Here We Go Again....

Carson had his follow-up in ENT yesterday to follow-up on the recent ear infection in his left ear that occurred one week after his tube fell out.  He had been on antibiotics and finally completed them for the 14 day course.   For those of you who don’t know the vicious cycle of an ear infection and the CYCLES of ear infections my little boy has had since he was four months old…. It goes something like this:

Child begins having trouble falling/staying asleep

Child fevers (Carson stopped this symptom at 6 months old)

Child pulls at ear due to the pain

Ear drum ruptures (if symptoms not recognized quickly enough) OR child is brought to Clinic to see Dr.

Child started on antibiotics for 10 days.

Child begins to feel better.

Three days into the antibiotics the child gets a yeast infection because all the good bacteria are killed in the diaper region.   Diaper rash usually gets out of control if child is not started on Acidophilus and pumped full of yogurt!

Child begins to feel better yet again.

Antibiotic course is completed.  Child comes BACK to the clinic to be followed up on 7-10 days following the course of antibiotics at which time…. the doctor notes “That there is some fluid behind his ear drum…   If he starts becoming symptomatic, bring the child in to see us.”

Two days following the doctor’s appointment, the child begins having trouble falling/staying asleep.

Child fevers.

Child pulls at ear due to pain, etc… etc…. etc.. on and on and on and on.

This was Carson’s first year of life.  The entire cycle takes 4-5 weeks…..There has not been one hiatus…. It has been consistent and exhausting.  My poor child has been to the doctor more times than I would like to count.   My child also has a difficult time enunciating his words and articulating sounds with his mouth.   He is scheduled to see a speech pathologist later next month.   I am hoping she can give us some pointers on helping him with his words and strengthening his verbal interactions. 

I am tired of seeing my child tug at his ears.  (And the other one picking his nose—HA!)

I want my son to sleep well every night for the rest of his life.

I want to stop bringing him to the clinic unless they are well-check visits. 

Ear tube placement will take place next week and I hope and pray that this is the END of ALL ear infections for my child. 

What I Love About Nathaniel...

What I love about Nathaniel….

He loves his ‘juicy’ cup in the morning.  I already have it ready for him when he wakes up because I know what his first words will be.

He likes to watch movies—especially snuggled up close to his mom.

He is officially potty-trained!!!

He wakes up slow (like his mommy) and wants it quiet and dark until he is READY for the day… 10 minutes usually. 

He is highly sensitive (like his mommy) and wants an explanation for EVERYTHING.  (the “Why”)

He loves going to church.

He picks out his own outfits for the day AND the books he wants to read at bedtime now. 

His vocabulary is EXPLODING and having conversations with him is AWESOME!  He makes me laugh.

He takes care of his brother but still has some hesitancy in sharing with him (age appropriate). 

He is a sweetheart.

Nathaniel,

I still remember the moment you entered my life.   You gave me so much to be thankful for (most importantly that you weren’t in my tummy any more).  From the second I held you for the first time I was in love with your eyes, your button nose and those cute little toenails.  You have always showed your silly side to your mommy and I LOVE that you are so relaxed with me.  I know you like to snuggle with your teachers at school- and that’s okay.   You are such a sweet and considerate soul—when you see your friends cry at daycare you hug them and want to know ‘what’s da matta?”  (I LOVE that about you).   You are a SERIOUS ham and are always ‘acting’ for me even when you don’t know I am watching you.  I think you have an amazing imagination that is just now starting to get active.  You love to laugh and when you do, Nathaniel, my heart melts.   Greatest sound on the planet is hearing you giggle. I LOVE that you like music and dance your little heart out when we play music.  I wish I could videotape you each time you get those arms swinging when you run, you look so determined.  You are going to get places Little Man.   I love you so much!  

Love, Mama.

X0X0

Livin' Life

It's been a GREAT week! Nana and Papa came through last weekend and the boys had a BLAST! Nana took them for their first officially wagon ride of 2012.

They did very well and Nana said they were looking at the birds and noticing things all around them as they came down the sidewalk. While the boys were tooting around the neighborhood in the Radio Flyer, Papa Bill and I were working on trimming and eliminating some of the Arbor Vitae in the backyard of my place. There is barely any light in the backyard due to the two large maples back there. We did our best to trim out every branch we could from the other trees to start. We need a professional to come in and get the large (okay, GINORMOUS) branches from the maples out. I fear that one severe thunderstorm is going to rumble through some time and one of the branches (which probably weigh 2 tons) is going to fall through the house and kill either myself or my little babies. I got an estimate last year and the landlord seemed as though he didn't find it important. I am going to 'press' again and push for it. It's about safety people!

