End of summer

Last week we got tickets to the local baseball game. We got to sit right behind home plate and had a blast. We get the tickets for free because one of the doctors I work with is the team doc. The stadium is amazing. They have a pool in the outfield, and playground, a grass hill in left field to sit on, tons of great seats (shaded), and a lot of AC areas. Apparently they consistently win awards for having the best stadium. Lil M loved the music played when everyone goes up to bat. He would dance and get confused when it stopped. He also thought everyone was clapping for him. He would look around, like he was thanking his fans, then laugh and clap too. By far the most interesting thing was watching him discover foam fingers. There were some kids behind us with them and he couldn't stop staring. I think he though they were their real hands and it amazed him. Little M and I have had a great week this week. Mario is smack in the middle of back to school season which, believe it or not is bigger than Black Friday and Christmas. He has been at the store nonstop and he started a new class in his MBA program. With him being so busy Little M and I have had some great mommy and me time. Last Sunday we found a park on the running trail that has a splash pad. I got a good run in and Mario got to play at the end. It worked out really well. Previously he had not really liked splash pads. They are the cement areas with multiple water spouts, sometimes trees and buckets that fill up and fall over, etc. He wasn't a big fan of getting wet, but this last time I couldn't keep him out of it. He kept going right up to the water sprays and letting it hit him in the face. He would wait till I pulled him away. Then he would laugh and giggle with snot running down his face because so much water went up his nose. Yes I am the mother a little boy. He is also not shy. He kept walking up to other little ones and talking away. They usually just stood there and stared at him, but he didn't seem to mind. Except for one little girl who kept running back to her mom. He didn't let that stop him though, he tried to talk to her 3 times with the same result. On the topic of girls, I think he might have a little girlfriend at school. A few weeks ago I noticed he had a big red spot on the back his hand. It was red and swollen, but there was a distinct ring around it. I was worried it was a spider bite and we would wind up in the ER. When I picked him up at school they were outside playing so I called the school to see if they knew anything about it. Low and behold there was a note in his cubby saying he got bit by a girl. The teacher was in the office writing it when I picked him up. I have also noticed that one girl gets excited when I drop him off. She is always like, "Mario" or "Hi Mario" and pointing at him. I think it is cute, but I'm so not ready for girlfriends. Hopefully I can convince him that cuties exist for another decade or so. Lil M has also been talking more. Not great pronunciation, but I can understand him. He says "daw" for dog every time we come home and they are barking at the door. Today I asked him to say "please" for his cup. I had to repeat it a couple of times, but he finally said, "eeese" so I counted it. I have been pinning alot of holiday decorations this year. The last 2 years we haven't done much decorating for anything. The first year we were moving and the second we were still trying to keep Lil M healthy. I am so excited to decorate and have a ton of things planned. I will try to share links and pictures as I get things finished. This has been kind of a random post so I hope you stayed with me through it all!

 Staring at foam fingers

 "Dad, bite my finger"

Clapping mommy's hands

Mario's Progress

I realized I haven't posted much about little man's progress lately. He is doing so well I don't even think about posting. I feel like we finally are feeling like a normal family with a healthy baby boy. He is eating regular food. I have tried keeping him away from hard things: like taco shells and chips. But we store the potato chips at the bottom of the pantry and one day while I was cooking he got into them and was chowing down! I initially panicked, but he was ok with it, so I let him go. He had no problems. He is also drinking regular liquids. Yes, no more thickened liquids. He is drinking water, milk, juice, everything. I love it. I love not having to mix everything he might drink for the day, pack it to stay cold, and carry it everywhere when we go out. I love just loading a cup and going! On that same note, we are trying to get him to use sippy cups. Before the OT wanted us to use a straw cup for his muscle control in his mouth and throat. Now he is doing so well, we are trying to get back on track to using a real cup. We started with sippy cups and he is not adjusting well. He just holds it against his chest and sucks out the air. Then he cries and holds it to you to tip up for him. This has been going on a week and I just now got him to hold it while I hold up his arms. He has even started having us hold other cups, disposable, etc. while he drinks from the straw. We will keep working on it, but this is definitely the hardest transition he has had so far. I have given him real cups with a little water in them and, when he gets it to his lips, he does better with them.

We have been swimming more with him lately and he loves the water. I found some arm floaties to use in the deep end, but he still puts his face underwater on his own. Then chokes and coughs. He just hasn't quite figured it out yet. He loves being pushed through the water on his tummy, in a superman pose. He is also getting used to bobbing under water. When we get more settled I want to put him in a more formal swimming class, but for now I am following advice I found online about teaching babies to swim.

He is also loving school. Every day I stop at the window sneak a peak at what he's doing. Lately he will look up at me and give me the biggest toothiest grin ever. It makes me want to go get him so I can see that grin all day long, but I know it is a sign that he is happy and feels comfortable there.

 Cuddling with a very patient Malaki

 Wanted to nap with his new cars backpack.

