We lucked out this morning and got to sleep an hour longer than we expected. We got up around 8:30 our time and planned to leave during Ayden's morning nap. This was our fifth road trip with Ayden and the way home was the best car ride of Ayden's little life. We put him in the car fed and sleepy but not yet asleep. He babbled for a little while and before we knew it he was silent. He slept for almost the ENTIRE 3 hour car ride! He did this once before, on the way to our family reunion, but we left around bedtime. This was the first nap he's ever taken that was longer than an hour and a half. The car ride was so peaceful. I drove and David read some of Mocking Jay to me. We also got to talk about all of the wonderful wedding festivities and other good stuff. When he finally woke up, he was in such a great mood after taking such a monster nap!
When we got home he had a lot to do... We ate a late lunch, made the meal plan/grocery list, went to pick up the pets (Polly is still doing GREAT!), dropped the pets off at home, went to the grocery, came back home, put the groceries away while we made dinner then ate dinner. By the time we were ready to start Auden's bedtime routine he was still in a good mood but it was late and our window for easy transition to sleep had closed. After his bath I tried to nurse him to sleep in our bed, since David was ready to go to sleep, but he kept rolling over and wanting to play with Polly who was under the covers.
"Guess what mom? I'm so sleepy that I'm not tired anymore!"
I brought him into his room and tried the glider because that usually can keep him still since there's not really anywhere to go but he kept getting up. I finally put him in his crib, turned his soother on, sat in the glider and started writing this post. He played in his crib for a while and when he was ready he stood up, reached for me and rubbed his eyes. The eye rubbing was just what I was looking for. It's a tell tale sign that my window had opened back up. He nursed right to sleep and is snuggled into me now.
I love having a baby and though I try to remind myself that there is no way to slow or stop this one way train, I can't help but realize that one day he won't want to snuggle with me and won't *need* me anymore. It can be hard or a little "inconvenient" during busy times, to have a little person depend on you for so much; but for the most part, I love that he needs/wants his mommy as much as he does. I try my best to savor every moment because these days will pass all too soon and I know I'll miss them so much! We love just letting him be a baby.
We are so proud of Ayden and how awesome he did this past weekend! He is such a trooper and despite his strong personality he was able to go with the flow and be very adaptable.
Tomorrow is "put the house back together day" because it is a WRECK. I also plan to finish switching out Ayden's clothes from summer 3-6 month to Fall/Winter 6-9 month. I can't wait to see all of the new wardrobe options that we have now!
I love weddings. Something about hearing the vows and witnessing a couple bringing their lives together to make their own little family is so special. It is all about love and happiness, aka rainbows and sunshine; and if you know me then you know that is right up my alley. David and I have always had a strong relationship but even so, weddings always remind us how important we are to one another.
David and Ayden had a daddy-son day today.
Getting ready for an exciting day!
I had to be at the hair salon at 9 am so they dropped me off and we parted ways. David got through lots of playing, two naps, three feedings and only one meltdown. They both survived the day and were both very happy to see me!
As for the girls, we got our hair done then headed to the hotel to get ready.
All dolled up
The beautiful bride!
We got to the church and had all of the pictures taken and took part in the beautiful ceremony. Everything came out perfectly and when it was over the mother of the bride said, with tears welling up in her eyes, "This was the wedding she has always dreamed of. It was just perfect." It must be wonderful to give that to your daughter. Poor David missed most of the ceremony because Ayden was making noises. He was happy, but noisy just the same. It's all part of being parents.
Our little family.
The reception was an awesome dance party! Ayden looked so cute in his little plaid hat and pants and, as always, was the talk of the town.
Dark picture but CUTE!
The receptionist at our hotel practically chased us down so she could get a better look. He was in a great mood and once all of my bride's maid's obilgations were complete (thus no more concern of a ruined dress) I snuggled my baby, fed him the bottle I had pumped right before the ceremony and he sunk into my arms and fell asleep. He spent the rest of the night sleeping on either David, my mom, or me or staring up at the dancing lights on the ceiling. David and I haven't had that much fun in a long time! If there's good music, we love dancing so whether we were holding Ayden or not we danced!
My boys!
I couldn't have wished for a better day for my friend on her wedding day. Everything was so perfect and I hope that their honeymoon is just as wonderful! Now, if only we could help Ayden understand the sleeping in portion of our agenda tomorrow... When you have a baby, the only problem with staying up late is that we typically wake up around 7:30am no matter what. Even if we are tired tomorrow it was all worth it and we'd gladly do it all again!
