Ogden Nature Center

Eileen and I have taken turns taking Cooper to the Ogden Nature Center. We have both had so much fun! We have learned about owls, turtles, animals that live in the mud, and more! We have searched for bugs, gone on hikes, seen an eagle, turtle, snake, and lots more. The mud class was my favorite. We made mud paint, Cooper walked in mud with his feet and mad footprints, he got to throw mud, dig for "worms" in the mud and match them to colors, and make dirt dessert (pudding, oreos, gummy worm) It has been a great way to spend time together.

 

The Boys

Opening His Mouth!

Easton came home from the hospital a new man when it comes to eating. He has decided he knows how to open his mouth and wants food. He tells me when he is done and is eating 1-2 jars of food a day! I am SHOCKED! GI doctor say if he continues to do this well that he shouldn't need a G-tube! Yay!

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July. We went to the Riverdale parade n the morning and then enjoying the evening with Chris Family at the Child's house. Cooper did better with the fireworks this year and Easton wasn't a huge fan, but then he fell asleep and could care less.

9 Months Old

Celebrating 9 months old by going home! We are trying Similac Soy. GI doctor is convinced he has milk protein allergy. We will see how it goes. Praying it works. He is super happy today. Seems to be back to himself. His heart rate had no issues last night, they assume because he was put back on his aspirin. He smiles all the time. Still not rolling over. Goes up on his hands on belly and leans forward on arms while sittings. He is a side sleeper. Loves to dance. Moves his mouth like he is eating when he sees you with food. Love him!

At A Loss

Easton is once again in the hospital. We have now been here for 5 days. He has had off and on bloody stools for three weeks. We have been working closely with our pediatrician, but we both agreed it was finally time for an X-ray. After an appointment with a doctor, and discovering he had a few fissures, we went to Primary's ER. X-Ray came back in the red for NEC. We were admitted at 4AM. He has been on IV fluids for five days, nothing by mouth, not even meds. We started to have issues with blood pressures so they put him back on his bp medicine, but now having issues with his heart rate. He doesn't go below 70 at home. Night before last he was in 60s, last night, hitting 50s (shouldn't be below 60), and tonight hitting the 40s. We aren't currently on the cardio team and there are all new residents so it is kind of frustrating. They say he looks good so they aren't too worried, whereas I have been told not below 60 and that 40s is super low, especially during a deep sleep. I didn't sleep well last night and probably won't tonight cause I am worried. Frustrated a bit. Sick of being here at the hospital... Me and Easton want to go home! We miss Cooper and Chris. We miss our home and our own bed. We were just getting the house back together and having home cooked meals daily! 

I took Easton for a walk in a wagon today. We needed out of this hole in the wall. When I told a lady he was born with half a heart, she said, "Oh, that's because his wife has the other half." Made me tear up. I love it! I gave him a bath and got all the old stickies off before we have to put the feeding tube back in tomorrow. He is such a handsome boy. Everyone loves his eyes and his cheeks! I love kissing his cheeks! 

We also got a call from the Milk Bank today saying we can no longer receive breastmilk unless we pay the full price. That would be about $ 5000 a month for the next three months--- longer if we can't get him off this feeding tube. Obviously that is something we can not afford... Who can? They said we can pay it and try to get insurance to reimburse, but primary insurance says it is out of network since out of state. Thing is it is the closest milk bank. All the Utah hospitals even get from there. Secondary insurance won't reimburse either cause out of state. So, here I am wanting to do what is best for my child. I'll do anything, and yet I can't do anything. I've hit a wall. Doctor does not want us using others milk that isn't pasteurized. I am tempted to just use, but would hate if I caused more problems for Easton. I am not sure what we are going to do work liquids for him. I will speak with GI tomorrow. 

So other than Easton's smiles, it has been a rather gloomy day. Just keep swimming.

So Grateful to Be a Mom

I love that this picture of me and Easton looks like one drawn of Chris with an infant. I love being a mom. I'm so grateful I have been trusted to raise my little boys, even if I don't always feel I'm doing it right.

Raspberries

He thinks he is sooo cute trying to blow raspberries. And he is.

Snowbird

Another Hospital Stay

Just over a year ago we were told our little man would be born with half a heart. I'll be honest, it has been the hardest year of my life. It has been full of ups and downs, but we have truly learned so much and I have met some incredible people! Though I feel I hold it together pretty good, some days are just meant for tears.

A lot of emotions running through me tonight as I once again lay on a couch bed in Easton's hospital room. So grateful for these two little boys that ...bring purpose to my life. Heavenly Father has truly watched over our family and blessed us in more ways than we know. I was worried how all this would be on Cooper, but we had to trust in the Lord that Cooper was Easton's brother for a reason so the Lord would watch out for him. Cooper adores Easton and has handled the past year so well. He can make Easton laugh harder than anyone else. He is always anxious for Easton to wake up in the morning and often makes it to Easton's bed before we do as soon as he hears a peep from Easton. He holds his hand when he gets shots and smothers him in kisses probably too much! He came up to him the other day and said "I love my brother." Melted my heart. I'm also grateful for a husband who loves me unconditionally. I know I am stubborn, emotional, and always right 😉 and yet he loves me. For amazing family and friends that have been so supportive. Willing to help us in any way possible. And my dad. Oh how I miss him. I miss his daily calls when Easton is in the hospital. I know he is watching over my sweet little boys. I feel his presence each time we are at the hospital.

