Maternity Pictures

I am finally getting around to sharing the maternity pictures we took back in April, I think.

 

These were taken by Tiffani Siebert and I love them!

 

 

It was cool that day and very windy which made Cooper squint.  He was being shy and not his normal smiley self.

 

Love this one despite my fat pregnant face.

 

Tiffani also took Casen's newborn pictures which I will share as soon as I get the birth announcements done and sent out....yes, I am way behind!

Potty training

We are in the potty training process.

 

Cooper started going on the potty back in January when he moved rooms at day-care.  He wasn't consistent about going, but they were trying to familiarize him with the potty and the idea.

 

We would put him on the potty before bath (he rarely would go) and in the mornings when he would get up.  He did great at going when we put him on but life got busy (I was always running late in the mornings) so we weren't consistent.

 

Back in June Cooper started going on the potty more times than he went in his diaper while at day-care.  I knew this meant that he was probably ready but with Casen's arrival and our busy lives we decided to wait until after his birthday to try the potty training.

 

Then after his party we had two busy weekends where we couldn't do it....basically that is a list of all of my excuses.

 

 

So last Friday my mom was at our house to help me out and we started potty training. I decided to use my sister Melisa's idea of one M&M if you try, 3 if you pee pee, and 5 if you poop.  He loved getting to pick his M&Ms and did go pee on the potty but he also had quite a few accidents (usually just enough to dribble and make a little mess not a full release of his bladder). By the evening we had the timer going off every 18 minutes and he would go.  If I asked him to go he would say no, but if the timer went off it was no big deal.

 

I could tell that he was figuring out the process because he would say 'I feel it coming' and would look down in the potty. Sure enough he would pee. Or if I asked him if there was more he would wait and sometimes go more or other times say 'no, all done.' 

 

Saturday he went potty 3 times in the potty before we had to switch him to a diaper so we could all get ready and get out of the house for a while.  When we got home he went potty but we put him back in a diaper because it was nap time.  As he laid there for nap he said 'mommy, potty' and we ran to the potty.  Sure enough he went!

 

So this is where we cheated.  After nap I kept him in a diaper but continued the timer and going to the potty.  This way if he had an accident I didn't have to clean up our carpet and mess with wet underwear, but he was still going and working on the process.  He did great! 

 

Sunday we had another busy day with church so we continued the process in a diaper.  We went to my in-laws and even there he would go on the potty.  It is likely if we had him in underwear he would have dribbled in them, but overall he kept the diaper dry and did well.

 

Monday I sent him to day-care in a diaper for the car ride, but sent him 7 pairs of underwear (growing up in a house full of girls I keep calling them panties and have to correct myself) and several pairs of shorts since he wouldn't be running around in just underwear like we do at home.

 

I got a report at 2:00 from Mrs. Jamie that he had only had one accident all day and that was because they were outside.  They were taking him once an hour.  I am not sure why he was dribbling in his underwear like he did at home, but I am glad.

 

Unfortunately at 2:00 Mrs. Jamie leaves for the day and it went downhill fast.  He went through 4 pairs of underwear in an hour and a half so they switched him to a diaper for the rest of the day. I joked with Mrs. Jamie that she isn't allowed to leave until Cooper leaves from now on.

 

We continued to cheat with the diaper last night because we were out of clean underwear, but tonight he will go back in underwear and see how things go.

 

I really hope today goes well and that he keeps doing better.  He really seems to be getting it but the next step will be him learning to tell us when he needs to go potty instead of when the timer goes off.  I am so proud of our big boy.

 

I love seeing him in underwear, but man I am going to miss that cute boy walking around in a diaper.  This sentiment won't last long when he is potty trained and I am no longer changing or buying diapers for him!

 

So now I need some advice.  Please give me your tips for taking little boys to the bathroom in public places.  How did you handle them sitting on the potty, putting their hands on everything, etc?  It grosses me out. Also, any tips or suggestions for getting him to poop on the potty? We haven't been able to catch him in time to go.  It is probably just watching him closely and getting lucky, but I thought I would ask.  I appreciate any potty training advice. No use reinventing the wheel.

 

Weekend 7/21-22

Last Saturday Casen and I went shopping with the Allen outlet mall with Kyle's mom, aunt, and cousin.  I found some cute things for myself and the boys.  Casen did so good all day and his stroller came in so handy for our bags.  Here he is pooped out on the way home.

Cooper and MacKenzie went to south Texas with my parents on Saturday and stayed the night.

Within 15 minutes down the road Cooper decided it was nap time.

And Mac watched a movie.

 

After nap they played with stickers.

Then they relaxed at the hotel.

 

And kept Grandaddy from taking a nap.

They also got to go swim in the pool for a bit, went to dinner, and then relaxed before bedtime.

They played Happy Birthday with the votives again.

The next morning they enjoyed the continental breakfast.  I was told Cooper had two bowls of cereal.

 

Then they went to mass with the youth group and after that enjoyed hot dogs and chips for lunch.

