Turning 2

Gavin turned 2 in June. Since then these are things that have changed about him: *He sleeps in a toddler bed- this was not by our choice but by his own choice of LEAPING from his crib when it was night-night time. It got so dangerous, the thoughts of having to take care of 2 infants and a toddler with a broken neck made me want to puke...so toddler bed it was! Since the toddler bed transition, he has slept: in our bed, next to Prints' cage (in Gavin's room), Gavin's bed (temporarily until sleeping in the other places listed), next to the entertainment center in the living room, on the wood floor outside our bedroom door. *He no longer addresses his parents by mama and dada (unless asked to repeat something in that form to one of those parents)- it is now Mom and Dad. For instance: Don't Mom, Don't Dad. No Mom, No Dad. *His "no" has changed. Since I have been home his no changed from no to nonononono. That drove me CRAZY. I told him that one no would be just as effective. Now, his no can be any of these (by his own creation): No. Nawwww. Nuh uh. *He rolls his eyes. Favorite foods: Tacos, gushers, fruit snacks, gummie bears (his vitamin) Some random stories or things he says: BIG DIGGER RIGHT THERE! HUGE! Dirty wheels (tires) Naughty trucks (cars) grass Too heavy, far Where did that ______ (mama, daddy, Prints, baby, anything else) go? There it is, right there. (Us: What do you want for Breakfast/dinner?) Tacos MONSTER TRUCKS! Door open? (He has this huge thing with doors recently) Scared water. Big Boom. Crash. Boats. Peoples in water. Splash. (he goes on and on about this particular thing...I don't even know where it comes from but it is always the same story) Smells good (smelling something freshly cleaned) All better (when a ouchy is healed or kissed) Yes, Sir. Nice 'n Cool (this was something Brandon said when it was hot in here and he had the air off and that he would turn it off so it would be 'nice n cool'...he said it once and now Gavin says it all the time) Bye- see you next time _____ (insert name) Good boy! & Watch out, Watch out!(He says this every time Prints comes in the house from going potty and he runs into the living room while yelling watch out) Alright, that's all I have now. Busy Busy.

A Mothers Sacrifice

I am beginning to understand a bit more of what my title of being a mother means. I know I would gladly give my life for my children, no questions asked. Every day that passes makes me feel guilty more and more for what I feel like I have done...by choosing our unborn children over my only born child. In retrospect I know he is well taken care of by his father and grandparents but it feels still like I have abandoned my only first born. I also feel like I have given up my relationship with my husband and abandoned my dog (as much of a pain he is). I feel alone. I hate when they visit me because I know soon they will leave again. There are no words or advice anyone can give me to make me not feel this way. 17 days left until the babies are born, gives me no comfort... especially with the month or so of their NICU stay to follow. Another sacrifice is my freedom. I have been here for 6 weeks on Thursday with 2 more weeks to go. These have been the longest 6 weeks of my life. During this time I have had several days where I cried for hours, wanting to just go home or go somewhere else...anywhere. There have been days of achievement: scrapbooking, games, crochet (seriously I learned a little the other day). I have read 6.5 books (The Hunger Games series, Shades of Grey series and parts of others) and several magazines. I'm allowed to leave my room on foot but there's only so many places inside the hospital to go. I had to sacrifice my food. I'm not going to boo hoo about gestational diabetes but I will say when you are limited to the same things to eat for.this many weeks without it being your choice... I think anyone could understand. My pregnant friends can probably relate. Try waking up at 5am and waiting Til 8:30am before eating anything. This is my life. Same food every day. Today, I tried to eat something off the regular daily breakfast and was immediately stopped and ordered my regular breakfast and when that arrived and I didn't eat it, it became a huge issue. I spent the morning crying. I have other sacrifices but they are pretty superficial: happiness, my body, my sanity at times.

