momma's "helper"

Elliott has most certainly reached that "in to everything" phase. My house frequently looks like a tornado just came through it, and for once, I don't care. It's too exhausting to pick up every random thing he finds, carries, and drops around the house, windex away every tiny hand print on the glass, or to repeat "no no" and "don't touch" 42,000 times a day. So, I'm stopping to enjoy it... because he won't walk around the house with a colander on his head forever.

The things that seem like annoyances now, will be the things I miss most one day when my house is quiet and empty.

allergies, asthma, and eczema, oh my!

When I was pregnant, I was prepared for the loss of sleep, the change in priorities, and the way my life was "never going to be the same." But, I never imagined how much time I would spend in a doctor's office (at least twice a month), how many tears of frustration I would shed over not knowing how to help my baby feel better, or how much money I would spend at the pharmacy. After countless appointments with our pediatrician and an allergist, 4 chest x-rays, one set of tubes, and more antibiotics than I want to admit, we have come to the conclusion that Elliott has allergies, asthma and eczema.

It all started when he was about six months old with a rattly cough that would not go away. People would constantly ask me if he was sick, or suggest that maybe I needed to take him to the doctor, as though I hadn't already thought of that. I could feel other mothers giving me the evil eye when he would cough around their kid, as if to say "why do you have him out?" or "he better not get my baby sick!" But, if I kept him home every time he had a cough we would have been quarantined to our house, because seven months later that cough is still here. It doesn't come and go like most kids, it lingers, in fact we have not had a single day since the first time I heard it, that I haven't heard it again. For the longest time I was told he was just catching colds and/or viruses at daycare, but I knew it was different than the colds my friend's kids had. 

Shortly after the coughing started, the ear infections started. As soon as we finished one antibiotic, we would start another. Nothing seemed to make them stop. After 9 antibiotic shots, and trying every oral antibiotic he could stomach, we were referred to an ENT. He suggested tubes immediately upon seeing Elliott's poor little ears, but a recent battle with "pneumonia" meant we had to wait several weeks for surgery. We hoped and prayed that the tubes would be the answer to our problems, but within weeks of having them put in, his ears were infected again and the cough was still as present as ever. 

Our pediatrician put Elliott back on his reflux medicine to see if that would help, but no luck. She then added a daily singulair, and an albuterol inhaler for when his coughing seemed to be causing him to wheeze. The inhaler and singulair did help relieve his symptoms, but the cough and ear infections were still present.

I finally got frustrated and made Elliott an appointment with an allergist to see if he could give us any new answers. Upon reading Elliott's history (tubes, pneumonia, coughing, wheezing that was relieved by an inhaler, etc.) he immediately told me he had asthma. He prescribed him a daily inhaler (the control- alvesco) in addition to the albuterol (the rescue), singulair, and Zantac. He also tested him for airborne allergies, all of which came back negative. He asked to see us back in a month to evaluate his progress.

However, before we could come back, Elliott came down with RSV, another ear infection, and another round of pneumonia. He went back on antibiotics, and we weren't able to tell if any of the new treatments were helping because of him being sick. At this point I began to take things into my own hands. I was convinced that all of our problems had started when he started eating food, namely dairy. I did some research online and found thousands of moms who said upon taking their children off of all dairy products, (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream) their asthma cleared up. So we switched to soy. He did seem to be clearing up some, and I started to get excited, but then, you guessed it, he got sick again! When we went to the doctor she gave us more antibiotics, for his ears, and I requested a blood test for food allergies. The results came back and all were negative, including dairy. So, back to dairy we went. He hadn't gained much weight on soy and is already small to begin with, so I didn't want to keep him from the fat he needs unless I absolutely had to.

So here we are 2 and a half weeks since our last antibiotic, same cough, a runny nose and runny eyes that have been around for about a month, and now a dry, red "rash" all over his body. I could almost cry (again) when I saw it popping up. What now? Back to the doctor we go, but our usual pediatrician is on call so we see another one in our same office. Upon hearing our story and looking over his records, she said,  "he has allergies, asthma, chronic ear infections, and eczema, and I think it's time to start being more aggressive, because we should be able to get this cough under control in between sicknesses." I was so relieved to hear that. I had almost come to the point where I had given up on ever not hearing that awful cough. But, it means more meds, lots of meds, and I hate that, but what else can I do? So, we left with an antibiotic shot in him, and tomorrow we start another round of oral antibiotics, his first ever steroid, and a double dose of his control inhaler every day, in addition to the Singulair, Zantac, his ear drops and Albuterol. I don't even want to know what I'm going to owe the pharmacy...

