Shots, shots, shots...

I went to a different doctor today who was fine with giving me a steroid shot without an X-ray. She gave me a shot in my suprascapular "notch" on the left side. Then we discussed the pain I've been having in my right side and she gave me a shot on that side too (after she tested it first to see if a shot of linocain provided relief).

I think the left side is working - it's evening now and I usually feel burning in my shoulder blade by now, but I don't! The right side is still questionable. It always feels worse in the mornings. The doc said if the shot doesn't bring relief to the right side, then I've just got tendonitus and should rest it.

For the record - I love steroids. So much so that it makes me sing like Lil John!

Crafty

I'm not too crafty, but I have been working on some projects for my kiddos in the past few weeks. The main project is for baby girl:
We settled on a name - after SOMEONE going back and forth for the past few months! (guilty) We "tried on" several names - meaning I would wake up, decide on one of our "short list" names and use that name for a week or so. After about a week, I would (for no reason whatsoever) decide that name wasn't right and try on a new one.

We ended up where we started - a name we had "short listed" before we knew that Grant was a boy.

ABIGAIL ROSE

Abigail is a name we both liked. Grant and Kennedy both have "presidential" names - this wasn't an important factor for me, but Abigail is the name of TWO first ladies - Adams and Fillmore. If we were REALLY tied to a presidential name, this baby would have been named "Taylor", but American Idol threw a wrench in that plan.
Another one of our favorite names, Monica, got the boot because if the name has any presidential ties at all, they are all negative!

The middle name, Rose, is after my own mother. Another favorite of ours that we "tried on" was Jo - an homage to Derek's mother and his Great Great Grandmother (both Joyce) pictured in the post below.

I love her name and am happy to give this belly a name!! Grant is working on saying "Ah-bee" but it's not quite understandable yet.

Remembering

It was only 2 years ago, but it seems like a life time ago that we found out we were expecting our first baby.

It was a great day! I spent the entire day with great friends as we prepared and celebrated Jesse and Rachel's marriage. All of these friends are still close today, and I find that to be sort of remarkable. Two are getting married this weekend, two are pregnant, and the gorgeous bride from 2 years ago is "pregnant on paper" as she says - preparing to bring 2 babies home in the next few months.

Grant was the first baby in our group, and I feel like memories of him are intertwined with everyone. Last weekend at the Prudes', Grant was trying to explore the guest house, and Jeff commented that he was "discovered" there. Just last week, Erin sent me photos of Grant over at Adolph's when he was about 2 months old that she had found recently.
As our families and friendships grow, I look forward to us gathering for birthdays, barbeques and vacations. I'm already hoping we can make regular trips together like my cousin Amy and her friends' families.

Two years ago, my heart leapt with joy when I saw the word "PREGNANT". Today it melts daily when my baby says "MAH-MA". Feeling so thankful and so blessed today at what God has given us over the past 2 years!

The best laid plans...

We went to Arkansas this weekend to visit Derek's family. All of our plans included sunny, fall weather and Arkansas did not deliver. Instead, it rained the entire time we were there. So all of our plans went out the window, and it turns out, it was for the better!

We headed out Friday afternoon in a rented minivan. We got to Derek's parents around 4, picked up Kennedy and Mike and hit the road.

This was Grant's first road trip, and all in all, he did pretty good. He fussed uncontrolably from 6-6:30. We had run through all the peek-a-boos, books, toys, and funny faces that he wanted. At 6:30, we had dinner and he got to run around a bit - he was much happier! When we arrived at the rent house at 10 pm, Grant had been asleep about 1 hour and Kennedy was done with her Physics homework. Success!

The plan on Saturday was for the men (Derek, his father, and his grandfather) to play golf, and the women (and Grant) to "play" outside at the Crystal Bridges Museum trails. Rain had other plans, so instead the men had breakfast, then played cards with Great Grandma Joyce (Grant's Great Great Grandma) and we had brunch and joined them.

