Rowan First Christmas

What an adventure we had travelling to the midwest this Christmas! Rowan was a dream baby on both our flights. On the way to MN he cried a little bit when I tried to give him a cold bottle, but then gave him the real thing and he was great. He fell asleep during take off and slept the whole way there. On the way back he was awake more, but never got too fussy. He did however blow out his diaper and changing him was a bit of a challange! We were seated in row 35...the very last row and right out the window was the engine....it was so loud!!!

Just prior to leaving, RJ had a slight mucus back up in his nose. I didn't think too much of it and certainly didn't think it was something we needed to cancel our trip for. Day 2 in Minneapolis just prior to driving to rural NE Iowa, we decided we should take him to the Dr. since his symptoms were getting worse and he had starting wheezing. Diagnosis-RSV a serious respitory virus. Long story short.....life consisted of cuddling, nursing every 2 hours, taking him in the bathroom and letting the shower steam up and rubbing his back to get him to cough, and treating his fever. Thanks goodness Aunt Dianne and Larry have such a comfortable house! I was able to hunker down in there ever-so-warm and comfy basement to care for RJ. However, in my stress and lack of sleep caring for RJ, I ended up with a terrible cold....as most of you know I don't do sick very well especially when I can't take medicine. By day 2 for me I had called RJ's pediatrician begging to know what I could take. Although I had always read and been told "no antihistimines" his Dr. gave me the go ahead but informed me to drink tons of water as it can dry up your milk. Finally I had some sweet relief!

Unfortunately the illness messed up our plans to see the family and spend more time with RJ's great grandparents. In hindsight I am just glad they got to meet him.

Once over in IL we had a great time at my folks. Santa came to visit Rowan on Christmas morning! Unfortunately my brothers family all got the flu and couldn't come from KY to meet RJ.

Oh and the weather was also FREEZING! One day it was negative 30. Theo and I made a pact to never complain about the weather in Phoenix again!

Needless to say I am glad to me home and so thankful we all made it through our illensses.

SV-Theo's 32-Rowan's New Friends

It must be December because I cannot find any time to get things done...like update the blog! We are preparing to go on our first plane ride with Rowan where we will take an adventure around the midwest...MN, IA, IL. Rowan will be meeting his Great Grandfathers on Theo's side and mine, his aunt and uncle Tina and Steve, and cousins Miles, Mason, and Lauren!!!!!

A quick round up of the pictures above....

Up top...Rowan has some new friends...they are all boys and all within 4 months of eachother. I joined a mom group and we will be getting together for playdates, etc.....many more pictures of this group will come over time.

next....and bottom.....we headed down to SV again to visit with Justin "Buster" who came in from Germany. All the "Chimones" (All of Theo's Homies from HS) came together for a party at the Chamberlains house....what a night it was. The picture on the bottom is of me and Rowan in the hammock on the Chamberlain's front porch....just chillin'

mid pic of Theo and I.....Happy Birthday to Theo (12-2-2008). To celebrate his 32nd B-Day we went to check out a Jamaican Restaurant DT PHX....Emilie was kind enough to come watch RJ while we went out (Thanks Em).

That's all for now........

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanks to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Don for having us over for Thanksgiving in Tucson. The food was delicious (as always) and the fellowship great! We had the pleasure of hanging out with Mark and Amy who are expecting their first in January. It was fun talking babies with them....don't worry guys, you'll do great! Rowan had a great time with Grandma and he's so glad she came up to Phoenix to see him for the night! He especially liked holding Grandma Carol's hand the whole way back up to Phoenix.

As I reflect on what I am thankful for this year I cannot help but be amazed by God's Grace! In all our sin and stupidity he still Loves us and forgives us!

I am so thankful for my beautiful son....he has changed my life and is such a bright light.

I am thankful for my husband...for putting up with me and taking such great care of me and Rowan.

I am thankful for our parents...now that I have RJ I truly understand what they did for us.

I am thankful for all my friends....for being there for me and all the great times.

I am thankful for this country and the freedoms we have.....it's so much worse in so many other places.

Thank You!

until next time....

Rowan and Daddy Go For Walks

So, I found this great baby carrier at Once Upon a Child and it is fabulous! Dad tried it out a couple times this weekend, carrying Rowan around the house while he did chores and took RJC and Ramsey for a walk after giving Z a bath Sunday evening. Rowan loves being up close to Daddy and Theo loves being able to carry RJC around hands free.

Rowan is talking ALOT now and making the cutest noises ever. It melts my heart to hear his voice. He is grabbing on to things really well now and of course once he gets something in his hands it goes straight to his mouth!

This was a great laugh session last night as we were getting Rowan ready for bed! Sorry for the short post....more to come later!

Rowan Finds His Laugh

Rowan began chuckling a few weeks back, but has now really found a good belly laugh....we caught it as best as we could here! Teige and Tenae were helping it out of him too!

Halloween in Sierra Vista

I am back tracking here a little bit, this was over 2 weeks ago, but life has been crazy!

Aunt Gretchen came to visit and Carol came home from her long trip to Iowa and we all went to Sierra Vista for the weekend. It was Halloween and one of my dearest friends Sara made Rowan the cutest onsie with a Pumpkin on it! Since he is only 2.5 months old here, I decided not to go crazy this year. We'll wait for next year when he can have some fun with it!

Ramsey got very sick at the end of our trip-some kind of infection and he now walks on only 3 legs. We still are not sure what is wrong with him. He was teatering on the brink of death, but with some good (and ridiculously expensive) veterinary help and some good drugs we seem to have kicked whatever infection had brought him down so low. He still does not use his left hind leg and we are not sure he ever will. I will update his progress as we find out anythign new!