"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched-they must be felt with the heart." Hellen Keller

Monday, August 30, 2010

We are sooo close!

It's official! Bryson has TEETH! Yah! I was so excited that Riley got kind of jealous. He said, "you never got that excited about our new teeth!" Geez! How the heck would he remember if I did or didn't, he was a baby! Anyway, B has one on bottom and one on top (the fang!). It looks like he is going to get them all at once because you can see more coming, on top and bottom. He is so stinking cute and so stinking busy. I had TOTALLY forgotten just how hard it is to have a baby. He is wearing me plum out! He is into everything. He can crawl "normal" but he has found out that he gets everywhere faster with the half drag, half crawl move. It is strange! He is pulling up on everything too, all the way up to standing. I just can't believe we have come this far. You know, it as a just a month ago that I was really having a hard time. I just couldn't get the visions of Dallas Children's out of my head, of what Bryson went through. I had night terrors about it, it was all I ever thought of. I seriously considered some therapy, but then over the past few weeks, without me even noticing, it has dwindled so very much. I still think of it, every single day...but when I do think of it is isn't quite so traumatic. I know that the coming months, although such a victory and celebration for us, are going to be taxing on me. I know that each day I will think about what we were doing this day one year ago. I just can't help but think of it. But I hope that seeing that toothy grin everyday and being snotted and slobbered on will help to ease the pain. In fact, I know it will. Just today at lunch I got an open-mouthed kiss from B. We french kissed! So fun!
Kory is enjoying school and is still the funniest kid around. He got a facebook page and although he made fun of me about it, he is really enjoying it. Riley is......well, Riley is Riley. He is just a work in progress. He is so sweet and caring and loving and I just want to hug him....but then he forgets everything, balks and gripes at homework, is super dramatic, and on and on. He is seriously giving me gray hair! I hear about his Christmas list at least once a day. Kory too. I gave Bryson his birthday present early. I had too! He saw it and loved it and I had too! It is a little Elmo plane that you sit on and the propeller moves. He just loves it! He thinks he is big stuff on there, flying all by himself. Oh, and he is talking some. He says "raa, raa" when he sees Riley. He really only calls Riley by name. If you say "no" to him, he says it to you too. He is sooooooo rotten! And no one deserves it more!!!!!
Can you believe he will be one year old in less than three weeks!!!!!!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Fang You Very Much!

Ok...I know that it is in Bryson's nature to do things "in his own way". I am okay with that...but really....getting your FANGS in before any of your other teeth!?!??! What the heck is that?? I like Halloween as much as the next person but are we really going to have to stroll around a baby with FANGS! Seriously the kid is teething HARD CORE! He doesn't sleep, he drools like a faucet that is not turned off and is just plain crabby sometimes. He is having a rough time and I thought that it was the two bottom teeth. I think perhaps I was mistaken (happened once before in 94)it is actually his two "eye" teeth which are always tough to get in anyway. Can't wait to get pictures of this one! He is also learning to throw tantrums. And here I thought he was going to be perfect! He grunts loudly at me and tightens his whole body and then he looks at me with this "well, I told you!" look. It was cute at first....not so much anymore. It is so strange because I feel "weird" about reprimanding him, or anything like that because he was sick. Not because I feel like he is still fragile but because he was such a blessing and not supposed to be here and all so when I think about letting him "cry it out" in his crib...I just feel guilty, way more than I did with my other kids. I know I have to get over that or I am going to have a monster on my hands....one with fangs!!! :)
The boys started school today and since I was up all night I totally forgot to take their pictures but now that they are in 3rd and 9th, they really don't want me to take their pictures. I couldn't wait for them to get out today so I could ask them how the day went. I was expected some really good stuff and I get this...."it was good!" That's it! I know I used to do that to my mother too but it drives me nuts. When I want to talk they are mute and when I am busy and don't want to hear it all they talk a mile a minute!
This morning I did a video shoot at a school and I saw all the parents boo-hooing because their kindergartners are starting school. I didn't do that because my kids went to daycare from 6 weeks on and so it really wasn't a big deal, just somewhere different to spend the day. But I feel like when Bryson starts it will be hard! Not sure if it is because of his situation or because he is my last. I am just fangful that he is little now and I can enjoy him. I would enjoy him more if he slept at night, but enjoy him nonetheless. Many fangs! Hee, hee, this is so much fun!!!!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

WHAT did you call me???




