Parker Randall Super Preemie

Happy 4th of July 2011

2011-07-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Easter 2011

2011-04-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the beautiful cookies GranRandy and Gera!

So excited to dye eggs!!

My Little Artist

2011-04-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

running around the tree lot

...until he found what he wanted- a cart to push!

Parker did very well with the ornaments this year.

Only pulled off a few each day!

Parker's own cookie creations at Grandma Kathy's annual cookie party

more running, this time at Great Grandma Dolores' house

Thanks for my beautiful green cords Grandma Ronie!

Merry Christmas!

Halloween

2010-12-30T13:48:00.001-08:00

petting some sweet sheep at a Harvest Festival

Parker dressed as a farmer this year...he actually asked
to be "Grandpa Ron the farmer" for Halloween. So cute!!
I made the mistake of giving him the Junior Mints before I
took the pictures, so he paid no attention to the camera
whatsoever.

Trip to Monterey in October

2010-12-30T13:35:00.001-08:00

reading books on the hotel bed

Parker LOVED playing at the beach!

at the Monterey Bay Acquarium

family photo outside our hotel

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2010-10-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

New "Motorcycle Bike" from Mommy and Daddy

Green and yellow "John Deere" cupcakes

Parker always gets two cupcakes on his birthday...one for him and one for Olivia.

Bounce house! He cried when they removed it from our backyard that night.

And the 3rd birthday celebrations begin...

2010-10-06T20:12:00.001-07:00

Parker loves anything and everything in the construction department.

Firetruck cake made by Grandma Kathy!

Tiny Herbalist

2010-10-06T20:09:00.001-07:00

Basil plant from Trader Joe's

NICU Reunion

2010-10-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Posing with the sweetest occupational therapist in town!

We love you KF!!

Checking out some instruments

And speaking of graduation...Parker is about to graduate from speech therapy and infant development therapy in just a few days!!

Train Museum

2010-10-06T19:46:00.001-07:00

First visit to the Train Museum

August Snapshots

2010-09-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

John Deere Tractor Shoes (or Adidas)...everything

these days is in relation to tractors

Sitting outside in the backyard enjoying the mild weather

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

Barbeque Chips

2010-06-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

New Swim Trunks

2010-05-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Now, if it would just stop raining, he could wear them outside.

Happy Easter 2010

2010-04-05T19:06:00.001-07:00

We were told this could happen...

2010-02-25T18:44:00.000-08:00

Parker knocked one of his capped teeth out today. Parker is a very active little guy to say the least, but in this instance he was hardly evening moving! This morning he was crawling around pushing a small metal basket across the floor when it scooted out from under his hands. He hit his lip on the edge. He started to cry a bit, and I bent down to pick him up to console him (not a bit alarmed, because it appeared that he had just brushed against the basket) when I noticed the blood start to pool under his top lip. I grabbed a rag to help stop the bleeding and nursed him immediately (of course), and he stopped crying right away. When I looked more closely at the lip, it looked pretty deep, so we jumped in the car and drove to urgent care. I was worried he would need a couple stitches. Urgent Care was filled with sickies. Sean, who had been at the dentist, met me there, and we took turns waiting in the lobby for our turn. I finally took him upstairs to our pediatrician's office (in the same building) to have her take a look. No sense waiting for possible stitches if she thought he was fine. And the good news was she did think the lip was fine, but as she gently examined his mouth we all saw that the tooth was gone!! We went to the pediatric dentist next, and that's pretty much it. There is nothing to be done.

Except wait until his permanent tooth grows in.

When he's seven.

February Sunshine

2010-02-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Valentine Cookies

2010-02-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Martha Stewart Food Coloring Kit

Ready to eat!

I made cookies for Valentine's Day this year. When I was in college, I was a nanny for two sweet boys, and I made these cookies all the time for them. Making them now was quite a different experience...it took me an entire day, because I had a cute little two year old clawing at my legs the whole time. Maybe Parker will enjoy baking a tad more when he's older.

