A first

So we had a bit of excitement in the house yesterday afternoon. Jake was telling me how hungry he was and I told him to go in the kitchen and finish his peanut butter sandwich from lunch--he immediately ran from the living room to the kitchen. A second letter I hear a loud scream and then crying. I figured he must have hit his head on the edge of the bar ( he has done this several times) so I thought his head must hurt but I admit I didn't jump right up since he has done this before. However, as all moms know there are cries and then there is the cry--the one that tells you something is really wrong. This was one of those cries. I got up and went to him and immediately saw his hair looked wet in the front--only to discover it was blood, and a lot of it--he had it dripping down his face and all over his hands. I admit--I panicked! I ran to get a towel and was very upset--Shon was just telling me to calm down. Jake was crying mainly because of the blood on his hands--Shon helped him get it off and then I was able to check out his head--he had a pretty good gash on the top--almost and inch long. I couldn't really tell how deep it went because of the hair in the way, but I figured we should definitely take him to the ER or urgent care to get him checked out to be safe. So, Jake and I loaded up in the van and left for urgent care. Thankfully it is only about 5 minutes from our house and they weren't very busy.
We arrived and got checked in and were taken back to see the doctor in about 15 minutes. The nurse cleaned off his head with some normal saline and gauze very gently. Then the doctor came in. He looked at the gash and decided he needed something to help it stay closed so it wouldn't keep bleeding. He came back in the room with all his supplies and Jake turned around on the table and laid down. I held his hands and the doctor gave him about 5 shots of Lidocaine to numb the area--Jake was such a trooper. All he kept saying was ow but he kept still. Once the area was numb, the doctor cleaned it a little more vigorously and I was able to see that it was a deeper gash that I originally thought--so I was very glad I took him. He produced a little miniature staple gun and after 5 staples the wound was closed. He even made sure to get all of his hair out of the way for the staples so we didn't have to cut any of it:-)
The nurse came back in with our instructions for caring for his head and also to put some antibiotic ointment on it. Then we were able to leave. I took Jake to Andy's for some frozen custard and we went home to show the kids his war wound:-)
I was able to gently wash around his staples last night to try to get some of the dried blood out of his hair so that he could go to school today with semi-normal hair:-) The first thing he did this morning was tell every child that came through the door that he got staples in his head:-) It's never dull around here!
I am thankful that this is the first time anyone in the family has needed this type of urgent care--God has been very faithful to take care of us.

6 months old!

Will, you are 6 months old today! I cannot believe half a year has already gone by since you were born--time is flying!

You are no longer on any medicine for your reflux and laryngomalacia. You are wearing 6-9 month and 6-12 month clothing--and it mostly fits:-) You wear a size 3 diaper. You take 2-3 naps a day--always swaddled. However, your daddy has started calling you Houdini because you have been kicking your legs out from the swaddle blanket. You have finally started sleeping more at night-the last few nights you have only woken up at 4-4:30 to eat.

You started baby food about 3 weeks ago--you have tried all the fruits and cereals, and most of the veggies. You really like sweet potatoes and carrots but really don't like peas:-) You have finally figured out how to eat from a spoon without spitting all of it out on your bib.

You have been drooling a ton the past month--I have bought you several teethers and you enjoy chewing on the a little bit but you mostly like your hands.

I have really been trying the past few weeks to get you on a better schedule--you are usually up by 7:30 and down for your first nap between 9 and 9:30. Your next nap is usually around 1 pm unless you sleep later in your 1st one. Then you may have another nap between 4 and 5pm, which only lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. Then it's bedtime between 7 and 8pm.

You still do not roll over, mainly because you absolutely hate to be on your stomach. Lately if I put you on it you pull your legs underneath you, so you might crawl before you roll over:-) You are really enjoying your jumping gym.

You LOVE hearing your brothers and sister and your face lights up whenever they come around you--you always have a smile for them, even if 1 second before you were fussing.

We love you so much and are amazed at how fast this time has gone with you. We look forward to many more fun months ahead.

Quick Post

I have a lot of posts that I want to write but have not had the time lately since we have had way too many days with all the kids and the hubby at home ( and more snow is expected this week--another 3-6 inches--we just got rid of all the stuff that fell the last time!) Anyway, just wanted to write down about Will's appointment today for my memory. He had an ENT appointment to check on his reflux and laryngomalacia. He did so well! He weighed 16.3 lbs and the effects of the laryngomalacia are just about gone--no more noisy breathing or choking when he eats. He snores every once in a while but nothing like before. The doctor wants to continue him on Zantac for 6 more weeks and then take him off and see how he does. We are supposed to go back and see him in 3 months for our final appointment. God is so good--no long term problems and he is almost done with medicine:-) More later! I have to go fix something for supper:-)

Happy 5th Birthday Jake!

