Lots of Shots

I took Jayci and Alex in to the pediatrician on Friday for their well-child check ups.  Both needed immunizations too.  That was mistake #1.  Mistake #2?  Forgetting the binky!  When I realized I had forgotten it I started to get a bit nervous.  I asked the nurse if they had any for samples and such but she said no.  When all was said and done though it wasn't too bad.  Definitely not an experience I'd look forward to doing again, but not as bad as I thought it would be.  (Actually, I didn't think it would be too bad until I realized I had no binky, that's when I was thinking it was going to be terrible!)

Alex had his exam first.  Dr. Spencer said he looked good and healthy, and that he looks like he's eating well. :)  That, he is!   I was pleased to tell him that Alex is a champion nighttime sleeper; that I get up with Jayci almost more than him!  I've never been able to say that about a baby and believe me, it feels good!

Oh my... my daughter is a character!  She certainly doesn't get her personality from me.  Mama was born shy.  Jayci, on the other hand, wouldn't stop chatting.  She talked and talked, and even showed the doctor some gymnastics tricks she taught herself (or made up as she went along).  For those few minutes she was my "perfect" child!  When the doctor asked her if she brushed her teeth, she said, "I brush them every night, and sometimes I even brush them after eating breakfast and lunch!" (I certainly don't ever remember her brushing after breakfast and lunch, unless her morning breath was so putrid that we forced her!)  She gave him a lesson on what foods are good for our bodies and what foods give us energy, specifically bananas.  When he asked her what she had for lunch she said, "umm, peas and a banana and a sandwich."   Dr. Spencer had to verify with me that this was true before he believed her.  She told him about Miss Tammy and preschool and what kinds of things she learns there.  She told him that she doesn't like shots but kindly asked, "May I please have a sucker to help me sit still while I get my shots?" (seriously!) 

When he was finished, Dr. Spencer asked me, "Where did you pick up this perfect child?" 

"Apparently you have never seen her room," was my retort.  And then I reminded him what I had told him earlier about who I get up with the most at night!

But really, I was pleased with how sweet and funny Jayci was.  For that brief moment I looked like the perfect mother! ;)  Jayci, I sure love you!!!  You know how to put a smile on anyone's face!

After exams the nurse came in to give shots.  After both I told the nurse that we were going to terrify all the kids in the waiting room with the screaming that was going on in our room!  I don't think I'll do two at a time anymore because I felt terrible that I just had to leave Jayci crying on the chair to hold and comfort Alex while he got his.  Luckily both stopped quickly.  Alex fell asleep and Jayci got another sucker, so we all left happy!  (Well, relieved might be a more appropriate word, at least on my part). 

Jayci's 4 year stats:
weight: 34.4 lbs (37%)
height: 41 3/4" (80%)

Alex's 2 month stats:
lenght: 22 3/4"  (42%)
weight: 12 lbs 13 oz  (76%)
head circ: 39.4 cm.  (34%)

Surrounded By Beauty

 I absolutely love where we live!  These are the views from my front porch.

(Jack was at school.  I really do love him just as much as my other children!)

My Jack

Dear Jack,

Today you graduated from preschool and will move on to kindergarten.  I am so proud of you!  You have a heart and spirit that I have fallen deeply in love with and it has been a complete privilege to be your mother and watch you learn and grow.

School hasn't come very easy for you.  Learning has, and you are very smart, but school itself has presented some challenges that you have faced.  You have grown so much in these past years of preschool, and as I sat and watched your program I thought about where you started and how far you've come. 

Several weeks ago I was at my first ever parent-teacher conference.  I beamed with pride as Miss Valerie told me how well you read.  She also told me that you have a hard time sitting still but that you've greatly improved. She can tell that you try really hard.  That is what I am most proud of.  You try your best even though that is something that is HARD.

Jack, you can do hard things!!!

A few weeks ago you and I went to the doctor for your kindergarten exam.  I just couldn't believe that you were old enough to be getting kindergarten shots!  You were very nervous and tentative but still your sweet, polite self.  I was also proud of you for being brave when you knew that shots would hurt.   Your muscles were so tense that you bled when the nurse gave you the shots, yet you still tried as hard as you could to obey and sit still.  You might not know this or understand until you're older, but I think that was harder on me than it was on you.  No matter how large or small, it hurts me to see you in pain.  Even so, we left on a high note with smiles on all of our faces!