After lunch they went to the water park and played for a couple of hours.  Cooper was hesitant at first but ended up having a great time.  We didn't get any pictures of this because my parents had their hands full with the two kiddos. 

The kids were pooped out after a fun time in the water.

 

They stopped for an icee on the way home as a treat.

 

 

Cooper had a wonderful weekend and didn't want to come home.  I love that my parents took him on a mini vacation.

 

Kyle and I enjoyed the weekend soaking up time with this sweet little guy and watching a lot of episodes of Hell on Wheels. 

 

A Fun Thursday

The Thursday before last my mom and I loaded up the boys and headed to Dallas to look for a brown tuxedo.  If you remember this post and this post Cooper will be a ring bearer in a wedding at the end of August. Unfortunately we can't rent a brown tuxedo as small as we need but found a place where we could buy one instead.

 

He didn't want to try it on, but I am sure glad we did because the 2T was way too big so we went with an 18 month! Perfect!  We had to try on the black tux but they ordered a brown one for us.

 

Watch out ladies because there has never been a cuter boy in a tux.

 

Anyone looking for a prom date for Prom 2028?  You better ask him now!

(though it makes me laugh it also makes me want to cry!)

 

OMG I don't think he could be any cuter.

 

Now I wonder if he will make it up the aisle...my guess is no!

 

That evening we headed to a play date with Aiden.  He decided to put his hat on backwards before we got in the car and I though it was too cute!

 

I love a guy in a backwards cap!

 

The play date could not have gone better.  The boys both ate really well despite the temptation of us sitting right next to the playground.  It took them a while (actually I had to go with them once to convince them) to venture up the stairs and down the slide, but once they did there was no stopping them.

 

The boys were so cute together and though I didn't get a picture of Casen he was perfect.

 

We had a wonderful time talking to Aiden's parents and look forward to another play date soon.

iPhone Randoms

I am so behind on blogging so here is just a dump of pictures from my phone. I have a lot more to blog about in the next couple of days but I have the hardest time making myself sit down and write.

 

Love this sweet face

 

Cooper taking a selfie

 

Group pic while watching the MLB All-star game

 

I just love taking pictures of this sweet face

 

I think he has squinty eyes like his mommy

 

These boys love each other and I love them in matching outfits. I remember buying them back in the spring and dreaming of this day.

 

 

5 on Friday

 

I am linking up with 5 on Friday.

 

1. Today we are officially starting potty training with Cooper.  He has been going sporadically for several months now.  Lately day-care has really been working with him and he is been doing great. He would go 5 or 6 times and keep a dry diaper most days. Poo poo is another story, but one step at a time. My mom is here to help me today since I also have a 7 week old that needs attention and to be nursed.

2. Yesterday we were supposed to celebrate Kyle's great-grandmother's 102 birthday. I am so disappointed we couldn't make it because of my procedure. We will have to visit her soon because she hasn't met Casen yet and we want pictures of the 5 generations.

3. I did have my procedure yesterday.  It was supposed to be at 1, but was delayed and I didn't get released until after 5.  I am still sore and in some mild pain but things are so much better.

I am so thankful for all of those who stepped in and took care of me and my kiddos. My sister Melisa watched Casen while I went to several appointments (while watching her own two kiddos). My dad sat at the ER with us and something about having my daddy there made me want to burst into tears. I really appreciated having him there.  Aunt Jen Jen watched the boys while we went to the ER until my in-laws relieved her.  Then my parents came up and took care of the boys during and after my procedure.  It was much easier going through this knowing that my boys were taken care of.

This is the mark just above my hip. I was told the area was impacted with sound waves nearly 3000 times.  Like hitting the area with a large rubber band over and over. Luckily I was knocked out for that.

4. I am craving the Southwest Grilled Chicken salad from Red Robin. I haven't eaten there in a while but it sounds so yummy!

5. DFW Restaurant Week is coming up and it is a wonderful time to eat yummy food for a great price and support great causes.  Tarrant and Denton county restaurants support the Lena Pope Home which my college friend Katherine works for.  I believe Dallas county supports their food bank, but don't quote me on that.  Check out www.DFWRestaurantWeek.com to see how it works and what restaurants you might want to try.  Despite going there before Kyle and I are considering going to Del Frisco's Steakhouse because it is sooo yummy!

Happy Friday!

Kidney stone from hell

When Casen was 3 weeks old I saw my ob/gyn because I was dealing with some back pain, frequent urination, and a lot of blood in my urine (it looked like cranberry juice).  They thought I had a bladder infection and treated it accordingly.

2 weeks later I saw my urologist because the symptoms returned. Once again they thought it was a bladder infection that just didn't clear up all the way from the first round of antibiotics.  I told her that I really thought it was a kidney stone but she said lets start with another round of meds.

Last Wednesday my back hurt really bad and the blood showed up again.  This continued off and on through the weekend.  Sunday my back hurt so bad that I was tempted to go to the ER, but decided to wait since my follow up with the urologist was the next day.

Monday I went to my appointment only to find out it was actually Tuesday.  I begged them to see me while I was there but they insisted they were overbooked and that I would have to come back Tuesday. By Monday afternoon the pain was unbearable so I told Kyle that I needed to go to the ER.