Jake, you are 5 years old today! It doesn't seem possible that my 3rd baby is that old and will be heading off to kindergarten in August. Time has flown by! We had your well child check up today and you weighed 39 lbs (50th %) and were 43 inches (75%) tall. You love all things Toy Story 3 and Cars. You love playing with Emma and sometimes with Caleb:-) You love going to school and ask everyday if it is a school day (you go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). You have learned to write your name and can count up to 16. You are a very good eater and will usually eat anything put in front of you (except for roast and cubed steak--maybe a texture thing?) You are very helpful with your baby brother and love to hold him. You can dress yourself but still enjoy having help with your bath, washing your hair, and brushing your teeth. You go with the flow pretty well unless you really wanted to do something else. You have enjoyed learning to play video games this year--your favorites are on the DS and the playstation. You have some trouble staying in your bed at night--a process we are still working on. We tried a ticket system to get a toy at the end of 14 nights of staying in your bed, but after the 14 nights you were right back downstairs. You hate talking on the phone to anyone, including me. You also dislike when you have to have your hands dirty--especially if you have to touch something cold or sticky:-) You are a sweet little boy and I can't wait to see what exciting things God has in store for you this year--we love you Jakers!

5 months old

Will you are 5 months old today! Here are some highlights from the past month:

You had your first Christmas and didn't really know what to think--you actually slept through the older kids opening all their gifts and woke up about 8:30am. You didn't pay much attention to you gifts but enjoyed the company of both sets of grandparents that day.

I am not sure how much you weigh but you are starting to outgrow your 3-6 months clothing.

You tried rice cereal but really didn't seem to like it (like every other child). It seemed to upset your tummy so we are waiting to start it again until you are 6 months old.

You wear a size 2 diaper although I feel like we will move up a size before you are 6 months old.

We finally ordered your crib and put it up last Friday--you have been sleeping great in it. We are still waiting on your bedding.

Mom finally figured out that you would enjoy being swaddled for naps as well--the first day I swaddled you for a nap you slept for 3 hours.

You have been taking 2 good 2-3 hour naps each day since and still sleeping most of the night.

You have really been blowing raspberries this month--and drooling all over the place.

You have been spitting up more lately--I think due to the fact that you have outgrown the current dosage of Zantac you are on.

You are smiling a ton at your brothers and sister--all they have to do is start talking and you grin and grin.

You love your daddy--you missed him when he went to the Sugar Bowl ( he left on Saturday and didn't make it back home until Thursday)

You still hate tummy time but we are trying to get you to roll over so it is a must:-)

You were pretty high-maintenance this month until mommy figured out the nap problem.

We love you and can't wait to see what you do next Will!

Resolutions

Resolutions for 2011:

Listen more, talk less
Exercise
Eat better
Cut down on caffeine
Keep a prayer journal
Find a church in Columbia
Make friends in Columbia
Be less homesick for NWA
Do a better job of speaking my hubby's love language
Don't sweat the small stuff

Happy 2011 everyone! What are your resolutions?

Too much to do!

I am one tired momma:-) Christmastime always makes me more tired, but add baby who has suddenly stopped sleeping through the night and this momma is more than tired:-(. Here is all I have done over the past few weeks:

ordered gifts for all family members, even a few for myself

wrapped said gifts

bought more gift bags/tissue paper/etc

made 2 cakes with homemade frosting for class parties

bought sprinkles, m&m's , and treat bags for parties

made food for teacher gifts

bought gifts for teacher gifts

helped with a school science project

went up to the school to see daughter present said project

strained back getting youngest back into the car after viewing said project

bought all food for Christmas at our house this year

determined menu for Christmas and made list after list after list

made sure Santa had his ducks in a row for gifts this year

ordered shirts for Christmas cards

took pictures for Christmas cards

ordered cards

addressed and mailed out 50 plus cards

decorated the house for Christmas (with help from the kids and the husband)

made sure the kids were fed and bathed while everything was going on

laundry, laundry, laundry

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

moving furniture to make room for the tree

This is all that has gone on over the past few weeks in our home. I love Christmastime--it is my favorite holiday. I hope I don't sound ungrateful or like I am whining. I just want this to look back on to remind myself to START EARLIER next year:-) I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and remembers the true reason we celebrate!