GI Appointment

We had our follow-up appointment with Dr. S this morning (02/27).  I was so glad we were already seeing a GI doctor when Blip started acting "sick" last week.  The short version is that over the last month we slowly transitioned Blip to whole milk.  He seemed to tolerate it well...until he was on 100% milk.  Towards the end of the first week he was not eating, and he was not taking a full bottle more than once a day.  By Friday he woke up with a fever.

Blip's 12 month well-check was also scheduled for Friday, so that was helpful.  By the time we were at the appointment, his fever was gone.  I had already decided we weren't doing any vaccinations without knowing what was going on.  Luckily, Dr. J agreed and said so before I could open my mouth about it.

Blip weighed in at just under 24 lbs.  Mike likes to tell people that Blip is HUGE...and was weighing at least 25 lbs, if not more.  I always chuckle to myself when I hear these strange things come out of his mouth...mostly because they are nearly impossible to be any kind of correct and because it's like he's telling a fishing story.  He's funny...makes me smile.  Length wise I knew they were off as soon as she said it out loud.  

The second week of January Blip was weighed and measured at his first GI appointment with Dr. S.  He was 31.5 inches long.  On Firday the medical assistant said Blip was 33.5 inches long.  There is just no way he grew two entire inches in 7 or 8 weeks.  The way they measure him leaves quite a bit to be desired, so inaccuracy is easy.  Today at Dr. S' officer they measure him with a measuring device that can't be incorrect (at least I'm not sure how it could be), and Blip was 32 inches long...barely.  That's more like it.  

His current jeans are for up to 31 inches long...and they weren't inches (plural) short before we switched him to the next size up last week.  Mike thinks they are wrong about that too.  Not sure why Mike wants our child to be considered gigantic, but it's funny to watch him get so serious about it...and then after we rationalize why he is NOT 33.5 inches tall and he's not 25, 26, or 27 lbs....he seems to chill a bit about the crazy talk.

Anywho...Blip's dirty diapers changed quite a bit over the last week, too.  The color was WAY too light and the smell was beyond awful.  He started having massive blowouts...and has started pooping during the night.  This causes pain and discomfort for Blip and lots of broken sleep for us. 

Dr. J said she thought one of his top molars was coming in.  I can't feel anything, but there is a dark colored spot on his upper right gums.  When he didn't seem any better with Tylenol, teething tablets, and numbing gel...I knew it wasn't his teeth bothering him.  I knew before that, but that was my confirmation.  Blip isn't a bad teether.  He got two teeth at time, four different times...and never made a peep.  His sleep never changed.  His eating improved. I know molars are different, but I just didn't think that was the problem.

The only other change was the milk.  We stopped milk immediately.  Well....at least the 100% part.  We transitioned Blip back to formula over the course of a day...and he seemed to be taking the bottles much better.  He ate a little.  Less than normal, but more than he had been.  We were happy with that.  The blow outs and they nastiness did not stop.  At all.  And the eating quickly went back to almost nothing.  Formula intake was still up, but his solid food intake was way down.  Water intake with his sippy was almost zero, too.


***I am picking this back up weeks after starting it, so forgive me if it doesn't all flow together. (03/31)***


Dr. S came in and asked how things were going.  I explained the milk situation, and he agreed with what we had done.  He suggested we switch Blip to a "toddler formula" or a "follow up" formula.  He said there was nothing wrong with Blip being on that formula instead of milk for the foreseeable future.  He didn't think there was a need to push cow's milk so soon.  

So we switched him slowly.  After two days of being on 100% follow up formula, Blip starting puking.  We still don't know if the Target brand formula was the culprit, but we have now started switching Blip to Similac's Go and Grow.  He was on Similac Sensitive since birth (from being supplemented at first and then 100%).  We are only 1/3 go and grow to 2/3's sim sensitive, so it's going to be a bit before we know how it works.

The baby seems to have his appetite back, for the most part.  I need him to eat, eat, eat...and gain the weight he lost back.  Dr. S was not happy he didn't maintain his normal growth rate...and he said Blip hadn't gained enough weight since out last appointment.  I really don't want to go back in there with a weight loss. Ugh.

Dr. S also mention feeding therapy.  I told him my sister is a feeding therapist, and that she was helping me, so he agreed to hold off for a bit on that.  He was pleased I was already seeking help/advice.

That was pretty much it.  Or at least it's all I can remember.  I forgot about needing to finish this update, so now my brain is mush.