28 weeks and counting

Let me just start this by saying it is difficult to write this right now. Not only am I having to sit in the hospital lobby but I have my Fire propped up on my stomach and the babies are playing footsy with it...along with feeling hiccips in my butt (only mom's can relate AND/OR make such statements). Anyways, I know it has been a while since blogging last. Besides the complaints many have read or commented on, not much else goes on around here. This is my prison. Every day is basically the same as the day before only sometimes I have visitors. My day consists of: waking up to someone poking my finger at 6am due to gestational diabetes, my resident Dr swings by around 6:30am to listen to my heart and push on my legs to check for swelling (there hasn't been any swelling), around 7:35-8am breakfast comes (my diet is limited to 1/2 cup scrambled eggs, 2 pieces of toast that is barely toasted, 2 pieces of sausage. Two days of the week I get French toast-2 pieces and another day is 1 blueberry pancake), they do my vitals before I eat and give me the prenatal vitamin and the nurse asks me if I'm having contractions or anything (no), I shower after eating then get put on the NST for 20 min (sometimes a resident Dr does an ultrasound to find the heart locations of each baby but as of recently the babies are generally in the same spot- baby a is on the right is head down and the presenting baby, baby b is on the left and is sometimes resting his head on baby a's head or chest), 2 hours after breakfast they check my blood sugar again, 11:30 is lunch, 2 hours later they check my blood sugar and might do vitals, my Dr here visits sometime in the afternoon to discuss the NST tests, free time between 12-5:30, dinner at 5:30, vitals and blood sugar test 7:30, night nurse routine (contractions, etc), NST test around 9pm, last vitals around 10, then sleep. Weekly I get weighed because of my diet. I have gained 2 lbs since being in here. I'm not ashamed to say I have gained 30 lbs this pregnancy. Last week the babies weighed 2.4lbs and 2.12lbs. Next week we get another growth scan to see how much of a difference their weights will be. Not much else is going on...just counting down the days.

Rip My Heart Out

Today, I actually stood there doing dishes crying. I probably would have been bawling my eyes out if Brandon wasn't sitting in a chair across from where I was standing- looking at me like I was crazy. I don't know what it has been about today but I feel like my heart is going to burst at any moment. 


It was a normal day for us. We took the boys (Brandon and Gavin obviously) for haircuts. Gavin was great. He didn't cry. He interacted with the hairdresser. He commented on the Dr. Seuss movie that was playing. Everything went awesome and he looks so good with his new haircut. The hairdresser commented on how good he was and kept complimenting him. Afterwards, we went to Walmart to return somethings and the cashier also commented on how sweet Gavin was. 


Let me start back at the beginning of the day. Every day that Brandon wakes up at home and doesn't work (his 2nd day home basically), he will go and get Gavin out of bed and change him so that I don't have to do it. And every day that he does this, Gavin comes running into my room saying "Mom! Mom!" and my heart actually swells (well, maybe not actually but it feels like it). He climbs up in the bed next to me and I say "Good Morning" and he whispers "Good Morning" back to me. 


Ok..now we can go back to where I was before... so anyway- we got home and ate lunch and everyone took naps (yes, that is how we roll around here). When we woke up to Gavin crying, Brandon again went to get him from his nap and I laid in bed for a few minutes. That is...until I heard Gavin crying "Mom? Mom!" My heart breaks. Brandon was on the couch trying to get him calmed down watching cartoons and Gavin just kept crying and saying "MOM..." So, I went out and got him and sat with him for a while. He cuddled up to me and made me smile even though my heart was breaking. 


Then, we went to the store and came home and Gavin and Brandon spent time outside and I spent time inside by myself. Gavin opened the front door and said "Mom?" and I hid. He closed the door and was back outside. Soon he had the door open again saying "Mom? Mommmm" I came out from hiding and asked what he wanted and then asked if he wanted me to come outside and he nodded. He puts his little hand in mine as we walk back outside. Eventually we had to come back inside. I started some dishes. Brandon cleaned the tile and started laundry. Brandon turned the Pandora radio on the DVD player and blasted Disney music and Gavin danced. He danced on the floor...he danced on the couch. I cried. 


When Brandon gives Gavin a bath, he first puts him on the potty to try to get him to use it. I hear "Mom! Mom!" When Gavin is in the bath tub, I hear "Mom!" When bath time is over, I hear "Mom!" And then to top it off tonight, Brandon went to read books with Gavin (which is what we do before bedtime...I do it while Brandon is working and the first night Brandon is home and he does it the night before he leaves for work) and Gavin ran out of the room to come see me. He didn't want to read books with his dad. He wanted me. He cried. I felt like crying. Eventually Brandon got him in the bedroom without me in there but Gavin cried as he was taking him in there. 


Why am I crying? What is breaking my heart? I have to leave my son who I have spent virtually every day (minus like literally 7 days) of his life with in less than 2 weeks. In less than 2 weeks I may spend 8 weeks away, only seeing him maybe once or stretching it- twice a week for only a few hours each visit. It's really starting to hit home and I will guess more and more tears will be coming. I feel like crying just saying this now. There is nothing I can do about this either. It's for the best for our unborn babies but for my son who is already here and attached to me... my heart breaks. 

21 Weeks and 3 Weeks Left of Freedom

Well, nothing really exciting happening lately. I am feeling lots of kicks, from many directions. Sometimes they kick at the same time...sometimes it starts with one, then they alternate. It's actually pretty amazing. 


We are doing some home projects (still) like building a fence, finishing our guest room, "mowing" the grass and planting grass. It's all coming along very nicely. Well...that's all I have to say. Short and sweet. 

