Our.Son.Kai

What the...

2012-01-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

I came into the living room this morning and this is what I found:

I guess this is the best way to watch Pingu?

The Portland Children's Museum

2012-01-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

This picture is from a while ago. Kai has a "thing" for hats and sunglasses. It's cute to find him trying on his dad's hats. He and I have "hat days" when we both wear our hats. We're cool like that.

This morning the sun peaked out from behind the clouds for a few minutes and when it did, I dropped what I was doing and announced we were GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE.

The A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village is one of our favorite places to go in Salem, but since we're closer to Portland now we decided to visit the Portland Children's Museum instead.

First stop: Water

The not-so-popular plastic smock-dress.

All three of them could've played there for HOURS but eventually we moved on.

The Digging Pit was Kai's favorite. What you're looking at are chunks of...something. Knowing (and loving) Portland the way I do, it's probably recycled tires or shoe soles or plastic milk jugs or something. It was soft and surprisingly springy to walk on.

What these pictures don't show are the 50 other kids all around us, stealing shovels, yelling, digging, flinging the whatever-it-is all over the place. It was very loud and chaotic and there was Kai, in the middle of it all, digging and flinging with the rest of them.

The Pet Hospital

Kai could not have been more disinterested in the pet hospital but his sisters loved it! Above is Hailey (5 yrs old), caring for a sick kitty.

Aaaand back to the water. I tell ya, this kid loooves water.

Art is often overlooked at places like this. It's so frenzied and loud and busy. I passed this mosaic at least three times before I actually saw it.

It's so beautiful and detailed up close.

Kai's steering, Hailey's lowering the flag and Ashleigh's watching for enemies.

Can't. Leave. The. Water.

"Noooo! No home!"

We did way more cool stuff than I could photograph. Overall it was fun but it was so busy and Kai was pretty intimidated by all the hustle and bustle. And who can blame him? Next time we go, we'll do it on a weekday when fewer people are there.

And on the way home, all four of my loves fell asleep.

Adventure: Successful.

2012-01-20T22:18:00.000-08:00

"I backyooming! Neee-ow-woooh. Beep-beep! Ee-yow-wow!"

At the pool.

I told him to smile. This was his reaction:

Like a boss:

Gingerbread "Hut" with Hailey's kindergarten class:

Mater shops at Michael's!

Christmas Eve is not complete without the live nativity!

Christmas morning was fun.

Cars all over his shirt

2012-01-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

Kids (bless their little tactless hearts) are not quiet or discreet. When they "whisper" their mothers, "Mom! Look at that boy. He's soo little...and fat!" or, "What's wrong with that boy, Mom?" They don't realize that I can hear them. And someday Kai will notice, too. I just hope he's as amused by it as I am.

And the moms. Bless their little trying-so-hard-to-not-show-embarrassment-while-also-trying-to-find-the-most-politically-correct-way-to-explain-to-their-children-about-physical-differences hearts. I feel sorry for them. They know I can hear their child. They got so flustered and try so hard to shush the commenting. Sometimes I try to catch the mom's eye and smile reassuringly. Sometimes I'll take Kai over to meet the boy or girl. Sometimes I smile to myself and pretend not to have heard.

Yesterday a little boy and his mom were leaving the library as we were entering. The boy, after passing us, said loudly to his mom, "Mom! Did you see that boy?" ...and I took a breath. I was sure about what was coming next. But I was wrong. "He had cars all over his shirt*!" It was a refreshing thing to hear.

*Scroll down. It's the gaudy yellow one that matches his best friend Shad's. It was supposed to only be a pajama shirt but he loves it so much...

Holiday Fun

2012-01-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

During the 2011 Holiday season, Mr. Kai stayed busy...

frosting sugar cookies

Eating candy canes and then napping in front of the TV

and traveling to Seattle (for your well-being this event was not photographed)

and dressing up as a shepherd (which only lasted a few seconds)

And opening his ONE gift on Christmas Eve (pajamas).

Christmas morning!

