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.

Day 193: Surprise!

Surprise - Maya and Mitchell got Christmas presents tonight from people we haven't seen in a while. Maya got baby dolls from Aunt Susie and doll accessories from Sam and Gabe. She was super excited to start playing. Mitchell got new clothes from Aunt Susie and Sam and Gabe and a gift card from aunt Mary. We really appreciate all the generosity.

We got another surprise at Mitchell's six month appointment. He was running a fever of 100.4 and found out he had an ear infection. He wasn't able to get his shots. We did get his six month stats: 18lbs 12 oz and 21 1/4 inches - ranking in the 75th percentile!

Day 192: A Very Productive Day

Day 191: 46 Months

You are two months away from four. You decided you did not want to cooperate for this month's photo shoot. These three pictures depict your behavior and refusal to listen. This first one is you refusing to get dressed like a big girl in the morning. You did finally get dressed after several warnings. You no longer get your first sticker of the day if you don't dress yourself in the morning. You are also very motivated by getting to go to Mitchell's room at daycare. If we have a good morning, then we drop Mitchell off before going to your room. If you are a big girl when I leave daycare, I pick you up first and then you get to go to Mitchell's room again. This has cut down on a lot of screaming, crying, and fighting. We still have a major problem with your listening. We have gotten a lot more firm with you and if you don't listen right when told to do something, you don't get your sticker.

We have a major problem with your sleeping habits. You always sleep with mommy and daddy. We will be doing some major cry it out when we move to new house.

You take a dance/gymnsatics combination class now. You take it with Addison and you love it.

You never stop asking questions.

You still love playing with your baby dolls and pretending to be a mommy.

Funny things you said this month:

To Mitchell: "I love you, I love you, you just took a bath, you smell so good, you are so great, you are the greatest super baby ever!"

To Mommy: "When I grow up, will I have to wear your panties?"

About Moving: "How will all our stuff fit in the trunk to go to our new house? Like our cups, clothes, and toys?" (good to know where her priorities are)

Disturbing Comment: "I really like The Wizard of OZ, but it sucks that there is a witch in it." -not good that she uses "sucks" correctly

Day 190: A New Leotard