21 weeks

19 weeks (19.4) and a Month of FREEDOM

We went to our 19 week appointment this week with the OB and everything was still great. He measured my stomach and it measures at 24 weeks (if that gives you an idea of how huge I feel). This is normal for twin pregnancies. Baby A was breech and Baby B was head down- literally with his feet on Baby A's face. Aww...brotherly love. 


I feel pretty good though, besides feeling large. I don't get nauseous really anymore but I still have food aversions though sometimes I am too hungry to care.  Sometimes I can't really stand and have to bend over (hands on knees) to talk but I chalk that up to all the weight in the front. Did I mention I feel huge? Cuz I do. And it will only get worse!


We picked out names! Yep. Only took a few days to figure out what was best but we did. With Gavin, I thought I would forget his name since we really didn't say it much before he was born, because it was a secret. Now that we have TWO babies to know names of...I'm leaning more towards wanting to tell people. 


Here is a picture of 19.4 weeks:

And....their names are William Michael Kludt (Will) and Nathan Lee Kludt (Nate)

An Analogy for our MoMo Pregnancy

Fraternal Twins are basically like this: The babies have their own apartments (sacs) with their own kitchen (placentas).


Monoamniotic Dichorionic aka MoDi (Identical twins): The babies have their own hotel rooms with their own beds (sacs) but must eat at the same restaurant (share placenta). 


Monoamniotic Monochorionic aka MoMo (Identical twins):  The babies basically have a studio apartment. They share a bedroom (sac) and kitchen (placenta). 

39 days until inpatient

39 days does not seem that long...and then again, it feels like forever. In "39 days" (give or take a few depending on what the doctors decide), I will leave my home for a possible 10 week stay in the hospital. Most of you who have had children before or had hospital stays can not imagine being at the hospital this long...I can't either. But, I will say that I hope I do stay 10 weeks, that means the best for our boys. 


Some of my FB people wonder what it is like to be pregnant with twins at 18 weeks (well, this is 18.3 weeks) and I will tell you... it's probably a lot like being 25 weeks with just one baby. Our last doc appointment (3/14), the babies were each 8oz, which is right on track and perhaps a little more than "average."  So, against my husbands will, I am going to post a picture of what it looks like...at 18.3 weeks pregnant with twins (the second pregnancy around).

And on that note... my pizza is done. :) 

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

What does it look like to be pregnant with twins at 15 weeks? Here... I will show you:

Not impressed?

Recent cravings:

Meat (this isn't recent but it's what I like) Mostly... beef and bacon...some venison. Not very much chicken unless it's with honey mustard or it's bdubs...or chinese.

Chocolate ice cream with peanut butter spoonfuls in it (this is just recently as of last week)

Salad that I can make myself (mostly just restaurant style...I am too lazy to have all those ingredients just chilling in my fridge waiting for me to eat a salad)

Fried egg sandwiches with cheese and miracle whip on toasted bread

Bacon and/or sausage- dipped in syrup (also toast dipped in syrup)

Sausage and cheese kolaches (this had been a must from the beginning)

Yellow cake with chocolate frosting

Pizza and garlic planks (from a local place)

Taco meat (I could care less about the rest of the toppings) and cheese

Bagels and cream cheese (strawberry on plain or plain on cinnimon raisin)

Split pea soup (I haven't had any yet but I want some) I tried to eat this today and I opened the can and about puked so... nope.


Dislikes:

Most any candy- I just don't have the urge to eat candy really

The smell of Gavin's milk cups or the kitchen sink

Prints' dog food...yuck. Smells gross

Mac and Cheese... (Velveeta)

Chicken in all other forms than listed above

Poptarts

Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches

The list goes on...

The PLAN

Yesterday, I received a phone call from my OB with "the plan." He told us at our last appointment that he would get on the phone and talk to his perinatal friend (Dr Charlie Brown... funny right?) and come up with the best plan for us for our situation. So here it is:

Dr. Brown suggested that I need an ultrasound every 2 weeks starting now until 24 weeks (viability). This is every 2 weeks at the Texas Perinatal Group (TPG) because their ultrasounds are more hi-tech and can measure cord flow and other things that can let us know if something is wrong.

On top of every 2 weeks seeing the TPG, I will still be going every 2 weeks to my regular OB. I am guessing I should stagger these appointments or that will be 2 doc appointments in the same week every 2 weeks. My OB is still measuring my weight (yuck!) and other things they normally do for a regular pregnancy...along with more ultrasounds (just mostly to check for heartbeats and measurements).

If all is well at 24 weeks, I will be admitted to Breckenridge hospital in downtown Austin until the babies are delivered via c-section. 24 weeks starts April 25th. (HOLY SMOKES! 9 weeks away!) What this means is I will be admitted to the hospital- for the entire duration of the rest of the pregnancy. Technically as I have researched, these momo babies are delivered between 24 weeks and 34 weeks depending on how their vitals are inside. We will welcome our twins between April 25 and July 4th (maybe a day or 2 afterwards).