Santa filled Kai's stocking with all kinds of fun Cars gear as well as candy, candy, candy.

He got lots of fun gifts but his favorite was from Auntie Carrie--a car keeper and racetrack (between Kai and me in the picture).

We celebrated New Year's in Salem. Kai stayed awake long enough to ring in the new year (we payed for that the next day when he was cra-anky!).

My Son Kai

2011-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

This boy brings such delight into my life. He is my companion during the day when John's at work and the girls are at school. He's my snuggle-bug at bedtime when he tries to convince me he's not tired. He is such a sweet, intelligent, confident child. He is such a joy. And to top it all off, he's a total mama's boy. :)

Videos!

2011-11-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

Soccer with Dad (Can't view it? See it here on youtube)

Puddles are Fun (or view here on youtube)

Use Your Head (or see it here on youtube)

I Fuh-woggy (I Froggy) (You can also see it here on youtube)

Costume Reveal

2011-10-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Those of you who are faithful Kai-blog followers know how BIG Halloween is to me. Ever since Kai's first awesome costume, I've taken each following year as a personal challenge to outdo the previous years' costume.

Let's review.

Year 1: Nacho

Year 2: Gingerbread Man

Year 3: Cub Scout (by FAR my favorite costume to date)

This year, however, we've recently moved and for some reason which I cannot now recall, I left my sewing machine in storage 250 miles away. I soon discovered that my entire imagination and my sewing machine are intertwined. I cannot have one without the other; without my trusty Singer I was seriously craft-crippled.

And so it was decided that Kai would be a vampire. Lame.

BUT THEN!

I realized that in his white shirt, black pants, red cape and red cummerbund, Kai had all the makings of something else...something with a serious amount of awesomeness. He just needed a little make-up....

And so, without further ado, I present to you: Kai, as

The Phantom of the Opera!

BIRTHDAY NUMBER 3

2011-10-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Happy third birthday, Kai!

You are my favorite son. ever.

Costume Ideas

2011-09-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

I need ideas for Kai's Halloween costume.

In 2008 he was Nacho Libre

In 2009 he was a gingerbread man

and last year he was a cub scout.

This year I have no ideas. Pirate? Prince Charming? Robot?

Questions

2011-09-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Kai (wandering in to my room where I'm laying on my bed, watching TV): Mom. I got questions. I got questions for you. I need ask you questions. (He sits down on the floor next to the bed and stares up at me with huge eyes.)

Me (thinking how adorable is this??): You got questions for me? OK. I'm ready.

Kai (pause): I get on bed?

bwahahahahaha! What a funny kid.

"What happened, Johnny?"

2011-09-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Two and three-year old children are so funny and quirky. Kai is no exception. Right now he's obsessed with calling John and I by our first names. He even goes out of his way to say things to us so that he can use our names.

Example. I overheard this conversation a few minutes ago as John was changing Kai's dirty diaper.

John: C'mon. Let's change your diaper.
Kai: You change me, John?
John: Yes.
Kai: OK, John.
Normal diaper changing noises occur and then--
John: Aargh! Yuck.
Kai: What happened, Johnny?
John: Let's just say (muffled...I couldn't tell what he said next, but very clearly I heard--)
Kai: OK, John.

Corn on the Cob

2011-09-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Parenting, Illustrated with Rudimentary Renderings

2011-08-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

I just discovered this blog and I love it. Parenting is such a smelly, funny, poignant and messy adventure. I love the way Amber portrays it. So, in honor of the Crappy Pictures blog, I present:

Parenting, Illustrated with Rudimentary Renderings:

Post Number One:
If My Children Were Shapes

Let me explain. Anyone who has breastfed a baby knows that there is a significant amount of time spent ~~awake~~ sitting in the dark in a not-entirely-lucid-but-definitely-not-asleep haze* while a tiny human is attached to you, contentedly dozing and eating at the same time (oh the luxury!). It is during this time that you a) revisit the day's events, often embellishing them in your favor, b) make life-altering decisions and set stiff personal goals, or c) decide what shapes best represent your children.

