Here is the other blog/group I own with 2 other ladies. We originally started on babycenter.com (and are still there) but we keep getting blasted (in a good way!) with new arrivals asking the same questions. Hopefully this will serve some purpose for all the new parents dealing with the reflux, allergy, MSPI, etc. roller coaster. It's a long, sucky one, that's for sure. It's got everything you need to know about medication, dosing, formulas, reflux, MSPI (milk-soy protein intolerance), procedures, oral/feeding aversions, etc. Check it out if you're needing some help!

In other news, Grandpa passed away peacefully about 2:30am Saturday morning in the comfort of his own home. My mom, grandma, and his sister got to be with him in the end. I got a text from my mom about 3:10 and went over there to be with them for a few hours. Left Grandma's about 6am, went to the grocery store, and eventually took a nap. Services are going to be Monday and Wednesday this coming week. Oh, funny story. We were going for a viewing of him last night with the family. The whole way there we were explaining that Papa is up in heaven now totally healed and feeling better again, so we wouldn't see "him" necessarily (try to explain that to a 3 year old!). We get there and she's sitting on Josh's lap, she looks over at my Grandpa laying on this table all done up, looks at Josh utterly confused, and says, "Is THIS heaven, Daddy!?" Lol! It was the cutest thing ever!

I'm in the mood to bake again. Not that I haven't been the past few months, it's just that doing anything other than a quick batch of cookies is pure hell. Really. I feel like I'm standing in the depths of hell smoldering. See, it's hot in Missouri, err...usually. It's been uncharacteristically cool this summer and the next few days the highs are in the 70's! And since the lady at the gas station already told me I looked like I was "going to pop" (read: freaking huge), I'll give up any glimmer of hope I had at keeping my weight gain under 30ish pounds this time. And because I like to do things the right way, what better way to exceed my expectations than making cinnamon rolls!? (I'll let you know how they turn out.)

So I lied, a salesmean just came by and awoke me from my sweet slumber. I'm too lazy to fold the laundry sitting in the basket right next to me and it's too early to work on Meg and Rob's dinner. I get a little bored browsing Babycenter and answering the same old "is this reflux? does my baby have MSPI?" questions in my spare time so I thought I'd finally update the blog. (It's kinda funny that I'm so bad at this whole blog "thing" because people who have known me for a few years will know I'm addicted to my computer.)

There has been a lot going on. Less than two weeks ago we found out my grandpa was diagnosed with the big "C". A few days later we learned that it wasn't just in the adrenal glands and slightly on the liver like though, but literally all over his body. Eesh. He's been home for almost a week (tomorrow) and is slipping faster than you can make a gooey s'more. (My life revolves around eating, ok!?) It's really sad to see but we all love seeing him uncharacteristically sweet and loving. I mean, he's always a nice guy, but he's like me (or I'm like him- whatever); sarcastic and dry. We've all been praying that he'll go Home soon, seeing him suffer is awful. Thankfully after a few bouts of "escaping" they have a 24 hour nurse there to help him with whatever he needs.

I'll spare everyone (all 2 of you) the boring details of Ellie's latest battle but gooooodddd Lord! can it be taxing dealing with her. It started off with a reaction to chicken (yes, chicken) which then turned into a Total Elimination Diet (where she can only eat 5 things for at least two weeks) which turned into an ear infection from all the drainage. Think that was the end of it? No, no, that'd be entirely too easy. Then she decided (ha!) to have a reaction to the medication she was rx'ed. Finally after getting the meds right and her food under control, she's on her way back to semi-normal. Whatever that is for Ellie. And over the weekend she though as if her constant fussing/whining wasn't enough, she learned to throw temper tantrums and fall on the ground over every little thing that doesn't go her way. Ohhh...the joys of toddlers. (Can you believe that she's a toddler now!?) So in between stepping over her and tossing her in the crib to scream to her hearts content (yes, I'm a mean mommy like that), it was a long weekend. But, she's still ubberly cute. And I still want to gobble her little cheeks up! Yummy! Oh, and she started clapping for herself when she takes her medicine. It's the cutest thing! We'll open her Nexium cap (for reflux) and tell her "medicine". She opens right up, takes the meds, and then claps for herself. She also occasionally says (not signs) "all done" at dinner. And she shakes her head no (too often). She also says dog and hi and is thoroughly excited to wake her Big Sister up in the morning.