Breckenridge hospital is where Dr. Brown works and they have a perinatal doctor at the hospital 24 hours a day so it is our safest bet.  If there is any cause for concern that the babies need to be born early (I will be monitored possibly 3 times a day to check their vitals) then the hospital will contact my OB and he will come do a c-section immediately. This could quite possibly be a very long stay in the hospital for me..and probably a long stay for our babies after they are born. Many babies born before 34 weeks measure 4lbs and under. I have read some born at the 24 week mark are only a little over a pound. It is a bit scary but we are going to grow these babies the best we can... they are already measuring a week ahead!

On that note... where is some meat I can eat...?

Momo Babies and what you need to know (or what I know)

Our identical twins are in the same sac which means they are Monoamniotic (Monoamniotic-Monochorionic). Basically, when the egg travels down into the uterus and does it's doubling, the egg split instead of just doubling, giving us 2 babies. Depending on how early the egg splits, you get 2 babies each in their own sacs- attached to the same placenta, 2 babies in the same sac- attached to the same placenta, or 2 babies conjoined together and attached to the same placenta. This all happens in the matter of days. The first stage is the first 3 days, the next the following few days and the last at the very last moment before attaching to the uterine wall. Monoamniotic twins are rare, with an occurrence of 1 in 35,000 to 1 in 60,000 pregnancies, corresponding to about 1% of twin pregnancies. 


The dangers of this pregnancy are: cord compression and entanglement or also the Twin to Twin Syndrome. Cord entanglement happens when the babies are able to move around without any boundaries between them and the cords are wrapping around each others cords and making knots and twists. This can cause restrictions in the cord, cutting off nutrients and blood supply to one or both babies. (Let me just say right now, I got to see a ball of umbilical cords inside at our last ultrasound and it made me ill) Twin to Twin Syndrome is when one twin gets more blood and nutrients than the other twin. One twin can become much larger than the other twin while the other twin remains the same because it isn't getting what it needs to grow. It can be dangerous for both twins getting too much blood or not enough. If one twin dies at this point, the toxins from the baby will be released into the amniotic fluid and can cause mental retardation in the living baby (this is only the case after the baby is around 20 weeks or more).  


Right now, we wait. We go into the doctor next Monday at 13 weeks, 5 days. We get ultrasounds every doctors appointment. We visit our OB again on February 27th (we go every 2 weeks). We return to the specialist (in Austin) on March 1st at which point we are 16 weeks. The specialist will look again at the babies and check to make sure they are both doing well. From that point on it is either a weekly or bi-weekly visit to both my OB and the specialist (separately). At 23 or 24 weeks they will determine when the babies are viable- which means one or both would likely survive being born if they had to be. Depending on what we decide, I can be admitted to the hospital from 24 weeks on to have the babies monitored a few times a day- OR- I could do outpatient monitoring, in which case I would have to drive to Austin every day and be monitored for a few hours and go home and return...every day until 34 weeks or whenever they decide to deliver. Momo babies are ALWAYS delivered early because of restricted space. We have to think that we might have these babies as early as April 25th (24 weeks) and as late as July 4th (34 weeks). 


That's about all the info I have for you now. Feel free to ask me questions if you have any and I will try to get them answered as best as I know. 

Living without the "P"

Did I mention in the blog post before this that when we arrived at our house and stepped inside- IT. WAS. AWESOME! I mean, I cleaned the hell out of this place before we left so when we got home it was so great...SOOOOO GREAT! Anyway-- 



Brandon and I have started to refer to the pacifier as the "P" as of our arrival back home from Michigan. Since we were all deathly sick (I say deathly but I know- it could have been worse I guess...maybe.), Brandon and I decided that we would just take the P away. Gavin's nose was stuffed up and so when he used the P, he had to basically have it hanging out of his mouth so he could breathe so we thought we would just take it away now while he couldn't really use it. 

I'm not sure how to put it lightly but EUREKA! I mean, Gavin was already whiny and crying about being sick (I'm sure as much as MY throat hurt, his did too) so we could barely notice the crying about not having the P around anymore. We had them on the counter to be washed (I'm not sure why we washed them...maybe in case we were to give in?) and eventually DID wash them but we never gave in. Not once. The last time Gavin had a P was November 24th right before he got a bath that night. It took me until last night to dig out all the P's and throw them in the garbage. It made me a little sad to let that part of him go but I guess better now than later. 


