just another day in paradise

Sunday, April 19, 2009

4 months

Poor Bryn. She's definitely a third child, seeing as it has been nearly three weeks since she turned 4 months, and I'm just now getting to post it. And I forgot to take a picture of her on her 4 month birthday. (That was a really bad week...Benson broke his collar bone, I had a bad cold, and Bryn got pink eye.)

So here it is...

SHE is absolutely adorable and TINY! She weighed 11lbs 11oz at her check-up (10%) and 24.5 inches long (50%). For comparison...Bailey was 16.5lbs and Benson was 14 lbs at their 4 month check-ups! (Bailey weighed more than 11lbs at 6weeks!)

The doctor was a little concerned about her 'immature muscle tone' (aka: still a floppy headed ninny muggins that wouldn't roll over). He referred me to Neurology and Physical Therapy. After crying, and feeling like the worst mom ever for neglecting my child, I threw the phone numbers away and gave Bryn some tummy time, and then some more tummy time, and then put her in the Bumbo seat, followed by more tummy time. The next day she rolled over. I guess I've been 'spoiling' her too much and I just carry her around on my shoulder all day long. She now holds her head up like a champ (by the way, her head measured in the 75%, which is a lot of head to hold up for a 10% body size!) and supports a little more of her body when I try to stand/sit her up.
I think that she is the most PERFECT baby ever and I couldn't have asked for a better one. She's so pleasant and charming, laid back and easy going, and a great sleeper! She's pretty content with whatever comes her way or whatever the day may bring. She's an absolute blessing and joy in our home and hearts and I couldn't imagine our lives without her. She is the best thing I never knew I needed.

Sunday best. (I have to take her pictures on the changing table unless I want other little monkeys jumping in the picture!)

The secret and magic combination for Bryn's great sleep...

1. Head pushed up in the corner to feel secure.

+2. Blanket swaddled tighter than a straight jacket.

+3. Binky plugged in and tucked under the straight jacket to keep from falling out.

=GREAT SLEEP!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

broken

Notice anything?

When at 5 am both the girls were awake, I should have taken it as an omen and gone back to bed.

This morning, while I was nursing Bryn, Benson was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs having a snack. It was one of those slow motion falls that you can see happening, but just can't move quick enough. Benson fell off the chair onto his head and then rolled onto his shoulder. I was really worried because he fell directly on his head on the tile. I ran over to pick him up, and that's when I knew something was really wrong. He SCREAMED in pain when I lifted him up. Immediately he and I both knew that there was something wrong with his shoulder or collar bone. I hurried and gathered him and Bryn up and rushed him over the the ER (Bay was at preschool, and I called Guh to meet me at the ER. I couldn't get a hold of Brandon because last night Benson hid his phone somewhere...I had to have Jamie track him down at work, and then he met us there too). Benson screamed for a solid hour. When the drugs had set in and Benson was asleep (for a moment) they took and x-ray, and sure enough, he broke his clavicle. Poor little guy!

He's pretty thrashed in this picture. They had to cut his shirt off of him. He'll be wearing button-ups for the next few weeks. Unfortunately, the only thing that can be done for a broken collar bone is to immobilize it in a sling. That's not going so well for us.

Notice how red his eyes are? He's pretty much cried all day long. I can only imagine how painful and confusing it is for him. Worst of all...it's his right hand that has to be in a sling. He can't hardly play or eat or do anything. I had to pin the sling closed and then pin it to his body so he can't use it. He keeps forgetting about it and will try and move his arm, and then just SCREAM in agony. I feel so bad for him. It's going to be a long month.

little man of mischief

Last Wednesday, Benson was my little man of mischief. When we got home from dropping Bailey off at preschool, Benson headed straight to the kitchen and said "I wan foooot nitnax" (I want fruit snacks). I said no (as it was only 9am) and went and changed Bryn's diaper. When I came back, Benson was siting at the table eating fruit snacks. I was pretty astounded, but figured it must have been a fluke, I left the pantry door open and there was a package of fruitsnacks that were really easy to open. Not so much. After he finished the fruit snacks he started asking for more. I said no, and then watched him go to work. He reached up high to the door knob and twisted and twisted until it came open. Then he moved the stool and reached the fruit snacks. Next, he reached in a picked some out. Then he sat there and pulled and pulled until he got them open! I couldn't believe it. Of course I had to let him eat them then and document it.

About an hour later I was nursing the baby when I heard a commotion coming from Bryn's room. When I went to inspect, I found Benson had pulled out the Bumbo chair from it's box, moved it into the hall and was sitting in it, LAUGHING! (the best part was later in the day when he sat in it again and it stuck to his bum, even as he tried to crawl away from it!)

Since it was out, I had Bryn try it out. She loves it, and I think that the BumboSeat is the best invention ever. I only wish I would have had one for the other two!