Day 210: "I'm Still Hungry!"

All day long, this is what I hear. "I'm still hungry." Imagine it in a three year old whiney voice over and over and over again. Maybe if she ate normal food she would get full and stop being hungry!

Day 209: Just Dance 2

Mitchell had his first tastes of table food today: bananas, green beans, and veggie straws.

Day 208: Arrr Matey

Mitchell's "pirate face" captured on film (this is not a regular face).

Mitchell is working on trying to crawl. He pushes up with his arms and he pushes up on his legs, just not at the same time.

Day 207: Time For Tubes

Day 206: Circle Time

Maya likes to pretend she is a teacher. She set up her baby dolls to have circle time. She named them after girls in her class. She did the weather with them and then read them a story.

I got a few of these smiles from Mitchell today - in between the ear-piercing screaming. It's off to the Dr. tomorrow morning to check him out.

Thankfully Mitchell isn't too motivated to climb out of the swing. It's the only thing that calms him down when he is screaming his head off. When all else fails - try the swing. Not sure how much longer this will last.

Day 205: Beyond Ridiculous

This picture is all I could muster up the energy to take.

Mitchell is throwing up again. Looks like tomorrow will be the third day in one week I have to take off work to take care of sick kids. When does it stop???

Day 204: On The Mend

This last picture is Maya rocking "Baby Jesus." Not sure why, but she just started rocking this baby saying "Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus...." over and over again

Day 203: Spreading Like Wildfire

At least Mitchell is feeling better today.

But now Maya has it. She has thrown up five times today. Hopefully she will be feeling better after one more day of rest tomorrow.

Day 202: Ooops...

After a perfect 201 day, I forgot to do my blog last night. I took these pictures yesterday, just never did the update.

Day 201: Will We Ever Be Healthy?

Mitchell is now sick again with what appears to be a stomach bug. He threw up all over Arthur after his 7:30 am bottle. He seemed fine for a while but took a two and a half hour nap and then spewed his next bottle all over me. No fever, just tired and loss of appetite. He has had only pedialyte since noon. I sure do hope this doesn't mess with the 12 hours of night time sleep we have been getting out of him. He has been sleeping 7 pm - 7 am. He wakes up a few times for the paci, but that's no big deal. Maya and I ran some errands today. She asks such random questions. Here is a conversation we had while we were out:
Maya: "Mommy, when are you going to get married again?"
Me: "You're only supposed to get married once."
Maya: "But mommy, you have to get married again."
Me: "Who do you want me to marry?"
Maya: "You need to marry daddy again. You already have a dress and he already has marry clothes. So when are you going to get married again?"
Me: "I don't think we are going to get married again."
Maya: "You have to get married again. If you don't get married again you will never go to Peyton's house again. So you have to get married again."
***Looking at a restaurant logo with a rose next to it***
"See mommy, look right there at the rose - that's where you need to get married again."

Day 200: Playing Outside In February

Day 199: iPhone Picture

Day 198: Alternative Medicine

Tonight's post is an update on my health. I have been on steroids since early January. I now hate looking at myself in the mirror, can't stand pictures of myself, have muscle and joint pain, and crazy swelling. I gained five pounds in a week when I first started prednisone. I lost four of it, but still have a more intense appetite. The steroids are supposed to be a bridge to get me healthy until I started taking the other medication the GI wants to put me on. The drug that increases my chances of getting cancer. Well, here is what prednisone has done to my face... My eyes are completely asymmetrical and weird looking. They look even worse when I smile.

Complete moon face - I can even feel the swelling in my face when I eat and smile.

And this one's my favorite - double chin / fat neck!

So my GI doctor's office staff ticked me off one last time a couple weeks ago that I decided I was never going back. I made an appointment with a doctor in alternative medicine which I had today. It was a great appointment and he gave me a lot of hope. I will admit that I am skeptical - but willing to give anything a try to get off steroids and avoid cancer-inducing drugs. He told me to follow his diet for 15 days and take a probiotic and herbal supplement and I will be "cured." It's not as simple as just being for 15 days - it will be a lifestyle change, but the first 15 days will be the hardest and most strict. It will be hard to cut out cheese, diet coke, coffee, and red wine - but like I said, I'm willing to try anything at this point. I start tomorrow. Can't wait to find out if it works. If it does I will be a total believer in holistic medicine!

Day 197: Tumble Bears Fun

Maya woke up today with no fever. I had already told my boss I wasn't coming in today and we slept in until 7. I checked her temperature and she was back down to normal. She started complaining about having to go to the doctor. I asked her if she wanted to go to school or the doctor. She said "school!" So I started getting ready. I still had bottles from last night to wash. Somehow I managed to get to work by 8:35. She was still fever free when I picked her up this afternoon. Hopefully last night was just a fluke - but we will see.

Day 196: Happy Valentine's Day

Thank you for my beautiful flowers, honey. You're the best! Even better that they came with chocolate!

Looks like I'll be home tomorrow. I sent Maya to school today with a fever of 99.7. It was over 100 when we got home. Even though her teacher said "she had a great day," I know she feels bad and needs to go to the doctor tomorrow. I really hope it's not strep again - I could be home all week if that's the case!

Day 195: Early Valentine's Day

We did our Valentine's Day presents tonight. Nightgown from Mimi and Papa.

Monster Book for Mitchell from Mommy and Daddy.

Mermaid book and leotard from Mommy and Daddy.

Wow - that's some good form! Dance lessons must be paying off.

Tiger from Mimi and Papa.

Day 194: Shoes

Mitchell wore shoes for the first time today. Maya was so excited - she has been waiting for this moment for six months!

Some things I was too tired to type last night:

We finally got iPhones! It is so exciting to say goodbye to the flip phones with antennas we have had since 2006. Perfect timing too since mine broke Wednesday night. We went to the Apple Store last night and when we told Maya where we going she kept calling it the "fruit store." She was very insistent on buying lemons at the fruit store. She was pretty mad when we told her we weren't going to be able to buy lemons at the Apple Store.

More doctor updates on Mitchell - he is now able to eat any stage 2 foods. So we won't be buying stage 1 anymore. The doctor said once he tries all the stage 2 flavors he can start trying food off our plates. This will be fun because I have high hopes for him being a much better eater than Maya. He had three meals for the first time today and it went really well. Bottle at 7:30, breakfast at 8:45, lunch at 11:15 (food plus bottle), bottle at 2, dinner at 5:30, and bottle/bed at 7:45. This is a pretty good schedule I can live with if he can stick to it.