So, the first few days were rocky without the P. I don't know if it was more the fact that I so very much wanted to give in sometimes because he just cried so much (not sure it was all P related but the easy solution would have been to give in and give it to him)! But now, he talks so much more. He says things like rain, no, bye, uh-oh, oh man, "whats that" or is that, hi (with waving ALL the time), don't, now, more, pa-tah (peanut), water...basically anything you say, he tries to copy the words. I try to sound them out for him and the way he says things sometimes..cracks me up. He also has begun dancing like a fool since his dad charged an old cell phone and I pulled up the ringtones. Brandon showed him once how to play the song over and it was all over with after that. Over and over and over the songs get played and more dancing and dancing. 


 Before we decided to take the P away Gavin usually would point to the counter or just cry and we would toss one down or plug one in and be set with him being quiet..sucking his P and twirling his hair. Now days, I hate to tell everyone who knows Gavin but...he doesn't really twirl his hair anymore. That's right. As soon as we took away the P...his hands don't twirl- not his hair, not mine. A few weeks ago I would have given my left foot for him not to twirl/pull my hair anymore but now it makes me sad. I used to pick him up after my shower and he would run his hands through my hair but now that he is a "big boy" who doesn't use his P anymore... apparently he doesn't want to do this anymore. I used to pick him up when he was tired and he would twirl my hair around his fingers and rest his head on my shoulder- no more. I mean, not even his own hair! As most family (and friends) know, if you put that P in his mouth his hands went straight into his own hair, picking and twirling... no more. 


Yesterday he did take a nap with me and twirl my hair a bit and it made me smile but that has been the only twirling since removal of the P. 


R.I.P. Pacifier aka Paci aka "P"  and to Gavin being a baby...no more. He is a big boy :) Below are some of his pictures from recently- being a big boy.

Who needs toys when you have an ice cream bucket!?

Teaching this boy to clean now...while he likes to do it! ;)

Gavin hitching a ride

Our Vacation

November 8-22nd we visited family and friends in Michigan (well, mostly Brandon went for deer hunting). We drove straight through, leaving home at 8:30am on the 8th and arriving in Michigan at Brandon's parents at 11am on the 9th. Yes, with Gavin. And yes, we brought the dog. My mom stopped by to drop some toys off for Gavin to play with so we didn't have to bring a bunch with us- which was a bonus.

November 11th- Brandon, Gavin and I were "sleeping" (Gavin originally was in the other room but woke up bright and early- let's say 4:30am and we brought him back to bed with us) around 6am and Prints woke up in his cage YELPING like he was being killed and he just kept on screaming and screaming. Brandon and I were shocked and didn't know what to do, Gavin was crying his eyes out (it was very loud and scary). I decided the best option would be to take the dog outside but Prints couldn't really walk and just laid there on the deck outside. Brandon's dad was going to substitute teach so he was already warming up the car (It's Michigan- It was FREEZING!) so he was trying to help Prints off the deck to use the bathroom and Prints screamed and actually nipped at him- which is unlike Prints.

With everyone awake now, Brandon and I decided the best option was to take him into the MSU Veterinary Hospital to find out what was wrong with him. Of course Prints jumps right up in the truck like nothing is wrong and rides quietly all the way to the hospital and jumps out of the car and doesn't display any of his earlier discomfort for the strange doctors at the Vet Hospital. The doctors don't know what is wrong with the dog, they give him some xrays and some medication and we picked Prints up later in the evening (Cha-Ching $700+ later). 

We got pictures taken while Prints was in the Hospital. This was planned weeks before so we couldn't really reschedule. They turned out pretty good. We hadn't had Gavin's picture professionally taken before and now I remember why. haha (You had to be there!)

After all of this, Brandon and I actually got to go out and spend some time alone together. We went out to Cafe Sports and drank away our sorrows for the day with Long Islands..and whatever else beer Brandon was drinking.

November 12th- I took Gavin over to my friend Katie's house so he could play with the girls. It was great visiting with Katie and the girls and Gavin enjoyed playing with Morgan's hair but mostly he liked their dog, Sassy. Go figure. Oh and Logan is just adorable. Gavin and her...well...you know. They are going to love each other someday, whether he likes it or not.

November 13th- Brandon, his dad and his dad's friend Don all heading up to Beaver Island to prepare for hunting and I took Gavin over to my mom's for the day. I stopped over at Katie's for some girl chat, KID-LESS! After a while I left to go check on the dog (since he is on pills and such I have to make sure he takes them at a certain time and yadda yadda). I went to Logan's hockey practice at 3:00pm. It was nice to be able to watch him without having to watch Gavin. After that I went to pick up Gavin from my moms. My mom and Darrell took Gavin outside to play in the grass. He ran up and down the big hill at her house and learned to "SHHH" the dogs. After that, I made a quick swing by Jessica's parents house so Gavin could again- ignore the humans and play with the dogs. 