How can I say "no" to this face??? I mean, really! Could he be any cuter doing yoga moves in the backseat while we are at Riley's football practice??? We had a pretty nice, leisurely weekend. We took Bryson to his first "real" trip to Toys R Us. Wow, that kids likes him some toys. I thought he was going to have a heart attack as we strolled down the endless aisles of toys. He is a true Young, they LOVE their toys, Mark included. He had such a fit and was grunting and yelling and laughing and clapping. It was a sight to see. I would love to show it to you but the stupid blog won't accept my videos. Computers hate me! They really do! Anyway, Bryson is enjoying all he can of his "bubbas" before they head back to school. We measured everyone behind the door (I swear those doors are going with me if I ever move) and both boys have grown quite a bit. We even measured B. I wrote his name on the door so we would know and Kory pointed out that there is no one in the house that would ever be that small, other than Bryson. Point taken! Riley will not stop calling me "Amy" and it is driving me mad. About the time Bryson was born they both were doing it because they stated that it was the only way to get my full attention fast. They call Mark by his name too and the grandparents as well. When we were in the hospital one of the nurses asked me who the father of Kory and Riley was. I said, "Mark, why do you ask?" She stated, "Oh because they don't call him dad." Funny how that thought never occurred to me. You think that I can get away with claiming them as well since they don't call me "mom?"
Life just got soooo much busier for us.....GEEZ! Riley has practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and games on Saturdays and his practices that were supposed to be an hour, are more like two hours. I know the coaches are gung-ho but GEEZ! School starts Monday, work is crazy but I am LOVING IT! This time last year, I was totally oblivious to the fact that my life would change forever in less than a month. Oh, and Happy Birthday to Bryson who was 11 months old on Tuesday. He is still crawling, more like a crawl than a drag and fast as hell. He is babbling like crazy. He and I have some VERY intense conversations. He is a genius! And, the most important news is....he is getting a tooth. There is a very obvious bump and I know it is going to break through ANY day now. SOOO excited! I was really starting to think we were going to have to invest in baby dentures. Can you picture that!!??! Funny! Anyway, all is busy but all is good!!!!!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Bosses and Tapeworms!


Can you believe that summer is almost OVER! I am glad, but sad too. I have enjoyed the kids being at home but I need some STRUCTURE! This "flying by the seat of our pants" is getting old. It has been a nice summer. We walk at night, I have picked up reading again, my night terrors are slowly subsiding. This morning I was thinking that things are so "normal". I truly never thought we would be there. Our lives are normal. I LOVE IT! Bryson is giving me a run for my money lately. He did so well with sleeping when he came home. I often bragged that he slept all night. I would lay him down (awake) with his woobie (yes, he has a woobie, it is a green satiny blanket and it is so cute!) and he would stick his fingers in his mouth and go to sleep, sometimes sleeping for 12 hours or more. I was so lucky! My neighbor was jealous (she has a baby too) but she said after all I had been through I at least deserved that. Well, NOT SO MUCH NOW! He has discovered the world, I mean REALLY discovered it and he is not willing to miss a thing. His day is a lot like this:
He wakes up generally once in the night, wanting to have a bottle and talk and try to stay away but I can usually get him back to sleep at some point. 6am---he is awake and ready for the day! He grins at me when I come in (melts my heart) and then he takes another bottle. He takes a walk with mom and the kids and then he has breakfast (although he is refusing to eat much by spoon lately, I think he is teething) and then the craziness begins. That kid PLAYS! He is crawling now, it isn't the prettiest crawl but he is FAST. I will try to video him so you can see. He hasn't quite gotten the legs and arms going at the same time so it is an army crawl/knee crawl thing. His arms and legs are all red and worn from dragging himself all over the carpet. He sits up ALL the time, no laying down. He stays sooooo busy! He naps for my mom, but not for me, OH NO! So you would think since a kid didn't nap all day they would go to bed fairly early. NO! 10pm comes around and I lay down with him and give him a bottle. He tries to pull my hair out and babbles non-stop. Sometimes he is even half-asleep, eyes closed and he is STILL talking. He is SOOOOO Busy! I just can't believe how far we have come! Last night I sat Bryson in the floor in his room. I have to drag him from room to room to get my stuff done. In the morning he watches me blow dry my hair from the floor! Anyway, I sat him in the floor and we went through his memory box and I showed him all his stuff from the hospital and I told him stories. I thought it would be upsetting for me but it was soooo theraputic. I showed him his stuffed heart that everyone signed, I showed him the papers that were posted on his crib about his PICC line. I showed him all the beanie babies used to keep his ventilator tube sat up correctly. He would just smile and laugh and try to grab everything. I showed him the infamous mobile that saw him through sooooo much. It was funny. He didn't look at first like he recognized it but then he saw the lion, the lion that he stared at for months and followed with his eyes. He grabbed it and looked at it like it was a long lost friend. It was very special. I can't wait to share his story with him. It is going to be an amazing life for us!!!!
I know this post is so long but I have to share Riley stories with you. That kid is so funny. Kory is funny too but I can't always repeat what he says because he is a 14 year old boy!
Riley: Mom you always gripe about your work!
Me: Well, wait until you get a job and a boss and you will complain too!
Riley: My boss right now is pretty cool!
Me: Who is your boss?
Riley: Me!
GEEZ!!!!!