New Teethies

2010-01-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

One of the last photos of the teeth before caps

Post-op

Parker had his teeth procedure done on Wednesday. He had to have his top four teeth capped due to progressing cavities. The cavities are most likely just another complication from being a 24-weeker. His pediatric dentist suspected that his teeth came in too early without the proper coating of enamel. Once he started to eat solid foods, the cavities opened up. Then his habit of all night nursing continued to feed the cavities (breast milk alone will not start a cavity, but it will certainly add insult to injury). The procedure was extremely quick, about a half hour. The worst part was the handing him off process, which I always feel is akin to someone reaching into my chest and pulling out my still-beating heart (or "screaming harpies" as my sister likes to say). The nurse was lovely, however, who took him back to the operating room, and Parker actually went into her arms willingly. The anesthesia process is also always a serious matter, but Parker pulled through like a pro (it was his 5th time and all). He was terribly unhappy when he came out of surgery. I'm sure he was sore, confused, and disoriented. I nursed him in the recovery area for about another half hour, then we were able to take him home. He fell in and out of sleep in his car seat and was still a little sleepy for the first hour that we were home, but by lunchtime he was running around the house like nothing had happened! One of the drugs that he was given causes amnesia- I guess so! It's taken us a few days to get used to the look of the new teeth (they are gleaming white), but now I actually think they look better than before. It's just one more physical attribute that adds to his overall adorable character. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Bath Time

2010-01-14T14:02:00.001-08:00

Waiting for the tub to fill up

Examining duckie

I'm cold! Hurry up with the jammies, Daddy!

Happy 2010

2010-01-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Parker was done swinging.

We are still waiting to be scheduled for teeth surgery. I'm a little frustrated at this point as I've been speaking with the dentist's office off and on for about three weeks now. The woman who schedules the surgery (only one, of course) always says she's going to call me back and never does! She's like a bad boyfriend. I have a lot of anxiety about this surgery...the fact that it will be Parker's 5th time does not make it any easier. I would just like to have the date set so I can mentally prepare and keep visualizing the day after when it will all be behind us. Also, his poor little teeth do not look good at all, and he tells me from time to time that they are bothering him.

Otherwise, it's been a great start to the new year. Parker has been really healthy and happy lately. He is talking more and more every day. He has a ton of new words. Most of them are the first syllable to the word ("pre" for "pretty" and "saw" for sock, etc.), but a few words, like lotion ("shun") he says the last syllable. It is so charming to hear him beginning to talk, and we think he'll be really vocal in the next 6 months.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-26T14:43:00.001-08:00

Vote for Parker

2009-12-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

I entered a photo of Parker in a Holiday Lights Photo Contest in the Sacramento Bee. Please click on this link and vote for him!! Thanks!
http://www.sacbee.com/photocontest

Christmas Miracles

2009-12-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hanukkah Cookies

Christmas Jammies 2007 and 2009

Helping with the lights...

We had another amazing visit with Parker's neurologist this afternoon. He was extremely pleased with Parker's progress and concluded our visit by telling us he had nothing to say to us...which is what you want to hear from child's neurologist. Parker is in the 30% category of 24-weekers who have escaped CP and who are on track to talk and continue developing normally. If Parker were a 27-weeker he would most likely be discharged from neurology in the next 6 months, but since he's a 24 weeker, he'll continue to be seen until he's in 2nd grade. 24-weekers are relatively new and our neurologist says doctors are still studying them since not much is known about them. My baby, the guinea pig.

Animal Sounds

2009-11-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

Parker has been really sick the past week and a half, but we put him on Singulair and did regular breathing treatments. He seems now to be back to his happy self, just in time for Thanksgiving! This year he's eating two dinners: Thanksgiving 1 with Sean's parents and Thanksgiving 2 with my parents. I have two special outfits for each day, so I'll post pictures soon!

Parker also has a dental surgery coming up. We're not sure exactly when, since it hasn't been scheduled yet, but it will most likely be in the next month or two. I absolutely have to keep him healthy until then (and beyond, of course), because the procedure will be cancelled if he even gets the sniffles. We are on lockdown, as usual.

Happy Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T10:15:00.001-08:00

Parker was a monkey because he is a monkey.

2 Year Stats

2009-10-14T13:51:00.001-07:00

Parker had his 2 year check-up yesterday. He's 21 lbs 12 oz and 32 inches tall! He's huge compared to his birth weight and height. He was a good little boy the whole check-up. He screamed while he was being weighed, but didn't make a peep while getting a flu shot.

