Soaking it in...

The last bits of Summer!

Food Issues

Before I had a child, I always thought "picky" was just an excuse for a kid. My Mom had daycare kids that wouldn't eat spaghetti sauce on their pasta, or wouldn't drink milk...and I always thought it was lame-o. Come on! I was never going to have a picky kid!

I think the Lord does have a sense of humor. Our food issues with P started when he was just about a year old, and still continue (although he's made some progress) at the age of 3! 

I nursed P until he was 11 months, but started supplementing with formula when he was 7 months. It was so convenient when we were traveling, or going to church, etc. and I could just make him a bottle that I didn't have to worry about thawing, keeping cool, etc. This is about the time that P started having trouble with eczema. Severe trouble. One doctor put him on an antibiotic (because P's skin was raw) another gave us STRONG topical prescription cremes to apply. The connection was not made until LATER that the eczema was a result of the milk product in the formula. 

Just after his 1st Birthday, P had a reaction to a peanut butter cookie at Christmas time. It was horrible. We were five hours from home. He had red hives everywhere, swollen eyelids & ears, vomiting...but no breathing problems. It scared me to death. And I'm sure it traumatized him. We now carry an Epi-pen-but have never had to use it-thankfully!

By the time P was 18 months, we had determined that he had milk, soy, and peanut allergies...with some sensitivities to strawberries and eggs as well! I felt like I was doing an experiment on my child whenever it was meal-time! Maybe P picked up on some of my anxieties about him eating new foods? Maybe it was a texture thing? Maybe he became SCARED to try new things? Just after he turned a year or so...P's FOOD ISSUES began! He wouldn't eat meat. Refused MANY new foods. If we forced him to take a bite...he'd throw it up. Along with the rest of his meal. His gag reflux was EXTREME. 

Chicken nuggets & 3rd Stage jarred food were a sure bet at getting some protein in him. Frustration was (and still is) an understatement. There were meals where he and I would both be in tears at the end of it. 

When he turned 3 (last December)...things began to change. A glimmer of light appeared at the end of the tunnel. P was more willing to TRY new foods. Before, he'd not eat his supper, and would go to bed with OUT any...but now, he was eating bits of foods that were new to him, yay!!

This past week P went through a possible growth spurt and began eating...a lot! Everytime I turned around he was asking for something more to eat! Joel and I decided this was a good time to push the 'new' foods!! Last week he ate part of a pulled pork sandwich...and he also ate part of a hamburger!! WOW! :o) This may not seem like much, but is BIG for our child.

When P was about 2, a friend recommended the book "Just Take a Bite" by Lori Ernsperger. This book introduced to me the concept of food neophobia, which is the fear of new foods. It actually is a real thing! And my child has all the symptoms. It is so exciting to see progress though, whether he is just extremely picky...or is, like he says, afraid of new foods. P says, "It looks scary!" when I try to get him to take a bite of something that's not his favorite.

Because he was eating more...he was, ahem...pooping more. Some times this causes him pain. I told P he needs to eat more fiber! I explained that fiber is found in cereals & bread.

Today, in the van, our conversation went like this:

P: Mom, do chicken nuggets have alot of fiber in them?

Me: Nope, not alot.

P: Well, then we should get alot of them!

At least he's thinking about what I'd said right? Being a Mommy keeps me entertained to say the least! :o)

Weekend Recap

A busy weekend has come to an end. I am thankful that's it a short week! Joel has been really busy at work (since July!) so I LOVE having him around on weekends!! :)

We had company come in Friday night, and they left yesterday morning. Joel's Aunt & Uncle came to visit with their 2 kiddos. We went to Fremont Saturday and brought lunch to my In-Law's who are furiously working on their new house, to hopefully get moved in this week!?! Joel, his Uncle, and Dad all worked on the house and saw some minor progress in sanding floors. They still have a LOT to do before they're move-in ready!

In other happenings, P has been pulling on his ears - almost constantly! This has been going on for about 3 weeks now. No - it's not an ear infection. I've taken him to the Doctor. The Doc said it was allergies, and he did have fluid in his ears - but it wasn't infected. I have him on allergy medication, but it's NOT helping the ear-tugging. In fact, Joel pointed out that whenever P goes to do something, he has to take his  hands off his ears FIRST. Is it possible that a kid can cause his ears to stick out by constantly pulling on them? If so, maybe THAT is what P is trying to accomplish. I'm not sure. Today I began drops of Distilled White Vinegar in both ears. I read online (isn't that the best way to do medical research?) that a fungal infection could be cured by 2-3 drops of this Vinegar in each ear, every 2-3 hours. We'll see! So far, it already seems to be helping. P always keeps me guessing!

Better than Expected

Everyone had a good time camping. The kids played outside, held bunnies, and had their fingers bit by chickens. Maybe I should explain-last weekend was Heritage weekend at Ponca State Park. There were some special activities going on, including a mini-petting zoo for the kiddos, yummy cobbler & homemade icecream, and a wagon ride pulled by horses. 