I asked about the "allergies" since all of the tests had come back negative, and she said we won't be able to tell for sure until he is 2 or 3 years old, because at this age he may not have been exposed to enough to show up on a test. As far as his eczema goes, we have to switch to hypoallergenic body wash and lotion.

Will he outgrow this? Maybe. Will our future children have similar problems? Likely. 

I'm a little overwhelmed. Please pray that this day marks a turning point in Elliott's health. 

But, however  frustrating this process may be, I am thankful that we are not battling something life threatening as so many parents do. I cannot imagine their pain. There is nothing worse than feeling helpless when it comes to getting your child healthy and feeing better! I wanted to share this incase any one reading has gone though a similar battle. You are not alone, and I feel your stress and worry every day. Hang in there, we'll get this thing figured out one of these days, right?

highlights

Whew, we had a busy week and now that it's wrapping up, I'm finally relaxing. I'm kicked back in bed with my macbook and a cup of tea in preparation for another busy week. But first, here are this week's highlights:

*a follow up appointment and good report for 

elliott at arkansas allergy and asthma

*a tea party with an old friend

*taking dinner to a couple from church 

who just welcomed a new addition

*celebrating gary's 29th birthday

*a midweek play date with friends, 

*joining a local running group

*going on my first run since last April 

*an online "hangout" with the order

*giving our 2 week's notice at elliott's daycare

*enrolling e in a mother's day out program (a $330 a month savings!!!)

*cooking 3 times in one week

*a birthday party for e's friend, max

*chaperoning elliott and paisley's chick-fil-a date

*a baby shower for a sweet friend from church

*movie night with caleb and laura

*homemade cookies

*a day trip to arkadelphia to visit gary's grandparents.

I have a feeling this week's highlight will be the "mommy time" I have planned for wednesday: a visit to the dermatologist, followed by a massage and a pedicure. My poor toes are long overdue for some TLC!

splish splash

I love to just sit back and watch Elliott in the bathtub. He's in his own little world, splashing and playing, and I'm in mine, deep in thought. Trying to memorize his round little belly, short chubby legs, and sweet baby voice chattering away... those beautiful long eyelashes I envy, his precious profile... I mean look at that face! Could you keep from kissing those soft cheeks several thousand times a day? I sure can't. I'm trying to soak it all in, because I know a day is coming when I'll miss it oh so much...

a glimpse into our weekend.

Gary was away on business this weekend. Elliott is cutting a molar and running fever. Not a good combo.

We went to a dear friend's adorable gender reveal party Saturday morning, and shortly after finding out she is expecting a sweet baby boy, I had to whisk E away to my Mom's house for a breather. He was into everything he could reach, crying and turning into a limp noodle any time I tried to pull him away. The party was packed and he wanted down on the floor beneath everyone's feet. I struggled alone to carry around a squirmy, fussy 22 pound weight, while attempting to make polite conversation. 45 minutes later, I left drenched in sweat, wanting nothing more than a strong drink and deep tissue massage.

Thankfully, our afternoon was better than our morning (thank you infant's Advil), and we had a nice play date at the park with Brooke and Paisley, followed by E crashing for a two and half hour nap, during which I cleared out our outdoor closet (to make room for the bikes I'm dreaming of purchasing this spring) and organized our messy pantry.

Sunday morning E was, once again, super fussy and I was feeling the stress of 4 days alone with a one-year-old piling on, but at 3:25 Sunday afternoon Gary touched down in Little Rock, and life returned to normal. Elliott was in bed by 6:30 and we were enjoying takeout and catching up on our shows from the past week via Apple TV mirroring (this whole no cable thing has been working out nicely, btw) on our living room floor by 7:30.

I sure did miss him while he was gone! Sure, it's fun to have the bed and computer all to yourself for a night, but anything after that is just plain lonely. And as far as taking care of E goes, we make a good team. Props to the single Mommas out there, you are amazing. I'm certainly not cut out for it!

baby registry checklist

I have several close friends who are pregnant right now, so I recently put together a registry checklist for one of them and thought I'd share it here for anyone who may be interested. Let me know your thoughts.

Carseats and strollers:

-Carseat/base/stroller: Graco Snugride- I got the sporty edition that has a 3 wheel jogging stroller with it.  The carseat snaps into the stroller for when they are small, and then the stroller can also be used like normal when the baby is old enough to sit up. I would also recommend getting an extra base so your mom or husband will have one in their car too.

