Re: January- Happy New Year!

[Mom-to-Luke]

Amy - have you found a place? I'm so sorry your dh is deploying but so glad you will be near family. Glad to hear the boys are doing so well.

Quincy - how is work? Luke starts soccer this week.

Jennifer - how is Easton?

Kate is doing good. She slept 7.5 hours last Wednesday but has gone back to 5-6 hours now. DH and I left her with my parents last night so we could go to dinner for our 9th anniversary. She cried most of the time and my mom said they almost called us to get our food to go (i'm not sure if she was kidding). My parents are watching my ds twins tonight. I'm afraid they aren't going to want to watch her again - it will probably be easier to watch the twins than my crying baby. She is really good most of the time but a little colicky in the evenings.

Hi to eoe.

[tif333]

Kathy - Ryan's fussy time is in the evenings as well. Right around the time DH gets home from work!

AFM: things have been busy here too. DH starts real estate school tonight. He is doing it in addition to his "real job" so that I don't have to go back to work any time soon and can stay home with the kids. I am so thankful that he's willing to do that, but it is going to be tough for both of us. He leaves the house at 5:30am for work and only comes home for about a 1/2 hour for dinner before school. Then he doesn't get home from school until about 11pm. That is a LONG day for him and also a long day for me home with the kids. I have to try to put both kids to bed by myself and that is Ryan's fussy time as I mentioned to Kathy.

Also, my stupid dogs ate my nursing pillow yesterday! I was so upset. It was the same one I used with Kaitlyn and was comfy and worn in. I know it is stupid to be emotionally attached to a pillow, but I can't help it! I had to go buy another one and couldn't find the same kind as my other one. I don't like the new one as well. What a waste of money! Stupid dogs!

[Mom-to-Luke]

Tiffany - your dh sounds wonderful. That is so sweet that he is going to school so you can stay with the kids longer. That is going to be a tough schedule for both of you. Have you found anything to help Ryan in the evenings? Kate likes walking around while being held over our shoulder. It gets exhausting.

Has anyone heard from Jennifer or Kim?

AFM - Luke's school called this afternoon - he has a fever, sore throat and stomach ache. I'm taking him to the dr tonight and praying that Kate doesn't get it.

[Amy]

We made it to page 2! Yay!

Quincy- Wow, you've been busy! I feel the same way about wanting to hold the boys all the time.

Kathy- I've narrowed it down to 2 possibilities. Now, I just need to go down and look at them to see which is better. I'm so jealous that Kate sleeps that long at a time! I'm sorry that Luke is sick... I hope that he feels better soon!

Tif- Your husband sounds so sweet. I'm sorry about your nursing pillow!

Adding to the list of missing posters, has anyone heard from Allison?

AFM- I found out that the earliest dh will be deployable is mid-June! I'm so happy that we still have a little more time. He'll be here for Matthew's 3rd birthday and our 4th anniversary. Dh is currently 2 states away doing some training and won't be back until next month, so it's been chaotic around here. All the boys seem to be really good at needing me at the same time.. Lol... Keeps life interesting though!

[tif333]

Kathy - Ryan likes the same thing - to be held with his head on my shoulder while I walk around or "bounce" around the house. Regular walking isn't enough!

Amy - That is great news that your husband won't be deployed as soon as you thought.

I have not heard from any of the missing posters you named. Do we have any of their email addresses so we can see how they are doing? I'm guessing they are just too busy to post right now. But that worries me a little that Jennifer hasn't been on because she's usually pretty active on here.

[JenniferShafer]

Hello Everyone!
Sorry I have not been on for a while. After Easton got out of the hospital everyone got the stomach flu and he went back in the hospital for dehydration. He was there about a week and now it is all better. He is starting to gain weight and is now over 10 lbs! I can't wait to see how much he weighs at his next appt. He is so cute!!! Well thing are starting to get really busy! Brayden started little league this week and all of the kids are also in soccer (Except Easton of course!). So Brayden has t-ball twice a week and soccer twice a week. Jocelyn has practice twice a week and Allison has practice 3 times a week. Allison and Jocelyn also have piano twice a week and now Brayden says he wants to do piano and hockey. He is a hockey nut, that is all he thinks about! He plays hockey from the time he gets home till he goes to bed unless there is a Kings game on then he is watching hockey! We are suppose to be getting a ice rink here in town but it is not finished yet. So he is now old enough for roller hockey. We may start him in May. But I think piano may be a bit to much to add to his schedule right now. He is only 5 and has a busier schedule than many adults I know!
Easton is really a great baby! He rarely cries he is always in such a good mood. All you have to do is look at him and he smiles! He is everything I could have hoped for and more. Now that he is well he is really starting to develop quickly. He is doing a lot more and staying awake longer. I am still not producing enough milk for him ut I am starting to get more now. I think all the time in the hospital and him not being able to eat was a major set back for me. We are now at about 3/4 of all his feedings come from me.
Well I had better go. It is time to give Easton a shower. He prefers to be in the shower with me rather than a bath. I have to admit I love it also. DH brings him to me when I am ready and then gets him out and dresses him. I'll try to check in more often! Please read some info I have pasted below.

Jennifer
Be part of our team!


HELLO!