6:01pm

2009-10-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Happy 2nd Birthday Parker Randall!! What a blessing the past two years have been. Every moment with you is a gift and a joy (Yes, even when I am trying to simply use the restroom and you stand at the baby gate crying and stomping because I'm not holding you!). My heart aches with love when I look at you. You are an amazing soul. You have a strong spirit, a kind heart, and an infectious smile. You have grown and changed so much in the past year. I am so proud of all your major milestones, and I am frequently brought to tears from some of the simplest activities (Yesterday, you rolled a toy car around the house imitating the sound of the engine). I loved watching you devour your first chocolate birthday cupcake today. You deserve every bite. I thank God every day for giving you (and us) the strength to endure the events of your past and allowing you to enjoy the events yet to come. Your Daddy and I are better people because you are in this world with us. We love you more than life itself.

10:55am

2009-10-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sweet Olivia. Our lives have never been the same since you arrived and then so quickly departed. On the morning you were born, the doctors told me you probably wouldn't be able to cry. They were wrong, of course, and you let out one tiny, beautiful wail just for your momma. Every time I close my eyes, I can see your precious baby face and hear your sweet voice. Thank you for holding on to this world as long as you could. I treasure every minute I got to spend with you. I knew I was going to have you first, and I knew you would be named Olivia. You were perfect in every way, and everything I dreamed you would be. I miss you every second of every day. I will never understand why we never got the oppotunity to be with you the way we imagined, but I am a better mother because you floated into my life. You are sweetness and love and hope and stars and bunnies and pale pink. I love you forever.

New Shoes...Again

2009-10-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Thought Parker was a size 5, but he's actually a 5 and 1/2 now! Such a big boy. We, of course, were easily talked into purchasing the dinosaur socks, as well.

Stunt Man

2009-10-03T14:08:00.001-07:00

The shirt says it all. This is one of my favorite hand-me-downs from cuzzie, who has taught Parker everything he knows about being a wild man.

First Golf Lesson

2009-09-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Baby Curls

2009-09-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

Peek-a-Boo

2009-09-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

My Little Fairy

2009-09-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

Physical Therapy

2009-09-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Backyard

2009-08-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

Pick me up!

Favorite way to go down slide: on tummy.

Play Structure

2009-08-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ever since Parker was born, I imagined having a play structure for him in our backyard. And since he is a preemie, I've been wanting him to have the "park experience" without us having to go to the park (until he stops licking everything, parks just aren't safe). For almost two years I have been discussing building plans with Parker's GranRandy (the grandpa he is named after). This week, GranRandy came to Sacramento for a few days, and he and Sean worked tirelessly for two straight days to build the magnificent play structure you see here! It's even more beautiful than I imagined, and it represents hours of wonderful backyard play and exercise. The swings still need to be installed, but Parker is already completely delighted with the slide and ladder and tower. It is so incredibly special to us that it was hand constructed by GranRandy and Daddy. We love you!!

New Camera

2009-07-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

I just purchased a new digital camera the other day to have a better record of Parker's activities. My previous camera was a good one (Nikon Coolpix), but it demanded a lot of light, and it couldn't capture moving images well. And good luck getting a baby to sit still every time you want to take a photo. I was having such a good time taking some sweet pictures of Parker looking out the kitchen window last night. These photos were taken only a few minutes before he threw up all over daddy and the linoleum. He continued to vomit throughout the night, as well. I have done 4 loads of laundry already today (mainly sheets and towels)! My poor sweet boo. He now is slightly congested and running a fever. He hasn't been up for much today, other than nursing and laying on mommy. Hopefully, this will pass soon and he'll be back to his normal happy little self before we know it.

New Tricks

2009-07-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Parker knows so many new animal sounds and body parts! When asked he can tell you the sound a cat, dog, piggy, sheep, and chicken make. He has to be in the mood, of course, and it helps if he is looking at the animal in person or in a book. We also have been working daily on naming body parts. So far, he knows feet, nose, eyes, tummy, mouth, teeth, and head. He's the smartest baby on Earth!!

