Public Play Areas + Germs = Sick Baby

When Eli turned ONE we discovered through a "simple" blood draw that he had not only low iron, but he also had something called "neutropenia".  Neutropenia is when the neutrophils in your blood are low and this makes it very hard for someone to fight off infection. 

So over the course of 1 years we have been watching this very closely as well as drawing his blood MULTIPLE times.  I think I cry more than he does....before we go....during...and after!  It is hard to HOLD a strong little boy down on a Dr's table along with the help of 2 other RN's.  In fact after one blood draw he was so angry about the whole thing that once we let him go he RIPPED the bandaid off his arm as fast as he could...hence he had not stopped bleeding yet and the room looked like a CRIME scene!

So After many blood draws and thoroughly SCARING my little boy of anyone wearing scrubs his numbers were still too low at his 2 year well child check up (March 2012).  So we got the referral to see a Hematology/Oncologist at U of M Mott's Children's Hospital.  I was NOT looking forward to yet another group of people poking and touching my baby. 

However, about a week and a half before Eli's appt we went to the local indoor playhouse called the Tree House.  We met one of Carter's friends from preschool to play.  The kids had a blast...but out gift from that few hours of fun came later...

About 2 days following our fun afternoon at the Tree House Eli came down with a fever on a Friday night.  It was quite low, so a dose of Tylenol was given and we thought nothing more....until Saturday afternoon.  All of the sudden BUMPS started showing up all over his skin.  He had them on his bottom, legs, in his mouth, on his chin and cheeks, elbows and his HANDS were the worst.

 These are pictures of the sores after he was diagnosed, so if you can believe it they were even WORSE than this.

I took him in to see the Dr Monday morning.  She agreed with me he had HFM (Hand Foot and Mouth) but he also got a secondary infection that appears on elbows, legs and cheeks.  Not to mention all of his sores were INFECTED!  It was terrible.  He was itching so badly and saying "TING" for sting and always wanted us to put cream on for him. 

We figured that due to his constant battle with eczema along with his low neutrophils he had a hard time fight against this infection.  I felt so badly for him.  We had the Dr stumped at first when we showed up with these sores...I can't even remember the name of the other CRAZY skin infection he had.  But 10 days of antibiotics, LOTS of bacitracin cream and benadryl the sores began to improve.  But the sores on his legs have taken MUCH longer to fade.  Now about 8 weeks later they are just finally going away. 

But due to this sever break-out it further confirmed his need to see a specialist about the low neutrophils.  Now picture this...a 28lb 2 year old boy terrified of anyone in scrubs...I'm 9 months pregnant and we have to go to the hospital to see this specialist...not fun.  Thankfull Grandma Edwards came with us to help out.  Eli was glued to me and the poor guy was so scared.  I couldn't blame him...he had been through a lot.  But to make a long story short...he has something called "Benign Neutropenia of Childhood".  So he can actually fight off infection because he has good bone marrow that can produce neutrophils he just has low peripheral neutrophils.  They believe that he will and * should * outgrow this by the age of 4.  But we will just see them again in September.

He was a trooper and had been through a lot!  But came out healthy.  However ever since that experience he always asks if something will give him "OWIES"  he is is scared of things hurting!  What have I done to my son?  Lessons learned at our house...wash wash wash the hands and sanitize all the time.  And we will NOT be visiting any "INDOOR PLAY PLACES" any time soon!

RAWR...our Dinosaur turned 2!

I know this is sooo LATE, and my poor blog has seriously suffered the last several months.  But it is TIME to catch up! 

March 13th 2012 our Eli Douglas turned two!  We had a Dinosaur Party and it could NOT have fit our 2-year-old more perfectly!  Ever since he turned two he has NOT stopped!!!  NOT stopped talking....NOT stopped moving...NOT stopped making noise...and NOT stopped making us Laugh...you get the point!

We had a party here at the house with the Edwards side of the family.  Here are the highlights:

 Who doesn't LOVE chocolate cake?!

 He loved all of the gifts.  Especially the baseball bat and his new Dinosaur Hooded sweatshirt.

 I found these party hats HERE and they were so easy to do.  The kids loved them!

It was a great day and our little "DINO" loved it!

Eli weighed 28 lbs and 3 oz and his height was 36 inches at his 2 year check up.