The yard started to look GREAT by Sunday afternoon! Patio furniture and the birdbath were put out (YEAH!) and Boomer has enjoyed a few hours basking in the sunlight and the grass.

The boys have been SO much fun outside in the last week. We are having a BLAST! Almost every night they come in (close to 7:30) and are just SO tired they pass right out. Notice Nathaniel was trying with all his might to sneak out of bed after I tucked him in, but the little bugger didn't make it.

I made a personal improvement. I got my hair done! I have not had it cut or colored by a professional for over a year or so now. I thought it was time. It felt SO great to be pampered for an hour and half. (I don't have a picture because.well, there's not really anyone who can take a picture of it.! HA!) I actually fell asleep in the hair drying contraption thing.. the timer went off and I almost jumped right out of my chair.

 Another improvement in my home was made. I purchased a used couch and love seat off of Craig and His List. It was a decision I needed to make. We needed some more seating in the front room and I didn't want to spend a lot of money and I didn't want anything that was too 'nice' because I know that the boys are gonna trash it over the next few years. I do however want it to be somewhat stylish and mix with the things I love. Well, I found it. I pulled the two leather chairs from the back room and moved the other couch to that room. I absolutely love the look. I feel comfortable. The only thing new I think I am going to purchase for this room will be a large floor lamp with giant shade. We shall see. Every other piece came in with the move, was given to me or purchased off of CL.

　

And now my favorite experience of the week. Now that Carson is in his toddler bed he knows that he can escape and play about with his toys when I leave him in the room with the door closed (for his own safety). (I have a monitor in there). Well, he likes to read his books and I have caught him more than once waiting for me in the rocker with a book or two. Looks like I didn't make it in time. This just melted my heart when I saw this!
　

Miles of Smiles

There were two little men who decided they wanted to brush their teeth together tonight......

Not to mention they did have some individual time to themselves as well. 

Nathaniel enjoyed his quiet time in the bath once his brother was in bed.

Here's what Boomer thought of it all.....

The Long and the Short of It

I am divorced.  

Never thought those words would leave my mouth.

I am at peace.  

Never thought that I could say that with such confidence so soon after it was official.  

Life goes on. 

Back to living life. 

Sharing my happiness and being positive is an okay thing to be.   I missed this Jacki.  Glad to have her back and stronger than ever. 

I've been able to snuggle my boys and laugh with my boys again.  To breathe easier and deeper than I have in a while. I have laughed out loud even!   I have taken the concept that my life, though uncertain at this stage, is right where it should be.   The people surrounding me and the people I am focusing on are just who they need to be at this very moment.  Transition.   A deck of cards being shuffled.  Every single card out of place and it's up to me to turn them over one by one and evaluate and categorize and organize to give 'the deck' order and purpose. 

Good thing I like to sort, align and organize things.    BRING IT!

Rainbow Reflection

Genesis 9:16

Integrity

Hello friends,

Just stopping in today to say THANK YOU for your continued support. Your support means the world to me and I am so grateful and honored!

I took a break going inward and needing some privacy to deal with all of the curve balls that life has been throwing at me these days. But I also choose to not write about my personal life because I wasn't sure how YOU, the readers of HWD, would respond.  

I continue to find huge comfort and relief in others bloggers writing by knowing someone else had been through something similar and therefore removing the loneliness and frustration I've often felt as a parent and as a woman. Some posts have opened my eyes to things I didn't previously understand and have changed the way I think. Taking a break has helped me to understand that as long as I'm not going out there with the intention of hurting or offending there's nothing wrong with expressing an opinion AND that it's actually necessary where blogging is concerned.

I wish there was more time in the day and that I could say with great certainty that you will be seeing a lot more posts around here. However, spending quality time with my sons and taking time for me are still my greatest priorities and will continue to come first. I can, however, promise you, quality posts written from the heart that at times will be messy and convoluted like life. My heart is BURSTING at the seams with stories- about parenting, postpartum depression, relationships, single parenting, weight loss, my new digs and my renewed faith in Christ.