Last night it was this one:
Riley: Mom, I am worried about my worm (I know, I laughed too and was a bit disturbed but continue reading, it isn't what you think!)
Me: What? Your worm?
Riley: Yea, I think I have a tapeworm, or maybe a lot of them
Me: Why?
Riley: because I just ate a big dinner and I am still starving!
Me: You are just goign through a growth spurt
Riley: What is that?
Me: You eat and eat and grow taller
Riley: Taller? Just taller? Not wider??? Well I am going to get some food!

This kid is going to give me hell! I just know it! Kory has a sweet nature and Riley is so inquisitive and crazy and Bryson is just WOUND UP. I think he is really enjoying being a baby and being loved like crazy. I am loving it too!!!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bring it On!!!

We had a good weekend, very busy, but good. Friday night we went to see Jeff Dunham which was great. I left the baby with my friend Jo and it was so funny because on the way Riley was asking me questions like, "mom, does Jo know how to keep babies?" "Has she ever changed a diaper?" "I feel nervous about leaving him." He sounded like a true first-time mom, which was so cute! I informed him that she had raised three boys of her own and would be fine. Bryson did great and when we came to pick him up he was sprawled across her, passed out. She was loving it! On Saturday we drove to Lubbock so Kory could trade in some guitars and we decided to go to the Science Spectrum. It was fun! It was a long day though and a long drive. Bryson did so good in the car but if we leave the house he refuses to eat or drink. I don't know what that is! I wish I could do that! So on Sunday we kind of layed around and did not much of anything. It was Mark's birthday and he was gone (as usual) so we made a birthday feast for him....and we ate it for him too. Aren't we sweet! ;) So this is the discussion Riley and I had. I thought it was worth posting, it was funny!
Riley: Mom, is there really a tooth fairy, just tell me the truth!
Me: no, there isn't!
Riley: Seriously, so all those teeth in your jewelry box are mine. (nice time to find out he was going through my stuff!)
Me: yes
Riley: Well, do you think that since YOU are the tooth fairy you could start leaving me a few more bucks!
Riley: Mom, so if there isn't a tooth fairy, is Santa real??? Tell me the truth!
Me: No, he isn't
Riley: (HUGE look of shock!) Mom, he is real, I MET HIM!
Me: Sorry, it wasn't him, we leave the gifts after you go to sleep.
Riley: hmmmmm.....(pause for a few minutes) so you not only buy the presents under the tree but you buy us the stuff in front of the chimney too?
Me: Yes
Riley: WOW, yall spend a lot of money on us....like $100 dollars (I wish that was all!)

I told both of the boys that we have to keep up the farce because of Bryson and they thought it was sooooo hilarious to get in Bryson's face every ten seconds and say, "Bryson, there is no santa!" And the new thing when one of the boys wants to irritate the other is the shout out, "hey, there is no santa!" Such lovely children! When does school start???? Oh, and from talking to Riley's best friend's mom I was informed that he already told his friend, Kaden, that there was no Santa. I knew he was on to us, has been for years. Honestly, even though it is sad to tell them, it is nice to have all the pressure off. Now we can say, "go to bed so we can put your gifts out!" ha, ha...We still have a while before Bryson knows the difference.
Bryson is doing great as always, he gained a pound in two weeks after getting off of his tube. YAH! He is moving around like MAD! I can't even explain how he gets where he needs to go. He flips and turns and scoots and he is now crawling backwards. He looks like one of those bugs that backs up out of the dirt. It won't be anytime at all until he is crawling and then OMG, watch out! Last night in a matter of seconds he got into Riley's toys, pulled out the internet table, dumped a game, WOW! This kid is going to be a handful. They always warn you of risks that heart babies can have as children....trouble learning, ADD, the list goes on and on.....I am ready for it all baby....BRING IT ON!!!! :)