On his birthdate he was saying some words....very limited...Mom, Dad, Papa, woofy (dog),"Ahhhhh" - that is what he uses for pacifier or anything to drink, he says Rawr for dinosaur and probably some more words that I am forgetting. 

2 years flew by so fast...seems like he was our baby not too long ago and now he is going to be the BIG brother!

What goes on in his little head?

This "sweet" little boy has helped me learn so much about motherhood.  Has stretched me more than I have wanted to be stretched.  Has tried my patience to the utmost.  Has made me feel more love than I ever dreamed.  Has melted my heart into pudding.  And just plain amazes me every day.

He says the darndest things.  Even his Pre-school teacher says, "He is a conversationalist"  And don't I know it!  He is constantly talking and has something to say about everything.  I don't want to forget these moments...so her are a few.

C: "Mom, I said something nice to Maddison today"
Me: "Oh, what did you say?"
C: "I told her she did a great job coloring!"
Me: "Oh, that is so nice.  Didn't it feel good to say something nice to someone else?"
C: "Yeah!"
Me: "What did she say?"
C: (whispering very quietly) "Mom...I saw her smile!!!!"


Picture the scene now...Here I am 6 Months pregnant with baby #3 and going into Motherhood Maternity Clothing store.  The changing room is in the middle of the store separated from the rest of the store only by a mere curtain.  I have the boys...Eli who is trying everything in his power to get out of his stroller, and Carter who just wants to get out of the store so he can get the promised surprise for good behavior.  I just wanted to try something on quick and this is what Carter had to say,

C: "Mom, What are you wearing?"
Me: "Carter it is a dress!"
C: "Mom...YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS!!!!"

(yes I packed up the boys and we got out of there before anyone else heard any other embaressing comments from this boy!"

Next day:

C: "Mom, did you see that guys teeth?"
Me: (noticing the "guy" he was referring to was right in front of us) "Carter, we should not talk about others like that!"
C: (whispering as if that made his comment any better) "Mom, did you see that guys teeth?  They look like Beaver teeth!"


In the last few months:
My mom bought me 3 treatments for Microderm abrasion for my face.  I get terrible acne (sorry if that is TMI) when I am expecting so this was a much appreciated gift.  When I went for the first time I told Carter that I was going to the Dr. so he could help me with some "sores" on my face.  He asked no questions and went about playing.  Then a few days later we had another conversation.

C: "Mom, I don't think the Dr. did a very good job.  It looks like he missed a few!"
Me: "What?!"
C:  (is ALL seriousness) "Mom, let me show you!"
and he proceeded to point and touch my face.  Thanks for your brutal honesty.

I am hoping that this is a "boy-thing" but Carter doesn't like to always wash his hands.  So he tries to sneak out of washing or hopes that you forget to ask.  During the holidays he attempted to do this one evening at dinner-time.  He came strolling out of the bathroom and was asked by everyone at the table(Nana and Pepa were visiting)..."Did you wash your hands?  We didn't hear the water?"

Carter replied whispering but with complete assurance,
"I didn't need to, I held my pee pee with my t-shirt!"
Makes sense right?  In his 4-1/2 year old mind his hands were still clean!  I tried so hard not to giggle!

Now as I am typing this...Eli is taking his afternoon nap and Dad is napping on the beanbag.  While Carter plays on the iPad.  Dad is snoring...rather loudly when Carter leans over to me...

C: "I love when Dad snores!!!"

He is so sweet and I love how his wheels process and understand things.  He NEVER ceases to amaze me and his father.  I am one proud Mom!  He gave his first talk in Primary on January 29th on "Choices".  He was terrified when it came time to actually present.  But with his dad's help he did a great job.  I am proud to call him mine for now and for always! 

Winter Cabin Fever

Though this winter has been extremely mild we still seem to have caught a bit of the "Cabin Fever" bug.  It's too cold to play outside and there is no snow to play in...so here we sit...stuck inside with toys the boys are tired of playing with and our own creativity to entertain us. 

So here is what we have been up to...

 It was "Animal Week" at PAT (Parents As Teachers) which is a local playgroup we attend.  So the boys had spent the morning playing with all the animals in water at playgroup.  It continued at home when the boys had not gotten their fill of being "WET" for the day.

