Merry Christmas to ME

So, William had his allergy appointment today- and all went well. The doctor didn't seem to think that William had a food allergy, so we tested dust, cat, dog, & feathers. All of which came back negative. On Monday William goes in for his 6 month check up, and I think at that point we will try a reflux medicine.

On to more exciting things!!!

We finally set up the Christmas tree this last week. Orion had a lot of putting all the decorations on. He seemed to think that they all looked best on the same three branches though. He was quite sad when we were all out of things for him to hang.
But he does have a lot of fun turning on the lights and looking at the "really tall Christmas Tree." William keeps getting himself stuck under there too and then Orion goes and tries to help him out. Every time I go and rescue them both I think to myself "What a wonderful present!!" I am so grateful for my two beautiful wonderful boys!!!!!

Orion and I made some Christmas cookies the other day too. I frosted the tree he was decorating and then gave him the candy to do it. We were at the table together and he was putting his candy on the cookie like he was supposed to. I walked away for a minute and when I came back, Orion was eating the candy off of his cookie. I told him that he was supposed to use the candy to decorate his cookie. He smiled at me and said that he was decorating his tongue. Silly Boy!!
And lastly, we had our first big snow storm of the season this week. And I thought it was hilarious that the tractor plowing - got stuck and had to call for backup!

Here are just a bunch of little things not worthy of their own post- so I am packing them all into this one.

First off: doesn't Orion just look so dang cute in these glasses?


Sadly- William started leaning forward in the swing. He never fell out- but I didn't want to risk it. So- no more swing. We also had to put the bouncer away about two months ago- because he could roll out of it.

We got out the Christmas decorations the other day. William loved the lights!! We could not keep him away from them!
It finally snowed here in Wisconsin yesterday- and Orion REALLY wanted to go outside and play in it. So I put him in a coat and let him go out. He stayed curled up in a ball on the porch the entire time. I asked him several times if he wanted to come inside- but he kept insisting that he wanted to play in the snow. Finally he opted to come inside.
On the 11th we finally get to take William to see the allergist. He recently had another sinus infection and was put on another round of antibiotics. He still has a stuffy nose and bad cough- but at least that is all. So unless something fabulous happens between now and next Friday- plan on hearing from us then.

So a while back I decided that I wanted to make Orion a "numbers" blanket this year for Christmas. My initial plan was to do numbers on one side and letters on the other side. That is so not happening though. So instead I am working on just a numbers blanket. Orion has been watching me cut out the pieces and gets very excited when he sees one he recognizes. Anyway- I know that my mother would love to see what I am creating so I am posting pictures of the quilt thus far.

This was me laying it out before numbers were appliqued and borders put on.


The completed blocks.

Now all I have to do is get some neutral (I'm thinking white) material and bring them all together and the top of my quilt will be done. Very basic- I know, but since this is my first- I am ok with that.

William-Go-Round

I know that I am long over due for another post- but really, life has been pretty boring around here lately. Orion has been finding new ways to play with William though- and this is how I found him this morning.

Paranoia

This has been quite a month for my poor little William. About a week before Williams 4 month check up- I took him into the doctor for croup. My doctor will give us a prescription for it- so that I only have to do one sleepless night of croup, and not 3 sleepless nights. A week later he had his 4 month well baby check up. He weighed 19 pounds 14 ounces and was 27 1/2 inches long. Unfortunately we found out that William probably had a sinus infection and was prescribed amoxacillin for that. He has had a constant runny stuffy nose and a nasty cough for over two months.

A week later- William starts breaking out into hives.
(You have to click on the picture to see it bigger to see the hives really well.)

At first I thought it was just a a bug bite reaction or something irritating his skin since it was only on his face. But after about 12 hours- they started popping up all over the place.
So it was back into the doctor. Prognosis. He is allergic to amoxacillin. Since the amoxacillin didn't clear up Williams nose and cough, which it should have done even if he is allergic to it, we have to take him to see an allergist. That happens in December.

Then yesterday morning- while I was nursing him and putting him down for a nap- he started shaking. His whole upper body was violently shaking and his eyes were rolling all over the place. This only lasted for a couple of seconds though. After that he just closed his eyes nursed for a couple more minutes then went to sleep. I called the doctor to find out if maybe he had just had a seizure, but she didn't think so because he was able to nurse afterwards. She said to just keep an eye on him and if it happens again- to bring him in. Nothing else happened all day. Then this morning I was nursing him and getting ready to put him down for a nap. Well- this time just his head started shaking- his eyes were closed- and it lasted for over 30 seconds. (Which seemed like a much longer time.) After he was done shaking- he nursed for a couple minutes longer- then went to sleep. I called the doctor again- and this time she wanted me to bring him in. After examining him- and looking a couple of things up- she ended up calling a pediatric neurologist to see what he thought. The neurologist thinks that William is just having sleeping tremors since they only happen when he is on the brink of sleep. But if he should have another "episode" while he is wide awake- we are supposed to just take him straight to the ER.
What does all this say about me? That I am a paranoid mother who takes her baby to the doctor a lot.

