July 29, 2010

My baby boy's 2nd birthday... we took him to the water park with Jenson. I did a terrible job of taking pictures.

Random Pictures

A make shift water slide!


An artist in his element

"I gonna fun paster paster...."

Rodeo...

Jay and his parents took Lennox to his first rodeo. The only pictures I have are from him riding the truck. I think that was his favorite part anyway....

Identity Crisis

Like I have already mentioned, Lennox has been telling us he was a baby, he needs a bottle, he needs a crib. He has been crawling around on the floor and pretending to cry. It's funny but almost sad. I guess it is normal. At least he knows that a baby is coming but we try very, very hard to let him know we love him to pieces. On this particular day, Lennox started telling us he was a girl and he needed bows in his hair. What do when a child is going through a big transition? We decided to humor him!

Pumpkin Carving

This was the first year Lennox has gotten to carve a pumpkin. He really liked drawing on the pumpkin more than digging out the seeds. This was actually Jay's first time to carve a pumpkin too... kind of sad :(

Lennox's First Day of School

These are pictures of Lennox's first day of preschool! He started on September 7. He loved it that day and he loves it now! His favorite thing to do is paint and he prays for Mrs. Amy and Mrs. Ashley almost every night... so sweet.

Stuff I've never posted

I am terrible about uploading photos... obviously... but I am about to load a lot of them that I have been neglecting.

Rough Week

So, I am waiting for CPS to come knocking after the week Lennox has had. The poor guy has had a few mishaps that landed us at some sort of doctor's office THREE times in 8 days. Seriously? Totally.

• Last Friday afternoon I put Lennox on the bed for his nap. He began jumping on the bed, like a normal 2 year old does. Just as I was saying "don't jump on the bed," he lunged toward the headboard and CONCH! Within seconds, a giant goose egg popped up on his head. It was as big as my fist and purple! I know that it's good for the egg to pop out but I was still freaked out. I mean, it's his head... we don't need any brain damage around here. So, I threw him in the car and headed to Urgent Care. The nurse at UC told me I needed to go to the ER after she saw him because he might need a CT scan. WHAT?!!! Ok, I wouldn't take my dog to the ER in Picayune (or that's what I smugly thought at the time... see bullet 3), so I jumped on the Interstate with him and called his doctor. Luckily, she fit him in and checked him out. I say, she checked him out. Lennox would say, she tortured me and brought me to the brink of death by doing there dreaded temperature taking, looking in the eyes with a light, pressing lightly on the forehead. GEEZ, If you hadn't been in the room, you would seriously have thought he was having surgery without anesthesia. So, he was fine... Thank you Lord. To reward him for being so brave (even though he wasn't), we went to Sonic and got some ice cream.
• For a week or so I had noticed that Lennox's front tooth looked a little gray. On the same day of the head injury, Amy came to visit. She inspected his tooth and we discovered it was greenish on the back. I had given him skittles for using the potty that morning so I was really hoping it had skittle stuck to the back. No such. After a good scrub, it was still green. None of the dentists in town work on Friday either... that was news to me. After the head injury doctor visit, we went to Sonic. When the ice cream touched Lennox's tooth he just shivered and wouldn't eat anymore. So... it was confirmed. This was no skittle stain. The next Monday we went to the pediatric dentist and, yes people, my child's tooth is rotten. Disgusting! Ok, rotten may be an extreme description but he had a cavity. Apparently when he became "snag" (see post on chipped teeth) his teeth were fractured and food has been getting stuck in the fracture. I did take him to the dentist when he chipped his teeth and they said I should just wait for the discoloration... .ok, that's so helpful. Anyway, he is getting a filling in December because that's the first available appointment. I am sure that is going to be a great experience... can't wait!!
• Fast forward to yesterday. Jay and I went to Home Depot to buy some flowers. Lennox was holding Jay's hand and twirling around Jay's body. I noticed he twirled around and then twisted and fell to the ground. Jay picked him up and put him on his shoulders. Jay thought Lennox was laughing but when I looked up he was crying. We got him down and Lennox was holding his arm and wouldn't move it. OMG! I started to freak out and felt his arm for a break... I didn't feel anything but he seriously thought he was dying. We got in the car and I held his arm and he calmed down. Anyway, a few cookies (thinking we could bribe him out of the drama), Sprite, a visit to Urgent Care, we ended up in the ER. Yes, the very same one I said I wouldn't take my dog to... never say never. Anyway, there was no break. He screamed himself to sleep after the xray and woke up like there was no problem. Ha! 2 year olds.