The car ride to Nashville was Ayden's best one yet! He slept for the first half, woke up and played with me a little,
Sharing his teether with me :)
got a little fussy, then went back to sleep. It was wonderful! Right before we left, David discovered that teeth #5 and 6 have made their appearance. No wonder Little Man was so fussy the past couple of weeks! It seems like his top front teeth just came in and he wasn't exhibiting any of the usual teething signs, besides the fussiness, so it didn't even cross our minds.
The rehearsal went well. As long as David kept Ayden moving, he was quiet so we are hoping that works during the ceremony tomorrow. If not, David will step out with him because there is nothing worse than a loud baby during an important ceremony!
After the rehearsal
Ayden looked SOOO cute in his little outfit. My phone died during the car ride (BOO) so I didn't get a good head to toe shot but he had his little tie shirt from my Gymboree sale haul, paired with Baby Gap jeans and shark Chucks that are hand-me-downs from his cousin (my sister gave me the 6-9 month bin!). It's fun to have a reason to get all dressed up.
After the rehearsal was, of course, the rehearsal dinner! Ayden has never been in a nice restaurant before so we weren't really sure how it would go. We got him a high chair and brought in his bib and he acted as though it is the only kind of dining he's ever known. He was quiet and cute and ate really well. The bib we brought has a pouch on the front to catch food when it falls. At home, the pouch is covered by the tray of his booster seat but he didn't have a tray tonight. Half way through the meal, he looked down and found a plethora of food that he got to eat all over again. It was pretty funny! Nashville is an hour behind us so dinner started a half hour after Ayden's bedtime at home. He was such a trooper but he did end up getting a little fussy and David held him and rocked him to sleep while the bridal party opened our gifts. Jessica gave me a photo book of pictures that span our 22+ year friendship, a beautiful wine glass, a sweet book with friendship quotes and a beautiful thank you note that brought tears to my eyes. She stood with me in my wedding and I am so happy to be standing with her on her special day.
We are all checked into our hotel, Ayden is tucked into bed and David is asleep with Family Guy on the TV. Traveling and hotels = indulging in TV :). Time to get my hubby and myself tucked into bed as well. Tomorrow is wedding day!
It seems as though the miracle I wished for has come true! I suppose Polly used one of her nine lives because she is getting better each day. She trotted into the kitchen this morning and even jumped onto the back of the couch and the kitchen counter (something we usually scold her for but today we celebrated). I called the vet that saw her on Tuesday and gave him the update and he was amazed. He said her saving grace was that it was only a partial clot so the tissue must have been getting *enough* blood flow to prevent permanent damage. He said she would probably have to stay on prednisone long term, which can lead to pancreatic problems down the road but that she really "dodged the bullet" this time. I'll need to do some more research on the effects of long-term steroid use but for now Polly is on the mend!! She's not quite back to her old self but everyday gets better.
Today was errand day and Ayden was a little ray of sunshine the whole time! He was smiling at and "talking" to anyone who looked his way and got lots of attention. When we got home he played so well while I made dinner and prepped food for the weekend. During this time, he learned how to open the cabinet doors. Goody!! It seems as though we have a little more child proofing to do on the few cabinets that house cleaners and breakables. He also was content enough for me to work on a very important craft project that I will share after this weekend (Jess and Adam's WEDDING weekend!!).
Mr. Social and myself at the mall :)
Ayden also said, "Dada" clear as day to David several times. I wanted to note it because this may mark his first word! We'll see how he increases doing it for David and decreases saying it randomly over the weekend. I have also noticed he is getting his tongue involved in his babbling and is adding some "L" sounds here and there. I just love listening to him babble!
The house is a wreck but today was a great day. Now that Ayden is in bed I'm going to clean up a bit, finish said craft and pack a little. I have most of the day tomorrow but I'll sleep better if things are organized.
Today was actually better for Polly. I think she has adjusted to her new mobility level for her hind legs so she came out a few times today, walking slowly, but she engaged in a few of her usual activities.
The usual: sunbathing, evading Ayden, eating and drinking.
