Some better news

I talked to the doctor this morning about Callum's celiac blood screening result. It is borderline and as he's completely asymptomatic they will not do a biopsy as it's an invasive procedure. Basically the celiac is currently latent, he may start having symptoms tomorrow or he may never get symptoms we just don't know. So for the moment we're in a wait and see mode - we'll start trying to lower the amount of gluten that he does eat but we don't need to do the strict gluten free diet yet. As soon as we see any symptoms that could be attributed to celiacs then we get a referral to a gastroenterologist and do the biopsy, they'll also keep doing the blood screening to see if the level of antibodies he has goes up.

I'm breathing a big sigh of relief, I just couldn't imagine telling Callum that he wasn't allowed to eat Cheerios or goldfish crackers and trying to keep him from "sharing" the other kids food at day care would have been a nightmare. Hopefully he will stay symptom free until he's old enough to understand the restrictions that would be placed on him.

Just got some bad news

Callum had the celiac disease blood screening last week, we just got the results and it says that it's positive - he has celiacs.

I haven't been worried about this test at all, it was just another box to check off on the ds health guidelines. He has NO symptoms what so ever. He's in the 50th percentile for weight & 25th percentile for height on the regular growth chart (30lbs & 35"), 95th percentile for height on the DS chart and 90th percentile for weight. No diareah, constipation or vomiting. We also have no history in the family.

Unfourtunatley the doctor had just left a message and the office was closed by the time we got it, so I wont get to talk the results over with her until tomorrow.

For those who've know something about celiacs: is the blood test the definitive answer or are their false positives? The doctor said the test came back on the low end, I think she said borderline. Is the biopsy of the intestines the only way to tell for sure?

I know it can be managed with diet but it just hit me completley out of the blue, it didn't even occur to me that this would be an issue for him.

The $900 cat!

Jarvis
Originally uploaded by * Naomi *.

Poor Jarvis, I'm sure he wishes that we'd spent the money on something else. He had 2 teeth extracted yesterday and lots of pussy stuff removed from another. He also had blood work, got a vaccination and worst of all was deprived of food for most of the day.

This can't be happening already

Picture this, Callum & Kieran are having their usual nightly bath. They're having fun splashing, giggling, pouring water out the bath, getting daddy wet, etc. Then I hear Kieran start to wail and go in to take a look. Kieran is complaining very loudly because Callum has a cup that he wants, he's trying to grab it out of Callum's hand and he's saying "mine" "mine". Callum is looking slightly bewildered but there's also no way that he's giving up his cup. We find another cup in the huge basket of bath toys that we have and giggles and smiles return.

Surely they're not supposed to get into this possessiveness and tantrum throwing at 13 months??? I don't know if I can deal with 2 kids going through the terrible 2's at once.

Service will resume shortly

My laptop at home is currently kaput, the screen at least is completley dead - who knows about the rest of it. So until I get it fixed there probably wont be many posts as I don't get that much time at work.

I'm so excited!

Callum slept in for once this morning, his usual wake up time is 6am, but for some reason this morning he decided to sleep in 'till 7 (that's not the exciting bit, I'm getting to that). He sits up in bed, all sleepy eyed with hair going in all directions and a big smile on his face. He grabs his stuffed lion and says "rooooar", then tosses him aside and grabs his bear "beer" he says. Then he points across the room at his stuffed elephant and does the sign for elephant and a great elephant noise impression. Talkative mood this morning, but the best was yet to come.

I pick him up out of his cot and after a big morning cuddle I lay him down on his changing mat. Mark did something, I can't remember what, and that's when the exciting thing happened....

Callum said "Thank you Daddy", we have a sentence!!!!!

[ok, so it's not really a sentence as it doesn't have a verb, but it's multiple words strung together which is a great leap forward considering we've only ever had single words before. Update 9/16 - after looking at this a bit more I've decided that it is really a sentence, my grammar skills always were somewhat lacking]

Need some food help

I'm rapidly running out of ideas on what to feed my kids. I have to make lunch (for them to take to day care) and dinner and they're both getting picky. Lunch has be be easily reheatable in a microwave and dinner needs to be cooked in 15 minutes or less as we don't get home 'till nearly 6pm and the kids are usually starving.

Callum used to be a great eater, but now spits out most stuff unless it looks like a chicken nugget! and Kieran only seems to want to eat pasta.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Don't jump to conclusions

When Kieran was a newborn we tried using our side by side double stroller. It did not work, Callum would not leave the poor baby alone, he'd be poking him, stealing his blanket and pacifier or he'd just be really loud. We gave up and switched to using 2 single strollers.

... Fast forward 12 months...

