Still At It!

We're still crawling backwards. Good sign to me! And he is starting to stand with me just holding his hands. This is a huge improvement! We are definitely proud!!!

Trying to Crawl

Some of you might remember how stubborn Brody was right out of the gate. He didn't want to eat for anyone....not even the hospital workers. On the third visit back to Women's (yes, we had to go back quite often the first two weeks) the nurse wanted to put him on a feeding tube that we would have to administer at home. I was freaked out, and begged her to give us one more night. Well it just happened to be that that night for the first time he took a whole ounce.


We joked around and said he was just being stubborn and that was the kick in the pants he needed. Well on Friday the doc said that Brody would be referred to a PT to help with his delay on crawling and standing. That night he started pushing up on his hands, and staying there. Then all of a sudden he was scooting backwards.

Saturday and today was more of the same. He actually got himself stuck under the pack and play that we still havent taken back to my parents.

Hopefully hearing PT was the kick in the pants he needed and he'll keep progressing. I have to say though... 100% of that hard headedness came from MOMMA!

Happy 9 Months, Brody!

I can't believe my baby is 9 months old. Only three more months of baby. I have to admit, I'm a little sad about it. We finally had to give up on the swing. His poor legs stick out the end of it.

I took him yesterday for his checkup. I was really proud that he moved up on weight, but moved down on height. And oh my goodness, that head! Its so big...full of brains! ha!

Length: 28.34 inches 60%
Weight: 18 lbs 15 oz. 20%...yay!!!!!! So glad to be over 10!
Head Circ: can't remember numbers but he's in the 90%....I know, right?


Loves: Ken! (I get a litle jealous sometimes, but I think he just gets tired of seeing my face all the time.) the remote, cell phones, computer cords, Bailey...well any dogs for that matter, Veggie Resotto with Cheese, Broccoli, Sweet Potato Puffs, Bananas and Berries, Sweet Potatoes of course, Baby Einstein movies, his daycare teachers, baths

Loves Not So Much: Juice, being on his stomach, being left alone

Milestones:
Claps hands together
Hits hand to mouth and said bAh, bah, bah, bah...have to see it, so funny!!!
Pushes up on hands, scoots backwards
Feeds himself Cheerios and Puffs (new this week!)
Has two teeth on the bottom...still no hair

After we had the physical exam (FYI: Ears looked fantastic! Yay tubes!), we got to the developmental questions. Cognitively, he is doing everything a nine month old should do. Physically, not so much. He won't crawl, but what worried the doctor more was that he won't put any weight on his legs. Doc said his strength was amazing, but he just refuses to push down on his feet. And when he tries, he rolls his feet and steps on the top of them.

So...he is referring us to First Steps for Physical Therapy. They are coming to do a home evaluation in the next couple of weeks. Doc just doesnt want him to be futher delayed. I guess its not that big of a deal, but it would really be nice to have just one visit with all good news! He seemed concerned of his head size, but I guess not too concerned because he told us not to make a new appointment with Dr. Parent, just see him in February as scheduled. His fontanel was nice and open...good news there.

We're Back!

My new USB cord came in the mail today and that seemed to fix the problem. Yay!! I'm finally back to the blogging world.

This past weekend we were so busy, but it was a good busy. Friday night we went to Ken's brother's house for dinner. We LOVE getting all the kids together.

Brody and Ken

I snagged this pic of the boys sleeping. We had them on opposite sides of the blanket and they ended up like this. Saturday morning, Brody and I went to Reunion to take some Fall pictures. Brody had other plans in mind...a NAP! So the pictures didn't turn out as good as I would have liked, but we found a couple of keepers.
Click here to view his pics... http://www.jcarawayphotography.com/FallMiniSessions18th/NicoleHayman/slides/IMG_6093.html

Saturday afternoon, we headed out to Nichols-Boyd Farm and picked out pumpkins. The weather was perfect!! Thanks to Kim, Rob, and Bryce for inviting us!

Kim and Brody
Brody loved eating the hay!

Bryce in the "hay maze".The kids were amazed at the ZDonk! (Zebra and Donkey mix).

Brody found his pumpkin!Bryce found his!We tried for one more shot on the haystacks but baby boy was tired and hungry!

That night, we went over to Mitch and Bryce's for dinner. Matthew, Molly, and Emily Kay were also in attendance.

Ella was somewhat bored with the "babies" and made up her own fun. When is a Bud Light box not fun!

Sorry Ella! All the good stuff has been taken out!During dinner, we put Brody and Emily Kay in the pack and play together. They were so cute and played the whole time!!

Sunday, I needed a BREAK from all the excitement from the week. I also had a TON of schoolwork and work for National Board, so my wonderful MIL took Brody for the afternoon. This was taken right before he left.

Down But Not Out

My camera won't connect to the computer. I've ordered a new USB cord. The computer keeps saying it has malfunctioned, so I'm hoping this will resolve the problem. Until I can post new pics, this one will have to suffice...

This picture was taken at his 6 month..well really 7 month pics with Dawn at Capturing Life. I LOVE this pictures. This was toward the end of the photo shoot and he just passed out.

*Update: The boys are doing fine. Thanks for all the calls and emails. Ken has returned to work and is just a little sore and tired. Brody is breathing well...very little coughing. YAY!!!! We hope this continues!

Take a Breath...

Today has been one of THOSE days! But I have to say for me, I did pretty well. I am a VERY high stress, over reactor person. I just am. It will probably never change. Today I literally kept telling myself to just breathe.