Pumpkin Patch

Well- it is that time of year again. Yesterday we all ventured out to the Pumpkin Patch place. First we took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. Orion loves this part! He is so enthralled with the tractor, and really just wants to ride on the tractor pulling us. I wonder when that dream to be a tractor driver dies in little boys . . .

We picked out a couple of pumpkins then took a ride back.

Next we fed the goats. Orion wasn't sure he like them this year.

Then we hit the race track. Orion is big enough to reach all the peddles, but just won't do it. I don't know if he just doesn't understand the concept or if it is just easier for dad to push him.

This is one of my favorite pictures! :)

After the tricycles Orion climbed the mountain of hay.

He was on top of the world!!

He also enjoyed going under the hay.

And the last thing we did was go to the train house.

One of the best things about going there- is that the whole trip was only $10.00. That includes the price of the pumpkins. It could have been only $6.00- but I picked out a big pumpkin.


On to other news. William loves chewing on his fingers.

And I can't get Orion to quit hanging on things. I took this picture and then he got into trouble for it. I tried to be sneaky and take the picture when he wasn't looking- but he dropped his head at just the right time.Orion has really enjoyed playing Battleship too.

Also this last week we have had the car into the mechanic TWICE!!! The first time we took it in because it has been really loud lately. Turns out it was a bearing in the wheel. That trip cost just over $200. That was our "emergency" allotment in the budget this month. But then the next day- it started over heating. When I found out that we had to take it in again- I was seriously thinking " I am so glad that I have been building up our food storage slowly so that I don't HAVE to go grocery shopping." Turns out that the second trip in- a belt on the water pump was no longer a belt. More like threads. That bill- only $28.00!!!!! HOORAY!!! I am so grateful for answered prayers!! Heavenly Father truly is mindful of us.
And just because this post is a little heavy on Orion pictures I figured we needed another cute one of William.

Picture Overload

There are so many things that I have meant to post- and just haven't had the time. Even right now- there are an hundred other things that I should be doing. But I am letting everything else pile farther up while I sit and catch up.

Orion is such a great big brother!! He is always taking books over to William to tell him all about them. I am often surprised about how well he knows the stories. He really is listening and taking it in!William has had a nasty cough for the last two weeks- and it isn't really getting any better. I am glad that we have a well baby check up next week so that I can know that it is just a cough and will eventually clear up. He isn't running a fever or anything else- just a nasty cough. On the upside- he did roll over for the first time the other day. He also has started putting himself to sleep sometimes. He finds his thumb and sucks away until next thing I know- he is sleeping peacefully on the floor.
The other day I wanted to do something fun for lunch. So Orion and I made "Cheesy Feet". I got the idea from a book- lest you think I am naturally this creative. We traced around Orions feet- then cut them out.
I made pie crust, and used Orions foot prints to make pie crust feet.
Then we sprinkled cheese on them and baked them.
Orion LOVED eating his feet!! We were supposed to put cherry tomatoes on for toe nails- but I opted not to do that.
Just the last couple of days William has started drooling. A TON!! He also is chewing on my fingers like they are the tastiest things on earth. Conclusion- I am a little worried that he has started teething.For a couple of months now- every time I take the kids to the park Orion wants to climb the tree. So finally the other day with Daddy close by- we put him up in the tree. He was in heaven!!

Philip was scared to death that Orion would fall, and really wanted someone up there with him. Guess who drew the short straw!

I see a pattern developing.

Speech Therapy Fun

About 6 months ago Orion started speech therapy. He LOVES his therapist Stephanie!! All I have to do is tell him that Stephanie is coming and he is very quick to pick up the family room. Well, every week Stephanie leaves us with some "homework". Just little activities to do to help reinforce the language development. This week we put some chocolate syrup on the mirror for him to lick off. This is supposed to help strengthen his mouth muscles to decrees his drooling. Anyway- we had a lot of fun with that!

Also this last week Orion has been asking to hold William a lot. It is kinda funny to see because even though Orion is really big- so is William. And Orion isn't quite strong enough to hold him up. But I think that it is cute that he wants to try.