He ate something!

So I was in the mood for a snack, and we really don't have much to snack on around the house... I found a bag of snacks and Canyon acted like he wanted to hold one... well to my surprise he ATE IT! He was putting it in and out of his mouth, tasting it and finally let it dissolve in his mouth~ Maybe this is a start?!


So what was it? Veggie Booty! A rice/corn puff snack with a kale/veggie coating on it.

Some photos and updates.

Canyon is now a year old (which if you look at the blog, you might have figured out, lol).

We took him to the pediatrician a few weeks ago b/c I decided that something was off, that he was too small. We found out some disturbing news. He is only 14lbs, and just barely that. He was 9lbs at birth, and 12 at 3 months. So that means in 9 months, he has gained 2 lbs.

His height is great, which is encouraging, but we need to find out what is wrong. He is too skinny. I know skinny. I have two other little boys who were skinny, like below the curve/chart skinny. Canyon is even skinny compared to them.

We have been seeing the breastfeeding center at the hospital, the hospital feeding specialists, nutritionists, and will see the GI doctors this coming week. One real concern with his symptoms (which are more than just weight) has been Cystic Fibrosis. We went in today for a CF test, and thank God it was negative. He does not have it! This means that we have ruled out one of the worst case scenarios and can breathe again. I think I stopped breathing about a week ago when we found out it was a real possibility.

Here is a photo of the little champ during the lab test. It really was a fairly simple test that was non-invasive. The worst part was holding him still long enough to wrap his little arms with gauze.


So, it seems like all things are pointing to gastro-intestinal issues that need figure out... I just figured everyone would like to know what we are doing and where we are going with everything. I just wish this guy would start gaining some weight.

On another note, Grammy and DadDad sent this wickedly awesome water table to Can-man for his birthday, and I got around to setting it up this evening, I think we are safe to say that it was a hit, with all 3 boys!



And here is a random photo of the Rory-meister:


Arden wasn't in the mood for photos, so maybe we can get a few of him tomorrow...

Check It Out...

Rory is learning to ride his bike, we took off the training wheels today, and it wasn't too bad... We fell some, decided that we were never going to learn to ride, and that it is too hard... but as soon as mom bribed with some Italian Ice, things looked up... (yeah, I'm not above bribing my kids!)

More from the Birthday Boy!

Ok, here are a few more photos from the Birthday Boy. I wanted to try to get a few nice ones today, but so far the weather is not cooperating.

Canyon's awesome tie-dye shirt was made by an awesome company in Hawaii called Mother Sunshine we love her work! You should check it out.


His cake (and some of the cupcakes) were from Short Street Cakes. Jodi and the girls there ROCK and did some delicious vegan/gluten free yummies for us. Thanks again Jodi; you guys rock my socks! (Don't tell anyone, but Canyon didn't eat his cupcake that you see in yesterday's post... mama did, LOL.)


Check out the drool in this one! It is almost like he knew how awesome these bars taste! (Yeah, mom ate one for breakfast, but we aren't telling anyone that either!)




And here is my "baby" (really, my "not such a baby") sleeping on his mama after being worn out by all the fun!

Happy Birthday Baby!

My baby is officially one-year-old today! I cannot believe it!

We had an awesome turn out for his celebration, and we all had a great time!

Here are a few photos of the birthday boy from his party, I'm too pooped to get more up.

But I promise more photos of the Can-man over the next few days :O)

Almost One...

Yup, that is right, Canyon turns one-year-old tomorrow! Just a fair warning, there are a TON of photos on this blog post...

I cannot believe it. My little baby is not-so-little any more... where has it gone?

Here are some photos of his first year... Some of these are mine, and the better ones are by Sonya Stone(Thank You Sonya for the photos by you!) Official one-year-old shots will be taken tomorrow or Monday... so stay tuned!

First Moments:




First Week:


First 10 days:





One Month:




Two Months:





Three Months:


Four Months:

Five Months:



6 months:



7 Months:


8 months:


9 Months:


10 Months:

11 Months:


And just last week:

School...

Really? Is my little baby old enough for SCHOOL?!

Yup. It was a bittersweet day today as I took Rory down to the primary school to enroll him for Kindergarten in the public school system.

After his assessment test, and meeting the teachers, he was excited about going. I'm glad one of us is excited about it, lol. I'm glad he is looking forward to it. He is so eager to learn.

I found a few things interesting, and disturbing all in one.

#1. I had to request PERMISSION not to give his SSN to the school.
~What? Really? Since when does a 5-year-old have a job where social security has to be with-held from his paycheck? Needless to say, we aren't giving it. (Yeah, we are weird like that).

#2. In order for them not to require him to have MILK with the school lunch, (which is one of his 3 food allergies) I have to get a doctor's note excusing it, and telling the school what to replace it with.
~Since when is it the duty of a public school to dictate what is or is not appropriate for a child to eat? Not to mention, how is it not the job of a parent to say "My child can't have X food"? Why is a doctor, who sees a child once a year, more qualified to say what is or isn't ok for their diet? Rory is allergic to dairy, wheat, and yeast. No, not lactose intolerant, but ALLERGIC. We know this b/c we took it on ourselves to figure it out, not the doctor who barley knows my kid... It just kind of bugs me, I mean, my kids/ my decisions, right? I know what is best for my family, and make the decisions accordingly.

#3. Vaccine waivers...
~Umm... yeah. That wasn't too bad, but still.