Eye Doc

2009-07-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

We had a great appointment yesterday with Parker's eye doctor. She's thrilled with how much he's using his left eye (which is the weaker one). So the two hours a day that we are making him wear a blurring contact in his right eye is working. It's so challenging to get him to wear it. He throws a spectacular fit as Sean and I hold him down struggling to get it in his little eye! But we only have him wear it most days of the week, instead of every day of the week. With both of our work schedules, sometimes Parker gets a night or two off. It's a lovely break for all of us. :)

Disturbing

2009-07-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

I am totally disgusted today. I had to call a repairman to come take a look at our dryer that was making rumbling noises. He wound up having to replace the blower which was no big deal (it's apparently a part that goes out first to protect the motor),....but in the process he found a ton of spider nests with hundreds of spider eggs!! I called Sean at work and he was horrified. I actually do respect spiders, but they need to live outside. Parker enjoyed watching the repairman, who btw I made scrub up before he started working in the laundry room. :)

First Ice Cream Cone

2009-07-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Parker is feeling much better. He is still on some nasty antibiotics for four more days. His appetite is s-l-o-w-l-y returning. He's not too interested in eating when he's sick, and he's lost almost a pound in the last two weeks that he's had the ear infections and the Roseola. He did, however, have no qualms about eating an entire ice cream cone on Saturday!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

Still Not Feeling Good...

2009-07-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, Parker was diagnosed with a double ear infection. Took him to the doctor again yesterday, and both ears were worse! Our pediatrician said he was most likely in terrible pain. And to top it all off, he appears to have Roseola as well. My poor little sweet baby. He's been sleeping a lot and hasn't had much of an appetite. The above picture is a rare shot of Parker sleeping on his own...something he almost never does!

Dancing with Daddy

2009-07-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, my husband has taught our baby to "smack that bootie." Nice, honey.

Happy 2nd Birthday Cuzzy!!

2009-06-27T13:23:00.001-07:00

David and Parker at the Zoo

Happy Father's Day Sean!

2009-06-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Sean,

Thank you for being an amazing father to our angel on earth and our angel in heaven. Thank you for rushing home every day after many hours of being at work to come play with Parker and whip us all up a fabulous dinner. You even do the dishes sometimes! I wish you could see Parker's face when he hears the garage door open...he knows his daddy is home, and he bolts for the door as fast as his little baby legs will carry him. We love you and appreciate how much you love and honor our family.

Love, Adrienne, Parker, and Olivia

Mango

2009-06-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Parker has supersonic hearing, even with a double ear infection. (He was miserable earlier in the week, 103.6 fever, crying, pulling at his ears, etc., but he is much happier today thanks to ear drops and ibuprofen) Parker is quite fond of Trader Joe's dried mango, and he is always wanting a piece if I'm eating it. I'm reluctant to give it to him, because it's tough to chew and he only has four molars! Today, I tried to quietly pull it out of the cupboard while he was in the other room, but I swear he heard the package being opened and came running into the kitchen for a bite. He motioned toward the counter (where mango was located out of his line of vision, I might add) and fussed until I gave him some. Guess he really likes it.

David's 2nd Birthday Gathering

2009-06-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Parker and David at the park

Today, my sister had a small gathering of friends to celebrate David's upcoming 2nd birthday. This was a big day for us, too, because it's the first time I've actually let Parker play at the park. Usually I just take him there and torture him by containing him in his stroller. But he's been walking so well lately that I thought I'd try and relax a little and let him play. He spent two straight hours walking around picking up sand and wood chips. Daddy even took him down the slide several times. He had the most glorious time, I think, and he took a lovely nap afterwards.

Last week, Parker had a few doctor's appointments. We got a wonderful report from our neurologist who was extremely pleased with his walking and overall demeanor. And Parker finally hit the 20 pound mark at his pediatrician's! He's in the 25th percentile for weight, the 50th percentile for head circumference (that's because he's a genius), and below the 5th percentile for height. He's a shorty, what can I say?

Toddler Tantrums

2009-06-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Parker has been doing so much walking and running lately. He still is slightly wobbly, but he is growing more and more stable and confident every day. He has also started having complete meltdowns if he doesn't get his way, specifically when it comes to going outside. He is a total outdoor baby, and he would stay out in the backyard eating dirt all day if I let him. He crawls to the back door each morning and starts to communicate to me that he would like to go out and play. I usually oblige, but I make him put shoes on first, which begins the tantrum. See video below for footage of said tantrum. On this particular morning I had only been able to get his shirt on before the waterworks began.

