Still sick

Poor Braedan is still feeling sick. He's sleeping in my arms right now. He has a hard time sleeping for long when I put him down because he starts coughing. He seems to only have this problem during the day and is able to sleep at night, mostly.

Jerry is also sick. He NEVER gets sick. He spent most of yesterday watching movies. Jerry is better, but still sick today.

Hopefully the boys will feel better tomorrow....

Sicko

My little boy is sick today. He has a little cough and a runny nose. Poor baby! It is so hard to watch him be sick.

We have been very lucky - this is only Braedan's 2nd cold and the 4th time he has been sick in his life. He seems to have a pretty strong immune system.

He's napping now. I think we'll spend the day watching movies and reading books. It's yucky and rainy out anyway.

Sadly, we have to miss my favorite Cave Junction event of the year - the Pet Parade. When Jobe was 6, Bosco and Sophi won the cutest couple award. Oh well.

Hopefully the echinacea, vitamin c and naynay will chase this cold away quickly!

Alyson

One week ago today, my sister Kate brought her beautiful baby into the world. Alyson Jacquelyn Barry was born on Friday, April 24th, 2009.

Isn't she gorgeous?? You can just see the love and light in her eyes. Look at those adorable cheeks and perfect little mouth. I can't wait to hold her! Good job, KK!

We are so happy you are here, Alyson. We've waited for you for so long! We can't wait to watch you learn and grow. We are excited to get to know the very special person that you are.

Thank you, Kate and Brian, for bringing a new baby into the family to love. You two are sweet, wonderful parents and I'm so happy for you.

What a miracle - a new baby. It's an amazing, everyday miracle.

I can't wait to meet you and kiss those chubby little cheeks.

Soph Dog

Sophi's operation on Tuesday went as well as it could have. All of the tumors (6 in all) were benign. Yay! She is resting and recuperating with a lot of ugly stitches, but she is quickly getting back to her spunky, energetic self.

Thank you for all of the love you all sent to her. What an amazing transformation from a pound puppy on death row to a beloved pet and family member. What a lucky dog, and what a lucky family to have found her!

Coast Trip

We took a much needed rest and rejuvenate belated birthday trip to the coast in March. (yes, this post is late!) We went to Gold Beach and had a sweet time just being together, watching the waves and exploring the sand. It was supposed to be rainy the whole time, but it ended up being beautiful and sunny!

Sophi Dog

I have been lucky enough to have a four-legged best friend for the last 10 years. Sophi Dog is the best of the best - Sweet, loyal, fun, cuddly, funny, adventurous, caring, patient - everything you could ever hope for in a best friend.

Sophi is an English Springer Spaniel. She is a nearly identical twin to Freckles, the dog I grew up with. Sometimes when I'm looking through old pictures, I have to think for a minute about whether it's Soph or Freckles.

Sophi was a pound dog. My boyfriend-at-time and I were killing some time and went to the pound to walk and play with some of the dogs. Sophi was in her little cage just laying there looking sad. There was a note on her cage that said something like - If you're interested in this dog, please tell the staff. This dog is scheduled to be euthanized.

Well, we took Sophi into the yard and played with her and pet her and loved her up and she was such a love! But, we weren't looking for a dog... It didn't fit our unstable life, or our unstable relationship. I put her back in her cage and the look she gave me... I'll never, ever forget it. It was a How could you do this to me, you bitch?

I went home and thought about her all night.... I was back at the pound the next morning before they even opened. I knew we were meant to be together. And Soph rode out of the parking lot sitting on my lap in the front seat of the car.

The boyfriend didn't last, but Soph and I have stuck together through thick and thin. She and I have been on some crazy adventures. We have traveled back and forth across the country several times by car and by plane. We drove to Alaska together and lived together in a tent for a whole summer - a very small tent. Then we took the ferry back to the "lower 48."

We've jumped in glacial streams together, swam in oceans, hiked and backpacked and explored all over the northwest and the country. We both love to swim and jump in any body of water at any chance we get.

