Double the Trouble - Double the Love

Our boys love to gang up on us, sometimes with love and sometimes with trouble. Last monday night, our JA chapter had it's projects supper and that meeting can sometimes last forever. I left both the boys with Brian and told him I would be home in at least 2 1/2 hours. Well, needless to say, they really poured it to him. Cooper cried the entire time I was gone (2 hrs). When i walked in the door, he was sitting in his bouncy seat screaming to the top of his lungs, dressed in only his diaper. Brian said he tried everything, held him every way imaginable but he just wouldn't stop crying. The reason he didn't have clothes on - he cried until he threw up all over himself, brian, the floor, and the kitchen cabinets; and brian said he wasn't going to dress him just so he could throw up all over himself again! Hahahaha! Mack was thankfully not too much of a handful, but Cooper made up for the both of them. He just wanted his mommy because hr of course stopped the second i picked him up. I love these moments because then my husband really learns to appreciate me!

Cooper is 2 months

Cooper was 2 months old last Friday. He is such a good baby. He got a good 2 month check-up, where he weighed 11 lbs and 14 oz., and was 23 inches long. The doc said his lungs sounded great and we were definitely on the road out of RSV. He is right on schedule with his development; trying to hold his head up more, smiling at everyone, cooing every now and then, and keeping his eyes on his mama no matter where she is in the room! He is sleeping great now that we are past the congestion of RSV. He wakes 1-2 times a night to eat. It appears that in the months to come, we may have a thumb sucker. He finds it every now and then, and when he does he goes to town. It just kills Brian and he wants me to take his thumb out of his mouth, but all you mothers know that when they are learning to self-soothe, you don't mess with them. We will fight that battle when we absolutely have too. I am so in love with this child, and every time he smiles I just melt. I have to go back to work in 2 weeks and it will be the saddest day. I dread it immensely!

Da Horsey, Da Barn, Da Hay

Mack loves farm animals. His favorite is a horse. Anytime he sees one he says "da horse, da barn, da hay". All of that means, the horse lives in the barn and eats the hay. Last weekend my dad helped organize a horse ride in Baldwyn. He rode his horse Dusty, and invited us to come over at the end of the ride, so that Mack could see all the horses when they came in. There were probably 50 or more horses there, and Mack was in horsey heaven. My dad is tickled that Mack likes horses, and is already wanting to buy him a pony. Here is a picture of Mack and my dad with Dusty.

Mack and daddy getting ready to ride, but Mack decided just sitting still was enough for him.

Mack sitting on Dusty all by himself.

Mack & Jack (his cousin) petting Dusty. Jack was so cute. He was all dressed up, from head to toe, in his cowboy attire.

On the road home!

WE ARE GETTING TO COME HOME!!! YAY!! THE DR. CAME BY THIS AFTERNOON AND SAID HE WAS DOING GREAT AND WE COULD MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE AT HOME!!!! AND NO I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF OUR STAY BECAUSE OUR CAMERA BATTERIES RAN DOWN!!!

Headed to Lehbonner

Here is the story on Cooper. Monday night was a rough night. He coughed and spit up continually all throughout the night. When we got up Tuesday morning I knew things were just not right. First, Cooper has never coughed a day in his life unless it was related to taking in too much milk at one time during feeding. Second, He is a wonderful morning baby; always smiling and cooing, but not this morning. So as soon as the Dr's office opened I called and left a message with the nurse. Her return call instructed me to make an appointment to see the dr asap and get an RSV test done. The test was POSITIVE. Brian and I had tried so hard to keep the boys apart. We changed clothes when switching between kids and we washed our hands until the skin felt like it could peel off, and all for nothing! This is so disappointing! The Dr. said that Cooper didn't sound awful, but it wasn't great either. Probably the beginning of the virus. He felt it would be safest to admit him to Lehbonner for observation over the next 48 to 72 hours at least. These appear to be the worst of the virus days. By the time he mentioned the possibility of apnea episodes, my bags were already packed. There was no way I was risking anything! So, here we are at Lehbonner, and yes it is 2:00 am. I cannot wait to see the sun rise. Cooper has already had to be suctioned because of all the congestion. We found that the best way to get him to sleep comfortably is to let him sleep in the carseat, so that's where he is now. Brian and I are both sleeping on a couch, so you can imagine how much sleep we are actually getting. However, I am glad we are here. I would not have wanted to go through this night or any of the others to follow without these great nurses. I know I am blessed and I am continually praising God for the comfort He is providing Coop in his moments of rest. Please be in prayer for our little man. I will keep you updated. Love you all!

What To Do For Fun When You Have RSV

I know you all are wondering, "What would I do to entertain my child if he had RSV?" Well here are some really fun activities that we did with Mack this weekend. Because trust me, trying to keep a 22 month old happy and in the house for 4 days straight is a chore. They are so easily amused and you would be amazed at the simple, fun stuff that you can do.

Roast marshmallows in the chiminea

(this was because we could not keep him in any longer, and the next morning he woke up with an ear infection.)
Take a bubble bath until you shrivel up

Put stickers all over a piece of paper and yourself.

If I had to be stuck in the house with anybody for an extended period of time I am glad it was my 3 favorite boys!

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Mack was diagnosed yesterday with RSV. We called the dr's office to get an appointment to come in, and I knew it was serious when they asked us to come through the back employee's entrance rather than the front door. When we got there Dr. Ricola informed us that in children Mack's age it really isn't that serious. It is treated as a common cold with over-the-counter cold medication. However, it is VERY contagious, and can be harmful (requiring hospitalization) if contracted in children under the age of 1 and especially less than 2 months old. OH MY GOSH!!! We have a 7 week old at our house!!! So I am panicked! We have to try our best to keep the boys at least 36 inches apart from each other at all times, and preferrably in different rooms. The virus last for 1-2 weeks typically and we don't know how long Mack has had it. So it is really going to be difficult to keep them from being around each other for the next 2 weeks. Attached is a link below to the CDC - Center for Disease Control, just to inform you all on RSV. Please keep us all in your prayers. I will keep you posted on how everything goes.
http://www.cdc.gov/rsv

POCKETS

Mack is obsessed with pockets and tennis shoes. He thinks every pair of pants should have pockets and if they don't he will continue to say "pockets" as loud as he can until you find him a pair with pockets. He also thinks that he should be able to wear his tennis shoes with everything. Yesterday, I was doing some of Mack's laundry and I noticed that there was a loud noise in the dryer. Brian went to look and see if he could figure out what was clanging so loud. "Just a pair pants with buttons on them," he says. So, after the laundry is done I precede to take the clothes out of the dryer, and what did I find??????? A matchbox car that Mack always puts in his POCKETS!!!! Today it was a car, but I'm sure one day it will probably be a frog, turtle or some other creature. Just hope I find it before it makes to the dryer.

The House of Brotherly Love

Mack and Cooper are really beginning to bond with each other. Last week Mack stayed home with Cooper and me for 2 days during the week. I snapped this quick picture as I was cleaning up from lunch. Cooper was asleep and Mack layed down beside him and cuddled him up. It was the sweetest thing!

This picture was from last night. Mack wanted Cooper to lay down and watch t.v. with him. The two of them were so cute. I know they are going to be the best of friends!