Parker had a developmental therapist appointment last month where he got to practice stirring in a plastic bowl. We hadn't played that game since, but this morning while in the kitchen cupboard, he remembered and started stirring away! It was so cute. On a side note, I happened to be babysitting David that same morning of Parker's therapy appointment. Each activity that the therapist wanted Parker to do (i.e. take shoes off of a doll, put a puzzle piece back in its spot, etc.), David was more than willing to do. The therapist kept asking Parker to take the doll's shoe off, and David kept looking back and forth from the therapist to Parker and finally he just couldn't take it anymore and he grabbed the shoe off for him. He did this with all the jobs she wanted Parker to do. It was hysterical! David is always helping his cuzzy. The two of them are enamored of each other. I tried to get David down for a nap today with no success: David knew Parker was in the other room and kept crying to "See Parker" and "Parker lay down, too" while Parker was crying and desperately trying to get into David's room to comfort him. They are so sweet together (when they aren't beating each other with toys or pulling hair or licking- yes, licking, it's filth)...I hope they will always be this close.

Arctic Water Table

2009-05-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

Farmer's Market

2009-05-20T15:39:00.001-07:00

Parker's First Time Swimming

2009-05-20T15:35:00.001-07:00

Today is the Day We've Been Waiting For...

2009-05-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

This evening to our utter joy and amazement, Parker took his first steps!

He's going to start running now, I'm sure...

The Crew

2009-05-03T15:18:00.001-07:00

Cousin David, Neighbor Max, and The Man: Parker Randall

Art Class

2009-04-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the March of Dimes Walk for Babies. I have to admit, I'm a little worried about going. Crowds just totally freak me out. But on the good side, it's April, RSV season is over, and we will be outside. Plus, I am a momma bear, and Lord help you if you try to touch my baby!! I've been making team shirts for us today. I purchased navy blue t-shirts, because that was one of the few colors I could find at Old Navy that had a shirt for everyone including Parker. I sketched a stencil that says "24 1/7" for 24 weeks and 1 day. Anyone who has a preemie will know right away what it means. As I was drawing the numbers for the stencil, I could feel my father's presence in my hands. From a very young age, I was allowed to sit at his art table in his office and use all of his art supplies. I was one of the only 5 year olds around who knew what an exacto knife was (not that I was actually allowed to use that until later on). I think this is why it's so important to me that when I teach my after school art class that I have the students always use real artist materials. I love Crayola, too, and it has its place, but real watercolors are no comparison. I sometimes take for granted how lucky I was growing up (you'd think I'd never take anything for granted anymore) that I was exposed to so many creative outlets. Yesterday I painted with my 4th graders and a few of them started painting their desks with water. I was so irritated at first, but then I realized that other than when I give them a brush and paints, they don't paint at home on their own. When I allow them to paint in class, it's so exciting and almost overwhelming that they forget to use the materials appropriately. Mental note: more art projects in class next year. I have a book by Lois Ehlert called, "Hands," and it could have been writen about my mom and dad. Lois explains how her mother taught her about sewing and gardening and her father taught her about building and painting. I love reading it and thinking about my blissful childhood. How many people can say that!?? My mother and father made everything so happy in my life as I was growing up. I was read to all the time, we played outside with neighborhood friends, and my mom was always doing thematic units for my sister and brother and I that included stories, food, and field trips. I so want that experience for Parker. I want him to have the most magical upbringing filled with many beautiful everyday experiences. For his first birthday I took him to the Crocker Art Museum, which will now be his birthday tradition. It's never too early to start a love of art. Granted he slept the whole time, but he was there nonetheless.

Parker has to eat by 6...

2009-04-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Parker is very dependent on his routines. He becomes a little dino if he is not fed at 6pm or earlier!

More Pics

2009-04-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Family Easter Photo 2009

2009-04-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm just beat after all the activity from this past Easter weekend. But we all had a good time visiting with relatives and doing our annual family photo shoot with Auntie Miranda. I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing, uneventful weekend coming up. Parker is sooo close to walking on his own. He's been standing by himself a lot lately (he sits down once he realizes what he's doing!), and he drives me crazy with his constant pushing around of any and all objects that he has the strength to move. He rearranges our furniture on a daily basis now. He is, of course, on strict orders not to walk while Mommy is at work!

Dentist Appointment

2009-04-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

Parker had to go to the dentist again today (he went last Saturday, as well). He developed a cavity in one of his teeth, most likely due to genetics and being born prematurely. What isn't related to being a 24 weeker?! He had to get the decay drilled and sealed, but since he was biting and screaming so much, the filling material didn't adhere correctly. We have to go back again in another week. The whole procedure only took a couple minutes, but Parker was understandably furious. Sean had to hold him...I think our dentist was worried I was going to lose it. I'm not a fan of procedures being done to my baby. Parker recovered by the time we were out in the waiting room making our next appointment. And he was given a stuffed puppy dog which he was quite fond of for the rest of the morning.

