BOY!



My reaction was less than excited. I didn't want a boy. I don't know what to do with boys. Lo needed a sister. I may have cried later. I may have hoped the sono was wrong many times over the coming months, even though we had some pretty definitive shots.

The thing is I am so beyond glad this wasn't my choice to make for our family, because clearly I would have chosen girl. But God knew what He was doing when He gave me my Micah bear. The moment that little boy was born he was all mine and I can't for the life of me remember why I ever thought two girls would have been so great. If you don't have a boy {and a girl} you just won't get it. Boys do have a way of just stealing their mommies hearts in such a different way than their daughters do. My Micah bear captivated me and I would {but we won't. ;)} gladly take 3 more of him.


I still don't really know what to do with a boy, but I am learning and loving every minute of being a mom to a beautiful girl and handsome little boy. Lo was made to be a sister to a brother, just another example God knew what He was doing. As if I should ever doubt.


Thank You God for turning my world Blue {and Pink}.

Surgery for MW

A few months ago I was under the impression my milk was not so good. Perhaps I was wrong about that. Micah's allergy test came back negative for a dairy allergy. Yay! But I continued on being dairy free because it seemed like it was helping some and maybe he had a lactose issue??!

At the end of August I went in to see my doctor and we ended up talking a lot about Micah. He encouraged me to put Micah back on the meds now that he was older; he thought they may work now. After two weeks the meds were still not working and Micah was spitting up more than ever. More like vomit now, especially since he is taking in more solids. The next plan of action was to go back to the peds gastroenterologist.

At this point Micah weighs 14# at 8 months. He has gained a whole 5 ounces since she saw him 2 months previously in July. She immediately suggested we go in for a scope to see if there was some kind of allergy causing all of this.

Ready for my scope. One of our brief happy moments.

On Thursday, September 22, I took Micah in and handed him off {after a LONG hour wait} to the anesthesiologist and watched my crying baby taken off to be sedated and scoped. It was a 5 minute procedure. Longest 5 minutes ever. Dr. Z came back and said he looked perfectly fine and healthy. He has severe reflux {GERD} and needs a fundoplication surgery. {The last recourse after we have exhausted all other possible fixes}.

Those of you who are keeping up know we talked with a surgeon about a fundo surgery back in May, when he weighed 13# {so in four months time he gain 1 pound. Not good}.

As you can see Micah is the same size as my 3 month old nephew.

So we re-met with the surgeon on Thursday and scheduled Micah to have a fundo in October. Basically part of the tummy is wrapped around the esophagus to tighten it up so his food will stay down. At some point as he grows it will undo itself and hopefully by that point he will have out grown the GERD.

"Surgery! I am so nervous."

This is pretty nerve racking for me. Only because this involves my baby. I keep hoping some miracle will occur {which it can} and he will finally start keeping food down and I can just cancel the sx. I also know I need to wean him because I am fairly certain my supply is failing him, only compounding this problem. Which should be a fun activity, since he is not that keen on a bottle.

"Just kidding, I will be fine mom!"

Regardless of what happens I am just ready to put this phase behind us. I won't miss all that spit up that is for sure. I am also ready for Micah to start growing and being the big boy I know he was meant to be. After all this I predict Micah will end like his cousin Seth and be 6'4" and 200# and we will just have vague memories of his tiny days.

36 weeks in; 36 out

Today my sweet boy you are 36 weeks. That is exactly the same number of weeks I carried you. Such a surreal moment to me. I love you and so happy God blessed me with a little boy.

State Fair 2011

Ah, the State Fair. A family tradition we have held onto for most years. This year it was so great to have my sister's family home to come with us. I would like to say it was fun, but honestly I feel like I didn't even go. My sister and I spent most the day either nursing our boys or wrestling them {ok that was just me}, thanks to my mom I only had to do it half the time. Either way, I felt like the day was a complete blur and saw and did nothing. Lo and Lan's on the other hand seemed to have a blast with papa.

{Photos of the day}


The birthing center is our favorite, sort of felt bad for that momma cow in labor, but then I remember I did it twice, so get over it. Of course I didn't have hordes of people staring at me while I labored.

The girls had a blast riding a real pony, this was Lo's first time on a horse.

So for lunch I ate this most delish red velvet funnel cake. It was to die for and I hate fried food. Best part of the day.
Lo could have stayed in this kid's corner all day, put on by awesome K-Staters.

