Bittersweet Moments

So it has been over a month since I have updated. I will try to be more consistent, but like always...life is crazy and time is limited. I will add some updated pictures of Rykken in the next blog, (hopefully tonight), because he is truly growing and changing so fast! I feel like every time I blink, he has grown and passed different milestones. Here is what is going on with him at the moment. He had tubes put in his ears April 17th. He did VERY well with the surgery, they didn't end up putting him completely under with the regular anesthesia, instead they used nitrous, because of the risk of malignant hypothermia that runs on my mother's side of the family. This was kind of a blessing as it alleviated the nausea they get coming off of the regular anesthesia....unbeknown est to me, that I would be battling 2 weeks of vomiting just a couple of weeks later. The tubes did not eliminate the infections at first, and he was put back on an anti-biotic for two weeks. He then caught a horrible stomach virus that had him vomiting for 2 weeks, he was in the doctor's office several times over those weeks checking for dehydration, and getting big doses of antibiotic shots. Finally they pulled him off of all the oral antibiotics he was on, continued with a pedialyte only diet and finally as of 5/12 he has not vomited. Thank You! He is back to a regular diet, except he is now on soy formula, which seems to be helping a ton, not only did it help him get over the vomiting, but it has helped clear his ear infections up. The ear infections could have been related to a milk allergy....which I have always suspected, but the pediatrician was never keen on keeping him on soy, but now that he is seeing the drastic change with the soy and the tubes, he is saying to keep him on it until I wean him to regular milk, or how this is going, soy milk. So to say the least...this is the FIRST time since Dec. of '08 that Rykken has NOT been on antibiotics!!! Hallelujah! So he is feeling much better and I am so very grateful! After the sickness has calmed down Rykken is trying lots of new foods. He is eating a lot of table food along with his formula and baby food. Some new finger foods he is eating are blueberries, chopped avocado, chopped steamed carrots, chopped banana's (not a fan...must be the texture because he LOVES banana baby food), peas, green beans, cheerios, peaches, pears, biter biscuits, saltine crackers, mashed potatoes, pretty much anything he can get his hands on...he is semi-adventurous when it comes to new foods, but we still battle over the good for ya stuff quite often. He is also using a sippy cup at every meal, which is entertaining, but good practice for him as the pediatrician would like to see him off the bottle between 12-14 months of age...which is only like 4 months away...so he is working hard at mastering that. Since he has been eating all these finger foods...you must be wondering if he has cut any teeth yet. Why yes...he has. One! He has one little tooth that is slowly but surely growing in. It has cut through the gum and is about half way grown in. It is very sharp, and makes him very miserable...but it is exciting all at the same time. I didn't think the kid was ever going to get teeth! He is crawling on all fours, and still pulling up and cruising. He gets all over the place, he is also fearless, which is very scary and allows for many bumps and ouchies, but it's all part of growing up. He loves to walk if allowed and can walk with you by just holding one hand. It won't be long...a couple of months, if that, and he will be walking. He will most certainly be walking by his first birthday. I can guarantee you that. The biggest development this month...I have let go and cut the umbilical cord and moved him into his own room....FINALLY. He is now sleeping in a different room...and I didn't know how I would deal with it, but it is working out most fabulous....I am getting such better sleep not listening to him rustle around in his crib and he is getting much better sleep as well because he has moved his wake up time from 7:30am to 6:45am. Which is not a joy, but doable. I have also found the most wonderful toy...I mean baby monitor that has eased my anxiety about having him sleep across the house from me. It is very neat and keeps me from taking many trips during the night to check on him. It also eliminates the need to check on them when you put them down for the night and they are having a hard time going down and are fussing. You can make sure they are safe and okay without opening the door and making them even more upset. WORKS LIKE A CHARM! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!