 So I filled up a few LARGE mixing bowls and put all of their rubber/plastic animals in the bowls for them to play in.

 As you can see...that is where is started, but by the end they had stripped down and put on their swim trunks and were "swimming" in the kitchen WITH the animals.

They had a ball and must have been entertained for over an hour.  Nothing a few (10 towels) couldn't clean up!

Eli got a whole Playdough kit from Santa this year for Christmas!  It has been so fun to play with during these last few months.  It has reminded me of my Playdough days when I was young.  This is ONE of the few things that entertains the boys for more than a few short minutes.  I can at least get about 20-30 minutes out of this activity.

 They love SQUEEZING the dough through this contraption...if only they could figure out how to share it and take turns!

 "Mom...look at my mustache!"

 Eli insisted we turn his "snake" into a necklace!

 We have fun with it, but the aftermath and crumbly mess of dried playdough is not always "fun" to clean up.

Anyone who know our boys also knows how much they love when Daddy comes home!  Chris usually gets home a little before 6pm and sometimes around 7pm (depending on his schedule).  And the boys can hardly wait to see their dad!

 Then the "rough-housing", tickling, bear rides begin.

Here is the backside of this bear:)  We are all so glad when Daddy comes home! 

We cannot complain to loudly this winter, it has been very nice!  But coming up with new activities for these two busy boys is always tricky.  But worth it!

Sewing is the Best Therapy...

I know that sewing is not for everyone...I am learning that from working with other women at church!  But I have come to truly love it over the years!  I love designing and creating new things that can be used by my kiddos.  It's not only one of my many jobs, it is also my THERAPY!  I have been wanting to make a pair of pants and vest for my boys for some time now.  So I finally made some time this last weekend.

Sure the time was at 9:30pm until 1am but I finished and Eli wore his outfit on Sunday!  I was quite proud of this outfit because despite Eli being fast asleep and no measurements were made, this outfit fit him perfectly---like a glove!!! I am drooling over nautical themes right now so I added that accent for fun.  The vest is actually reversible (forgot to take that picture).  I used a snap press for the buttons which are so easy to snap quickly for one "on the move" toddler.

 The pattern for the vest came from a sweater vest that he wears right now with some added adjustments.  It has some small issues (which I am NOT pointing out), but with Carter's I know where to adjust the pattern.

He was quite "dashing" in his "Daper Dan" outfit with his bow tie from Easter last year that matched perfectly.  Eli must have felt fancy too becaus he had an added "bounce" in his strut that day!  Carter liked Eli's outfit so well he said to me, "Mom...I want a bow tie too."  so I asked, "What color would you like?" and he replied, "I want ORANGE!"  So I guess that is on the list of things to make this week.  Hopefully I can find some more time!

As many know I chose to do cloth diapers (CD) with Eli.  Which turned out to be a wonderful experience and we just loved it!  Mister "sensitive skin" had not a one diaper rash.  So of course we are going to continue with CD with Baby girl. 

However, all we have are boy colored CD.  But buying MORE when I have about 30+ already is not really an option.  But I wanted some "girlie" colors.  So I am hoping to make some to supplement my stash.  Here was my first attempt.

It is a AIO (all-in-one) diaper with the softest fleece on the inside, PUL in the middle, and a cute Heather Bailey cotton fabric on the outside.

The insert lays right inside of the diaper and stays in place with Velcro.  This diaper is made to fit babies 9 lbs -15 lbs.  I was quite happy with my first try and I am now addicted and want to make more.  I have already adjusted the pattern in my head to make these more like my Bum Genius dipes from Eli.  Plus bought some better Velcro that should last through the millions of washes that these cute things go through!

 Can't you just picture a cute bummie in this dipe?!  I am so excited for her to arrive!  Sometimes I try and picture what she may look like.  Then I think back to the arrival of Eli and how much he looked JUST like his brother!!!  And still sometimes does.  So...here is my prediction...a bald, light-haired baby girl...blue eyes...fair skin...that looks just like her hooligan brothers!  I guess that is what happens when Mom and Dad were both bald, fair haired and skinned babies themselves!!!  We LOVE bald babies!

More projects to come...and maybe someday I will get with my business Blog!  I need to keep up to date on that one...Where can I buy more time?!