After 6 hours at the ER they confirmed that I had a 'large' kidney stone.  They sent me home with pain meds and told me to keep my appointment the next day with my urologist.

After a frustrating morning of trying to get things taken care of ASAP with the urologist and chasing down medical records from the night before (the ER doctor assured me that I didn't need them because my urologist would have access to them online, but then the urologist said they didn't have access) I went to the urologist my appointment on  Tuesday. After another xray they confirmed that I had a large kidney stone. In fact it was 10mm by 6mm and they said there is no way I could pass one that size on my own.

The urologist said that the kidney stone would need to be blasted and they couldn't do that at their office.  The nurse would need to call me after lunch with a scheduled procedure on Wednesday or Thursday.  After multiple phone calls all afternoon because I didn't hear anything they told me that I couldn't have the procedure until Thursday at 1:00. I was very upset that I would have to wait that long but it was the end of the day and there was nothing I could do.

Let me explain that not only have I been in a ton of pain but all of this was complicated by the fact that I nurse Casen and am limited on what pain meds I can have.  I have some supply built up but not that much since my baby eats like a 9 month old! Plus I was told by the ER that I had to pump and dump for 48 hours because of the meds they gave me and that didn't include what I would have to do after the procedure.  I kept telling everyone my situation in hopes they would sympathize with my pain and the nursing situation.  Unfortunately no one seemed to feel any sense of urgency or the need to help make things easier.

So early this morning I started making phone calls to see if I could get my appointment moved up which I couldn't and I quickly found out that I may not even get to have the procedure. 

I spent all day today on the phone with the urologist, the hospital, the various nurses for my procedures at various offices, the lady that verifies insurance, my insurance, my gynecologist, and a new primary care all so that I could have this procedure done.  Everyone was saying something different, I had to leave all kinds of messages and wait for return calls, and it was just a disaster.

I don't have a primary care because when I moved to FW I would go to the university clinic and the other primary that I saw sometimes retired. Well I need a referral for the hospital, but then I was told I didn't need one, and then they came back and said that I did.  I was told my gyno could do the referral, then I was told they couldn't, then I was told they could, and finally I was told they couldn't.   At this point it was after 2 and I was told if the hospital didn't get my referral by 4:30 they would cancel my procedure.  Finally at 2:30 I found a primary down the street from us that had an opening at 3:45 so that I could get a referral.

The staff at the primary care was amazing.  They got me in quickly, were patient as my starving child screamed (he wasn't starving, he just thought he was), and got the referral done in time.  In fact I got the referrals before I ever even saw the doctor.  Then when I did see her she was there for like 3 minutes and then gone.  Basically I paid a $20 copay for two pieces of paper.

I think I have it all worked out now and should be getting the procedure done at 1:00.  I can't eat after midnight and am not sure how nursing will go tomorrow.

Now it is after midnight and Casen still isn't asleep.  Not sure what his deal is.  He is a wonderful sleeper but some nights he goes to bed at 9 and others not until midnight.  Can be pretty frustrating at times.  He probably senses my nerves and the need for sleep.

Hoping he gives in soon. Wish me luck tomorrow and say a few prayers.

Thank you

Weekend recap

This is the recap for 7/13-7/14

That Friday night we went to Joe T's to celebrate Jen's 25th birthday. Mimi and Grandpa watched the boys for us. This was their first time to keep Casen and I think both boys did great but I don't have any pictures.

Saturday morning we got up early....really early. Got up at 5 and left the house at 6!

Kyle wanted to help my dad with his cows and they needed to do it before it got hot.

The boys and I hungout at my mom's house and she had Mac and Tinsley. 

Here is sweet niece #4!

 

These two kiddos are so funny together and are such sweet friends.  Here they are playing 'happy birthday' by singing and playing with these battery operated votives.  It was the cutest thing ever.  After they finished singing they would pass out the votives and called them cupcakes.

 

They don't have pants on because we let them play outside at the water table and they got pretty wet.

 

 

That evening we went to my cousin Heather's wedding and had a great time.  Heather looked gorgeous and I loved how they decorated.  Cooper had a blast running around and everyone loved passing Casen around.

Please excuse the lighting in these pics from my iphone.  Kyle is wearing a hat because he didn't come until later and it was a somewhat casual wedding. Really wishing I had stood up tall and sucked in my tummy!

 

Sunday Melisa and I loaded up the car with Cooper and Mac to go to a water park with a whole bunch of family on my mom's side.  Unfortunately we got rained out so we had an indoor picnic at my aunt's and let the kids play. And I didn't take any pictures.

 

My mom sent me this picture collage that she put together.  I couldn't stop laughing. She and my dad watched the two babies for us.

 

After our picnic we went to my Granny and Papa's to visit and have homemade ice cream.  The ice cream was delicious!

 

The kids got to play on my Papa's mule. They were in heaven.  Granny even took them on a ride later but I didn't get a picture.

 

Another wonderful weekend!