Collin's first haircut!

It was a nice quiet weekend here. Collin was a bit under the weather again. Seems like we are constantly fighting the stomach issues with him.

BEFORE!

On Sunday, I finally decided that Collin really did need the first haircut. His hair was probably 6 inches long all over! So, Kevin and I strapped him into his high chair and I snipped away! He was such a trooper. We couldn't even get a good crying while getting a haircut picture. He thought it was funny until I trimmed over his ears right at the end. Even though it was a mom job, it looks pretty good. :)

AFTER!

OH, I LOVE MODERN MEDICINE!

Collin is so much better. The antibiotics have done a miracle. After one dose, he was showing signs of improvement. After 2 doses he never threw up again. Now we have taken the 5th dose. He is so much better. I can not feed him enough! I feel like he must have been more miserable than I could have know over the last few weeks, He must have been so hungry... Poor little guy. Hopefully we will get the lab results back soon. I am erally interested to see what the lab shows the cause to be...maybe it will not show anything, but I sure am curious.

His sleeping has improved too. He slept from 8pm til 5 am in his own bed the past 2 nights. Yesterday he woke up at 5 am so hungry! Today he went back to sleep til 7. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Carrie and Kyle were very reluctant to get back to school work today. After last weeks break I was hoping for renewed energy, but it was a torturous event. Oh well, only a few more weeks left!!! I can almost smell summer!!!!

A Day at the Clinic

Hello!

Well, I said a few posts ago that Collin had a tummy issue. We went to the doctor last week and they did x-rays to be sure it was not a swollowed toy (I kinda pushed for this because I had a feeling it wasn't a virus). They determined it was viral and would pass. Well, 2 weeks later and it has NOT passed. Now, I must tell you that this has been the strangest experience as far as the pattern of vomitting. Only in the middle of the night and a lot of undigested food. The day time issue is the diarrhea. It is profuse!

So here we are 2 weeks in and still no end in sight. We went back to the doctor today. Poor little Collin, who by all growth charts is quite small, has lost almost a pound. He was a little dehydrated, but overall seems fine. No fever or rashes. The doctors stood around scratching their heads for a few minutes and decided to do blood work, a fecal culture and to start him on a broad range antibiotic. Well this all sounds GREAT! Maybe we can figure this out, but 2 hours later and quite a few adults worn out, we finally had a blood sample. The idea that a blood sample from a baby was so hard, just did not occur to me.

So, now I am waiting around with a plastic cup, hoping for another dirty diaper....Oh to be a mom.

Living in this remote area, it takes a week to get bloodwork back. So, we will start antibiotics and wait and see. If the antibiotics do not clear it up and the blood work and fecal do not show us anything, then we will be off to the big hospital near Tokyo...but that gets way ahead of ourselves.

Needless to say, I am tired, Collin is tired and we are hoping for a minor miracle with the antibiotics.

Say a little prayer for us! Collin needs them!

On a bright note, Carrie and Kyle are healthy and happy. Carrie just got back from piano lessons. Kyle is running around like mad. They are both anxiously awaiting baseball season.

:) Think Happy Thoughts!

My First 5 K

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ran my first 5 K today. Even won a trophy for 3rd place in my age and gender group! I completely had a good time.

The most amazing thing is that Carrie wanted to run. There was only a 5 K, and no kids group since most kiddies were in school. They let her register in the youngest womens group. Bless her little heart...she made it the whole way! They made a special award for her. After the trophies, they announced "A Special Award goes to #60, Youngest Finisher!" She got a cool race shirt!



She is so tired, but amazingly proud!


My very wonderful friend kept Kyle and Collin at the finish line. We had our own little cheering section! Thanks Becky!

Tuesday...

I have been quite the busy bee the past few days. I was taking care of my neighbors 2 boys. They are 4 and 2. That would mean 5 kids, 4 of whom were 5 and under. Suprisingly, it was a breeeze. The kids all got along and were so well behaved, that Kev and I joked about having a few more. Kevin however was working most of the weekend.

Last night after the boys went home, Kevin said, " You did so good this weekend." I can't figure out if this was a compliment since he didn't have to do anything or if I sould take it as he was saying he was previously worried I would hide in the closet. I will just take it as a pat on the back that the house hadn't completely fallen apart and he had clean underwear!

The yucky part of my weekend did't start until Monday night...so I guess not the weekend at all. Collin has had a horrible cold, lots of snot and has gagged and thrown up a few times from this the past few days... However last night he began to violently puke and he an I were up at 3 am andnow he has diarrhea the wont stay on his diaper!!!! :(

YUCK!

Just hope the neighbors kids don't get it. :(

Well, obviously, I am washing a lot of clothes and sheets this morning...

Times like this I wish I could call my mom to watch the kids so I could nap...too bad she is on the other side of the planet! Miss you Mom and Dad!

Here is Collin perched on his favorite spot!

Valentine's Day

HappyValentine's Day!
Today we had a homeschool Valentine's Party. The kids played games, decorated cookies and exchanged cards. It is a fun time every year. :)
Carrie is growing like a weed, I can't seem to keep up with her!

Kyle is reallllly getting to be a character. He spends way too mch time palying tricks on his sister and telling jokes. He is quite funny...unless it is past bed time and then it is ust annoying. I am sure my mom knows what I mean! :)

Collin is getting high spirited. He has had a really bad cold and is using it to his complete advantage. Taking his quickest route to try to get back in my bed...so far he is still in his room 1/2 the night. He has recently decided that telling me NO is a fun thing to do. He likes to exert his will power. He has taken to sitting on the coffee table and refusing to move. We have been fighting him on this for weks and I am about ready to give up on this one. He just sits on the edge and swings his feet while he watches ELMO. He loves ELMO and the couch is a whole 3 feet further from the TV than the Table....oh well...not a battle I think I can win or at least that isn't worth winning right now.

The dog did WHAT????

Jenny

AKA: 8675309, or UGH!!! dont do that!!!!

now, 9 months old and 68 lbs

she is a bit bigger than this photo taken at Christmas!

Sakura

means: Cherry Blossom

Our golden ret.

4 yrs old

Our old soul that is my BABY!

Well, It has been a difficult week for us. Jenny (the pup) has eaten rocks in the back yard and is not feeling well. Dr Hinton is sure he can fix her, but the future of trying to keep her from doing it again looks icky. She has thrown up most or all of them we believe...ahhhh, to love a dog and clean up that mess. Not to mention the bowel probelms she seem to be suffering since we got her!!!! Constant diarrhea and the food changes, worming and antibiotics havent helped...She will be getting a full work up this week...Wish our vet was here more often!

Then, I hurt my hand...I cant even explain how, but i have a temporary cast on my left hand. It is not broken, but the bone is bruised. Anyhow, it has made mothering more difficult and interesting.

On the bright side, Collin is now sleeping in his own room at nap time. He is going to bed at night in his own room, but still waking up around 12 or 1 every night. We are well on our way to having him there!!!

Carrie is trucking along in school. She made dinner for us last night to help mommy out. She did great and is now planning to do it every week. She even cleaned the kitchen after!

Kyle is reading really well. He made cookies after dinner and read "baking soda" on his own. When I asked him what the baking powder can said he sounded out the brand name Caulmet! I couldnt believe it...He is doing really well.

Kevin is home this week. All of the back and forth takes a toll on us, but having him home is always a blessing. He is getting his paper work together for his next school/station applications, so we should know something by summer we hope!