Stylist

Blip needed his second haircut within a few weeks of his first.  This kid's hair grows like crazy!! Not to mention...Mike's barber does a great job on Mike's hair.  On Blip's hair?  Not so much...so it needed to be shaped AND trimmed.  Mike chose the barber the first time, so I decided to try a kid's haircut place the second time.  Birthday pictures were the next week, so this was important stuff. :)

We went to Cool Cutz for Kids by the mall.  They are geared toward kiddos...with toys, movies, videos games, etc.  The lady did a good job cleaning up Blip's hair, and we even bought some stuff to make spikes!  

Blip was excellent, as usual.  He just sat still and watched one of us, the lady cutting his hair, or the movie.  We left there after paying about $30 for the cut, spike stuff, and a tip.  I was not thrilled, but that was that.

I left there thinking I was  not spending $15-$20 a month to cut Blip's hair.  Or taking the amount of time it took...ridiculous. So I decided I would be cutting Blip's hair.  How hard could it be?  I used to cut Kyle's hair...I could totally cut Blip's hair.

Mike was anything, but supportive of my decision.  I finally just bought the clippers when after about three weeks...Blip needed another haircut.  Geez...this kid's hair grows like a weed!!

On Sunday I decided it was time.  Mike was still not supportive. In fact, I will say he was anti-supportive.  Down right mean to me about how awful I would do.  Not sure if he just met me, but that actually makes me try harder.  At this point, I was signing up for classes if I did a bad job. Now I WAS cutting the baby's hair...and I WAS going to figure out how to be good at it.  Dammit. :)

I started with Blip in the high chair...and Mike telling me the guard I chose was wrong...even though it was the same one the haircut lady for $30 used.  He made other excuses why I was wrong to use THAT guard.  Fine.  I used the guard he wanted.  Not a hair on the kid's head was touched.  I went down, one at a time, to the guard I chose to begin with...and that was the perfect one. *sigh*

I asked Mike to hold Blip, so I could get the back of his head easier.  Mike huffed and puffed, but did as I asked.  When I was all finished...Blip's hair looked awesome!! I did a great job...and even Mike couldn't pretend it wasn't done perfectly.  I was so nervous because of how weird (read: rude) Mike was being about the whole thing.  I'm so glad I don't suck...AND saved us $15-$30 a month!!

You're welcome, Babe.  Love you.

Drivin'

One of Blip's favorite gifts from his big birthday bash is definitely his 4x4 truck...all thanks to Auntie Erin & Aunt Michelle.  I will admit that it is also a favorite of the two adults living here, too.  It's so much fun!!

About a week after the party I was still cleaning up.  The major cleaning happened the night of the party, but there were things here and there that needed...still.  Mostly I need to post all the stuff for sale, so it can leave this house...never to return.  

Anywho...I had Blip on lock down while he snacked and I worked on whatever house cleaning project I was working on.  I bumped into the big box in the entryway one too many times...so I decided it was time.

It took me over an hour (okay....almost two) to get that stinkin' truck put together!!  Luckily, I have the world's best baby...so he snacked and watched me fight with plastic pieces that didn't want to fit together.  I finally won the fight...and we were off to the races.

Did I mention there is a horn..??  It's awesome.

We made a race track from around the dining room table (a total no-no, if you ask the sane, not just had her butt kicked by a toy me, but I digress...) around the island in the kitchen, down the hallway...a 3-point turn in the laundry room and back.  I wish we didn't have the stupid gates!!  We could make the race track bigger...and around the entire staircase/kitchen!!  Oh well...I'm sure someday that will be happening and I will be begging for it to stop. :)

The next day it was my turn to be a spectator.  As much fun as it is to be the power and speed behind the truck, it's a blast to watch Blip's face.  And Mike's too.

Pure joy.  My most favorite thing ever.

1 Year Old

Here are the pictures from Blip's birthday photo shoot.  Natalie did an amazing job (again...always).  Even with the complete 1-year old Blip was that day. :)

(one week, three months, six months, & twelve months)

(this was just fun for size comparison...)

And for his smash cake:

The Actual Birthday

When woke up on Blip's birthday, Mike brought him to me in bed with a bottle.  We stayed warm and tucked in while Mike ran to Lemar's to get the birthday boy some donuts.  We let Blip try several different kinds...and he seemed pretty dang happy with donuts and juice for breakfast. 