On a side note I met this really cool mom while sitting on a park bench watching Lo play in the fountains. Sort of bummed I never thought to get her details, because I would give anything to talk to her again. We shared the exact same story about our boys. Both spitters, slow growth, reflux, dairy issues, SAHM with a very fussy baby etc. She was full of great tips and advice. I can't tell you what it means to me to find someone that truly truly gets what I am dealing with on a daily basis and I don't even know her name. I hate when I get looks or eyes when I "complain" about my son's issues. Anyway, I love meeting people that just get it.

As usual Lo LOVED the splash fountains. This year I was prepared and brought extra clothes.
My mom was dying to take Lo on the rides, but she really was still too short for most of them, maybe next year. Anyway she settled for the carousel.
One very.tired.little.girl. And my only pic of the day. HA!

We finished the day with my cousin's boy's 2nd Birthday!
Look at my cute Mouseketeer.

PS to see another side our our State Fair Fun, you can click HERE to see my sister's blog.

Micah 8 Months {Watch Me Grow}

Wow. Is the best way to describe this month.
Wow. I can't believe it has been 8 months. Wow. I can't believe I have survived 8 months of screaming, crying and projectile vomiting. I call it like I see it and while I love you more than you can even imagine, it has been such a rough go your first birthday will be as much of a celebration for me as it will be for you. HA! You are not an easy child, you test my patience daily and each day I truly think it will be different, I am starting to see a happier side of you and praying this is the month it all changes. This is the month I get to have a chill, relaxed and happy baby. And finally, Wow. I can't believe all the cool tricks you are learning you are such a strong little boy and I do really love this stage of watching babies/kids figure out life.

32 weeks

Milestones:
Forward crawling, putting yourself into a sit position and pulling up on everything in sight are the big ones.
You are trying to stand unassisted, but just can't quite figure it out yet.


Met your Uncle Kreg and cousin Hollis for the first time.

So happy about meeting his uncle Kreg.

Hollis and MW meeting for the first time!

We also had Uncle Kreg lower your crib while he was here. :(


Language Skills:
Still not saying any real vowel sounds. Starting to coo again. They say boys are early walkers and girls are the talkers. {Even though Lo was an early walker and late talker...so who knows.}

First trip to the State Fair

Eating:
You still nurse 6-7 times per day and eat breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. Mostly a lot of cereal, but I have been trying some of our dinner foods such as spaghetti, meatloaf, turkey etc. You seem to like them, only problem is you puke it all back up, so I tend to stay close to the "clear" foods instead of the red and orange kind that stain my carpet. :/ You are also eating veggies now as long as they come out of the can and aren't frozen. {I am one of those moms that doesn't buy into buying pre-packaged baby food organic or not, it is stupid and a ginormous waste of money in my opinion, the food I make for our whole family is way more nutritious and it teaches my kids to like what I make, not the crap in a jar. ::steps down off soapbox::}
Still hoping to get you on a bottle, but no luck. I am ready to wean.


Sleeping:
Sleep is so hit and miss, nothing consistent. Majority of the time I can count on 7-8 hour sleep stretches followed by another 3ish hour stretch starting at about 7p. However, there are those all too often nights that you wake up every 2.5-3 hours. So frustrating. You take 2 one hour naps/day and sometimes a power nap around 330/4p.



Favorite Toy(s)/Book(s):
You are into everything. Nothing is safe or sacred. Your favorite toy or book is whatever your sissy has, let the sibling quarrels begin. :/ But you do love this little Lighting McQueen car and boy tool set.

Anecdotes/Quirky things you do:
You are a puker {I don't even want to call it spit up anymore} and when you puke you play in it. Such a boy.
Still a squirrel to change and dress.
Loves his blankie.
My mother has sung "Because He Lives" to you since birth to calm you down. Most of the time we tease her about it, but really it is your favorite song. When you are in one of your Micah meltdowns it is the only song that catches your attention long enough to calm you.
You aren't a paci baby, but after every nap/sleep I find you with your paci in your mouth just playing with it. Just makes me laugh. Mommy is easily amused.

My little Mama's Boy.

Temperament:
The best way to sum you up is when you are happy you are so very happy and playful, but when you are upset you are very upset. Nothing makes it better. I feel like this month may be "the month" we can turn the corner, but then I am hopefully each month that passes.


Stats/Dr Appts:
Wt: 14#5z
Ht: 25-26in (my guesstimate)
We put you back on all your meds because the doctor thought now that you were older it would work this time. Wrong. I am starting to add dairy back into my diet, just a very little per day at a time. Not that I believe at this point that was the problem. We are slated to go back to the pediatric gastro doc and take another stab at this. To be honest I only go out of desperation. I am hopeful each time they will come up with the magic solution, but usually I get nothing.

Happy 8 Months Micah Bear!