Seriously, I AM BURSTING with things I need to share and I hope that, you, my readers will respond positively. I also hope to hear your stories and feature some of them on here too. Sharing is a source of great healing and in doing so I hope that together can create awareness, inspire others and that ultimately this blog will be better for it.  So, please, "FOLLOW ME" in the link on the upper left of the page and Welcome to Hopes, Wishes & Dreams.... 

Thank You

Monday, January 23, 2012

The new routine started this morning at 6:02.   Okay it was really like 6:18 when I finally rolled out of bed willingly, but at least I got moving.  Today was the first day back to work full-time after being home with the boys full-time for the last seven months.   I have enjoyed EVERY. Single. Day of being with them and watching them grow and learn.   Unfortunately with the circumstances at hand, I had to come to a decision which would support the three of us long-term.  My blessings are abundant and I am thankful to be able to have the ability to have a choice in the country we live in.   

Nathaniel was not thrilled to get out into the chilled car bright and early but I did my best to keep their wake up routine the same—just put it in warp speed with only one minor temper-tantrum that I had to manage.   Carson was my talker this morning; babbling away in his crib.  The second he saw me this morning he took his cup and pushed it right in my face and ‘asked’ for some milk.  His skin is so soft at his young age of 15 months.  His little hands especially feel like they have a layer of silk on them.   Such a sweet little babe; he is really into snuggling me especially in the morning. (Which I LOVE)  Carson will lay his head down against my shoulder and rub the side of his head into my chest.   First thing when he sees Boomer in the morning he will mumble “Bbbbbbb!   BBBBBB!”   He understands a lot more than he verbalizes currently.  With the rate at which Nathaniel is giving out full sentences now, I’m sure Carson just thinks it acceptable for just pointing and mumbling.   I got them both dropped at daycare after driving through the 3” of snow that fell overnight on the roads.   

As I walked into work I focused on my patients and the day ahead.  Hoping my patients would make it into the clinic okay.  I prayed that everyone’s illnesses were stable/non-symptomatic today and I could give more smiles and words of enthusiasm than anything.  I thought of my boys and the week ahead they would have and establishing their comfort levels at daycare.  I prayed for my friend and their family in this week ahead for the recent loss of a family member that meant the world to them.  I prayed for myself.   “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”  

Here’s to the next chapter!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Week in Summary

My week in summary begins with the little bugger above showing me his independence. One afternoon while I stepped in the other room to change Carson's diaper, this little one decided to get his Cars Stool, open the fridge door and decided to help himself to the apple juice.   He had a little difficulty getting it out; so he had to finally ask for some help.

 Can my 2 1/2 year old really have feet half the size of mine?  CRAZINESS!

Carson is taking a little break here at daycare.  He was showing his teachers how well he can walk by himself now!!!  

This past Friday "C" had to have an abdominal ultrasound to make sure there was nothing going on.  (During an exam earlier in the week, the docs felt something palpable near his spleen).  Turns out, he the result was good.  Carson has had a history of about eight ear infections in his short 14 months of life thus far.   He will be getting 'tubes' put in his ears next month some time. 

I finally got some wall decor up in the family room; now to fill the frames.....

.

THE BIG KAHUNA!

This past week I asked Nathaniel what he wanted for Christmas.... his response, "A Choo-Choo Train."   Well, Babe, I was able to deliver.   With a little help from my buddy Craig and his little List, I was able to get this entire set as well as the engines, pieces and about 10 Thomas the Train DVD's for VERY CHEAP !  (even better!)  The look on his face WAS priceless and wonderful.  I can't wait to see that look MANY, MANY more times throughout his life!   

I commented regarding this on FB when I thought HOW RIDICULOUS that there isn't a gift wrap service for those of us who are still on Santa's 'good list' and there are no elves to help wrap some of the gifts.....   Just sayin' it would be really AWESOME to have them wrapped and delivered on Christmas Eve.....  Santa Service.

More fun for the boys!!!!  'CHOO-CHOO!"

"Mommy play choo-choo with me?"   YOU BET Buddy! ! ! 

Nathaniel made a visit to his dentist this week.  He was re-invigorated to keep brushing his teeth.  He wants to show me how to do it.  I can NOT help him.....   He is getting to be such a big boy! ! !   I love you Pea-Knuckle Sandwich!