Climbing on the ottoman

July 2012

I can't believe there is only a week left in July! This month has flown by faster than others. We had Drew and Michelle Jordan and their kiddos come visit, we all got sick, both cars broke down, Mario went to Houston for a few days for work, and of course the regular work, school, etc. It has been busy!
I'll start with Drew and Michelle's visit. They drove down Saturday and we went to check out Central Market. I've been told by multiple people to go, that its a must do. But when you look into it, its a grocery store. So I had my doubts. It was pretty cool though. It is a grocery store, like whole foods, with a panera-like cafe that opens onto an outdoor stage and patio. They have live music and it backs up to a park with a playscape and open area. We enjoyed the music and the kids loved the playscape. Aaron became the king of the playground with all these kids following him around. Little Mario tried to keep up, but he's just not ready for 3-5 year olds! He was almost waking at the time, so he just walked around and around the play equipment.
On Saturday we went to Barton Springs, Zilker park, and a Nature Park. The Nature park had all kinds of animals that were rescued or taken from people who got them as pets without realizing that wild animals don't make good pets. They also had a dino dig area where the kids could dig out dino bones from sand. Apparently when developing downtown Austin they found a couple of mammoths and prehistoric animals. The had a whole display with pictures on what they found and when. It was really neat. We hit up Chuy's, a really good mexican restaurant. Then we ventured to Barton Springs. This is a natural spring, creek that they turned into a swimming pool. The bottom is all natural, with moss and stones, etc. The water is 68 degrees year round. Of course the kids loved it, even Lil M. Mario and I, not being big swimmers, etc were ready after getting in. :) The kids were swimming and shaking with blue lips, but not ready to go. Everyone was pretty wiped after that so we headed back to our place for naps etc. Then we went to a local taco place. It was very good and unique.
We had a great time and look forward to them coming to visit again!

 Watching the kids dance at Central Market

 Mario and Aaron looking at turtles

 Walking through the Nature Center

 The Jordan's

 The Pereira's

 At Chuy's

 Digging for dino bones

Swimming at Barton Creek

July 4th

So this is a little late, but better late than never. We had a pretty low key fourth this year. Mario had to work and little Man was not in the best mood so we didn't venture out until after 7pm. We drove over to Round Rock to watch their city fireworks. The line to get into the park was over a mile long, so we decided to drive by the park instead and if it was packed we would just go home. When we made it to the park entrance there was 2 lanes to turn into the park, but the huge line was only funneling into one of them, so we buzzed into the second line and went right in. We had our pick of spots and only had to wait 45 minutes for the show. Little Mario loved the fireworks! He watched them quietly, lost interest every once in a while. But when you pointed them out, he watched again. It was a fun time and nice to get outside. Little Mario and I explored a little. He found a rock and was content to just sit on it and talk. He would stand up and walk around it, but always kept a hand on it and would sit right back down on it. He wasn't quite walking in open space a lot then, but he ventured out on his own by crawling on his hands and feet. I think it was a successful Fourth of July.

 Hanging out before the show

 Chilling with Dad

 "Crawling"

 Walking

"Dad, the fireworks are over there."

First Week in school

So we have finished our first week in school full time. I don't know why, but going full time was a harder transition than starting part time. I think it is because I knew he would be home the next day with one of us. But now, he is going all week. I really like the school he is in and they have good records for having kids prepared for kindergarden. I have learned that I am a mom that needs coddled. I need you come talk to me when I pick him  up, I need to hear how he did and what he did, not just a check mark on a form, and I don't feel that I get that here. I think it is because part of me still sees him as my sick little boy, but here none knows the sick baby. He has been healthy and has minimal limitations, so they don't see him the same way. He will probably be thirty, married with kids and I will still see him as needing special care. Look out future daughter in law! :) But aside from my needs, they meet his very well. Though things are different in Texas. They can have up to 16 kids to 2 adults. So he doesn't get the one on one he was getting in Kansas. We also moved up an age group here, so before he would have been in a 5 to 1 ratio. I feel that is a big difference, but they try to keep it closer to 10 to 2. He is sleeping though the whole nap time on a mat (!) and eating lunch like crazy, often multiple helpings.

Last week was kinda crazy. I started work and everyone got sick. Just yucky GI stuff, but first lil M, then Mario and then me. Of course my first week I couldn't stay home and wasn't really sick enough to worry about getting others sick, but I still felt bad and couldn't eat much. Luckily Lil M was ok enough by Monday to make it through school. I am hoping this week we can get into more of a routine, but with July 4 on Wednesday I don't think that is going to happen.

I will post more pictures after the 4th! Have a safe and happy holiday!

Studying with Dad

Lounging on the couch, Love that BELLY!

Mario's eating progress

Hello All! So we finished our last first doctors appointment and have transferred all of Lil M's care to Austin. We have seen the Pediatrician, ENT, Cardiologist, and had a therapy evaluation. So far all is good. Everyone feels he is doing great considering his past. My favorite quote so far has been, "Mario how did you end up in my office." Said in wonderment by his new Cardiologist. Of course I love his new Cardiologist now. If we went back to KC today I am sure most of his doctors wouldn't believe this is the same little boy they just saw a month ago. He has changed and is doing so much more since we left, it is crazy. As of the end of April he was still using a bottle and only eating a little bit of pureed foods. Now he is on the "whatever we eat" diet,  eating almost all age appropriate foods, and using a straw big boy cup (no more bottles!). He still needs thicken liquids and a higher calorie content from his formula, but I'm hoping we can wean off of both soon. He has a test ordered called a swallow study to determine how thin of a liquid he can handle. They will feed him liquids at different consistencies and take X-rays while he swallows to determine where the liquid is going, i.e. is he swallowing it all the way down or is he silently aspirating (choking) or having reflux. I am hoping this goes well. We have tried some non-thicked liquids one sip at a time and he does well, but when I've tried to decrease the thickener for a whole cup, he gets congested. We are having fun experimenting with real food. He comes running whenever he sees us eating anything. He loves avocados! Sometimes I wonder if it is because of the taste or because they are squishy and fun to feed himself.

This is after one of his first chocolate cookies.

He's already trying to steal food off mama's plate.

He is eating his milk through a big cup, i.e. McDonalds, just like Grandpa does.

1 year pictures

Hello! I was just downloading the pics from the last few months off my camera so I wanted to share a few. Tomorrow we see the occupational therapist so there will be more news to share.

These are all from his 1 year pictures:

Their eyes are always closed with the best smiles!