I had to remind myself not to get my hopes up and that "it" is probably going to happen soon, but NOT today! I gave her the prescribed steroid pill, as well as her usual thyroid medicine, but I did not need to give her any of the pain medicine or fluids. Polly has been in my life since I was in the 8th grade and has been by my side through so much. She has made me laugh countless times, caught so many of my tears and has helped stress melt away just by purring in my lap and letting me stroke her soft fur. She has been such a wonderful companion and was my first "baby." She loves it when I sing, nap and pretty much everything else that I do. She is sitting on my lap right now and is just purring away. I am still not trying to get my hopes up but her back feet seem to feel warmer today. Almost normal... Yesterday they felt cold to the touch and they just don't feel that way today. Could the clot have disipated? Could she be in that "less than 10% chance?" Only time will tell and I am so happy that her quality of life doesn't seem to be hindered much at this point. I am also so happy that we are getting some more time together and that I was given a chance to really appreciate her again after yesterday's scary wakeup call. I still can't believe the vet encouraged me to euthanize her. I am so fortunate to have supportive family and friends, who encouraged me to trust in my instincts to give her a little more time and a chance. Whether it is your vet, peditritian or your own doctor, just because they are a "professional" doesn't mean they always know what is best for you, your children or your pets. Be an indipendent thinker, and if what they are recommending doens't feel right, do your own research, question them, get a second opinion, etc. You are your own best advocate!
In Ayden news, we are officially out of the "stormy period," according to Wonder Weeks and I could really tell today. Ayden still had some fussy periods here and there but he had some SUPER happy, even giggly periods too. Wednesdays are tricky because I teach dance until 6:30 and don't get home until after 7. By the time we have dinner, and get Ayden bathed and in bed, he's usually over tired and cranky because it's way past his bedtime. I have to wrestle him into his diaper and PJs and it takes him a while to fall asleep. The past couple of nights he's just sat quietly in his bath with sleepy eyes, talking quietly to his ducks and splashing with his washcloth. He gave me sweet smiles as I gave him his lotion massage and got him ready for bed. Then he nursed right to sleep, no fussing involved. He also ate a TON at dinner so I'm hoping that full belly right before bed will last him a while. It seems that chicken is his new favorite meat. He still loves to suck/chew on steak and pork but he actually eats chicken. Sleeping has gotten better lately but now that we are out of the stormy period it should get awesome! How do you like that positivity and enthusiasm? We shall see just how awesome it gets but if any baby can put the research behind Wonder Weeks to the test, it is Ayden!
Sometiems I can't help but step back and analyze Ayden from a professional standpoint. He has made some serious social, cognitive and physical jumps recently. He has been practicing his standing for a while, but now we can add climbing:
and assisted walking to the list:
He is beginning to mimic our sounds (raspberries, fake coughing, lip smacking, mama, dada, mmmba and ahda are his favorites) along with locating familiar items when prompted (light, duck, dog/Maverick, cat/Polly, his boy bits, Mommy, Daddy). He has become fascinated with noses and other children. He is our smart boy!
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day of weekend trip preparations!
Getting into trouble today!
We've mastered sock pulling and climbing...
I was so relieved when Polly greeted me as usual this morning and ate every bite of her breakfast. Ayden and I went to Hip Hop Hustle this morning but it didn't last very long. After about 15 minutes the gal who was watching him brought him in and he was sniffling and trying to catch his breath. The poor baby had snot and tears running down his face so I scooped him up and told him it was okay and that we'd try again next time. He had fallen asleep on the way there so I was thinking it might not work out but then we walked through the door and he became Mr. Social, passing out smiles all around, so that made me think he'd be fine. He fell back to sleep before we were even out of the shopping center so he just must have needed an early morning nap.
When we got home and he woke up, we took Mav for a long walk and then went up to Ayden's room to play.
While we were in there, Polly came out of our bedroom and did not look good. She was sort of dragging her hind legs and collapsed, panting right in front of me. My heart broke for her as the severity of the situation sunk in. I thought surely today would be the day I would lose her.
David called Little Miss' mom for me to get some advice (she owns a pet store) and she said it sounded systematic and that I should take her to a vet right away. I called my mom and she came to hang with Ayden while I took my sweet Polly to the vet.
The prognosis is not good. She has a blood clot that is greatly decreasing circulation to her legs. As time passes the tissue in her hindquarters will begin to die from lack of proper blood flow which will become painful and cause further paralysis. The vet told me that there was nothing they could do to treat the clot and that there is only a 10% chance that the clot would dissolve on its own. He gave me two options: 1) admit her so they can give her fluids and pain medication while we wait it out or 2) euthanize her.