November 14th- I took Gavin over to my friend Stephanie's house to play with her son, Logan. Logan is 3 years old and didn't understand why Gavin wasn't talking to him. It was so cute. Gavin enjoyed watching Logan throw the nerf balls in the air and again- Gavin was interested in the dogs and the cat. (Mad that I forgot to take pictures!)

When we got back (on the 14th), Prints was not acting normal. He was yelping like crazy, EVEN on all the drugs they sent us home with for him. I packed up Gavin and the dog and finally took a video of Prints when he was crying out in pain to show the doctors in the event he wouldn't be acting the same when we arrived at the Vet Hospital. I didn't need the video though because Prints needed a gurney to even get out of the truck. Again- xrays and an overnight stay and no answers. ($400) They sent us home with more pills (not enough to last us even to the end of our 2 week vacation) and told us Prints needed an MRI ($800) and if the MRI showed something damaged or out of place...he would need surgery ($2500-3500). We opted not to do the MRI.

November 15th- I don't think we did anything at all this day. 

November 16th- I went to work! That's right. For the second year in a row I have went back to my old job in Michigan to help them with the end of the year things the secretary would do...if they had one. It was nice to be back in my old position, chatting with the interesting people that come in there and hanging out with my mom. 

November 17th- Gavin and I went to the mall. I had a store I wanted to go to so we just used this time off to do this while waiting for my friend Jessica to get around to come out to lunch with us. We met her up at Cancun (restaurant) and Gavin acted out and seemed like he was sick. Jessica and I still got to spend a little time together and chat and catch up.

We went back and took a nap. Both of us started feeling a bit sick, stuffy nose/runny nose...

November 18th- Gavin and I went to Meijer to get some items to make Grandma's Macaroni Salad. Later in the evening, I started making the salad and had a bunch of left over macaroni noodles left and I asked Pam (my mother in law) what I should do with them. Pam told me to put them through the garbage disposal. I said no. Last time I did that (in Austin), we plugged up the sink and had to take it apart. So, she took the noodles and started putting them in the disposal and guess what happened. I KID YOU NOT! Plugged the sink. Hilarious. Eventually she got it unplugged, after a few hours. After Gavin went to bed, I swung over to my sisters house to drop off the salad.

[Let me just say that since Prints went to the vet the last time, he was sequestered to his cage- a cage my mom brought over and is not to leave the cage for any reason but to use the bathroom- doctors orders]

November 19th- Got up early and headed up north to visit Gavin's great-grandpa's. First stop was Great Grandpa Moon (my mom's dad). Gavin has never met him before so it was a treat for both of them. Gavin was playing with the chairs and a stool- which he tipped over on its top and then tripped and caught himself in the cheek with one of the metal legs. Oh well, that's what I get for having a boy. :)  

After that visit- we zipped over to Great Grandpa McMasters (aka Grandpa Peanut- my dad's dad). We got together with Jamie, Kevin, Logan, Kris (dad's gf), my dad and my grandpa for a "Thanksgiving dinner." Dinner was great and it got late and we stayed the night. Gavin had a great time with Logan, playing and dancing...jumping off the beds. You know, boy stuff. 

November 20th-We left early in the morning to head home. Pam watched the dog for us while we were gone- pilled him and took him outside. In anticipation for Brandon's arrival that day, we stuck around the house. We were still sick from the days before and were trying to lay low. While waiting for Brandon to get there from up north, I took a shower and heard Pam and Gavin saying Boom Boom Boom! When I came out, Pam said she heard shots across the street (state land- people hunt) and out of the woods came this doe falling into the road and it laid there. It was so sad and gross. Then it got up on its elbows and knees tried to run again and landed in the driveway- of Pam's house! Then it got up and crawled again and again and finally got around the side of the house and was trying to hide in some trees. Pam told the hunter he couldn't shoot it on her property so she called the Sheriff's office to come shoot the deer. It wasn't long before the cop came and did the deed. It was so disgusting. 

The guys got back around 6pm and took their "winnings" out to the garage and while Gavin was asleep...I met up with Katie and Jessica at Cafe Sports. It was great! I miss the girls so much. We have so many hilarious stories. Ahh- I wish I could visit with them more. 

November 21st- Packing Day! Well, packing and gutting deer day. My mom got out of work early and met Gavin and I up at the mall to return/exchange what I had bought days previous to this. We ate lunch and my mom got to act silly with Gavin while I got to shop. WIN WIN! After that, we left and went back to packing. Pack. Pack. Pack. Later that night after the deer were all in pieces and the suitcases were sitting by the door, my mom and her boyfriend Darrell brought pizza over and Jamie and Logan came over too. We all visited and said our goodbyes. 

November 22nd- On the road again. We were packed up and on the road by 9am. This time we stopped at a  hotel mid-way in Missouri. It was a long trip with EVERYONE sick. I mean, snot and coughing and sore throats. Seriously, sick. 