Kai, at the time, was undoubtedly a circle. What a chub! Hailey, my then-three-year-old was obviously a rectangle. Athletic and strong, she had (and still has) the makings of a fantastic gymnast. And then there's Ashleigh, the stick. All legs and arms, that one.

In my sleep-deprived delirium that night, I thought I'd struck on something genius. I remember proudly telling some member of my family (one of my childless sisters) who was not that impressed. After telling her I just felt dumb.

Fast forward twelve hours, when, once again experiencing midnight nursing dimentia, I re-invent her as a shape: A plump pear.

*Amber has a story for that, too!

What I Love About Two-Year Olds

2011-08-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

I took my hanging baskets down to water them. Kai wandered out onto the porch and picked some flowers...which he promptly tucked behind his ears...

...while he did a little repair work on his keyboard with his "too-uh".

And when it was adequately repaired, he played and sang a lovely original composition, which, had he given it a title, I'm pretty sure would've been Ahhhhh-ooohhhh-ahhhh'

2011-08-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

Fast asleep... legs in the air.

The back stairs are right off the laundry room. I folded these blankets and stacked them at the bottom of the stairs, intending to take them the next time I went upstairs. In the meantime Kai found them and made a "snest" (nest). He lay there for a long time, watching the leaves on the trees.

This is our humble little garden. Three (surviving) corn plants, two tomato plants, two bean plants, two pepper plants and a zucchini plant.

I pulled weeds, he dug holes. It was perfect.

My funny little gardener. What a sweet, delightful boy!

Animal Tracks

2011-08-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Identify the animal that made these tracks:

A. Bear B. Kai's wet, diapered bum C. Deer

Wearing only his diaper, Kai "helped me with the dishes this morning. When we were done I put him down and he scooted off, leaving the above-pictured trail of water behind him. :)

Busy and Fun!

2011-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Two words that describe our summer. Kai can now walk independently, which is a huge accomplishment for him. I took a few videos with my phone but apparently I film sideways and for some reason there's no sound... (this video is when he was first learning. He's much more steady now--a few weeks later)

Here are some pictures from our many adventures!

OK, this one's not a summer picture. Ashleigh (my 7-year old) had a poetry recital at school In May. Kai got tired of sitting through the Haikus and Acrostics. He wanted gum and I told him no.....

BBQ at Quince Park--Even though my sunglasses are upside down, he wears them well! :)

Hillbilly teeth. Thanks, Hon, for bringing those home.

This was taken at Centennial Park here in Redmond--THE place to be this summer. It's a public fountain park. Kai LOVES it. You can't see it well in the picture, but there is a stream of water shooting out of the ground, hitting Kai in the bum.

Scout Lake. Non-motorized lake (it's really more of a pond) outside Sisters. Kai sat there for hours playing in the sand-gravel with his truck.

Going to church, fully equipped with a back pack full of cars.

This boy melts my heart.

Sittin' on the porch, eating suckers. This was in Orem, Utah.

Shopping at Costco with bestie Shad.

Shopping at Target with bestie Shad.

Matchy-matchy with bestie Shad, who loves McQueen and Mater as much as Kai does!

"Where's your smile?" We had so much fun in Utah. I got to hang with my bestie, Katie, and our boys, Kai and Shad played so well together. It was heartwarming to watch them interact with each other. Katie and I have been friends since we were our boys' ages.

Nothing beats a DQ ice cream cone!

We've also gone to the zoo, gotten new boots at Shriners (Kai walked his old boots to death!), planted a garden, and gotten tan, tan, tan!

More adventures are in the works! Stay tuned.

Music in the Canyon

2011-06-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Kai and I have been having so much fun so far this summer. We pretty much live at the splash park. Tonight was the inaugural Music in the Canyon concert, the first in a series of free concerts throughout the summer.