On Sunday, May 17th I'm going to be participating in the 14th Annual Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House RELAY FOR KIDS! It's a Run/Walk through Sylvan Park open to kids, families and anyone who wants to come out and support the House! The money I raise will go to benefit the children and families of the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. I can't do this on my own though, and need your help! I'm inviting you to join my team and participate in this fun event. If you are unable to be there on May 18th, you can join as a virtual participant and still fundraise on our team...although we would love to see you at the Relay! You can raise money an for the team and be a prat of it with out even having to be there. If you would like to send this e-mail to all your family and friends please do so. I really need all of you! And RMH needs us!

Thanks for your consideration, and I hope to see you soon!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Ronald McDonald House of Loma Linda

******************************************************************************
Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://www.relayforkids.com/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=281820&u=281820-206796486&e=2236164553
******************************************************************************

Jennifer Shafer

[Amy]

Not very much time tonight! Happy Valentine's day!

Jennifer- So glad that you checked in and that Easton is doing well. I donated to the RMH. Hope it helps you meet your goal!

[JenniferShafer]

Amy! Thank you Thank you Thank you so much! You are the first to place a donation for me! I can't thank you enough! RMH has helped us so much in our time of need. When Soren was in the hospital and also when Easton was so sick. It is so important for parents to be able to be there with their children when they are in the hospital, and so many could not if it were not for RMH! Thank you so much Amy for supporting RMH!
Jennifer

[JenniferShafer]

This is being pasted from Soren's Carepage.


Well CHD awareness week is coming to a close. I know that this week helps people remember to spread the word of the devastating effect CHD's have on so many, but every day so many new parents become painfully aware of what a CHD is. We should be out there fighting every day to put a stop to the ignorance of the population! Only then will there be more funding and research done in to why this happens. Once we know the why we can work on stopping it from happening! I pray there will a day soon when children do not have to suffer from this CHD monster.
Please remember that families deal with this every day not just one week a year. Please pray daily for all of theses heart families and the children with a CHD.
Jennifer

Somewhere...someplace... today...
A family is waiting to hear...
Is something wrong with their baby?
The answers aren't quite clear...
This family has entered an unwanted world...
And they just don't know what to expect...
Somewhere...someplace... today...
They first heard the words: heart defect.
And how they hoped this was not true...
And thought... this cannot be...
I too... know just how this feels...
For one day...this was me.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A man and a woman embrace...
Their baby is in surgery...
They long to see her face...
They haven't got to hold her yet...
Without...a cord or line...
They pace the room awaiting news...
And hope she'll be just fine.
Prayers fill this busy waiting room...
And mom and dad are scared...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
The tiniest hearts are repaired.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A child's growing fast...
Smiling,laughing,thriving...
His mom thinks...can this last?
It's almost easy...to forget...
That anything is wrong...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
Her child seems so strong.
Somewhere...someplace... today...
A little boy fights...just to live...
A father holds his tiny hand...
His love...all he can give...
The doctor's are all baffled...
They fear that he might die...
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A family says goodbye...
Somewhere...someplace...each year...
More than 40,000 families will see...
What it means...when something's wrong...
They'll face a CHD.
Today...for just a moment...
Stop...remember...reflect...
Make time to tell someone you know...
"I've been changed by a heart defect".

~Stephanie Husted (Feb. 6 2007)

[Amy]

Jennifer- You're welcome.. I wish that I could do more for such a wonderful cause! Thank you for posting that poem. So touching...

[tif333]

Where is everyone? Is anyone even reading anymore? Well, Ryan is starting to sleep through the night! He slept 8.5 hours last night. He has slept through all but 1 night for the past week and a half. I noticed that he would sleep if I was holding him, on my bed, or on his nursing pillow. My mom told me to try putting one of my worn shirts in his bassinet that has my scent so he'd feel like I was near him. She must be a genious because that was the first night he slept so well. My kid is sleeping with dirty laundry, but he's actually sleeping! LOL Hope you are all doing well and to hear from you soon!

[JenniferShafer]

That is so funny! Sleeping with dirty laundry! I have the opposite problem. Easton likes to sleep in his bed. He doesn't like to go to sleep with me holding him. He likes to be laid in his bed so he can go to sleep on his own. I wish he would lay on my chest or shoulder and sleep so I could hold him. It really makes it hard when we are out. He has been better about sleeping in the car seat though. So I take it with me everywhere.
Easton is really getting big. He has outgrown 2 of his newborn outfits now. He is getting so cute and chubby!
Here are some Pictures from Feb. 24th.
http://s479.photobucket.com/albums/rr151/JenniferShafer/Easton/

[tif333]

Jennifer - He is adorable! I think that is not a bad problem to have - that he wants to put himself to sleep. Ryan will only fall asleep with me holding him. As a matter of fact, he wants to be held all the time regardless of if he's awake or asleep. Because he's probably my last baby, I like to hold him a lot. But, it makes it really hard to get anything else done or to spend time with Kaitlyn. He is getting to be such a chubbo! He weighed 13lbs, 8oz and was 25" long at his 2 month appt. He was in the 90th% for weight and 97th% for height! Here is a pic of him at 2 mos. It was taken a couple weeks ago and I think he's gotten even more chubby since then. But it is the most recent pic I have on the computer.

[JenniferShafer]

Ryan is so cute! I just love the blue and brown combination on boys! I think it looks really good on Easton also. Those little puckered up lips look like they are ready to give Mommy a kiss! Too cute!

[tif333]

Thanks! He does have really full lips. (unfortunately) I think the girls are gonna love them someday... My DH has very kissable lips also