-Umbrella Stroller: I just got the Babies-R-Us brand for around $25.  This is nice to have for shopping.  The stroller that comes with the carseat is more for walking and jogging and is too large to weave through stores.

Baby carrier:

I used the Baby Bjorn. It’s easier to use than the Moby, but it doesn’t look as cool.

Baby Holders:

-Bouncer: We skipped this.  I would say do either a bouncer or a swing, they take up a lot of room and do similar things.

-Swing: Ours was made by Graco, but I’m sure they are all good.  We used it a ton the first 4 months.  Elliott took almost all of his naps in the swing.

Bath Time:

-Infant tub: Any brand.

-Hooded towels: 8-10, any brand.

-Washcloths: 8-10, any brand.

-Baby wash: Burt’s Bees

-Lotion: Burt’s Bees

-Bath toys: Any brand.

-Bath toy holder: Boone frog. It attaches to the wall in the bathtub and holds all your bath toys.

-Bath mat: Any brand. For when they graduate from the infant tub and start sitting up in the bathtub.

-Faucet cover: Any brand.

Sleeping:

-Pack-and-Play: Ours is Graco, but I’m sure any brand is fine.  Make sure it has a newborn napper attachment.

-Pack-and-Play sheet: 2, any brand.

-Nap Nanny: If you have a baby with reflux this is a must! Elliott refused to sleep flat on his back, and would only sleep in either the Nap Nanny or his swing where he was on an incline.  We used it every night until he could roll over. If you don’t get it as a gift, I’d wait and buy it after your baby is born once you can see if it’s needed.  You can also use it to sit the baby in while you get ready, until they can climb out.

-Crib: Any brand. Ours is Ouef. No drop side!

-Mattress: Any brand.

-Bumpers: I got mine custom made on babybedding.com, but they don’t recommend using them until your baby is a little older to reduce the chance of SIDS.

-Crib sheet: 2-3, any brand (again, mine are from babybedding.com).

-Swaddle blankets:  3-4 We loved these! Elliott refused to sleep unswaddled until he was 4 months old.  We got the Summer SwaddleMe and the Miracle Blanket, but prefer the Miracle Blanket.  It’s tricky to figure out, but it kept him put the best.

-Blankets: don’t bother registering for these, people love to give blankets and you’ll end up with way too many. Elliott likes the Aiden+Anais muslin blankets the best though.

-Waterproof mattress cover: We got several and have never used them.  Most crib mattresses are already waterproof and this is just one more thing to do when you’re changing sheets in the middle of the night, so I’d say scratch it.

-Monitor: Angel Care- This monitor detects your baby’s breathing and alerts you if there is no movement for 10 seconds.  Occasionally we get a false alarm if he moves too far off the sensor, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind.  Ours does movement detection and sound, but they also have one that does movement, sound and video.

-Noise maker: Babies love white noise when they sleep, and it blocks out noise in the house while they sleep.

-Pacifers: I would register for several styles so you can see which one your baby likes best.  Elliott prefers Nuk.

Diapering:

-Diapers: Register for 2 boxes of sizes 1-3, you can never have too many diapers. I’m a Pampers fan.

-Wipes: 3-4 boxes. Same as diapers, you can’t have too many. Again, we use Pampers.

-Wipe Warmer: Babies-R-Us brand- Some people think these are silly, but we still use ours. Elliott cries less with a warm wipe, so I say throw it on the registry.

-Powder: Johnsons

- Diaper Rash cream: 2, one for home and one for the diaper bag, Burt’s Bees.

- Changing Pad:  Any brand, ours is the Babies-R-Us contoured changing pad.

-Changing Pad Cover: 2-3, any brand, ours are Carter’s.

-Waterproof  Liners: 1-2 3 packs, Boppy brand.  Keeps you from staining the changing pad covers.

-Diaper Pail: Diaper Genie, also register for several packs of the bags that go inside the pail.

-Disposable bags: Arm and Hammer- these are great to have in your diaper bag for dirty diapers or dirty clothes.

-Changing Mat: Skip Hop- great for when you need to change the baby in the car or on a changing station in a dirty bathroom.  Most diaper bags come with one, but they aren’t very nice.

-Diaper Bag: Mine is Skip Hop.

-Safety 1^st Kit: includes nail clippers, bulb syringe, brush, comb, thermometer, etc.

