Alex

He's sooo cute! He responds to his name very well, can sit up unassisted for 10 minutes then flops onto his face reaching for a toy, LOVES his bath, 2nd bottom tooth coming through now, eats 2 solid meals a day along w/ 2 bottles of formula and 2 nursing sessions, sleeps pretty well (down around 8pm and eats at 4am, up at 7ish), and is so HAPPY and laughs a lot. He has started "screaming" to make noise and loves it.....he gets on his hands and knees and rocks but still scoots backwards and gets frustrated when I put a toy just out of his reach to get him to go forward. Drew loves to give him his bottle and is a great helper!

Drew - possible preschool observation

for Drew is tomorrow. I'll go in the morning while he's in school and check out this school that seems good for him. I'd like to see it in action, how the teacher interacts, the kids' behavior and dynamics to get a good feel for it. The ratio is 1:10 which is PERFECT for him. Very structured

Update on Livvy

Took her to the G.I. last week for a follow-up and here's the plan:
- Kenny and I will get a sweat chloride test when our doc approves it to see which side of the family it's on or if she has a new mutation.
- She will continue on the stool softener but we're slowly lowering the daily dose so she can have her own normal poopies is the goal.
- Pediasure or Carnation Instant Breakfast still 3 times a day for calories and nutrition until she gains enough weight to hold her own.

She has gained 5 oz in the past 3 wks since starting the supplements which is great! Go Livvy!!

Lab results ~ Liv

Sweet Livvy! She's so cute..ahem...all of her blood work came back great!!! Still waiting on a stool sample (for parasites, etc) but the Cystic Fibrosis screen came back indicating she is at least a carrier of the disease. :( VERY shocking for us as she doesn't exhibit any signs or symptoms of having CF. She goes to Stanford for a sweat test next Tuesday. Here's a little sample of the procedure she'll have done:


A sweat sample is collected using a special sweat stimulation procedure. A tiny amount of a clear, sweat-stimulating liquid is applied to a small patch of skin on the arm or leg. An electrode is then placed over the site and a weak electrical current stimulates the area. This is a painless procedure that may create a tingling or warm sensation. After several minutes, the area is cleaned and sweat is collected for about thirty minutes, either into a plastic coil of tubing or onto a piece of gauze or filter paper. The sweat obtained is then sent to the laboratory for analysis.

We will find out the results the next day. If she is soley a carrier, she is healthy and doesn't have to worry about her health --- except having to do with her own children in the future. If her husband is tested and a carrier, their chances of having a baby with CF is increased. Good for her to know regardless.

School issues

Without going into great detail, Kenny and I aren't too thrilled with the school he's at - mostly the classroom (kids and teachers)...gee, that means everything else is great!!! Oy! He's having a hard time sitting in his chair for academic time and is starting to love tap other kids since he's seen them do it and get away with it. I am in the process of interviewing other schools without mentioning it to him, of course, until it's finalized. Hopefully, we'll get him into a school that is more hands-on which is right up his alley and play-based.

We've got a "rocker"!!

No, not a punk rocker, but Alex is starting to get on his knees and rockin' away getting ready to crawl and, only then, make our family complete with all "mobile" kiddos! EEEEEK! Scary! :) He gobbles up his Stage 2 foods still - averaging a jar and a half at one sitting - while we're working on gettting him to grab foods off his tray and hold a sippy cup. Who does he think he is? A baby or something?! He still has one feeding around 5 or 6am. Other than that, no teeth and he's a happy camper! He *might* have a touch of stranger anxiety as well...but we're not "going there" just yet!

Pictures

More pictures...

Family update with pictures!

Drew is getting so much taller these days...his energy is endless..still! He is very into how things work and why is his fave question. School is going pretty well and we're still working on keeping him in his chair to do his work which is challenging. He is a super big bro; especially with Alex.

Liv is having some tests done with her GI doc and we'll get those results back within a few weeks. She started Occupational Therapy Wednesday and that's once a week for an hour at the clinic with their equipment. She seemed disorganized (which we've already known) but had a good time hangning on the trapeze and "crashing" on bean bags! It'll be interesting to find a program that will work for her that we can continue at home -- which might boost her speech as well.

Alex is halfway to the 8 month mark - wow, time flies! He has found his thumb (where was it these past 6 months when we were playing the paci game at night?!?) so he sleeps much better. Down around 8pm and eats at 5am or so and back down til 8am. I can do that!! He enjoys his 2-meal-a-day solids to bits!! He's a great eater and loves everything offered so far. He's on Stage 2 foods now. No teeth yet and he's working in sitting up independently for longer periods of time.

Kenny's been sick for almost a month straight with bronchitis then the flu....ugh. He spent his entire 2 week "vacation" sick which was a bummer. :( He's feeling a bit better now so hopefully he's on the mend. He's picked up a few more music students (which he loves since it's his passion) and really enjoys that.

Alex - backward scooter!

Mr. Alex...he is on his tummy more now and inches backwards and gets more mad the farther away he gets from us on the floor! He can sit for longer periods of time now and eats like a good boy. He gets some oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a nice hearty dinner of baby veggies and chicken or turkey...mmmmm mmmm he can't get enough! He's already 7 months old now! Where did the time go??? I bought a shopping cart cover so he goes grocery shopping and sits in there like a big boy now..so cute and happy!

