Busy, Busy, Busy

Can you believe I'm 6 months old now????? This picture is of Baylor on Friday, he is now officially 1/2 year old now. It makes me sad to think our baby is growing up so quickly, however we have made great progress and it's nice to have such a sweet little boy who is gaining more independence and learning so many new things each and every day. Baylor has been quite sick for the last 3 weeks with Bronchiolitis and we have made 4 trips to the Doctor, breathing treatments, & steroids. The Doctor told me on Friday, that it can take up to 6 months for his lungs to heal. He said that anytime he gets a cold to expect a relapse of the wheezing and a need for the breathing treatments. Ugh!!! For now he seems to be over this thank you Jesus! Sticking his little tongue out at his mommy :o) Baylor come on give peas a chance :o). He has now eaten rice and oatmeal cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, and now peas. So far he really seems to be enjoying all the flavors of new foods. We are hoping that when we take him to his 6 month check up the Dr. will tell us we can switch him off the Alimentum formula to something a little more affordable. He does not seem to be having as much trouble with his reflux as he is not spitting up as much and before when he did spit up it smelled like pure acid. When he is spitting up, it does not have that horrible smell, just formula smell now. We took him on Thursday to Cranial Technologies for an evaluation of the flattening on the back of his head. They said the shape of his head is called Brachycephaly with squamoid bulging. His is positional due to the reflux he had in the first 5 months of life. We were told by his Pediatrician to prop him up after his meals in his car seat, swing, & bouncy seat to let gravity help keep his meals down. We also let him sleep sometimes in his bouncy seat (I know, I know but you do what you have to for a little sleep :o) ). Anyway now he will be fitted for a DOC Band and we go this week Thur for the 3D photos. They said we should expect for him to wear his for 2-3 months depending on how fast his head grows. We will be taking him in either every 1-2 weeks as well depending on how fast his head grows for appts. to shave off the inside of the helmet to allow for more growth in the areas where the growth is not being held. We are so lucky as there are only 16 cities in the US with the Cranial Technologies Clinics and the one here is only about 30min. from our house located beside Phoenix Children's Hospital. The Clinician told us that they have had many clients come weekly or bi-weekly for these 15 min visits from several hours away. Please pray for Baylor that he will adjust well to this helmet and that his little head will round out quickly.

This is Bennett this morning just after his Karate tournament. He placed 1st for Kumite and 3rd for Kata. We are so proud of him and continue to be amazed at his focus and determination with his karate. He has made huge growth in the last month and his Sensei told us today how proud she was of him and his hard work. He has 3 hours of practice a week and would go more if we would let him. We are about 3 weeks away from Nationals and he is looking so forward to it. He is not nervous at all, but don't worry his mommy and daddy are a ball of nerves the whole time he is out there :o). Bennett will go in this week on Wednesday and have four teeth pulled under general anesthesia. He has 2 adult teeth coming in behind his baby teeth on the bottom. I was brushing his teeth for him and noticed 2 teeth starting to poke through. We had our follow up with the dentist from when he tore his frenulum and the Dr. said we needed to get the baby teeth out quickly to allow the new teeth to move forward. Bruce had to have all but 2 of his baby teeth pulled as none of his ever fell out, so I guess Bennett is following in his footsteps. The dentist said they will usually pull at least 4 at a time and can pull as many as 7 or 8. Please pray for Bennett as he has his teeth pulled on Wed. that he will not be scared or have too much pain following the extraction.

This is Brayden from this morning, he is such a big boy now. He has moved to the 3 yr. old Sunday school class at church since he is potty trained and has moved to the 3 1/2 -5 yr. old parents day out class on Wednesdays. We have been working with him on self control and discipline and he has made great progress. We are not having near as many tantrums and outbursts and his is just such a funny little comedian to be around. He is wearing size 4 and 5 now and is wearing Bennett's clothes from last summer. He loves to eat and his famous line is. "I'm still hungry" Oh boy we are in for it when we have to feed all the boys and their friends. I'm scared for my food budget :o). Our funny little Bray Bear.

A funny little story the other day between Bruce and Brayden.

Bruce: Brayden I wish I had your legs because they are so muscular

Brayden : But daddy you would look funny because my legs are too short for you.

Bruce: Ha Ha your right Brayden they would be too short :o).

We have such great kiddos .