November 23rd- We got home at...well- November 24th at 12:30am. It was a long LONG day of driving. With everyone being sick, I think it felt like the longest drive ever. It was better in my eyes on the drive up- straight through. But we made it. And here we are...still sick. The dog... still not ok. My hands..hurting from typing this story. 

That is it. I am going to bed.N

Our Adventures in Cloth Diapers!

So, we made the leap into cloth diapering... a little late but never-the-less- we leaped. We decided to go the cloth diaper route after using Pampers Cruisers and hearing about the formula change in the diapers (apparently the Baby Dry was causing blistering in babies- but not Gavin). Once we got a LARGE box of the Pampers Cruisers (minus the Baby Dry now) we started to notice something was up with Gavin's diapers. He started to get really rashy and then they would blister. This happened twice before we called it quits with Pampers and onto Gro-Via (cloth diapers- hybrid!)! 


We have 5 shells, 12 snap in soakers (what the baby poops/pees on) and 4 boosters (for overnight or whenever you need more pee soaking up power!)- along with a bag of biosoakers (which are like a woman's pads- for babies- throw them away), liners (to put over the soakers to "protect" them from the poop- you can flush these!), and some soap came with them. WHEW! Boy- it is a lot to learn. I can't wait to show everyone how to use them. 

But, one thing I did take for granted with the disposables is getting to spend just a little while not changing a diaper. I swear I feel like I am changing a diaper after changing the diaper- with only one kid! Disposables have chemicals in them to soak up the pee which makes you able to let the baby go maybe 4 hours without changing the diaper. I swear I am staring at the clock now- just like when Gavin was on a feeding schedule- waiting for his next diaper change. And- let me say, this is not because I am excited to change his diaper because...don't get me wrong- these diapers are cute but my patients gets thin when it comes to diapering Gavin anymore. It has become THE DREADED DIAPER CHANGE. Kicking and Screaming. Stiffening up. Flipping over half way through. Hands on his winky- then in his hair- then back to his winky. 


I forget what I am doing when it comes to the diaper change anymore. I have the baby powder out, wipes, California Baby (rash cream- just in case), the new diaper with the soaker snapped in and the liner for poops (becase you know if I don't put this on- he is going to crap like an elephant in this diaper). So, I get him down on the ground with all my might- in between kicks I can get his pants off and shirt up and diaper unsnapped...then it becomes the waiting game. I am waiting for him to reach down and grab himself.  I mean...why not? There is probably a heap of crap along the inside of his legs and around his winky...so why would you not want to grab onto that and then slap your hands around in a fit and run your fingers through your hair- I mean, that is what Gavin thinks I am sure of it. 


So anyways- so I get the diaper off, clean him up and I am struggling to pick him up and get the liner on the diaper just right so that it doesn't slide off when putting him down on it- all the while he is double fisting his winky or slapping it like nobody should ever be slapping something like that! By the time I get the diaper snapped on and he's all happy again...I look over and there is the unused baby powder and/or rash cream- D'oh! Too late now... off he goes. 


Sigh- so, it has been interesting to say the least. I am washing the soakers right now- which smell horrible. Yuck! Along with trying to get poop off the soakers when he goes #2 without a liner on- I would rather cut my arms off- well, that's what I thought the first (second, third, forth, fifth) day but now I just stick my hand right on it and get to washing it like when he was small and would poop out of his diaper and onto a onsie or a cute outfit you JUST bought- you had to touch that stuff, it didn't just come off on it's own. Brandon is in the middle of putting a diaper sprayer on the toilet in the spare bathroom (Gavin's bathroom)... he is making it himself from a youtube video we watched and it looks like it will work out. Those diaper sprayers are expensive to buy and you still have to assemble them! Hopefully, soon enough- we will be spraying the poop off in the toilet and laughing and holding hands while I have my cloth diaper baby on my hip ;) 

11 Months Old...already!?

Reflecting back on Gavin's life so far... I can not believe my baby is 11 months old already! It seems like just yesterday (wow, really...I'm saying this?) that I had my little baby in my arms...while he ate, pooped and slept all day (yeah right) and now he is throwing things at the windows or people or over gates, running after the dog or from the dog and saying "iz zat" and "sup" and I wonder where time went... here are some random pictures of Gavin- (mostly I want to post the ones of him sleeping last night)

 You know, just hanging around- upside down

 Gotta start him out young- do your own laundry!

 Gavin is holding the basket up while standing

 He went to bed awake... and fell asleep- midplay?

 Holding on tight- fast asleep

My big boy! :)

Cloth or Disposables...