The first night I didn't sleep much...at all. Joel insists that my parents deprived me by not taking me camping as a kid. I told him that I don't feel like I was deprived! I really enjoyed staying in hotels while we vacationed. :) That first night, I heard the crickets chirping LOUDLY & was freezing cold since it got down in the 40s Friday night there...But, Saturday night, I slept! Outside. In a tent. I feel very accomplished. :) I even told Joel that a few more times, and I maybe wouldn't mind camping-and maybe would eventually ENJOY it! Baby steps. There was 16 of us camping...4 tents set up at our campsite, and my sister & her family slept in their camper (now THAT is camping!) There is just something about being away from the internet and not having a phone signal...that allows you to really relax and enjoy your surroundings. I definitely want to do it again! 

Adventures this Week

This week has been a week of adventures for us. Joel & I decided Monday night that Tuesday morning, P & I would head to IA to see my Sister-in-Law & her 2 boys. We did over 10 hours of driving in 2 days! Of course, the trip took long longer...with stops. One of those stops occurred when we were on interstate, and P says, "I have to go poopy!" Okay! We took the next exit, then had to drive about 10 min. to the nearest gas station. At least we made it! :) That stop alone took about 30 min. though...so we didn't exactly HURRY to get to our destination. I usually like to make as few stops as possible, and QUICK stops, at that...but with a 3-year-old, that's not always possible. He did really well though, when he wasn't bemoaning the fact that, "We're NEVER gonna be there!" :)

We packed a LOT into the 24 hours that we were in Iowa! My Sister-in-Law took us to a c-u-t-e apple orchard, spoiled us with wonderful, fruity, baked oatmeal, and treated us to Pizza Hut. Another highlight was getting to meet up with TWO of my former college roommates in ONE day! We got to visit my sweet roomy from my Senior year on Tuesday night, at her house...and then Wednesday, we met her and her 2 kiddos at the park. It was great for all the little ones to RUN off energy! We all had a great time chatting, and eating watermelon. It was great to catch up! Wednesday night, on the way home...P & I met with my Sophomore year roomy and her 5-year-old daughter. We had dinner and chatted. She and I met before I even met Joel, so she got to was forced to listen to the drama involving Joel & I in the early days, when I was trying to figure out if I liked him...etc. HINT: I really did like him! :)

Tonight we are headed to a state park about 2 1/2 hours away to go tent-camping. Yikes. I previously referred to camping in tents as: sleeping on the ground, with BUGS. I'm trying to stop that. Really. Joel says bugs don't get in your tent. :) As much as I am not a camper, I am really looking forward to some quality family time away from it all!

Happy weekend!

The Wide-man Song!

Thursday morning, Mr. P asked if he could sing the Wide-man Song. It made me laugh. I possibly wouldn't have known which song he was referring to, except for the fact that he stacked his little fists one on top of the other while he asked me...

P: Can we sing the Wide-man Song, Mom?

Me: Oh. You mean the WISE man song?...(The wise man built his house upon the rock...) Yes, that was the song!

He sang that song Wednesday night with the kiddos at church. It's funny the things kids come up with. 

Happy Friday!!!

This-n-That

Last week we had a fun weekend ahead of us. There was a party planned for my In-Laws for their 30th Anniversary, family coming to NE, much to do...and then it all came to a halt for me Friday night about midnight, when Preston got sick. I thought it was maybe something he'd ate...but, no. His 'flu bug' continued throughout the long, long night. I'd be lying in bed, hear 'that sound' and bolt from my bed and into his room. Let's just say that he initiated his new bedding set on his 'big-boy' bed, the toddler bed, the carpet in his old room and in the hallway. The carpet needed steam-cleaned before, but now it definitely does!

After that long night, and on into Saturday, Preston was sick. Poor guy! The sad thing is, that I'd had him at the Doctor last Thursday...and of course Friday evening is when he got sick. I had a sneaking suspicion that he'd picked up SOME thing during the 45 minutes we spend in the Doctor's office waiting room! I called the nurse and discussed Mr. P's symptoms and of course she said they'd had "lots of calls" where children were vomitting...yay. So now I definitely think that I paid a $25 Co-pay and waisted about 90 minutes at the Doctor's...only to MAKE my son sick. Poor guy!

I had to miss my In-Law's party, but am thankful to my husband for texting photos to me, of people when they'd arrived, his parents with the cake, etc. I'd got to help plan the event, so it was nice to at least be able to see some of it, in almost 'real-time'...:) 

I think we are still playing catch-up this week! Mr. P had a good 2-hour nap, and then came downstairs only to fall right asleep on the couch again!! Guess he needs some extra zzz's...this might explain the super-whiney morning we had!!