The Birds and The Bees

It has been quite interesting around our house lately, well our backyard actually.

One morning, Cameron wanted to go on the back porch and play in his sand table. As I was opening the back door, I was almost dive bombed by one of these:


It seems that these 'friendly' birds decided to build a mud nest right above our back door. I could never get a picture of it because every time I stepped outside they would fly around the back porch to protect their nest. Poor Cameron couldn't play outside for about two days because these birds would just show up out of nowhere, and even worse, Max had to make a run for it every time I let him outside to go to the restroom! One night, Josh scraped down the mud nest and we haven't seen the birds since.

Then, later that same day, I was on the phone with my mom, looking out the window explaining to her about the birds, when I saw a football in one of our trees. A football you ask, oh I wish it were just a football... But, then I look closer and see this in our tree:


Yes, those our bees!! Luckily, the tree they decided to live in was way in the back so the bees never made it near the door. We called animal control and apparently they don't handle bees. One of Josh's co-worker's husband is an exterminator and he said he would come one night and take care of them. Sidenote: Apparently you shouldn't mess with bees during the day, only at night. So the day he was supposed to come, the bees disappeared and we haven't seen them since. It was really weird, one minute they were, and the next they were gone.

After an interesting week, I have come to the conclusion that Cameron got a lesson on the birds and bees WAY too early!! Ha!

Sea World '09

So back in February (or maybe before that) Sharon called me to see what time in May would be a good time for a family vacation. After much going back and forth and changing dates, we finally decided on a weekend in May for a trip to Sea World and a two night stay at the Hill Country Hyatt. So early Friday morning, Mama, Daddy Mike, Riley, Jace, Aunt Katie, Uncle Jordan, Mommy, Daddy, Cameron and Cade all packed in two cars and headed for San Antonio.

This was by far one of the best places for kiddos and I highly recommend this vacation to anyone with children. The Hill Country Hyatt is amazing with these wonderful pools, a lazy river, activities all throughout the day and so, so much more. Sharon and Mike hooked us up with a joining room complete with a living area and a balcony. The kiddos would run back and forth to each other's room which made sleep time in the morning slim to none!! (thank you Riley for knocking on our door over and over again at 7:00...we love you!) Sharon and Mike took a room for themselves at the end of the hallway, and as Katie said, I think it was planned!!

We got there Friday afternoon and after seeing the place, we decided to forgo naps for the day. The kids loved the pools and swam and swam and floated and floated... (you get the idea). Cade was a trooper and slept in his stroller the whole afternoon. After swimming for most of the afternoon, we headed to the lobby for some face painting! Cameron went with Shamu, Riley chose the ever popular A&M logo, and Jace, well, he chose the nice pink ice cream cone with sprinkles. His daddy was not too proud and his ice cream cone only lasted about an hour before it suspiciously disappeared!!

That night, we headed to a Mexican food restaurant for some yummy food and margaritas! Yes, even Sharon had a rita!! You go girl! The highlight of the evening was right before they served our dinner. Let me paint a picture for you...

Remember the no nap decision we made earlier? Well, we were paying for it now, so we decided to bring in the DVD player for a little movie during dinner! Many stares headed our way.
Then, Mike order an appetizer for the table. Guacamole, how simple is that? Well, all of sudden some man shows up at our table complete with all the guacamole fixin's. Many stares headed our way once again as we had a live guacamole demonstration at our table! Then, the best of all. During the quac making, the live mariachi band showed up at our table to serenade Josh for his 31st birthday!! I was laughing so hard I was crying!! Josh HATES and I mean HATES any kind of attention directed at him!! Sharon and Mike got him real good!!

Josh enjoying his serenade:

At this point the whole restaurant was staring. Yes, we were that table....Kids watching a movie at the table, live appetizer making at the table, and a live mariachi band in action!! This was one great night!!

After our entertaining dinner, we headed back to the hotel for smores on the beach!! I might of had two smores, but whose counting right? Daddy Mike helped the kiddos build a sand castle and we sat around and enjoyed the evening! What a great place to be!