Feeding:

-Bottles: You’ll want lots.  We registered for Born Free, Dr. Brown’s and Playtex Drop-Ins, since I didn’t know what kind he would like.  We used them all, but mostly used the Medela bottles since they attach to my pump.  If you’re breastfeeding, I would register for extra 5oz Medela bottles (the pump comes with 4 I think, but you’ll want at least 8), and 6 of the 8oz Dr. Brown bottles for when the baby starts eating more.

-Nipples: Make sure to check if the bottles you register for come with nipples or not.  If not, register for the type that matches the brand of bottle and register for as many nipples as you have bottles.  Register for slow, medium and fast flow for each type of bottle as well, as your baby will want a faster flow the older he gets.

-Bottle Brush- Any brand.

-Drying Rack: Boone grass rack.

-Formula: 1 canister, Earth’s Best Organic.  Even if you are breastfeeding you’ll want to have a little formula on hand in case you need to supplement.

-Burp Rags and Bibs: You can’t have too many! Any brand will do.

-Sippy cups: 1 two pack, Elliott does best with the Nuby.

-Bowls with lids: 2-3 packages, we like the xyo or Munchkin bowls.

-Spoons: You’ll want a couple of different packs.  I’d register for a pack of the Nuk spoons, they are flat and work best when they first start trying runny solids, and a pack of the Munchkin spoons for when they get a little more comfortable with solids.

-Dishwasher baskets: 2, for washing bottle parts. I wash most of mine by hand, but they are good to have.

-Highchair: Any brand, ours is Graco.

Breastfeeding Supplies:

-Pump: Medela Pump in Style.

-Pillow: We got the Boppy and My Brest Friend.  I’d register for both, but I used the Boppy more.

-Nursing Bras and Tanks: I got mine from Target. 4 bras, 4 tanks.

-Nursing pads: Johnson’s were the cheapest I think. You’ll want lots.

-Lanolin: For sore nipples, any brand.

-Soothies: Gel pads you can put in the refrigerator for sore nipples.

-Medela steam clean bags:  For sanitizing pump parts.

-Disposable Storage bags: Medela.

-Nursing cover: Baby Au Lait.

Clothing:

*I wouldn’t register for many clothes.  People love to pick out their own clothing gifts and don’t really follow the registry.  You’ll get lots of things and what you don’t get, you can go pick what you like using your gift cards.  Here are a few practical things you might want to add:

-Scratch Mittens: 3 pack, any brand.

-Socks: 10-12 pairs, newborn, any brand.

-Hats: If it’s cold, maybe 3, any brand. We didn’t use ours much.

-Newborn and 0-3 month onesies: Any brand, you can’t have too many.

-Newborn and 0-3 month footed jammies: Any brand, you can’t have too many.  The ones with the zippers are best for diaper changes in the middle of the night.

-Newborn and 0-3 month lounge pants: Any brand, you can’t have too many.

Playing:

*People love to give their favorite toys and books, so you’ll get lots of things you don’t even register for, and they won’t really play with many toys before 6 months.

-Play mat: Any brand.

-Exersaucer: Any brand, but you won’t need it until they are about 5 months.

-Carseat toys: Any brand.

-Teether: 1-2, any brand.

-Bumbo and Tray

Medicine to have on hand:

-Tylenol

-Ibuprofin- for 6 months and up

-Gas drops

-Gripe Water

-Humidifier

::we've been busy::

we have a busy little boy on our hands, so we're

trying to keep one step ahead of him. the toddler

phase is just around the corner... yikes! 

Our little weed.

Elliott is growing so fast these days!  I feel like he literally learns something new everyday.  He is crawling on his hands and knees and pulling up to his feet already.  He graduated from his baby tub to the big tub, and started eating finger foods.  Where did my baby go? I guess this is why women get pregnant multiple times. It passes too quickly!

Project: Reduce the noise.

I've had some calls and texts from concerned friends and family members lately, inquiring about where I've been on social media, so I thought I'd share some changes I've been making over the past month.  If you are my Facebook friend, or a follower of my Twitter and/or Instagram posts you may have noticed my updates have been absent from your feeds.  I have not blocked you from viewing my thoughts and photos. I have deleted all of my social media accounts, aside from this blog.

