Still has an ear infection

Ben took Kevin to the doctor yesterday and he still has a right ear infection. He's had this for 2 weeks now! Poor little guy can't fight this one off. So now he's on another antibiotic and if you've lots count that's the 3rd one he's been on for his infection alone. She did say that he was teething again so we expect him to have a tooth on top in the near future.

Overall he's been in a great mood and other than the waking up in the middle of the night and occasional pulling of the right ear, you wouldn't know he was still sick.

Kevin is experiencing another "first" tomorrow night. A first for Kevin and for us! He's spending the night with my mom. Ben and I have a banquet to attend for his work and since we're getting home so late, my mom has volunteered to keep him for us. She's brave! I'm certainly going to enjoy sleeping in Saturday morning...first time in 7 months :)

He did it!!!

Kevin officially crawled for the first time last night. He has his eyes set on his CD player and took off for it. Not even thinking, he turned around, got into position and off he went. He crawled all the way there, stopped and turned around and looked at me. I was clapping and praising him like crazy. Got on the ground and gave him huge hugs and kisses. He laughed like I was nuts and kept playing with his CD player.

When I dropped him off at school this morning I had to show off his new trick. I grabbed his paci and placed it far away from him. Like that was a challenge? Hello, mom - I can crawl now! After getting his paci another toy caught his eye and he turned around and crawled to that. He is realizing that he can now get around and he's so proud of himself....as are we!

Daddy is taking him for his doctor's appointment this afternoon. We are hoping both ears are cleared and the right ear has healed

All better

Kevin is feeling much better and is back to his old self! He is eating better (still no baby food) and is almost mastered the art of crawling. He has also learned that he can pull himself up to his knees to see what’s on shelves, see our dog on the couch or his latest discovery…the CD player in his room! It’s too cute to see him sit up on his knees like a big boy. He’s growing up too fast. We are enjoying every minute of him and constantly sit in our living room and just laugh at him. He is very entertaining these days.

Looking forward to a long weekend – even though Ben has to work.

Praying for the Chapman Family

Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed Wednesday night in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him... not to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.

Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again. - Jim Houser (Manager)

Slumber Party with a 6 month old!

I have had the wonderful experience of having a slumber party with Kevin the past 2 nights. Who wouldn’t want to do that? Yes, I know it’s a “school night” but I couldn’t tell him that. He likes to stay up with me all hours of the night…and who could blame him – I’m a fun mom, right? Not so much!! Kevin’s ears are still bothering him. So much that it causes him to wake up around 12:30 and not go back to sleep until it’s almost time to get up for the day. All that pressure of laying down just gets to him, he’d rather sit up in my lap and try to sleep.

We go back to the doctor this afternoon to check his ears again. Hopefully they will put an end to our slumber party by giving him another antibiotic shot. Daddy is invited to the party tonight and tomorrow night since he’s off so maybe he’ll get to experience the fun, too! I’d hate to enjoy it all by myself. Even in the middle of the night, Kevin is such a sweet baby. He cuddles and lifts his hand up to touch my face constantly. Almost like he’s saying “I know it’s late, but thanks mom”. That may be completely wrong, but on 4 hours of sleep a night, that’s what I like to think he’s saying.

I have started working on Kevin’s baby book and scrapbook. I have all the pictures out and trying to get organized. I figured I’d start now so it will be done by the time he’s a year old!

Ruptured Ear Drum

I know people think I am crazy and I may be, but when it comes to my baby…I know what I’m talking about! I began calling the on-call nurse on Friday saying that he’s not getting any better. I got the “give it 48 hrs” speech and was off the phone with her. On Saturday, I called back and got the “give it 72 hrs” speech. Again, I called Sunday and told them something is really wrong with my child. And get this…I got a nurse that told me that “ear infections take 4-5 days to clear up…he’s fine”. I knew he wasn’t fine. No sleep, not eating and constant crying is not fine.

We ended up taking Kevin to Urgent Care on Sunday to find out that he was resistant to the antibiotic given on Thursday and that his right ear drum had ruptured and his left one was close to it. Basically he’s had an untreated double ear infection for 4 days. Poor baby! He was miserable. They gave him a Rocephin shot and he got a new antibiotic that we only have to give him for 3 days!!! He also got a antibiotic ear drop to help the ear drum heal. And of course because I had no idea all this was going on, I continued to give him his pain relieving ear drops which are a thick, yellow serum that I can give him every 2 hrs. With the ruptured ear drum, he has a hole in his ear and that serum was getting into the hole and making the pain worse. And don’t you know that he told me that every time I put the drops in his right ear. He was literally pushing my hands away. He knows what he’s “talking” about even as little as he is. Mommy promised to listen to him next time he’s sick – he’s a pretty smart baby!

Any day now!

Kevin can start feeling better any day now! Still no progress from being on antibiotics for 3 days. I called the triage nurse today and told her something else had to be wrong with this child because we have had no sleep since Thursday. She said to wait until Monday and if he's still not better to take him back into the doctor. He's still not eating. He takes on average 35 oz of formula a day and since he starting feeling bad, he's only had about 18-20 oz a day. He is pale most of the time...I'm sure from lack of food and not feeling good. I just hate seeing him like this. The last ear infection was a walk in the park compared to this one. This child hasn't left my side since we got home on Wednesday....day or night. We still can't get his fever to break. We tried Motrin today and that was a little better but right at the 6 hr mark, his fever went up again.

