Drew has always been a little congested, but it got pretty bad when he had his cold a few weeks ago, and hadn't improved as much as I expected afterward. In talking to my mom, I learned that her side of the family has a tendency to be congested as a result of milk intolerance. This first movie is what he sounded like when he woke up at 4 am tuesday. This is not out of the norm for him. Then he coughs/spits up mucous and is fussy until at least 10 every day. Once he's cleared himself, he's a happy kiddo.

So I decided to try soy formula for him instead. I expected a couple days to see a difference. The doctor told me I should see a difference within a week, if that was the problem. This is the difference one night made for him: (After a good night's sleep.)

Hooray for new formula!! He has not had a morning like this since we've been home!! He used to be miserable all morning. Today he has played and talked and been so happy!!

Plus we're off ativan completely now! What a week.

"Normal" life

Drew has really made progress lately with his motor skills. He likes being in his saucer now, and jumps and spins to get other toys. It's really nice to have a way he can entertain himself. He also is able to lay on the floor without puking now, and has been playing and rolling side to side. He rolled over onto his belly at Grandpa Steve's yesterday. Ryan and I missed it, but we're glad that he's gaining new skills.
He had dilation again last Thursday. He seems more miserable every time we go. He was fussy for three days afterward this time. I asked Dr. Barnhart if we could maybe go longer in between, but he said it probably has more to do with the amount they dilate. So it should get easier from here, because we're at the full diameter. We just need it to not shrink now. So we're scheduled for Sept 4. Drew is now 16.5 lbs!!

We went through hand-me-downs last week to get out fall clothes for Tyler and the next size of clothes for Drew. Tyler found his boots from last year, which he loves. I bought them a little big, so they still fit, and he's been wearing them a lot since. He's such a funny kid. He also found a shirt with a fire truck that he loves, and a few with tractors (which is the word for tractors and all construction machines). So now we have somethings to alternate with his dinosaur jammie's.

The archery deer hunt started last week, so Ryan's been getting his fill of time out in nature. Tyler asks where he is all the time. He likes it when dad takes him for rides on the 'wheeler'.

The boys are starting to play together more and more. Drew smiles at Tyler quite a bit. Tyler really likes to get in Drew's face and talk baby-talk. He's also started taking Drew's toys, so now we're learning about sharing. They are both a little jealous of the other having time with mom. If Drew starts crying, or sometimes if I'm holding Drew, Tyler will come climb on me to get his attention. Drew has also started to object occasionally to my paying attention to Tyler while he has to sit and watch. Poor kids. Sibling rivalry already.

Overall things are going really well. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather of fall, and hopefully relaxing into life a little more.

Sickies

I decided to make a little sand box in a section of the rock garden in front of our house. We went out to the desert and found some nice sand to put in it. Grandpa Steve, Grandma Shell, and Savanah went with us, and they got some dirt as well.
Sadly, there was a wind storm and all of our sand blew away. Guess we'll go get more and make some sort of cover this time.
Saturday we went to Grandma and Grandpa's and Tyler and Savanah had a great time making mud and playing in their sand.
Drew had been fussy even before this last dilation, but it got even worse for a few days after. I was getting really frustrated trying to figure out what was bothering him when I got a sore throat! Within a few days Tyler had a gooby nose and we've all been a little congested, except for Ryan. Hopefully he'll make it by without getting sick. Drew has been feeling a little better.
He also started spitting up EVERY time I feed him after dilation. Then he got really gaggy again. Wondering what to do, I stopped feeding him into his belly. That helped him for a few days. Then he got gaggy again, so I started feedings just 3x a day. Now we're back up to every 3-4 hours.
My theory is that he just need something to move the gastric juices through. I'm not sure why it made him worse those few days, but I'm mostly just relieved that he doesn't have to be heaving all the time. It's so hard on him.
I can see little dimples in Drew's lower gums, so he'll be getting teeth soon I think.
I have started giving Drew little drips of formula by mouth. The other night I had him suck on my finger while I dripped it. He caught on to the fact that when the plastic touched his lips he'd get formula pretty quick and started whining a little when I'd try, but he did swallow it very well. Today I thought I'd try something different. So I got a dab of yogurt and dipped my finger in and put it on Drew's lips. He was pretty interested and let me give him several tastes before he let me know he was through. I am so excited that it went so well!! We've also been working on sitting and standing (standing in my lap with my hands under his arms). I still have to give him almost complete support, but he really enjoys it and will get better over time I'm sure.
I have been so busy with everything else that I hadn't taken much time to just play with the boys. I had a few days last week that I took the time to entertain them for a bit. I had a great time and so did the boys. My new plan is to make sure that I take the time every day to give them some one-on-one or one-on-two playtime. I had forgotten how important that is, and am grateful for the little reminders. Childhood goes very quickly.