The next morning, I dropped Cade off with my mom and grandma so that we could all go and enjoy Sea World. By 11:30, this is what we got to enjoy...

Cameron enjoying himself during the rain out:
Yes, that is rain. Lots of rain. So we sat inside a restaurant and tried to wait for the rain to pass. That didn't happen, so we made a run for it. This was fun with three toddlers!! We got back to the hotel, took some much needed naps, and luckily woke up to a cool breeze in the air and no rain...so we headed back to Sea World!! We practically had the whole park to ourselves and enjoyed seeing the dolphins, watching Shamu and riding the roller coasters.

Overall this was a great trip!! We are so lucky and thankful to Sharon and Mike for spoiling us with such a great vacation!! Hopefully this will continue each year...

My Sweet Two Month Old

How can you not think that this is the sweetest boy you have ever seen? And lucky me...I get to spend each day with him and his sweet brother. I am truly one lucky momma!!

Today, Cade, Cameron, and I ventured off to see Dr. Ransom for Cade's two month check-up. To make a long story short, Aunt Katie was going to watch Cameron for me, but silly me thought that the doc's appointment was at 11:50 and on a whim, decided to call the office. Yes, the appointment was at 10:50. Luckily, we were already out and about, so I just headed to the doc's office. Cameron got to eat a big sugar cookie at 11:00 in the pediatrician's office. I am sure Dr. Ransom just thinks I am a great mom!!

Cade is doing great! He is still battling a little thrush, so he is on yet another antibiotic. He weighed in at a whopping 12lbs. 5 oz. and 22 1/2 inches long. That puts him the 75th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for height. Silly side note...Dr. Ransom had a medical student in today and when she checked Cade's height, she put him in the 30th percentile. Now, that is great and all, but my husband wants two basketball players. I made Dr. Ransom check it again when he came in for the check up. I felt bad, but the student had indeed done it wrong, so I didn't feel that bad.

Cade was a trooper for the shots. I didn't want Cameron to freak out because he gets his shots in three weeks, so I told him that Cade had to get medicine in his legs and he was o.k. with that. Cade screamed a little, I closed my eyes (I hate needles), and Cameron watched from a distance.

I love that Dr. Ransom always ends his visits with 'Dawn, you're doing a great job'. He doesn't have to say that, and heck, he's probably lying (remember the sugar cookie at 11:00 a.m.?), but just that fact that he says it makes me feel pretty good!!


And here is a little about the Cade man at two months:
**He is smiling all the time!! I love seeing his sweet smile, especially in the mornings.
**He really seems to notice my voice and always turns to look for me.
**He is sleeping from about 9:30 to about 4:00 every night. I have to get up about once in between that time to give him the paci.
**After eating at 4:00 a.m., he goes right back to sleep but starts waking up between 6:30-7:30. That is when Josh and I tag team and play the 'Put Cade's paci in' game. It is a fun game and anyone who wants to play is welcome to come right on over any morning!!
**He is usually up for the day by 8:30.
**I am trying to get him on a schedule. He takes a great 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon, we are working on the morning nap. I love my afternoons b/c I have worked really hard to get both boys to nap at the same time.
**He is a great eater and since the prevacid for his reflux is working so great, we don't have to clean up near as much spit up.
**He hates the car and is fine for about 10-15 minutes, then let the screaming begin. Sorry for anyone who has been on the phone with me when this happens!
**He is not a fan of tummy time, but will put up with it for about 5-10 minutes.
**He loves his rain forest play mat that his Mimi bought. And I am very grateful for the mat also as it allows me to get a shower in each day.
**Overall, he is a very happy baby and we are so lucky to have him!!

Don't you just love this little grin?

I think he looks like Rico Suave in this picture (or he is pooping?!?)

All Smiles

Cade has really started smiling lately. I love his sweet face in the morning when I come to get him out of bed. He smiles so big and gives me plenty of 'coos' to start my day off the right way!

Cameron also gets very excited to see his brother smiling. Usually I hear this through the house..

"Mommy, mommy come see, Cade is smelling!!"