We decided to try the double stroller out again, no more blankets or pacifiers and Kieran can pretty much hold his own. All was going great, they played with each other, laughed, waved and charmed everyone they saw. Then we notice Kieran's head starting to drop, I start to walk faster, hoping that Callum wont notice. Then it happens, Callum gets a big grin on his face and leans over towards Kieran, just as I'm getting ready to grab him, he plants a big kiss on his brothers arm - put his finger to his lips and says "shhh"

Stomach flu

Kieran started it all, he was very restless last night and after numerous trips into his bedroom to rub his back, give him tylenol (he's teething), give him benadryl (when we discovered hives on his tummy) and give him back his pacifier, he finally let us know what was really up when he throw up all over his bed at about 9:30pm. I picked him up and he promptly threw up all over me, twice. Mark came running and and cleaned up his bed and the carpet while I cleaned up Kieran and me. Kieran went straight back to sleep, I had a shower, and we went to bed. Midnight comes around and I hear noises from Kieran, he's thrown up all over his bed again. Mark changes his bed again, I clean up Kieran and change his pajamas again.

They both wake up at about 6am and are a little grumpy. Kieran goes back to bed at 9am and Callum goes off for his swimming lesson, comes home and goes for his nap. Callum eventually wakes up at 3pm (that's a 3 1/2 hour nap), comes down stairs and promptly throws up - only his is also coming out of his nose, yuck. He's been sick two more times since then. Kieran hasn't thrown up at all today so we're hoping that this is just a 12 hour thing. All Callum wants to do is lie on the floor and watch Sesame Street.

A little irrational guilt

Three out of Callum's five weekly therapy sessions are now being done at school at a time when we can't really get there. This is working out great for Callum, the therapists and the school are perfectly OK with it, so why do I feel guilty that I'm not there??

I know that it wasn't working out doing it at home - mixture of time of day that we could fit therapy in around work and also being in his comfort zone at home. I know I can call the therapists whenever I have questions, but it feels like I'm shirking my responsibilities.

On a good note: Callum now says bath & splash (the "th" and "sh" sounds are new for him).

Sunday morning cuddles

Family love
Originally uploaded by * Naomi *.

I love the look on Callum's face in this picture.

50 things about me

1) I'm a Geordie (born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England)
2) I have 1 sister, 1 brother, 3 half brothers & 2 step sisters
3) I have 2 kids
4) I've had 2 serious relationships, both with people called Mark
5) I was 17 when I had my first kiss
6) I wanted to be an accountant when I was at school (very boring I know)
7) I lived in the Orkney Islands for a short while when I was little
8) I spent a year in Georgia as an exchange student during college
9) I once auditioned for a part in a musical, even though I can't sing (I didn't get the part)
10) I once stole a packet of hair grips from a shop while visiting my granddad
11) I also stole a haircut (well I walked out without paying as there was nobody at the reception desk)
12) I've never been arrested
13) I've never had a car accident
14) I have 2 cats - even though I'm allergic to them
15) I pretended I couldn't swim at school because I only liked the teacher who taught the beginners
16) I've taken classes in synchronized swimming
17) I can(could) swim a mile and have the badge to prove it!
18) I don't get hangovers
19) I don't get ice cream headaches
20) I used to talk with a lisp
21) I gave up playing the cello because my teacher asked me to play in a recital and I was shy
22) I'm an optimist
23) I smile too much
24) I'm an atheist
25) I like to fly
26) I have a fear of falling
27) I've never tried smoking
28) I've never taken drugs
29) I don't like not being in control
30) I'm an introvert
31) I don't like to clean, but I do like things tidy
32) I like the sound of water
33) I have a degree in computer science
34) I don't wear makeup
35) I have a poor long term memory
36) I don't like talking on the phone
37) I don't know what to say when people ask me where in England I'm from. We moved around so much as kids that I don't really count anywhere as home
38) I hate shoe shopping and wear shoes until they quite literally fall apart
39) I procrastinate
40) I love chocolate
41) I watch American Idol
42) I've been to a strip club
43) I could lie in bed all day if given the chance
44) I've had long hair nearly my entire life
45) I once cut my hair short as I was being teased at school, a group of girls kept calling me hippy. Once I had it cut they just changed it to mini-hippy *sigh*
46) I've had 2 physical fights in my life, once when I was 10 (I bashed a boys head into a fence because he was bulling my brother) and once when I was 12 (I hit a younger boy because he incessently followed me and my friends making stupid remarks)
47) I kept a Madonna scrapbook when I was a teenager
48) I've been to Uluru (Ayers Rock), but didn't climb it
49) I'm afraid of Sharks (after seeing Jaws when I was about 11 my sister would start doing the theme tune and I'd be afraid to get out of bed)
50) I can't kill spiders, I have to catch them and put them outside

Life the Universe and Everything

I got an email from my brother Richard yesterday. He said he was sad that he was missing out on seeing his nephews grow up (he lives in Wales) and that he thought that he'd connect with them better if I wrote more about me. The only trouble is that I don't know what to say about me.