I chose my own, third option. I requested pain medication that I could administer myself and brought her home. I got a bag of fluids from Little Miss' mom and she taught me how to administer those myself as well. As of right now, Polly isn't in pain and she is still rubbing on my fingers like she always has. As long as there is a spark in her eyes, and no pain, she'll be in the comfort of her own home and we'll have a little more time together.
Hanging in there...
Who knows, a miracle could happen but I'm not getting my hopes up. I will give her pain medication as needed to keep her comfortable and will make further decisions when/if her condition worsens. Today was a very emotionally exhausting day and I am ready for tomorrow.
Life is so precious. We need to live each day as of it is our last with those that we love. Are you?
I didn't take any pictures today which is crazy... It was rainy and gloomy day so I suppose I was uninspired. Ayden and I spent the day in comfy clothes putting the house back together, room by room, after our whirlwind of a weekend. I also began the process of transitioning his closet from 3-6 month clothes to 6-9 month clothes.
Oh how I wish there was consistent sizing across brands! It seems more generic/cheaper brands (Circo, Faded Glory, Granimals, etc) run the smallest, brands like Carters and Old Navy seem to be right on weight range wise, and fancier brands like Baby Gapand The Children's Place run big. The only fancy brand that is not consistent with this is Gymboree which runs small until you hit 6 months. Then, instead of 6-9 months, the sizing jumps to 6-12 months... What's up with that? Though Gymboree is expensive and we haven't purchased anything there at full price, we have gotten gifts and hand me downs from there and the 0-3 month and 3-6 month clothes fit Ayden really well. It seems that the clothes there fit thinner babes well. My sister hated their baby clothes because she had chunky babies so the clothes never fit right. Just goes to show that different brands fit babies differently. Perhaps that is why they are all so different. Maybe the head designers from each brand have one type of baby in mind. Anyway, the fact that some of the 3-6 month clothes still fit is making the transition drag out forever. I remember when I switched from 0-3 to 3-6 I finally just put everything away, even if it still fit, because I needed the space that the tubs were taking up. I can't do that as quickly this time because we haven't gotten my nephews 6-9 month tub of hand me downs yet so we don't have very many clothes yet. We got some stuff from our friends over the weekend, which will help, but I'll probably keep supplementing his current 6-9 month wardrobe with the bigger 3-6 month stuff until we get the tub from my sister. Now that my niece's birthday party is over, perhaps she'll have time to dig it out for us.
The afternoon was rough for Ayden. He was clingy and fussy and right when I got dinner started he just did not want to be put down. When David got home he got even worse. We put dinner on hold and started trouble shooting to find the source of the problem because we could tell that something was hurting him. Come to find out, he had a poopy diaper and something (a food) in the poop had irritated his bottom. He hasn't had any new foods recently so we aren't sure what caused it and will have to be on the lookout. I just stripped his diapers so it couldn't have be ammonia burns and I had just put him in a fresh diaper about an hour earlier so he didn't have it on for too long. His poop is still transitioning since he still nurses often so it doesn't always stink. It is possible he pooped without any of the usual signs right after I changed it without me knowing. Either way, the poor little guy was very unhappy!
Once we figured it out, gave him some airtime and put on some soothing coconut oil, he cheered right up and ended the evening doing what he does best these days. Standing practice!
He is seriously going to be taking steps before we know it... Slow. It. Down!
On another topic: Polly, our cat, hasn't been herself the past couple of days. Her appetite has been decreased and she spent the WHOLE day under our bed today. Ayden and I ran to Kroger to get her the cheap/junky food that she loves but I never feed her and luckily she ate most of that. At this point in her life (she is 14) she can eat whatever she wants as long as she's eating! She ended up coming out while David and I did some yoga after Ayden was in bed. She had always loved yoga time so I suppose she couldn't resist. I was so relieved when she curled up, purring, next to my mat. I love her so much and need for her to stay as young and spritely as possible until things slow down enough for me to really enjoy her again. I have to admit that my worry for her made the afternoon rough. All I wanted to do was snuggle up with her and make her feel better but I had to just leave her under the bed and be a mommy. It is very rare that I ever want to put being a mommy on pause but I did feel that way for a little while today. Hopefully the new food will put some pep back in her step.