I was trying my best to keep his schedule exactly what we needed it to be because his birthday pictures were scheduled for 3pm at Natalie's house.  He needed to nap until we had just enough time to feed him lunch and go.

Everything worked just like we needed it to...

Until we were getting ready to walk out the door.  Blip was in the high chair after finishing lunch.  We left him there while we loaded the car...and I'm so glad we did!  When Mike went to grab him to load him up, there had been a blow-out.  And it was blown out.  Mike grabbed Blip and headed for the bath...I grabbed the high chair mess and headed for the trash.  Just kidding....but that's where I wanted to go with a poop covered high chair pad...and his nasty clothes.  Luckily he was just in a onsie, so nothing was completely destroyed.

We made it to Natty and Deron's and started pictures.  Blip was not havin' it.  He did not seem happy at all...let alone cooperative for pictures.  Plus after a while, he was ready for another meal and another nap.  We are so blessed to have Natty.  She is so patient with Blip...and me.  I was stressing out, and she was super calm and told us to take our time and no big deal. We always take forever...and she seems to enjoy all of it.  We love her!!  And so does Blip!  He kissed her and everything!  We loved it!

By the time we got Blip cleaned up (bath in the sink to wash smash cake off), and chatted with Natty and Deron about this and that...we were starving.  Blip was tired, but we knew we still wanted to do something to celebrate his birthday.  I'm glad we did his pictures ON his birthday, but next time I won't schedule them that way.  His entire day was spent in the high chair while Daddy was on a conference call for two hours, or napping, or having his pictures taken.  We didn't get to do anything fun ON his birthday.  Not that he knows the difference, but as he gets older...I want to remember that HIS day should be ALL about him and what he wants to do.

Mike drove...and drove.  We didn't know where to go and it was getting later than we thought.  A new restaurant called "Humble Pie" just opened a few miles east of us on Happy Valley.  We heard it was pretty good food, so Mike that's where Mike stopped.

We were seated on the patio under a heater.  Mike was directly underneath it, but I wasn't.  If we would have switched immediately, we both would have been a lot happier.  We finally did switch....because we were there forEVER.  No joke.

It took forever to get drinks (and I ordered water!).  It took a long time for our fries (appetizer) to get there.  They were awesome....totally worth the wait!  It took so long for our pizza to come that we were sure it was never coming.  When it did finally arrive...it was burned on the bottom.  I was starving, so I ate a piece.  When our food was brought out, Blip's food was NOT brought out.  And his is/was THE most important!  The server was super nice and seemed busy, but by the time the baby's food got to our table we were over our burned pizza and our forgotten son.  Mike asked to see the manager, and he sent the pizza back with the server.

When the manager came by the table, he seemed genuinely concerned as Mike went over the list.  He was upset about the baby's food...and even mentioned that kids' food is supposed to come out first.  He recognized that the pizza was burned and offered to have a new one brought out.  We thanked him, but knew we couldn't stay that much longer.  Blip was DONE.  

The manager said he would comp our entire meal, but we told him that was not necessary.  That wasn't why we complained.  Then he offered us dessert...and since it was Blip's birthday...we agreed.  We ordered a pizza cookie...and it was delish.

The manager did comp our entire meal...so it only cost us a good tip.  We appreciated that he seemed to genuinely care...that goes a long way for us, so we will give them another chance.

We drove home and took a few pictures, but the baby was exhausted...and just wanted to play and crawl around for a bit before bed.  I got to rock him to sleep like almost every night since he was born.  I love bed time.  I love smelling his skin and his clean hair after a bath...I love that he holds on to me and much as I hold on to him. I love that he knows I'm his momma...and he calms at the sound of my voice.

This past year has been full of ups and downs.  There have been so many firsts...and there has been so much happiness.  So much learning and growing.  We have really grown as a little family.  I longed for THIS my entire life.  I never truly understood how hard it would be.  How stressful days and weeks would become.  How hard it would be to make decisions that affect my child.  How hard it would be to lose part of myself...when at the same time this has all bee the most enjoyable part of my existence thus far.

This tiny little person that I longed for has changed and grown so much...and he has changed us and helped us grow more than I can put into words.  I always dreamed I would have a little girl with Mike...I thought that's what I wanted.  I had no idea what I really wanted and needed was this little boy.  I feel so blessed to be his mother.  I hope I make him proud...and make the right decisions, with Mike, as time moves forward.  I hope he continues to be so happy and full of life.  He is so much fun...we couldn't have asked for a better baby boy.