So, we've had an eventful week. I am so glad that Lennox was fine, except for the rotten tooth. I sound like a totally over reacting mother but I promise all of these situations were scary! Even my most laid back mother friends agreed that I did the right thing. :)

On another note, as we were leaving the ER, I asked the nurse who I paid. I can never keep up with how insurance works. Anyway, he said they would bill me... unless my insurance company has a deal with the hospital where they right off the deductible. Write off the deductible? Never heard of that... Oh, he proceeds, that's mostly for medicaid and medicare. Do I have insurance? Um... yes, I pay for my insurance so apparently I have to pay to go to the ER. However, if I do NOT pay for insurance, I do NOT have to pay to go to the ER. Excuse me but WTH? Seriously? So I pay my own insurance and my part of everyone else's medicaid, so I have to pay to visit the ER and everyone else who doesn't pay for their own insurance or their part of their medicaid goes for free???!!! What is wrong with this country? Don't get me started.

I hate not being able to sleep. I am usually a great sleeper. Good with naps, sleeping in the car, sleeping in class... not so much right now. I even wake up from a good afternoon nap after an hour! I know. Disgraceful. What I hate more than no sleeping is waking up and laying in bed for 2 hours thinking I might go back to sleep. That's so wasteful. I could have spent those 2 hours doing s omething productive. I think the waking up is a physical discomfort issue but the staying awake is a mental issue. My mind pretty much races about some things that matter and alot of things that don't. What does matter?

• What is this baby's name going to be? I don't remember worrying about Lennox's name but maybe I just don't remember. I was confident that his name would start with an H. So confident that I almost had his bedding monogrammed. Harrison, Houston, Hayes, Haynes... all were on the short list. Lennox? Not so much. Maybe I need to develop some false confidence in what this new baby's name will be. Even if it doesn't end up being her name... at least maybe I could sleep.
• How is Lennox going to react to this new sister business? I know he is sick of hearing about her but I am desperate to see some sign in his face that he actually might want her around. I know he is only 2 so he doesn't really get what's going on but I am still desperate! I told him how mommy and daddy were going to the hospital this weekend to pick up the baby and he just kept laughing like I was telling a funny story... shaking his head and laughing saying "NOOoooo Mommy!" Sort of like I was telling him something unbelievable. Well, son, you need to believe it! ha. He is really my primary concern... as he should be. Right? I am not worried about the delivery but more "how fast can I get out of there to be with Lennox." I realize that doesn't' seem fair to the new baby (see how having a name would be great right now). I know everything will change once I have her but right now I'm talking about my current worries and sleep problems.
• Am I a bad mom for having a baby so soon? I know, 2 years and 3 months isn't that close together. But, if you saw what I saw in Lennox's face, you too would know he is still very much a baby. I hope I am not robbing him of time he needed to be our only one. I swear, does this guilt ever subside? I can't even think about him without crying. I know... it's a little late to think of all of this.
• I am also worried about school, work, whether my stupid application for PA school will be processed by the deadline.... the usual.

Yesterday was my last official doctor visit. I was planning to go to the hospital on Friday night but they threw a kink in my plans. My options? Switch hospitals and go in Friday night as planned. No thank you. Show up last night (the day of my appt) at my scheduled hospital. NO THANKS! Show up tonight or Sunday night at my hospital. I opted for Sunday night. While I am very tired of being pregnant, I did want to spend one more weekend with just Lennox. I did notice that there is a full moon Friday night so maybe I will go into labor on my own... ha. as if!

A Beating...

That's what my self esteem takes on a daily basis! ha. Ok, I'm joking. I can handle this mom business. Today after I picked up Lennox, we laid down to take a nap. Lennox was flopping and crying and trying to get up. I just nicely asked if he wanted me to sing him a song. His response? No, it wasn't just "no" or "no thanks mommy!" His response was "NO! Because that's what makes me sick... no sing song!" ah hahahaha... I couldn't stop laughing. I mean, really? It makes you sick?! ha.

"Lennox, If you eat your meat you will get big muscles." - me
"Yeah, you will get big muscles like Pop." - my dad while making a muscle
"Pop have tiny muscles."- Lennox

"I sorry rain. I porgot my umbrewwa!" - Lennox while getting out at school in the rain (I don't think the rain cared that he forgot his umbrella

"I sorry daddy. I didn't bite you. I sorry. I will kiss it. I didn't bite you, ants bite you. You peel better now." - Lennox shaking his head and caring for the 3 mosquito bites on Jay's neck.