At first I was very confused...how in the world does an eight week old smell? After running to see what was going, I soon realized that smelling means smiling in my two year old's world. Very cute!

Here are some picture my mom caught this weekend of our smilin' boy in action!



Are you so in love now? What a sweet boy!

Mr. Eli

We received this update from Michelle on Sunday about her sweet Eli:

Hi! We are still up here at the hospital...DAY 20!!! It has been almost 2 weeks since his surgery, but doctors say it was successful. He lost quite a bit of weight, but they are now letting him eat every 3 hours. Because of the respiratory tube down his nose, he has vocal chord paralysis. They are having to thicken his milk to make sure he doesn't get pneumonia. He lost his voice, but is slowly getting it back! They are also monitoring his blood pressure, which is still a little high. Besides all of that, he is doing really well. The doctors and nurses love him...they call him their little peanut. He has had quite a few firsts since this all happened...1st plane ride, on a tv show (The little couple on TLC)...one of his doctors has her own show and she works in the NICU where Eli was first taken. I think I know about half the people that work here now...Hopefully, we will get discharged sometime soon. Then, they still want us to stay in town for an extra week to have him close by.

The day all this began, Terrie and Kortni had just left my house from visiting Eli. He wouldn't eat, was sweating, and started to breathe irregularly. I called a nurse and she told me to take his temperature...he had a 93 temp. in his bottom. The nurse said, "Oh my God" and I started to freak out. I called 911 and they came and took us to College Station Med. They said it was either a virus or an infection. They worked for 3 hours to stabilize him. When I asked if he was going to be okay, they would just say “we are doing everything we can”. The doctors called TCH and they sent a plane over to take Eli to Houston. As we were boarding the plane, the doctor turned to me and said, " This could be a heart problem." My heart just sank because I knew how serious it was. They only had room for one parent on the plane, so I went. I remember being very scared on the ride over because I needed my family there to help me if he died while on the plane. The next morning, they told us what it was and that the surgery was 90% successful….but of course, I was stressing about the 10% chance. Surgery was a week later. I was pleased with his surgeon...he just looked so confident and intelligent! We stayed in the NICU for 6 days, the Cardiac floor for 6 days, and are now on the 15^th floor which is a recovery area for cardiac children). Even though this experience has been VERY traumatic , I am so grateful for every day that I have with Eli. I had a great 1^st mother’s day because I got to hold him for the first time in over 2 weeks. I cannot wait to be at home again!!! I haven’t been home since April 28^th, so Terrie- if my backyard isn’t mowed, tell me so I can get onto Jake for not doing it ( he said he did).

I hope that you are all doing well! I am sure that it is crazy right now because it is the end of the year! Say hello to everyone for me!!

Love,

Michelle and Eli = )

p.s. sent a few pics of him in the hospital after surgery. His hair is a light brown/reddish color and his eyes are dark blue (for now).

Further Update:
Yesterday afternoon (Monday) we got word that they are sending the Prukop family home. So, they are coming home tomorrow! Whoop! Eli is doing great! They wanted them to stay at the Ronald McDonald house but it is really full and has a lot of really sick kids. They do not want him to get a fever or a cold so they said it would probably be best if they just went home. They have to go back on Friday for his last check up.

Praise God!! I know that it will take some time for them to get adjusted to newborn life again, so please continue to pray for the Prukop's!!

Hallelujah!!

I must document this for myself...

**Both kids, napping for 2 hours now...

**Have not had to get up once to go give little one his pacifier.

**Big kid went right to sleep (for some reason lately he takes about an hour to fall alseep...so out of the ordinary!)

THIS MAKES FOR ONE HAPPY MOMMY!!

Been there, done that...

Here is a chance for me to reminisce a little:

Cameron at 3 1/2 months:

Cameron at 2 1/2 years:

Oh they grow up so, soo fast...

Eli's Surgery

Eli will have surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m. The surgery will take about four hours.

I got to talk to Michelle (Eli's mom) on Saturday evening. She said that each day gets a little easier to make it through. They will be at Texas Children's for quite some time...at least two weeks after Eli's surgery.