 Dr. Johnson (we love him!) and Jack (we love him too! :)

4/4/11

Jack's stats

weight: 42.4 (45%)

height: 45.8 (70%) 

My heart swells when I see you with your baby brother.  You are always concerned for him when he cries and you love to make him smile.  He loves you!  He loves to look at your face and smile at you!  You are going to be able to teach him so much as he grows.

 

And we obviously know how much Jayci adores you! :) You are her prince.

Jack, our family wouldn't be complete without you.
You are MY boy.
You are special.  

I love you!  

Love, Mom

New Focus

*This happened on Monday (5/16/11), I am just now getting around to finishing and posting it. 

I had a very scary, humbling experience today.   I hesitate to even share it because I still feel strong guilt, but as an outcome I had some sweet reflections and experiences that have left me deeply grateful, so I'm recording it.

After dropping Jack off at school today I came home to nurse Alex while Jayci finished cleaning her room.  She and I finished at about the same time so I sent her in the kitchen to color while I changed Alex's diaper.   For some odd reason Alex loves to be on his changing table.  He almost never fusses when he's laying up there, just kicks and smiles alot, and today was no exception.  He was happy as could be to be there and gave me lots of sweet smiles.  When I finished changing him I made the biggest, most obviously stupid mistake a caregiver to an infant can make.  I left him there, alone, unbuckled, to take out the diaper.

Then came the distractions.  I noticed our lunch dishes and started to load the dishwasher, all the while Jayci was begging me to color with her, so then I sat to color.  I got as far as coloring Strawberry Shortcake's hair when Jess called me to see how we were doing.  It was mid conversation when I heard the thud that dropped my heart to my stomach.  In that instant I knew exactly what had happened and was cruelly reminded of my mistake.  No one else was in the bedroom end of the house except my 8 week old baby.  Immediately jumping up, the only word I could form and utter repeatedly in my panic (not so proud of this either) was a four letter word that starts with sh. I ran down the hall and paused briefly in Alex's doorway, my eyes fixed upon the empty changing table, even though I already knew where he was.

His tiny body was face down at the head of the changing table.  He was screaming.  I burst into tears as I scooped him to my chest.  At some point I had hung up on Jess and he was calling me back, so I answered and blubbered, "Alex fell off his changing table!"  Then my sweet husband said he'd be there in just a minute, hung up, and about one minute later was by my side (he was already driving in the area).  Together we held, soothed, and snuggled our precious baby, while assessing him top to bottom, eventually determining that he was alright.

I have close friends and family members who have had babies accidentally fall from much shorter heights and ended up with broken bones or worse.  Today I am thankful for the guardian angels who were with my baby when I failed to be there.  Moments like these always make me reflect on what could have happened, and I'm thankful that he fell exactly right to avoid injury.  Because of the way he was positioned on the floor we figured he fell backwards, head first, back-flipped through the air and landed flat on his stomach.  Had he not flipped all the way, he would have landed on his head.  Had his body not been straight he would have landed on delicate shoulders or limbs.  Had he not had enough momentum he could have been too close to the table and hit his head or face on the sharp-edged lip that juts out at the bottom.

I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who trusts me with his precious children, even though I am an imperfect human who makes daily mistakes.  At night I always pray for angels to surround and protect my babies while they are alone in their rooms and I'm grateful this answered prayer!  Most of all I'm grateful for these precious children who are so quick to forgive!  Alex was quickly soothed by nursing and then was all smiles when he'd see my face.  Thankfully no harm was done but lessons were learned.  This was a profound reminder to stay focused.  To avoid distractions.  I have priceless reasons...

Breaking Him In

 

Alexander, 7 weeks.  First camping trip.  Dunes.  May 6-7, 2011

 

 Check out that gut!

 My little boys

.....oh wait....

ok, I see the pink shovel and bucket.  It's Jayc.

 It only took us 2 years to replace Frank, but we finally did a few weeks ago.  This was her maiden voyage.  Once again we fell in love!  

Call me spoiled, call me prissy.

Guess what?

I don't care.

This is the way to camp!

Mama's lounge

 Can you microwave popcorn and watch movies in a tent?

I think not.

Out of 3 cameras that were all taken on this trip, all 3 were dead at the end of the first night.  I took more pictures on my phone so when I get those off I'll post them.