#4. Wow, I was amazed at the education level of incoming children.
~Rory has not attended school yet, not preschool or a daycare... but he knows his basics. Children entering the schools don't have to know colors, shapes, letters, or numbers. Let alone how to read, count, write their names, etc... Rory is reading some, and will be reading a LOT over the next month or two... will this hold him back? There is a high number of ESL children that speak no English there too... and they are in the same classes... (and I mean NO English). The whole language thing is a debate on it's own, but I want my child to flurish, and I worry that he won't be able to in this circumstance. Only time will tell.

So, yup. My baby is getting ready to go to school! When did he grow up? And how is this going to go???

On an unrelated note... He learned how to wet exit from a kayak tonight at roll session, and was really comfortable doing it! YEY!

Swim Lessons...

For Rory and Arden!!! Can you believe it?!

What is really cool is that a few friends of ours are in the classes too!

Here are a few pics... Boy are they having a blast!

Just a Funny...

This might not be funny to you all, but it was to me, and I want to remember it, so here it is:

We are driving in the car and I smelled something, so I asked the kids who it was... of course I get the "not me" answer from everyone.

Then out of the silence, I hear the passing of gas and smell it... it is Canyon. No doubt this time.

Arden (who mind you has very limited speech) says "Canyon POOP!"

To which I reply, "I know honey, I can smell him..."

About 20 seconds later Arden says (as clear as day) "Me can smell him too mama. He pooped."

All of us were cracking up. How is that for one of your first complete sentences?

UpDate to Bummed...

It appears that Jenn passed away this morning.

I will still be fasting tomorrow, in hopes that her family finds peace in this horrible time.

Bummed...

How is it that the internet can connect people who have never met, and make differences in their lives?

For over a year now, I have been following the blog of a mom who has been fighting breast cancer since 2003/2004. http://jennjewkes.blogspot.com/ A local mom posted her link on a chat group and I happened to click it.

I have never met this woman, but her story, her strength, and her life have effected me. I now do monthly breast exams... I have fasted for her and all of those effected by breast cancer at least once a month since I started following her story.

What is even worse is that her story is not uncommon. I cannot imagine the pain of knowing I was going to be leaving my children in that way, and knowing what they were going to see.

She is amazing.

Her brother updated her blog last night, and it looks like she is not going to win this fight. Her body is shutting down.

I will be praying and fasting for her tomorrow, I would love for you all to as well.

Please pray that she passes in peace and that her husband, children, family and friends find peace with their pain too.

I'm sending as much love and strength to her as I can.

International Day of the Midwife

NC Home Birth Families to Advocate for Licensing Midwives at State Legis on Int'l Day of the Midwife

CONTACT: Russ Fawcett, (910) 471-5187, spigget@aol.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 4, 2009

North Carolina Home Birth Families to Advocate for Licensing Midwives at the State Legislature on ‘International Day of the Midwife’

Legislation Would Let NC Join 25 Other States in Advancing Healthcare Options for Families Who Choose Midwife-led Care in Out-of-Hospital Settings.

RALEIGH, NC (May 4, 2009)—Families from across the state will convene at the statehouse on May 5, 2009 to honor “International Day of the Midwife” and to advocate to members of the legislature for safe and legal access to out-of-hospital maternity care providers. They again will draw attention to the NC House Select Committee on Licensing Midwives release in December 2008 of a study committee report, which calls on the state to license and regulate Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), who are specifically trained in out-of-hospital deliveries.

“We applaud the Committee for recommending a much-needed and long-overdue reform in current law and policy,” said Russ Fawcett, Legislative Chair for North Carolina Friends of Midwives. “Homebirths have more than doubled in North Carolina in the past few years. Each year, more North Carolina families choose out-of-hospital birth for religious, cultural, philosophical or financial reasons. These families deserve safe and affordable maternity care, and the midwives who provide it deserve legal recognition.”

Currently, there are no laws in North Carolina to regulate CPMs, who deliver babies in private homes and freestanding birth centers. Studies show that low-risk women who plan home births under the care of CPMs have outcomes equal to low-risk women who deliver in the hospital, but with far fewer costly and preventable interventions. A study commissioned by the Washington legislature found that during the last five years alone, the state’s licensed midwives saved taxpayers and private insurers more than $10 million.

“From both a cost and a safety standpoint, licensing midwives is an important public health issue,” said Henry Dorn, MD, a board-certified OBGYN who practices in High Point. “The CPM credential is the gold standard for midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth, and it is critical that we do all we can to ensure that women in our state have access to the safest care possible, including collaborative care with other providers when it becomes necessary.”

North Carolina Friends of Midwives, a grassroots organization of midwife advocates dedicated to promoting, supporting, and protecting midwifery in North Carolina. North Carolina is a priority of The Big Push for Midwives Campaign a nationally coordinated campaign to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association Scope of Practice Partnership to deny American families access to legal midwifery care. Through its work with state-level advocates, the Big Push is helping to build a new model of U.S. maternity care built on expanding access to out-of-hospital maternity care and CPMs, who provide affordable, quality, community-based care that is proven to reduce costly and preventable interventions as well as the rate of low-birth weight and premature births.

Media inquiries about North Carolina Friends of Midwives should be directed to Russ Fawcett at (910) 471-5187, spigget@aol.com. Media inquiries about the Big Push should be directed to Steff Hedenkamp at (816) 506-4630, Steff@TheBigPushForMidwive

s.org.

#####

North Carolina Friends of Midwives | 5990 Beaman Old Creek Road | Walstonburg, NC 27888 | (252) 747-7785 | NCFOM@aol.com | www.ncfom.org

Rain Drops on Roses...

Ok, well maybe not a rose, but other flowers are starting to bloom! I can't wait for my roses to come out! Here are a few of my azaleas. I have white, pink, purple, and red.