The Beginning of Parker's Soccer Career...

2009-04-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

March for Babies

2009-04-02T19:42:00.002-07:00

On April 25, we will be walking for preemies everywhere at the March of Dimes Walk for Babies event. We really wanted to go last year, but it just was not an option with Parker being so little. We are still going to be on high alert this year, of course, but we are planning to walk. Click on the link to the side if you'd like to sponsor Parker or join the "Parker and Olivia" team.

In other news, Parker had a NICU developmental clinic follow up appointment this week. He did very well on all the tests, and he's scoring in the 11-14 month range. We are so proud of you Parker Randall!!

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

2009-04-02T19:42:00.001-07:00

New Developments

2009-03-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week, Parker had an appointment with one of his therapists and she was asking me all these questions about his development. This happens every six months or so and it's not that pleasant. I get asked a thousand questions about what he can do and I mostly have to say no, not yet. (For example, putting a puzzle piece back in the correct spot, waving bye-bye, putting rings back on a dowel, undressing himself, etc.) I was really upset by the end of it. It frustrates me that Parker has to constantly live under a microscope. Babies in general hit milestones at all different ages, even full-termers. Regular mothers are not subjected to this type of scrutiny, and all it does is make me freak out that he's not doing something he should.

Well, Parker is obviously the smartest baby in town, because since the appointment he has been performing like crazy! He now plays peek-a-boo on his own while I am changing his diaper. He grabs his pants or shirt and covers his face (while I say, "Where's Parker??"), then he pulls the cover off and squeals with delight. It's so cute. Then today he started waving bye-bye. Gramma had him practice as I was on my way to work, then he waved bye to her as we headed home. And he's been pulling his shirt and pants off when he's being changed in the morning and at night for bath.

Still no puzzles or rings back on the dowel. But he's not driving yet either! Sheesh.

Busy Day...

2009-03-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

Parker and Olivia's Tree

2009-03-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

Two good friends of mine gave me this olive tree last year for Parker's baptism. It's in honor of Parker's angel twin, Olivia. I cried quite a bit when I first received it, but now just looking at it gives me a sense of connection to her. I'm going to keep taking pictures of Parker in front of it as the years go by, so I can have a record of how they are both growing. Guess we better never move, or we'll just be known as those crazy people who stop by to take pictures of the olive tree every year. I could always have it transplanted, too...

Bananas and Broccoli

2009-03-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

Parker Loves Bailey

2009-03-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Bailey, not so much...

Picture Face

2009-03-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

This is Parker's new "picture face." Every time I have the camera ready, he looks at me and smiles with his eyes half closed and his nose scrunched up. It makes me laugh every time it's so cute.

Parker's new contact arrived today (his perscription recently changed) after waiting for over a month. It's so hard to get contacts for babies. It's a special order, so even the place I get it from has to wait for it to come from somewhere else. It's so frustrating for me (and for Parker I'm sure!). I'm exploring other alternatives to getting contacts more quickly. I have an option right now that would take about 7-10 days, but it will cost me $240. My insurance only pays for a contact once a year of up to $120. After that I have to pay for them completely out of pocket. Try telling your baby to leave that contact in his eye because they are not cheap to replace. I will say, though, that he has gotten so much better about not popping the contact out. And Sean is unbelievable at finding them on the ground! His vision is super-human, I'm not kidding. Online contacts are $144 if you order 2 at time, which is usually the path we go down. Mercy wanted to sell me one for the bargain price of $270, no thanks. But in truth, I don't really care how much it costs. I want my baby to see, so I'll pay whatever the price.

Although March has just started, I'm so excited for it to be April and then May. March is still RSV season and our pediatrician says it's a bad month for flu. We just have to make it through this month, then maybe we can go a few more places again. Until then, we are still on lockdown...except for walking to Starbucks, of course.

Goods Mood Day

2009-03-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Sleeping in last Sunday morning.

Checking out my collection of picture books.

He's getting more and more hair!

Still bald on top though...