Let me begin my story:
Its around 9:00 and we are just starting to enter into Reading Workshop (and by the way, I prepared all day Sunday for our Spider unit and couldn't wait to get started today!!) and I get a message from the office. "Your husband is on Line 1...it sounds urgent!" Immediately my mind jumps to Brody...more on that later.
Instead I hear, "Nicole, I'm okay, I've been in an accident at work, I'm headed to MEA for stitches. I'm fine."
Okay...so I ask him if he's sure and he reassures me that its just a little cut. I head back to my class and my kids say my cell phone is ringing.
Well normally I don't answer it at work, but I was expecting a call from the daycare. It was not the daycare, but Ken again. "Nicole, I'm okay, I've been in an accident at work, I'm headed to MEA for stitches, I'm fine."
This continued for another 4 times to my cell phone and 3 times to the office. My principal comes down as I'm getting my purse and tells me she thinks I ought to go get him...ya think?
I meet him at MEA just in time for them to stitch him up and tell him he needs a CT at the ER.
The whole time Ken is just repeating everything he says. His memory basically reset every 3 minutes.
VERY WEIRD!!!
We went to the ER for a couple of hours. He has a concussion and has to stay home for a couple of days. Hopefully short term memory will return in the next 48 hours.

Oh, I forgot to tell you how all of this happened. We don't know all the details because of course he can't remember anything. But what we do know is that he fell off of a flatbed with a lift that was raised about 4 feet. We think he stepped back and there wasn't anymore truck. His feet came out from under him and he fell straight back onto concrete and slammed his head. We are lucky that this is all that it is.

Now, back to Brody. He's been pretty sick these last three weeks. We were supposed to go to State with Kim, Rob, and Bryce but Brody was sent home Friday throwing up. He threw up all weekend always preceded by a cough. He is very congested still from the bronchitis. My mother ended up taking him to the doctor for me since I was with Ken all day. Doc gave him another round of decongestant and antibiotics. Hopefully this will get it. He did sound a lot better tonight, so keep your fingers crossed.

Today was definitely one of those days I had to keep telling myself to breathe!!

Don't Forget To Vote!!!

We are stumped as to why we haven't moved up any. I typed in over 50 email addresses yesterday and we still didn't move. We are in the Clarion Ledger now and on the JPS website. Please, please vote everyday until its over. We have to start moving up! Thanks to all of you who are helping get the word out. It is so crucial that these kids feel like someone is in their corner!
We love those babies!!!!

So...one more time, EVERY DAY go to http://www.henkelhelps.com/home2.asp and vote for Raines Elementary. We are the fourth school from the left. Any and EVERY email address in your address book you can use.

I'm currently writing a KABOOM! grant that partners up with Home Depot to try to get the kids some playground equipment, but that's not a guarentee. These kids need and deserve it! Thanks for everyone who has voted...and keep voting everyday! Thanks!!!!!!

****Side Note: Brody now has one tooth all the way in, and one coming through. My Big Boy!! Also my nephew Ryan, is having tubes put in Monday. Please keep him and your family in your prayers that everything goes smoothly! Thanks!!!!*****

Sick Babies!

I mean, what kind of week would it be if I didn't have some sort of illness to blog about. Brody went to the doc last Wednesday for a bad cough that had lasted for more than a week. (Projectile vomiting many of his bottles...YUCK, I do not miss those days!) Doc said it was bronchitis and gave us another round of anitbiotics. Apparently all of the mucus aggravates his reflux hense the vomiting. He's finished with the meds but still sounds really sick. His 9 month check up ( I know! Can you believe he's 9 months!) is Friday so we'll see what they say.

My nephew, Ryan, is also sick. He has another ear infection and is going to see the ENT tomorrow. Please keep both our babies in your prayers...I know its about to get alot worse with Flu season around the corner.

Please Please Help!!!!

Most of you know I work in JPS and I've been there for five years. In those five years, our kids have had NO playground equipment. I know...most of you are sitting there going "HOW?" What equipment we do have is hazardous and the kids are not allowed anywhere near it. The concrete footings are out of the ground and under all of the equipment. Screws are sticking out all over the place. And our kids just look at it and whine..."Why can't we play on it!!!" Try explaining to a 5 year old that we can't play on the swings. And let me tell you Duck Duck Goose is getting really old...and its just October!
So please, please, go to this link and vote! We are one of ten finalists nationwide!!! This is wonderful news but now its up to the amount of votes we recieve. We are the fourth picture on the front page. You can only vote once a day per email address...but I know most of you have at least one personal and one business email address. This is HUGE for our kids that already miss out on so much.
PLEASE VOTE!!!!!
http://www.henkelhelps.com/home2.asp

A Week With Lisa

My aunt came to visit from Tampa a couple of weeks ago. I am just now finding time to save, upload and blog about her visit. We had a blast. She picked up Brody from daycare each day and they got to spend one on one time with each other. She hadn't seen him since he was about 2 weeks old. (This is the aunt that makes all his cute stuff!)

These are some of the pictures she took while she was here.

Tag ~ You're It!

I was tagged by April to grab the closest book. This is actally a funny task and I did have to do some digging.

The Rules!!!!* Grab the nearest book.* Open the book to page 56.* Find the fifth sentence.* Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your blog along with these instructions.* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.* Tag five other people to do the same.

The Book: Little Boys Bible, the fifth sentence says: Issac's heart filled with fear! His own father tied up his hands and feet and laid him on the altar--He was the sacrafice!

Now...story behind the book. I am in the computer room, closest room is Brody's. The closest book to me was actually My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, but it did not have 56 pages. So there ya have it!

I tag Molly, Bryce, Amber, Amy, and Miriam. Happy reading!