I have to address this issue because today I was just pushed over the edge by some of these cloth diapering enthusiasts. I am seeing more and more disgust to people who use disposables from people who use cloth diapers and it is just appalling to me! For an example: on Facebook there is a post/discussion regarding Mickey Mouse using a disposable diaper on Goofy baby. The person posted asked if anyone else has seen disposable diapers on any tv shows lately and what do they think of them. Various people responded to this saying they either were impressed by seeing cloth diapers on Spongebob or the Muppet babies or in disgust that Tommy on the Rugrats wore a "saggy" disposable or that "if only the cloth diaper movement could have gotten to Pam and Jim on the show The Office at how huge that exposure of cloth diapers would have been" for those that themselves cloth diaper or make/sell cloth diapers. 


Please excuse me while I throw up. 


I would hate to assume that these people who cloth diaper should probably be vegan too. I know for a fact after reading some of their more personal posts on what they make for dinner that they are not in fact vegan people. I just would assume from the way they cut down people who use disposable diapers that they would be vegan and grow their own vegetables, use solar panels on their houses and ride a bike wherever they go. I think there are worse things to be disgusted in people in this world. How about those people who beat their children or drink/do drugs while pregnant? So, some people want to use disposable diapers...so what? My neighbors want to use my yard as their garbage can and so far there isn't anything I can do about it. In fact, one of their disposable diapers is on my lawn but I'm not going over there to slap them in the face with the one cloth diaper I have. 


That being said, I have nothing against people who cloth diaper either (besides them hating on everyone else in the world who isn't following in their footsteps). I would cloth diaper if we could afford to spend $200 at one single time to buy some cloth diapers right at this very moment. It would not be to save the environment because let's face it, I run my air conditioner all day and night, I use toilet paper and womens products every month that I throw away (I say this because many of these cloth diapering women use Diva cups or mama cloths- along with wiping their own butt and their babies butts with flannel pieces of fabric [probably one of their husbands old hunting shirts] and they no longer use napkins or paper towels). If we chose to cloth diaper, it would be to save us some money. That is the only reason I am looking into doing this. It does kind of weird me out to have to clean poop in my washing machine or use a sprayer on a toilet to try to spray chunks of Gavin's crap off before washing these diapers. But- if it could save us some money...I would gladly do it. That doesn't mean we wouldn't NEVER use disposable diapers again. Many of these people who are like "Ew, disposables on tv- gross" are then saying "I have a long trip to go on so I have to use disposables" or something along those lines where all these other "SUPER MOMS" chime in on  how to still use cloth diapers though you are driving from Maine to California without a washing machine. Um, gross. I hope those people put those used cloth diapers in a bag on their roof rack for crying out loud. 


The point of this is...whether you choose to use disposable diapers like MANY people in this world or choose to use cloth diapers, remember that we all live here together. I would like to say "hey thanks for lending me your space in the landfills for all my disposable needs (diapers, tissue, plastic tubing from the hamburger meat)!" 


And that leads me into my part 2 discussion of that Facebook post above regarding Mickey Mouse: someone actually said that they also were disturbed by the fact that Goofy baby was being given milk. They said "I saw that too & Goofy being fed a bottle of milk. I hope one day it will be cloth diapers & mommy's milk. Keep pushing for it!!!" What!? Are you saying the only "right" way to project the image of a baby is in cloth diapers and drinking breast milk? Are you kidding me? This is for another discussion later on because I have to go so I can give my son formula from a can (a powder even!). 


-Samantha

New Cloth Diaper

So, I won a cloth diaper on Facebook from a giveaway. I was nervous to try it though I really think cloth would save us some money! I'm not sure what to think of it yet. I think it looks funny on Gavin, but it might be just that it's different. I don't like the fact that I have to stuff it and I don't know what you are supposed to do with all the snap extras: 

It seems like the hidden snaps go inside where the winky is and that he's going to pee on them maybe? I don't know. I'm probably wrong and the diaper is probably upside down and backwards. Here are some pictures of Gavin wearing it this morning (I've waited til I thought MAYBE he wouldn't poop in it...since he's pooped twice already this morning and it's not even 9am).

Prints is not sure what to think of these diapers... he literally smelled every inch of it! 

Crying cuz he's tired

Pouting

Look ma! No hands! 

The only way to get him to stop crying was to give him the remote

Some say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Gavin like to scoot his head on the carpet like this

Apparently- he is getting to be a little daredevil! 

This is for Grandma Kludt- Shake Shake!

Calling chicks with mom's phone

I just wanted proof that he isn't happy ALL the time! Especially when he's hungry or tired!

These 2 are up to no good! 

More Crying...

That's one way to get attention- inside the basket! 

Picking the basket up- to dump it

Sharing his toys with Prints :)

The dining room obstacle course! 

The new Tigger stroller we got Gavin :) Yay! 

2nd Anniversary cake! Awww :) Same as our wedding cake!