Parker has been so happy and giggly all day today. He is back to his old self, no coughing, no steroids, no antibiotics. He has recently dropped his morning nap (why God, why??!), and for the past three days he decided he really didn't need much of an afternoon nap either. Yesterday he took a 20 minute catnap then powered through the rest of the day. Bedtime was horrible, of course. I feel like the less sleep babies get the harder it is for them to finally fall asleep sometimes. Today, however, he was a little angel and slept for 3 and half hours straight. We will see if bedtime tonight goes more smoothly. I used to have this perfect little boy who around 8 or 8:30pm each night would lay down, nurse quietly, then gently drift off to sleep. A few months ago that all changed. Now when the lights go off, he wants to sit back up and jump around. Sean and I have to take turns rocking him and singing to him to try to coax him to sleep. Some nights his Raffi bedtime CD works. Some nights, nothing works and we just have to wait until he wears himself out. Ahhh, toddlers.

Walker Wagon

2009-02-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

Parker is feeling better...still coughing here and there, and I can still here the congestion in his lungs. He's not letting it slow him down, however, as seen in the video. He's walking with a new walker wagon we just got him. He has mastered forward, but not backward or turning. He's had a few tantrums already when he comes to a wall. I am so excited for him to start walking on his own. He really wants to be down and explore when we are outside, but it's not always a good place to let him crawl. Wish we could just take that wagon everywhere we go.

Action Shots

2009-02-25T17:21:00.001-08:00

ER Visit

2009-02-25T09:40:00.001-08:00

Parker's coughing got progressively worse yesterday, and by the time he fell asleep his breathing was labored. We took him to the ER around 9:30pm to get him looked at. Turns out he not only has some yucky virus, but he also has two ear infections!! The wait to be seen last night was about 3-4 hours, but since we said the magic words ("Parker is a former 24-weeker") we were seen right away. I also talked to our amazing pediatrician most of the night during our ordeal, and Parker is now on several medications to help clear up all the issues. When we finally got home, he was passed out. Sean and I watched him sleep until 12:30, and since his breathing started to sound better we tried to get some sleep. I "slept" in my clothes, however, just in case I needed to get back up to go back to the hospital. He was much more peaceful from about 4am on, and he's playing happily now. I'm holding my breath.

Cousins Share Everything

2009-02-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought Parker was finally getting well, he ran a fever all night on Friday and throughout the day. He also began coughing. Over the weekend the coughing has progressed, and he's got the sniffles. Cousin David has had a cold so that's where I'm sure it came from. Parker also, unfortunately, passed his flu bug (which turned out not to be Rotavirus, by the way) onto Auntie Miranda and our neighbors. Sorry Mullany family!! Parker and David are so lovey with each other it's nearly impossible to keep them apart. They follow each other everywhere and want to lick all of their toys together. The above pictures of the two of them are from a few weeks ago.

p.s. Today is the 14th day that Parker has been sick. I'm going insane.

Valentine Outfit

2009-02-19T17:40:00.001-08:00

" I may be bald, but I sure look good doing it." -Parker

No Throw-Up Today!

2009-02-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

Parker woke up smiling for the first time in 8 days today. He is finally getting back to feeling like himself again. Last night, we started him on Probiotics from the Co-Op, based on our pediatrician's recommendation. It comes in a powder form, and I mixed it with yogurt. He took it without protest and it seemed to help today. He also ate really well this afternoon, so I think his appetite is also finally returning.

In other news, I bought Parker a new pair of shoes today. Although I adore Robeez, he has been slipping on our hardwood floors when he's wearing them. So the shoes I got him today have a nice rubber sole for some traction. He has been starting to push one of our end tables around the house and "walk" along with it. Too cute!

Rotavirus

2009-02-17T15:52:00.000-08:00

Parker is napping at the moment in his Ergo, so I thought I'd take a moment to start a blog about him. I've recently been reading many blogs written by other moms and dads of micro preemies. Parker is our miracle baby. He was born last year, October 12, 2007 at 24 weeks and one day. He is a surviving twin and a survivor in every sense of the word. We spent 108 days in the NICU, and other than that Parker has been quite healthy. Last week, my husband got a nasty stomach virus, which was then passed to me a few days later. Parker got the virus last and with a vengeance. He's thrown up every day for the past 8 days. I've lost count of the number of loads of laundry I've done and the amount of times I've had to change our sheets. It's been painful to watch my baby so miserable. I have to wait at least an hour after he vomits to begin nursing him again...this makes Parker absolutely irate! He is an on-demand nurser and not at all used to being denied his milk. Yesterday and today he has only thrown up once in the morning, so hopefully he's on the mend. We'll see.