Got Milk?

I am so lucky to have a mom that it is the field of nursing that can help me out. Today we went to the clinic and found out how much milk I was making. It is really interesting actually how we did that. First we weighed Ammon and then I fed him on one side and then weighed him again. Then I fed him on the other side and we weighed him again. We discovered that I am only giving him 1 1/2 oz of milk, at least in that feeding (which is a typical feeding of 30 minutes), and he needs to be taking in at least 4 oz. I feel a little bad that I am the cause of his weight problems. I don't make enough milk for him! But I am older and busier than I used to be with the other kids and my body just doesn't produce very much. Oh, well.

So now I have a pump and will be trying to get my milk supply up. (moo!) This takes a lot of time but it is something I need to do for my sweet Ammon. My mom also suggested giving him avacado which is really good for you and has some fat that he needs. Too bad I can't give some to Kalli who also needs to get some more weight on her! She is prejudiced against vegi's. I will have to just give her Chocolate Instant Breakfast. Too bad I can't give that to Ammon! Anyway, I know if I keep working at it, I can fatten up my kids!!! I am actually glad that my children's problems in weight are in being underweight and not in being overweight! But it is a challenge still.

Foiled Again!

So Scott got a hook put on the pantry door and life is so much easier. Aaron was so mad when he couldn't get in the food in the pantry anymore! I love childproofing devices! So I took Ammon to his 9-month-old well check today and found out some things. First of all, he had a double ear infection that I had no clue about! He has been a little bit fussier the last few days so it all makes sense now! The other thing I found out is I need to feed him more! He weighs 15 lbs 14 oz which puts him in the 1 percentile and he is off the chart (downward) and very underweight. The doctor suggested I supplement him with formula which I didn't say anything. Ammon will not take formula or a bottle. Anyway, he has six teeth now and can eat more. I will just step up his solids. It has just been challenging to add the solids in because I am so busy taking care of four other kids and the household, etc, etc. It is so much easier to just nurse him 30 minutes and be done. But, I know he is older now and I will just have to say goodbye to the nursings only and get used to giving him more food! Also, Ammon got one shot today and he didn't even cry! What a brave boy. I had to take Aaron along to Ammon's appointment and I was so relieved that he was so good. The receptionist gave him a sticker for being good and he thanked her for it without me having to prompt him or anything! They were so impressed and so was I! I must be doing something right!

Escaped!

Today I ran a few errands after Kael got home from school so he could babysit. I called him when I was on my way home and just about had a heart attack. I am just glad that it was a happy ending to the story. Aaron escaped out of the house and Kael was looking for him everywhere. My neighbor around the corner from us was backing out of her driveway and saw him (in her driveway) and stopped and brought him back to our house. Thank goodness for good and careful neighbors (it was Sister Jensen for those in my ward that know where she lives.) I am relieved and Kael is relieved and has learned a good lesson about babysitting Aaron. DON'T LET HIM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT EVER! I haven't let him out of my sight since I came home!!! I'm glad he is okay.

Enough Already!!!! I can't chase him anymore today!

Well I don't know if this is the solution but I was so exaperated with Aaron's antics today (getting into the food in the pantry, making messes everywhere, trying to escape outside.....) that I finally brought the carseat into the house at 4:30 p.m. and buckled him in. Well, ten minutes later, he was fast asleep. He didn't fuss or cry or nothing. I buckled him in, he looked at me and just sat there. So now since he has taken a late nap, there goes bedtime. Sigh. You know in just 17 short months, Aaron will be four and will past these difficult ages of two and three, but then Ammon will be two!! Arggggghhh! Sorry for complaining. I guess that is what a blog is good for! I feel better already!

Why I needed a vacation

These pictures depict only two of the many things that Aaron finds to keep himself in trouble. The first picture is when I threw him in the crib after chasing him back to bed for an hour in a last ditch attempt to have him go to sleep. He never took that nap. In this picture, he found Aidan's sticker book in the bookshelf next to the crib and put them all over his sheets. I knew it was too quiet in there!!! The next picture is the lake I discovered after leaving him for a few seconds. I guess that teaches me to never let him go unsupervised!!! I love my Aaron but he keeps me hopping!!!

Snowy Spring!

I shouldn't complain about the snow because I know by this weekend it will be all melted away and it is supposed to be in the 70s. Also, when we lived in Bozeman, Montana, winter lasted from October to May. Our last May there, May 1st, 1997 we got 16 inches of snow and practically the whole town shut down because it was so hard to get anywhere in the slushy snow and there was so much of it! Anyway, Happy Spring!

Vacation!

Today is the last day of my vacation from my job as mom. I feel recharged and full of new energy. My husband is the best! I asked him a few weeks ago if he would consider taking the four kids up to his brother's house in Idaho so that I could have a break. I can't believe that it actually happened! I was waiting for the car to break down or kids to be too sick to go but the trip actually happened! They left Friday night and I didn't tell Kalli about me not going until she was in the car. I didn't want to hear all week, "Why do I have to be with all these boys!" She was sad but I think her weekend with all her girl cousins kept her too busy to miss me much. Ammon and I had a great time. Because I was able to put Ammon on the floor without any worries of him getting stepped on, he got a lot of practice crawling this weekend and he is doing great! I got a lot of projects done while the kids were gone and it felt so good. I also got to play my piano without having to deal with kids playing it with me! Mostly I just enjoyed the quiet and being selfish. I have come to the conclusion that parenting is not for those people that are selfish. You put a lot of sacrifice and unselfishness in the things you do as a parent. I am ready to serve my family again after having a lot of ME time. My sister-in-law offered to take the kids one more day so I have one more day of vacation. It is Tuesday today, Scott is home and it is just us and the baby. I have a lot of things on my to do list to finish up before the kids come home. We will have a good spring break together this week because I feel so refreshed.

Our Piano

We had a great weekend. Conference was so wonderful. The talks were great. I learned so much. Another thing that was wonderful this weekend was I bought a piano! I have been wanting to get a piano for years. This year after we got our tax refund, I told Scott I wanted to get a couch and a piano with it. I want to get a brand spanking new grand piano someday but that is just not in my price range this year! Anyway, I was complaining a little on facebook that I didn't want to look for piano prices anymore and I was tired of researching and my frined Ty saw it posted. She called me and told me her piano was for sale. So I went and looked at and of course, my sweet little Aaron somehow finds a crayon and starts drawing on the keys. He marks it before I even bought it! Anyway, Saturday between sessions, my husband Scott and Ty's husband Jake and a friend Keith delivered it and boy was it a bear to get in the house. That was a good workout. But they got it in the house and it is in the front room and we have all thoroughly enjoyed it. I have enjoyed practicing my hymns. My goal is to be able to play the hymns and Children's songbook so that someday I will be able to accompany at church. We'll see if that happens but I have already been practicing my piano more than I ever have. Kalli is taking piano lessons and this will really help her too. Kael has enjoyed the piano too so I know I have made a good investment for the future.