Becoming a mother has changed and challenged me in so many ways.  One major revelation I've had as a result of motherhood, is seeing for the first time just how self centered I've become.  My life is no longer all about me (although, it never should have been in the first place).  Social media had become a way for me to brag to others about my life.  As embarassing as this is to admit, I found myself doing things just to have something to show or tell my followers on social media, so in turn I could have the affirmation from them that my life was interesting.  I found myself wasting countless hours comparing myself to others as I looked through photos and status updates each day.

When Elliott came along, the Lord used him to convict me of the jealousy and greed that had taken root in my heart as a result of the time I was spending on social media.  I began to feel guilty for using the time I could be spending with my son (who is growing faster every minute), to see what others (some that I don't even know)  are doing.

Our church recently went through a sermon series on the minor prophets of the Bible. Every Sunday as I listened to Nathan share about people who were ignoring God and living for their own selfish desires, I kept hearing a nagging voice in my head telling me I was just like them.  I left church for weeks with the conviction to quit living my life to please others and start living to please God.  However, I did just like the people in each of the minor prophets, and ignored God's plea to turn back to Him.  It wasn't until after the final week of the series when Dr. Scott Duvall came to speak at our church about being bound by fear.  He explained that fear is one of the ways Satan binds us and keeps us from doing God's will for our lives.  He went on to explain that there are many different types of fear, one of which is fear of what other people think of us.  I didn't fully grasp why I had been feeling convicted of wasting time on social media until I heard that.  I was living my life in bondage to the fear of not being able to live up to other people's standards, and as a result I was missing out on God's will for my life, being a supportive wife and a devoted mother.  I'm just glad I realized this before Elliott is grown and gone.

So, that night I went home and deleted all of my social media accounts. It's been difficult.  I feel disconnected in many ways, but mostly it's been so satisfying.  I am no longer wasting time and energy stressing over impressing others on social media.  I am no longer wasting time and energy wishing my life looked more like someone else's.  I am enjoying more time soaking up God's greatest gifts to me, my husband and my son.  I still have work to do.  This is only a starting point.  Satan is working to find other means of distracting me, but I'm aware of that now, and fighting to stay focused on what is important in life.

You may not see my comments appearing on your blogs as often these days, please know it's not because I'm not interested in your lives, but rather because I don't want to give Satan a foothold.  I'm keeping this blog to share updates about our family with family and friends who live out of town, and trying to resist the urge to use it to seek affirmation from others.  I do not judge others who use social media, there are plenty of you who are able to mange your time and fight the temptations social media provides.  Social media can be a very valuable source of advertising and communicating with others.  However, it's just not for me right now.  I would appreciate your prayers as I try to steer clear of this temptation in my life, and manage my new free time wisely.

Life lately, according to my iPhone

[1] monday sunroom snuggles [2] snuggles lead to a nap 

[3] 6 month well check: 15lbs, 9oz and 26"- 11th percentile for weight, 25th for height

[4] morning after a long night soothing a teething baby

[5] our little model working it for the camera at the Gameday commercial shoot

[6] beautiful dreamer [7] taking a break

We're headed to the beach tomorrow, so I'll be absent for a week[ish]. Looking forward to some down time in the sun and sand with some of my favorites.  Happy weekend, friends!

Elliott: Sweet Child of Mine.

We finally began going through some of the video footage Gary has been taking of Elliott over the past 6 months. Yesterday we worked on editing the footage from the first week. I thought I'd share a look into the week that forever changed our lives for the better. I get teary every time I watch it.  It was such a sweet week. I never want to forget it.

Homemade Baby Food.

Elliott started eating solids about 2 weeks ago, and he is loving exploring new tastes and textures.  Gary and I both agreed that we wanted to start him on a strictly organic diet. He has a pure, clean slate, so we want to make sure the food we put into his body is 100% pure. So, I ordered a Beaba Babycook to make his baby food. Much to my surprise, it was really easy. We made peas, apples, and bananas to start. Here's an outline what I did for those Momma's who might be considering homemade baby food:

I used "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet" cookbook, given to me by my friend, Brooke, to make each of the purees.

Using the Babycook, you can steam and blend, meaning no dishes.  If I had to use pots, pans and a blender, I don't think I would be able to stick with it, so I feel like we made a good investment.

Once the food was blended, I poured it into covered ice cube trays for freezing.  One cube is one serving, so all we have to do is defrost a cube and serve it up.

When the cubes were frozen I put them into freezer bags labeled with the food and the date.  The frozen fruits and veggies will be good for 4-6 weeks.

I gave each a little taste test before freezing, and they were pretty dang good.  I'm looking forward to letting E try them all.