So I lay here tonight, physically and emotionally exhausted, but feeling so blessed and loved. So grateful to be a wife and mom. So grateful that Easton is still alive. For all my boys teach me on a daily basis. For a husband that holds it together when I stay at the hospital. For a hospital that I have a love/hate relationship with. For prayer. For a mom that listens and lets me cry. For a loving Heavenly Father that has a plan greater than mine.

{And yes, Easton is in the hospital again. He was admitted last night. Surprisingly not related to his cold. He is having some bleeding issues. We will be here for at least four more days. They are unsure what is causing the bleeding and with his heart they have to take extra precautions. He is a trooper though. Doing good, but sick of people touching him and waking him up. He loved that brother came to visit and Cooper loved that he got to ride down in the crib to radiology.}

Baby Food!

This cutie just finished his first pack of baby food! It may have taken 4 sittings and 24 hours, but it is the first time we won't have to throw away the rest of the pack for being 2 days old! As I write this he decided to throw it all up, but we are still marking this as a success!

Best Buds

Watching Cuious George together. They love each other.

Where's the Poop?

 Cooper has been doing great with potty training the past few days. He just decided he wanted to wear underwear. He is struggling with going #2 in the potty so we got him a few books. I caught him reading the book "Where's the Poop?" out loud. It was adorable!

His first time pooping in the potty. I don't think he could believe what was happening!

And of course, you gotta have a cute picture of Easton.

Potty Training!

We have been working on potty training the past few days. The only accidents we have had in like three days are #2 accidents. Haven't quite figured out how to get him to go #2 in the potty, but to get him to sit longer he likes to "read" Daddy's sports magazines. Makes me giggle! He is so proud of himself. He keeps saying "I get to go to school! And play with my friends and teacher Harriet!" He says this because of Daniel Tiger. I have learned that he learns through songs, so we do "Stop and go right away, flush, and wash, and be on your way!

Some Updates

The boys are growing up too fast. I went to hold Cooper to sing him a song the other night (a bedtime tradition) and he is getting too big! They aren't supposed to get too big! Not yet!!! (Ok, maybe ever!)

Cooper: He has started asking "Why?" All he talks about is sports, particularly golf. (Not a big surprise!) He is definitely in the terrible threes. He can be the sweetest little guy and also a tornado of trouble! He hates timeout. He would play outside all day if he could. He loves chocolate milk, peanut butter by the spoonful, and Curious George. He expects to watch George as soon as he wakes up. He's now in sunbeams and loving it! His favorite part is singing time. He comes home singing each week with the biggest, cutest smile! He likes to be the one to say the prayer all the time. He is getting really good at saying his prayers and it's cute and funny to hear what he says he is thankful for. He adores Easton. He held his hand and kissed it as they tried to get blood yesterday. He is a wonderful big brother.

Easton: A chunk! Starting to like a sippy cup and eating some Stage 1 baby food. No teeth yet! Starting to push up on his arms when on his belly and scooting in a circle on his belly. Sitting up well and leaning forward on his arms. Giggling more and more! I love that giggle! Still full of smiles! He has had a couple bloody stools over the past few days, but everything comes back negative so just watching it. He is a great sleeper, though he did go through a spell of waking up multiple times a night. He loves watching Cooper play and being by Cooper. He is doing great as far as throwing up goes on the breast milk from the milk bank in Denver, Colorado! Soooo grateful for those mommas that donate milk!

We stay busy going to the library and the park. We're going to start going to the pool once a week next week. Grandma takes Cooper on a lot of dates or "adventures" as they call it. He's been swimming, to the nature park, out to eat, and more!

Goodbye, Kathy!

Kathy Otto was Cooper's developmentalist and also Easton's. She's been so awesome in helping me get the boys caught up developmentally. She has also been encouraging. When she saw us for the first time with Easton, she said she couldn't have chosen better parents for Easton to go to. That meant the world. She always tells me how great of a mom I am and how well I do with the boys and I greatly appreciate. She's decided to retire... we're sure going to miss her!

A "Real" Golf Course

For Family Home Evening we decided to go to the driving range. Cooper has never moved so fast! He was super excited and had a wonderful time. He made sure to give Chris the small basket of balls and he took the big bucket of balls. A golf teacher giving a lesson left when we did and told us he had a good swing. He said people always ask him when he started golfing and he always says, "I can't remember." We had a wonderful time as a family and it brought back good memories of mine and Chris first date. I would swing and the ball would still be sitting them. Good times.

Great Grandpa Smith's Garden

Great Grandpa Smith grew up farming and owned his own nursery for many years. He plants a nice garden in his backyard every year. He let Cooper go and pick peas and strawberries from the garden and then showed Cooper and Elsie how to eat them right out of the shell. We enjoyed a few laughs watching Cooper try to figure it out.

Carver's Cove

Eileen, Rachel, Cooper, Easton, and I went to Carver's Cove in Eden, UT. It was beautiful! It is so green right now because of all the rain we have received! We saw all kinds of animals and Cooper even got to ride a big horse! He wasn't sure about it at first, but the lady said "Yee-haw!" and he was ready to go! He liked the old tractors more than he cared for the animals.

Science with Cooper & Sam

A little bit of baking soda and some vinegar makes for loads of entertainment. And you can't forget the goggles.