Sophi sings a howling version of Happy Birthday - no birthday is complete without a serenade from Soph.

She loves to "fish," she'll spend hours wading around in the river looking for anything that moves and when the time is right, she plunges her face in the water in the hopes of catching something - she never has...

For a long time, it was just me and Soph. We've slowly added to the pack over the years - first, Jerry and Jobe, then Bosco Dog, then Rascal Cat, then Braedan. Sophi has fallen in love with each of them, and they have each fallen in love with her. Sophi is a true ray of light and a dependable love in our family.

There have been days when Sophi was the only one that could make me smile. She seems to know just what to do cheer me up. There are times when only a kiss from Soph will stop Braedan's crying. She is a stable, caring, unconditional friend for our pre-teen. She's a dependable buddy that will stay by Jerry's side in the garden well after dark. Rascal cat can always count on a bath and a snuggle buddy. She is Bosco's sidekick.

Sophi and I have spent the last 10 years together. What a lucky human I am!

I took Soph to the vet last week because I was worried about a lump.... Usually, the doc says oh it's nothing - just a fatty tumor. This time, he didn't say that. He was quiet, then he said I'm pretty concerned about this one.... We don't know anything yet. She gets the lump removed on April 28th and we'll find out more then.

The Great Fish Rescue

B and I picked Jobe up at school today and we were SO happy to see him. Jobe had that terrible, nasty flu that is going around. He was sick the weekend he was supposed to come out, so we missed that weekend. We felt sad about missing a weekend, but didn't think it was wise to make him travel or to expose B to the flu.

When we got home, we went for walk to the river. After throwing rocks for a while, we discovered a few dried up pools with baby fish. There were Salmon about 3 inches long and a bunch of sucker fish about 2 inches long.

At first we thought all the fish were dead, but then discovered that some of them were breathing. Jobe and I got right to work moving the fish back into the water. B stood next to us and practiced signing and saying fish. We even found a baby lamp ray eel. In all, we saved about 25 fish. Jobe was very proud of the effort!

B was so excited to spend time with his brother. He loves him sooo much! Jobe is such a great big brother - I feel so lucky!

Doctor Visit

Peek-a-boo!

We went to see Dr. Burnett today for a Well Child Check.

Braedan weighed in at 20 pounds 3 ounces and 29.5 inches. He is a developing well and he charmed the Dr. with his signing.

He also got his 2nd DTAP shot. Poor baby! It seems so deceptive to hold him and distract him while the nurse sticks him in the thigh.

I was kind of worried about the visit because Breadan is a littler guy and hasn't really followed the CDC growth chart. Our last Dr. was worried about it and wanted to start a bunch of tests. I felt she was over reacting and went for a second opinion. The second Dr. agreed with me and felt that he was right where he should be considering his genetics. His dad and I are both smaller people. At that point, I decided to go with the 2nd Dr. as our primary care. So far, I'm happy about that decision. Dr. Burnett seems to be on the same page as we are.

The DTAP is the only vaccine B has gotten so far. I have done so much research around vaccines and came to many conclusions. I found Dr. Sears to be very helpful in making decisions that I felt were right for us. I believe that vaccines are helpful and an important method for controlling disease, but I'm not confident that they are risk free and I feel that the medical establishment is over-zealous in immunizing the smallest, most vulnerable portion of our population - our babies. They were very pushy about giving B a Hep B shot when he was 2 days old. I couldn't see him swapping body fluids with anybody for at least a few years. I later read an article about aluminium in the shot having possible side effects.

I am delaying those vaccines that he is very unlikely to come in contact with - polio, Hep B and measles - until he's older and forgoing those that I don't feel are necessary - Chicken Pox and Rotovirus. I also won't give B more than one shot a visit. My research found while the effects of the individual shots have been studied, the effects of giving 2, 3 or 4 together have not. The dosages that are given to babies, as well as the additives, also raise some questions among some Dr.'s.