I haven't read any good books recently, when I do get a chance to read a few pages it's usually something that I've read a few times before as I know I can just read a couple of chapters and then not pick the book up again for months. I think I've been to see a couple of movies this year, but can't for the life of me remember what I last saw. Last trip to the theatre was definitely pre kids. I do read the news online but most of it goes in one ear and out the other. I don't paint pictures, write poetry, sing or play a musical instrument. I can't remember the last time I had a deep and meaningful conversation about anything.

I'm a very insular person, always have been. I envy women who have a group of girly friends that they can tell anything to. I don't think I work enough at friendships - I don't want to share my secrets so why should anyone tell me theirs.

My kids though, that's something I had a hand in making, they're my art and my poetry and my music. The love they give is so unconditional, when they wrap their arms around you just before bed and snuggle their face into your neck - that's what my life is all about.

Kieran's new milestones

Two big milestones to report:

1) He can now climb up stairs
2) He can walk with his push toy

The climbing stairs has a downside though, we forgot to tell day care that he'd mastered this skill and he got his first bruise. He climbed up the indoor play structure, then proceeded to go down the slide head first and bashed his head as he was comming down :( poor baby now has a little egg on his head.

He's also been teething recently and definitely has his top two front teeth, we think he's working on two more up there but he refuses to let us look in his mouth. So we're giving him a little leeway with his new habit of waking up at 4:30 in the morning for his nice warm bottle of milk. I need some sleep though (especially as Mark decided to huff and puff enough to wake me up at 4am this morning to tell me that he was bored stupid and couldn't go to sleep, what on earth did he expect me to do about it!)

Keeping a straight face

...how on earth do you keep a straight face when your kid does the cutest thing, but he's also being naughty...

Callum now says "nu, nu, nu, nu" (no, no, no, no) in this little singsong voice and at the same time shakes his finger at himself. It's sooo cute, it makes me giggle inside every time I think about it. The trouble is that he does this when he's just about to to something naughty and it's completely impossible to keep a straight face. We'll suddenly hear this little "nu, nu, nu, nu", we run to where it's coming from and there's Callum splashing in the cats water bowl with a big grin on his face. Saying "no" in a stern voice just doesn't work when you have a huge grin plastered on your face, oh well.

The little stuff

Haven't written for a few days, lots going on but not sure where to start so how about some of the littler things.

Me - I can do my belt up another notch! I'm sloooowly losing the weight and it's nice to have a physical reminder that it's going.

Mark - His blood pressure is down to around 116/76! This is the lowest it's been for a long time. He's tried coming off his blood pressure meds before but always needs to go back on them after a couple of months. He's now on the lowest dose so maybe he will get to a point of being medication free.

Callum - He's now in the 2's class and just loves it. The teachers have been very positive. His walking is going great and people quite often stop and smile and just watch him when we're out walking in the neighbourhood. He's also starting to recognise shapes and will say "Star".

Kieran - Settled straight into the toddler class with no problems what so ever. Got his 2 top front teeth and is has been "formula free" (although not quite bottle free)for a few days now. He's starting to cruise and is trying to say lots more words.

Terrible 2's Again

Callum is still having his nightly meltdown's where he'll lie on the floor and just cry and shout for no apparent reason. We've come to the conclusion that it's maybe just his way of unwinding after being at day care all day. Our usual nightly routine is get home (at just before 6pm) give the kids some water and a few crackers and switch on Sesame Street while I make their dinner. They usually watch a little, play, eat dinner, play a little more then bath & bed (in bed by 7:15).

Well with the event of Callum's meltdowns this hasn't been working and we've all been stressed and grumpy so we decided to switch tactics with yesterday being the first night. No TV, no music, we dumped out some megablocks on the floor and I sang silly made up songs. Callum still laid on the floor with his back to me and whinged but I could hear him laughing when I did fake sneezes and did other silly stuff. Kieran was having fun as well, we switched from blocks to a big bucket of cars/planes/boats/trains etc and Callum became even more interested and very slowly joined Kieran and I and started driving the train around going "choo, choo".

So we still had some episodes of crying and wailing but nothing like we have been having. We kept everything very up and happy, gave them both lots of praise for any good thing that they did. It was hard work, but once they were in bed we both agreed that it had worked and that we felt less stressed.

I think being in day care all day where he needs to be good, coupled with him transitioning to a new classroom, Kieran being in his classroom and still getting the hang of walking was just too much and he had to let off steam. The quieter, less stressful evening with more quality time made a big difference.

We still need to work on some discipline tactics for when he really is being naughty (going to read my copy of 1-2-3 Magic this weekend) but at least this should hopefully make the evenings go smoother.

Kieran's birthday pictures

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