Bob starts chemo

He starts tomorrow and we'll be praying for him through this journey and that he has minimal side effects. He looks great and has a good starting point.

CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve was spent here at home, nice and quietly! The kids played and set out a cookie for Santa with milk but we didn't have any carrots for the reindeer :(. Drew was VERY excited since he's "getting" the whole Santa thing more this year. Of course, he wanted dimensions on how Santa could possibly come down the chimney and if he would get stuck and how he would climb back up while Drew was using his flashlight looking up the chimney for a demo!!
We woke up around 7:30am and went to see on Christmas morning! They loved their stocking stuffers and quickly moved to the big presents.
Drew got a plasma ball, lighted koosh ball, a few books, a disc shooter (from Daddy), some bath shaving cream and some magentic vehicles to put together. Liv got some Dora books (which she has to have read at least 40 times every day still!), some magnetic shape tiles from Uncle Scott and Aunt Laura (BIG hit), a potty book from Mommy ;) and some figurines of farm animals. Drew and Livvy's joint gift is a trampoline for kids coming this Wednesday!!
Alex got some teething toys, a bath toy, and a ball popper from Grammy and Pop.

I got Kenny a PALM organizer and a new coffee travel mug and he got me a new cell phone!

Last night, we got together with Grammy and Pop as well as Gigi to open gifts. The kids got some cute, cute things and I got a wonderful surprise! A gold bracelet with opals and diamonds from them! WOW - it's beautiful and so special. It was fun and a nice way to ring in the new year with them here.

I'll update with pics as soon!

Recent pictures

Sweet Mom

This month has been crowded with health issues! Mom went into her doc because of a pain in her back and ended up having bloodwork done since she had fasted thinking they'd take blood anyway. After determining it was a pulled muscle, they drew the blood for her physical. Some slightly elevated liver enzyme panels came back and she had an ultrasound done on her liver and stomach. They found some "lumps" on her liver. :( She also had a CT Scan done Friday from neck to pelvis and that CAME BACK CLEAR! woohoo! Next step is an ultrasound and liver biopsy next Friday. We're praying a ton for her and her attitude is incredible!! She's a gem!

The ongoing Drew's school saga

Little Drew is having a hard time staying in his chair and doing his class work -- basically following directions. He gets up and wanders around or crawls under the tables and we think he sees other kids doing it and getting away with it so he follows suit. Kenny is going to observe one day and see the dynamics of the class...is it the teachers with little control? too many kids misbehaving? Is the work too hard for him? Going another 6 months at this rate is going to be tough on all of us. They don't do timeout in the classroom and instead re-direct which doesn't cut it in my opinion. He gets things taken away from him when he gets home based on the teacher's report of the day. I'll update after Kenny does the observing.

Pop's journey

We recently found out that Bob has a form of lymphoma cancer and next week they'll find out where the cancer is and what the treatment will be. We've all been praying HARD for him to stay positive and faithful during this tough time. We might never know the reason for him being sick, but there is always an underlying purpose and something we can all learn something from. I will post an update after I get one next week.

WoW! Haven't posted in a looong time!

Phew! Seems like time has just flown by lately....let's rewind!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Bob and Cherie's newly remodeled home along with Betty, Dustin, Scott, Laura, Carah, Nathan, Caleb, Gary, Nancy, Jennifer and Lee! So nice to see everyone together like a family reunion on the Carter side!! Our T-day meal was catered with excellent food ....we truly have many blessings to be thankful for. :) Here are some highlights:

Alex bo Balix

Our sleeping nightmare!! He's getting up more frequently in the night and I called the pediatrician's office today for their perspective on sleeping at this age. They said he's too old to NOT be sleeping through and in fact he doesn't even need to eat in the early morning like he has been...he just wants his paci that falls out literally 10 times a night! I'm not getting solid sleep and neither is he. The nurse is sending us some info on how to sleep train appropriately so we'll look that over and start! It'll be a rough few nights but soon be on a normal schedule and we'll all be happy!

"Look at me in the eye and tell me you're sorry."

That's what Daddy asked Drew to do to him....he looked down and said "sorry" but that didn't cut it. So Drew puts his face right up to Kenny's and looks (literally) in his one eye and said "sorry." I was dying inside!!!

Liv's new words!!!!

These sprung out rather quickly -- all in the past two days!
* poo poo (giggle) ;)
* purple (I see a "p" theme starting!)
* green
* wolf
* lion
* okay
* "GO!" (when she wants Drew to get out of her space!)

GO LIVVY, GO LIVVY, GO LIVVY!! Christina and Lisa will be sooo proud of you!! I know we are! :)

Drew and the next-door neighbors

Drew was the first to point out that the neighbors next to us got a new minivan. They were sitting in it learning its features, etc. while we were getting into our car when I noticed he was stalling and wondered why. He's standing in the dirt with his hands behind his back staring at their van...I ask him to get in the car and he says, "What are they doing?" I told him they were learning the new buttons and going through the manual to figure things out with their new car like we did when ours was new. He says, "Well, I can do it!" That is no joke..this kid can tell them what each and every thing does on any new car...believe me! He don't need no stinkin' manual! :) He was practically drooling!