The rest of the afternoon turned into a home improvement day for the men. Us ladies (me, Kennedy, and Gerie) had a good time cooking and prepping for dinner. It's been so long since I had socialized while cooking that I forgot how much fun it really is (Grant and the boys were at Lowe's). Grant also had a good time running around the house. He played with a new toy from KC and Gerie. He also refused to nap.

We had dinner back at the rent house (Grant finally napped while we were putting the meal together). I had a half glass of wine - it was delicious!! We took a stroll down the street and on the golf course. We saw an unfriendly Jack Russell on the street, and 2 beautiful doe (or is the plural "does"?) on the golf course. Grant scratched his hand at one point (it bled) but he never cried, so we didn't find it until later.

By then, everyone was tired. We opened the windows (the air was fantastic), ate some homemade Coconut Creme Pie and watched a little football. And Grant and Papa played until one of them tuckered out (still not sure which one it was)


Sunday, we all got together for breakfast and played a little while. We snapped a few photos of all FIVE generations of Hickses, then headed back to Texas.

Grant FINALLY got a good nap in on the ride home. Joyce had some burritos ready for us for dinner when we arrived. Grant kept asking for "moh!". Lola was TIRED from running around the farm. We watched the Cowboys game (a WIN!) and headed home.

As soon as we hit the road, the rain hit. It POURED on us!! It even hailed - 3 times!! Grant fussed for a while - probably from being tired and the rain being so loud, but he slept for about 45 minutes until we got home. Our neighbor went with Derek to return the rental, while I got Grant ready for bed and unpacked.

I am SO SORE from this weekend. My left shoulder radiates pain from the bottom of my shoulder blade, and my right shoulder feels like I got a shot in it. I think it's just sore from over-use (right arm) and twisting around in the minivan (left arm). Since I was already in pain in my right arm, I got my flu shot this morning for me and baby. Fighting gravity to lift my right arm is a real fight. I've asked my OB for help since the last doc was such a let down - hopefully I'll know more later this week.

Grantler update

My boy is finally well!! He's eating Grant-sized portions again (which equal my-size portions), chasing Lola like it's his job, and most importantly - he's fever free!! Either the virus or the antibiotic is doing a number on his bottom though - he's got a terrible diaper rash - the worst he's ever had. And it appeared in just a few hours while he was at day care yesterday. We gave him a bath and let him run around naked last night for a long time (long enough to pee twice - on the tile! So much better than the carpet.).

It was the longest Grant had gone without a diaper. He was so cute - and quite fascinated with his "unit". (Derek says we will teach him to call it that... I'm not so sure). He would find it, turn 90 degrees, then find it again - I think he was learning that it won't disappear!

Here are some recent photos from daycare in July and August:


Please ignore the homely clothes in this next photo. He must have gotten food all over the outfit that I sent him in and had no back-up clothes handy. These are daycare threads. I love when Derek picks him up in clothes that aren't his and Derek has no idea.

Had to post this pic - it's the one kid in class that's bigger than Grant. He's a brick. Grant may or may not have been caught giving him kisses a few weeks ago.

Grant has also added a fourth body part to his repertoire - EARS! He now knows toes, belly button, ears and baby. Yep - I'm counting "baby" even though he points to his own belly. I think he tried to say "Yellow" 2 nights ago too - and when I'd ask him, he'd point to the yellow triangle.

He's picking up on more and more. I sing "Old McDonald" often when changing his diaper and I like to say he had a baby - usually because I want to imitate Grant's crying on the changing table. This morning I said the line and he looked at me with a huge grin and said "BAY-BEEEE". It was in the middle of a line - I wasn't trying to provoke him to say it or anything!

Makes me worry that he could pick up on a whole host of words I had hoped we could get away with saying for several more years months. Oh well - at least he was asleep during the Cowboys game last weekend. He would have gotten QUITE an education!

Mama update - 28 weeks

I'm 28 weeks today! I've gained roughly 20 pounds so far, which is right on track with my weight gain with Grant (I checked the Wii).

I was home with a sick boy today. After his doctor's appointment and a good nap, we headed to Dallas for my doctor's appointment. It was supposed to be a simple assessment of my shoulder, with a steroid shot that would follow some time later this week.