"Lennox, take that pacifier out of your mouth! Pacifiers are for babies, not big boys." - me after Lennox found a pacifier in the baby's room and thought it was his new best friend. "Lennox, do you want to be a baby?"
"Yes, I'm a baby"- Lennox, still sucking pacifier.
"Ok, I will have to get a bottle for you... baby." - me, thinking that he would say no.
"Ok, I want a bottle. I'm a baby." - Lennox, still sucking pacifier.
"Ok, well, if you want to be a baby you have to sleep in a baby bed." - me (threatening the crib)
"Ok. I want to sleep in a baby bed." - Lennox. "I want a baby and a bottle."
hmmm.... I think I need a new tactic. This one is definitely not working. This is going to be a difficult transition.

So it looks like I will have a new baby on or before October 23... definitely not after. How exciting. Really, it will be. Once I get my mind wrapped around it, I am sure I will be ecstatic. I am still torn about being induced. I am really hoping I will have the baby on my own around Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I don't really want to keep waiting though because I have to go back to work after Christmas regardless of how old the baby is by then. I know my body should tell me when I'm ready but I am on a schedule!! Also, I will feel more comfortable knowing that I have Lennox situated ahead of time. I am REALLY feeling the guilt about him not being the baby anymore. You see (above) what he said last night. He really wants to be a baby. I asked him why he wanted to be a baby and he said "because I can't get a baby." Not sure what that means. Jay and I were just hanging a mirror and some canvases on the wall in the baby's room and Lennox just wanted to "hold you." Yes, we are in for a rough time I believe.

I am off of work this week and next. That's kind of exciting but I also feel guilty about that. I'm sure that guilt will fade quickly. My doctor said I shouldn't be commuting and I gained 6 lbs in a week. I'm assuming that's fluid? :) I think the steady flow of tears at my appointment tipped her off that I need a break! I couldn't help myself. I was having a bad, bad day and the hormones were only enhancing the emotional breakdown! Ahhh well, it passed.

Updates

• I went to my appointment yesterday, with Lennox in tow, and he was so good! I left him in the stroller outside of the bathroom door (with the nurse) and he was telling some stranger lady that I was peepeeing in the restroom. While I was listening to her, I forgot my mission and peed in the toilet instead of the cup. Since Lennox was being good, the nurse told him he could have 2 suckers. When my doctor came in, he insisted that she give over the 2 suckers... I don't think she is normally in the business of dispensing suckers. Anyway, he got his 2 suckers! I also lost 2 more lbs. 4lbs in 3 weeks doesn't seem right but the doctor wasn't concerned, so I'm not either. Apparently the baby's head is very very low. Thus the trouble with sitting in a chair.
• I am pretty sure this will be my last week at work... it's legit... the sitting in the chair is hard!
• I took the GRE Saturday. WHEW! It was so not easy! I did ok, nothing to brag about, but good enough. I think if I ever take it again, I will review some material first.
• The weather has been so perfect here. I LOVE this time of year! Who wouldn't? Lennox and I have spent some time outside digging in the sand, making mountains for his trucks, hitting the ball off the tee, swinging, and running. Ok, so I watched him run.
• Last night Lennox said that he had to go home (we were at home) so I said, ok, see you later. He waved and walked to the hallway. A few minutes later he came back and announced that he was back. Where did he go? The football game! He then told us all about what happened there. Funny little imagination. I love that kid!
• Jay almost didn't survive the night last night. I was up late studying so I finally went to sleep a little before midnight. He woke me up about 1:20 when he went to the bathroom. Ok, I understand that people need to use the bathroom... I am pregnant. I know how it is. So, after I finally went back to sleep about 2, he politely tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I could sleep on the other side of the bed because his back hurt. WHAT?! His back hurt? I was completely astounded. Try on strapping 25lbs of fluid to your abdomen. Don't talk to me about a back hurting! I was so mad. So, about 3 I finally went to sleep on the couch. My alarm goes off at 4:15. I was not happy. I got up at 6:20.
• Last week I left work early to pick Lennox up from school. I was kind of excited that I was getting to pick him up because I never get to do it. I waited my turn, pulled up to the door, got out as the teacher was leading him to the car. He promptly threw himself down on the sidewalk and started crying. NOOOOo! I want Aunt Debbie! I need Aunt Debbie. I miss her. No, go way. Aunt Debbie!!! Then he wouldn't get into the carseat the teacher was just looking at me like I did something horrible. I just laughed it off but it kind of hurt my feelings. After I forcibly strapped him into the carseat, he continued to cry for Aunt Debbie! I miss her. I've lost her!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH. Geez... can you say D-R-A-M-A?