I have thought a lot about this and done A LOT of research - including online, books and talking to Dr.'s and other parents and feel that I've come to a plan that limits the risks of the vaccines and protects B from the diseases he should be protected against.

This is a VERY controversial subject where I live - and for good reason. We are talking about the life and health of our most precious people. I would love to hear what you think about vaccines and the decisions that you've made for your babes.

Spaghetti Monster!

Spring Hike

What a beautiful day! We spent the day searching for signs of spring, watching birds, playing in puddles and exploring the garden. Braedan and I went on a hike by the river. We had to cross the little creek, so I carried Braedan and left the stroller behind. My big boy was quite the hiker.

On our hike we saw lots of birds including – Stellar Jays, Turkey Vultures and Mallard Ducks, and of course, Canada Geese.

My Big Hiker

The mountains are all covered in snow.

The beavers have been busy this spring!

Sophi by the river

Old Bosco loves to hike!



In the garden with a cool stick.

Signing

I am loving signing with Braedan. My sister Careylynn inspired me to sign - she signs with her 2 kids.

I started signing with Braedan when he was a teeny, tiny baby. He did his first sign - milk - at 7 months old. For a long time, that was the only sign he did and he used it for everything. Now he is a signing machine. He is driven to communicate and I am happy that signing gives him a way to do it. If I don't know a sign, he'll make one up. A few of the signs we use (bear) are ones that B made up.

I was concerned that using sign might delay his speech development, so I did some research. What I found was that the signing develops one side of the brain, while speech develops the other. Signing helps to develop communication between the 2 sides and helps the child to develop more than one way to understand a word.

I have been using My Smart Hands to learn useful signs to share with B.

Here is a (partial) list of Braedan's signs:
Dog, Milk, Cat, Monkey, Tree, More, Eat, All done, Hat, Flower, Bird, Elephant, Potty, Giraffe, Apple, Bear, River, Ball, Book, Dinosaur, Fan, Light, Daddy, Mama, Car, Banana, Up, Help, Fish, Lion, Baby, Bat - and I'm sure there are more that I'm not thinking of

Daddy's Helper and Thanks Mom and Dad

Braedan loves to help Daddy. Whenever Jerry has his tools out, Braedan is right there to assist. I have to say nothing warms my heart more than watching Jerry with Braedan - it is true love!

Working on the cabinets

Putting in the door to the office.

Figuring out the next move.

There's a picture of me as a toddler "helping" my dad study - I'm sitting on the table next to my dad's books. This picture reminds me of that picture. I'm thankful that Braedan has a dad as loving and involved as I do. Dads are so important!

I can honestly say that I have never known love like I do as a mom. I had NO idea that my whole life would be taken over and transformed and I would LOVE it! What a true blessing my little Braedan is.

I also didn't understand how much and how deeply my parents love me. It's only in the experience of feeling that all encompassing devotion for my child that I can recognize it in my parents. I am so thankful to have such incredible parents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Video montage of B's 16th month

Fun with flour

Braedan found the flour and a bowl and got to work. He had the right idea, if only the bowl was right side up!




Jerry is working on finishing the cabinets - that's why there are no doors. My father-in-law made the cabinets from wood we had milled up. They are going to be gorgeous! I'll post pix when they're done.

You gotta love the powdered wig look!

There's nothing cuter than a baby's bottom!

Blog restart

Hello -

I'm not sure if anyone follows this blog anymore, but I've been wanting to revive it for a while now. So - here we go!

Yesterday, I turned 38! I have a hard time believing that I'm in my late 30's - can someone tell me how that happened??

We had a lovely, quiet, LAZY day. We almost never use the L word to describe our lives, so it was a real treat. I had wanted to work in the garden, or go to the beach, but it was a stormy wintery day. We watched movies and Jerry baked a cake (really!) and I played with Braedan (my favorite thing to do). We went on a short walk in the rain and let B splash in the puddles. We capped the day with some yummy sushi and early to bed - a perfect day to celebrate another year!