BUT the doctor will not do a steroid shot because it is localized and she needs imaging while she does it. And if you're pregnant, they won't X-ray you unless... oh - I don't know - probably only if you're dying. But she didn't mind taking my $40 co-pay and 2 hours of my life (with a sick 15 month old = fun). So all hope of pain subsiding for the next 3 months of my pregnancy has now dissolved. The good news is that I can get a shot after I deliver - so if the pain DOES persist, I may be asking for it while I'm still in the hospital.

I met a SAHD (Stay at home dad) in the waiting room. He told me that his youngest was born early at only 2 pounds (and her twin sister didn't make it). She was in the hospital for 8 months and only weighed 6 pounds on her second birthday. She is now an average 7 year old. My weekly pregnancy email says that my baby is just over 2 pounds. So really, I should feel fortunate for each day of pain because it means my baby is getting stronger and healthier.

And I do feel fortunate - but I also feel pain.

Sick boy

My poor boy has had a fever over 100 ever since the last post. The IB Profin keeps it at bay, but anytime he goes too long without a dose, the fever spikes. The doc thinks it's roseola - and he also now has an ear infection (ears were clear on Friday though).

He's napped with his mama and his dada over the past few days.

This melts my heart:

We thought he was better on Sunday but in retrospect, it was probably the late dose of Tylenol on Saturday night that kept the fever at bay. He was playing and eating like his normal self too. We went over to the Prudes for Jeff's bday and football watching. We were all in our Cowboys gear (although it didn't help anything).

Hook 'em

Grant is one of the most adorable Longhorn fans.

He wore this to school today - I'm so glad I took it out of the closet because he will grow out of it before the end of football season! Oh - and this is definitely a daycare outfit because changing a diaper in this get up is not an easy task.

Grant had a fever of 101.6 at daycare this afternoon, so he shed the heavy overalls once he got home.

Labor Day Weekend

We fit in a lot of family time over labor day weekend!

On Friday night, we played poker (again) with Matt and Julie... then stayed up until 2 am. Ordinarily, that's a terrible idea. But Grant let us sleep in until 8:30 a.m. on Saturday! I had a glass of wine too - well - half a glass, then another half a few hours later.

Saturday was pretty lazy - we fit in our fair share of college football and errands, and I had to work a bit. Grant got to drive for a little bit - he and Derek do this every day. Grant can honk the horn in Derek's car and LOVES to do it!

On Sunday, Derek and Steve went down to Kaufman to set up the deer stand and feeders. Grant and I played around the house... this next photo needs a little explanation.

Grant loves flash cards and books. He gets his fill of flash cards at daycare and gets plenty of book reading at home. So when he found some flashcards in a random drawer at home, he had to study them!! Unfortunately, they were Kama Sutra flashcards that I had given to Derek for our first anniversary (paper is the traditional gift afterall).

After the morning at the house, we headed down to Red Oak to eat some fajitas and play with cousins!! We had a great time!


Sunday night we went to the Dacuses to watch Texas A&M v. SMU. My ponies looked... like they always do. :) Grant played hard. I worked hard in their office.

Monday was another lazy day (but I managed to bill several hours). We went to the park as a family. Grant loved climbing up the stairs to the slide. He liked that even more than the slide itself!

Grant is 15 months!!

My little man went to the doctor for 2 shots today. Here are his stats:

Weight: 26lbs = 75th percentile (gained 2.25lbs in 3 months)
Height: 32.5 inches = 90th percentile (grew 2.5 inches in 3 months)
Head Circumference: 50 cm (up 1cm in 3 months)

The ear infection from 10 days ago is clear, but he did have some fluid in his right ear. He seems to always have SOME fluid in his ears. We’ll go back in 4 weeks for a fluid recheck and the first of 2 flu shots.

He’ll get his next immunizations at 18 months. He can’t have them until December 1st or after. I seem to remember something else that is happening around the same time…. Hmmm…

I’ll probably take him and baby girl Hicks in for their 18 month and 2 week check up at the same time. With assistance of course (Mom or Derek) since I will still have lift restrictions from man-handling my boy.

In other words, I’m dreading it already.