Here is an e-mail that we received from Michelle on Saturday:

Hi! I am just wanting to let you all know that I appreciate all your support during this difficult time. I am currently in Houston at the Texas Children's Hospital. Eli was admitted here around 2 am on April 29th. On Tuesday night, Eli turned blue and started breathing irregularly. I called 911 and they took him to College Station Med. From there, we were flown to Houston. On Wednesday, they told us that Eli has coarctation of the aorta. His aorta is too narrow for blood to pump through. Luckily, they were able to stabilize him and he is slowly coming off support from machines. On Monday, I will find out who his surgeon is and when the surgery will be. Hopefully after surgery, he will be on the road to recovery. I will be up here for quite some time with him. I will try and keep everyone updated on how his surgery goes. Thank you again for all of your love and support!

After talking with Michelle on Saturday, she told me that she just wants to hold him again. She said the last time she held him was after the paramedics took him from her. My heart breaks for her. She is very nervous about the surgery, but the doctors are very optimistic.

Continue praying for the Prukop family. I will let you know as soon as I know something.

Here is a picture she sent with her e-mail. This is Eli reading at six days...(he is a teacher's son you know!?!?)

Pee and Poop

I never in a million years would imagine that I could say those two words so many times in a week. But, that is what happens when you potty train a 2 1/2 year old.

That's right...I am crazy! I decided that on my first official week at home with both of the boys that I would potty train Cameron. And believe it or not...it has gone great!!

On Sunday night, Josh and I told Cameron that he wasn't going to be allowed to wear diapers anymore and that he was going to have to use the big boy potty. Monday morning, Cameron woke up and he still hadn't had his morning pee (he hasn't really peed in his diaper during sleep in a long time), so we ran to the potty. With a little fight, he sat there, and sat there, and sat there...AND FINALLY...we hear his little musical potty go off and there in the toilet was this:

(don't you love that I took a picture of it?!?)

I WAS SO EXCITED!! You should of seen the look on his face! He was so proud of himself and has not been in a diaper since!! He called his daddy at work and his cousin Riley. And then, five minutes later, he had his first accident. I think that when he peed in the toilet it scared him a little and he stopped going, so he finished a few minutes later. We immediately packed up and went to Target to go get his Handy Manny tools that I have been promising him and let him pick out some big boy underwear of his own. The cool thing about the tool set is that there are 10 tools total, so every time he went potty in the toilet, I let him pick a tool. He couldn't get the tool chest until he went poop. He also gets to pick two m&m's for pee and five m&m's for poop. Take a peek out our 'bribery' sitting on the back of the toilet seat.

Since that first pee accident on Monday, he has no more accidents in his pants...

Well, pee accidents that is...now poop his a whole other issue! The kid will not poop in the toilet. I can't tell if he is scared or what. He would go in his pants and then tell me "Oh, that's o.k mommy, that just accident, we clean it up". Finally, the other night, we ate dinner in front of the t.v. Instead of him sitting in his booster seat on the floor, I made him sit on his toilet and pulled a tray up to him. Yes, I am crazy. There was my son, eating dinner on the toilet in the living room, watching Wheel of Fortune. He always seems to go poop while he is eating, so I tried to catch him at this perfect time. But, no poop. :( So, we decided to let him run around the house naked and guess what...it worked!! He knew he didn't want to poop on the floor, so he ran to the toilet!!! I know you will be sad, but I did not take a picture of the first poop. I figured I would spare you all!!

Now, we have a little problem. He will still poop in his underwear if he has them on. If I let him run around naked, he will go in the potty. I can't let this boy run around naked for the rest of his life just so he will poop!! Any suggestions out there?

I am so very proud of him and I love seeing the excitement on his face when he goes! He even has the little routine down...pee, then dump it in the toilet, flush, wash hands, get m&m's. He can even explain the whole procedure to you! Way to go Cameron...mommy and daddy are very proud of our big boy!

(He will hate me later in life for taking this!)

And to all of you who read this...thank you for reading my whole story on pee and poop. I hope I didn't disgust you too much!