We had a rough few weeks with Emme also. She was having a really, really rough time with obeying and having a good attitude. Hey, who can blame her, I hate it when people tell me what to do, too. But that's another post...and she's 3. We've really been working on first time obedience and answering when she is called/spoken to. Surprisingly these two things have really helped her not have a red bottom like before. She just adores to help me in the kitchen. It's probably her favorite thing to do and it always reminds me of being a little girl and helping my grandma. She's been a great, great helper with picking things up before Josh gets home and singing a song "clean up, clean up, eh-body share" over and over and over and over and over and over (really). It's cute but after hearing that line 55 times my blood starts to kinda simmer. She's obsessed with all things Princess and has entered the I'm-never-my-real-name phase. She had Parent's as Teachers yesterday and the lady agreed that she seems stuck in a 5 year olds body.

And because I haven't shared meal plans in ages, here is what I have for the next two weeks (Saturday-Friday):

Potato-Bacon Torte with salad (same thing I'm taking Meg and Rob)
Roast (I do mine like a roast beef with gravy, not the classic veggie one)
Tortilla soup w/ spanish rice
Eggs w/ bacon, potatoes, and tomato slices
Multi-grain pasta w/ meatballs and salad (I just use the meatball recipe)
Leftovers x 2
Parmesan and herb tilapia w/ brown rice and fried corn (without sausage)
Chili w/ cornbread
Beer and onion chicken w/ sauteed green beans and homemade bread
Grilled cheese on homemade bread w/ tomato soup
Grilled chicken w/ steamed, mixed veggies and mushroom rice
Salisbury steak w/ mashed potatoes and broccoli

I will post someday soon. Really, I will. Until then, look at these sweet eyes and delicious cheeks!

Oh, while stopping at the gas station for Pepsi and Aleve, a lady (with two children of her own, mind you) informed me that I look like I was "going to pop". From there she proceeded to ask if I was 8.5 or 9 months along. Thanks a lot, lady. I'll enjoy this King Size Snicker's bar even more now.

This girl is efficient!

Embarrassing things Emme has said recently:

An African American lady was checking us out at Target and Emme proceeded to tell her she had a funny nose.

A lady was checking my receipt at Wal-Mart and Emme asked why she had those two big "molds" (moles) on her face.

Tonight at dinner we ran into an old family friend we hadn't seen in a long time. Emme then asked her if she had a baby in her tummy...

Please tell me how you parents make it through these beyond horrifying things...

Well, Ellie officially failed her milk trial. It's unfortunate to say that the makers of Neocate will continue to rob us blind. Eesssh! These kids. I did buy some coconut milk today and she's been drinking that pretty well. Hoping to get some extra calories in her! I've gotta head back to Nature's Pantry or Whole Foods and just browse the aisles for some snack-y things for her.

Went to the doctor today and he confirmed my fears that he thinks Cohen is going to be freaking huge. See, I had a Level 2 sonogram on July 22. According to my very first sonogram, I should have been about 20 weeks and 5 days at this time. He was measuring closer to 22 weeks measurement-wise and 23 weeks for weight (17oz). And this was 3 weeks ago...For those of you that don't have kids and this means absolutely nothing, just take it as I'm afraid...very afraid. I got an email last week saying "your baby should be approaching one pound now" and I literally start to panic! "He was over a pound two weeks ago! What is this going to mean!?"

I did mention that Josh is a chronic ITPer so he's calling the perinatologist (again) to see if we have to do an amnio. Just when I though I was able to escape this awful test! I guess if he does have elevated platelets (which we have no reason to think he does) that will mean c-section because vaginal births are very traumatic on ITP kids. I'm just choosing to not focus on possibility of having an enormous needle stuck in my stomach.