Staying home from church with him tomorrow. Ben changed his days off to Wed/Thurs (used to be Sun/Mon) so he can't stay with him and we all have to go to work on Monday. Hopefully one more day of rest will get him better. Please pray for my little guy.

Oh...and I do have to brag for a minute. Kevin is starting to crawl now! I'll try to get video of him when he's feeling better. When he's sick, it's a lazy crawl!!! Who can blame him?

Double Ear Infection and Shots

Kevin had his 6 month check up today. When I picked him up from daycare yesterday, they said he had been pulling at his ears and had a low grade fever. His fever continued to go up through the night. Sure enough at his check up they checked his ears and he has a double ear infection. Poor baby is miserable. We have him on a different and stronger antibiotic this time.

Kevin weighed in at 16 lbs 9 oz and was 27 3/4 inches. He is in the 90% for his height but only in the 25-50% for his weight. He's going to be tall and skinny. She is not concerned about his weight and said to continue with what we're doing. He doesn't have to eat baby food if he doesn't want to and we can try some soft table food. He got 5 yucky shots but hardly cried at all. Such a big boy. His doctor was very impressed with his development. She was shocked that he could sit up by himself and was almost crawling. He also learned this week how to lay on his belly and sit himself up from there. He is very proud of himself!!!

Enjoy this cute video of him in the tub and I'm playing catch up on posting pictures....

My 1st Mother’s Day

My weekend was wonderful! I have a great husband and an adorable baby that pampered me this weekend. I went to my parents on Saturday to celebrate Mother’s Day with my family. They all loved on Kevin and wore him out! When Ben got home on Saturday, he dropped me off at a Spa near our house and I got a manicure and pedicure. I haven’t had a pedicure since the day before we got married (almost 7 years ago!). It was very relaxing and a guy there totally had me in shock. Long story short….the Spa was packed. I asked a girl there if it was always like or was it the weekend and a Mother’s Day rush. The guy that worked there turned around and informed me it was because of Mother’s Day and prom. Apparently one of our High School’s Prom was Saturday night. I said “oh really, prom?” The guy then floored me when he said “Isn’t that why you’re here?” I laughed out loud. He just stared at me. I thanked him for thinking I was 10 years younger than I am. I have been mistaken for my age as long as I can remember. Bad thing is I was married at 20, so you can imagine how young I looked. He made my day!

When I came home, a beautiful bouquet of flowers was waiting for me on the table and Ben fixed dinner Saturday night. I could not have imagined a better Mother’s Day. Thank you, Ben, for being a loving and God-fearing husband. You made me feel so special this weekend and I love you for it. Thank you, Kevin, for giving me a reason to celebrate Mother’s Day!!! You are such a special baby and truly a miracle from God. Mommy cannot imagine her life without you. You have amazed me the past 6 months and I look forward to many more wonderful years with you.

My baby is 6 months old!

Splish Splash...Kevin's taking a bath in his new big boy tub!




Crazy Uncle Dan entertains Kevin



Sleeping on Uncle Dan




Playing with daddy



Can I help you?



Cheese!



Playing with Hannah



Loving Joshua




Cute pic with Hannah



Read me a book



Playing with the family

Words of Encouragement:

My mom, grandmother and I went to the mother/daughter banquet at church this weekend. The lady that spoke is the pastor’s wife at Friendship Baptist Church in our area. Her small 10 minute message touched my heart!

She began by speaking words of encouragement to the young mothers that were present. Us young mothers with small children at home that keep us up late at night and are early risers. Those of us mothers who are constantly doing laundry, washing dishes and cleaning bottles. Those of us that haven’t had a hot meal since our children were born. Those of us that worry about our babies and still wake to check on them in the middle of the night.

She then encouraged the mothers of children who have started school. Those mothers who are rushing to appointments, soccer games, cheerleading and school events. Those mothers who stay up and help with homework and school projects. Those who are realizing that their babies aren’t babies anymore.

She then encouraged the mothers of teenagers and young adults. She said mothers of teenagers and young adult still pray for their children….probably more than they did when they were infants! These mothers realize that their “babies” will soon grow up and have babies of their own. And the lack of sleep continues even at this age!

And last, she encouraged the mothers who are now taking care of their parents. The parents that once cared for them as infants, are now themselves being taken care of. These mothers are taking their parents to doctor’s appointments, scheduling surgeries and some are having to visit and choose nursing homes. The same lack of sleep, pile of dishes to wash and constant laundry continues – it’s now doing their laundry and washing their dishes. It’s feeding them when they once fed you. It’s holding their hand when they are scared before surgery. It’s making sure they are inside before the sun goes down and that their refrigerator is full!

This last one really hit home. My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had surgery. My mom never left her side. She was there when she entered surgery and there when she went home. She spent the night at her house for several nights to make sure she was taken care of. She made her meals, cleaned her dishes and took care of the house. How funny when the roles are reversed. I am so thankful for a mother who is an example to me of how to be a good daughter. And I know when the time comes, I’ll be doing the same for her…as my pastor would say…if the Lord tarrys His coming!