Meet Rebecca. We didn't know her before the concert. She was sitting in front of us with her friends, listening to the music and minding her own business...until Kai introduced himself and wiggled his way onto her long board. She was such a good sport and politely allowed Kai to hang around. I watched her interact with Kai, looking for the signs that he was becoming bothersome (her ignoring him, her looking around with the "let's find your mom" face, etc.). But they never came. She was such a sweetheart to him.

I took this photo with my phone so it's not high quality AT ALL (sorry, Rebecca, my intentions were good! I wanted to showcase your loveliness...) Before she left for the evening, she graciously allowed me to take her picture. Kai kept lifting up his shirt; I'm sure he was trying to impress her with his muscular belly...lol.

The music was good, the company was good (we went with my friend, Kate, and her three girls--always a treat to spend time with them!!)--what a great evening. Kai and I love summer!

2011-05-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

I just found this video on youtube and thought I'd share. It's short (and an advertisement) but it's still worthwhile.

our entire roadtrip summed up in 100 words and 3 pictures

2011-05-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

We loooove our family. Good food, lots of laughing, hugging, talking, card playing, more laughing--what's not to love?

We got together last week to celebrate my baby brother Christian's graduation from high school. The kids and I drove 650 miles (well, mostly I drove) to get to my parents' house in tiny Driggs, Idaho.

And that's when the fun began. Unfortunately for you, this is the extent of my photographic proof of our good time:

Kai sportin' Christian's glasses.

Kai, waiting to hug his favorite Auntie Aubry.

As my mom so aptly said it, "This is TRUE rapture!"

The Boy and His Helmet

2011-05-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Kai loves his "Hemmitt". He used to love his bike, too, but for some reason has completely lost interest in it. I had to bribe him with chocolate chips to get him to stay on the bike long enough for me to snap a few photos.

Me: Kai, smile!

Kai:

Do you see the chocolate chips?

Is a smile too much to ask for?

2011-05-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

I guess so. What a ham. LOVE this kid...and his dad, of course!

Just a Few Pictures I've Taken Recently

2011-04-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

First Steps

2011-04-06T14:37:00.001-07:00

Today Kai took his first unaided steps!

Harassment

2011-03-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

Melissa Swartley brought to my attention the following by sharing an experience that happened to her and her daughter.

Little People Harassment on ABC's What Would You Do?

This has never happened to us, but it pains my heart to think that it could; and not just that it could happen, but that I'm not always going to be there to intercede on Kai's behalf. There are some battles Kai will have to fight on his own. While he is young of course I will protect him but someday he'll have to go to school. Someday he'll be grown and move away. And it makes me sad to think that the world won't cherish his life and humanity as readily as I do.

Coughing

2011-01-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

The girls got sick over Christmas break and now Kai is sick, too. He's been coughing for the past few nights and every time he coughs it scares me. Last winter was so scary; I am terrified it will happen again.

"Mom. Watch."

2010-12-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Kai's new favorite thing is jumping.

My apologies for the bright light in the background. I tried re-shooting this video later that evening with the light off but Kai wouldn't jump anymore.

New Project

2010-12-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

A memoir of my life as Kai's mom.

New Friends

2010-12-10T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I googled Diastrophic Dysplasia and found, among other things, this blog:

Holding onto Hope

Yay for new friends!

Today Kai had a physical therapy appointment at Shriners. He is learning how to use a power wheel chair. It's funny to watch him "drive" because he doesn't understand that you have to push the lever forward and hold it there in order to go forward. Steering is also pretty foreign. I can tell that he knows where he wants to go, he just doesn't know how to translate that into "push the lever forward. Push the lever to the right...weeeeee!" So we did a lot of circles, a lot of backing up and a lot of horn beeping (there is a button that makes a sound similar to what you hear when large vehicles back up, only a little more obnoxious).

I am so proud of my boy; so proud of the progress he's making, so proud of his patience and tolerance, and so stinking proud of how impossibly cute he is ALL THE TIME.

Pastiche

2010-12-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

If you haven't visited Hyperbole and a Half, you are missing out on some seriously funny material. In honor of Allie Brosh, the blog's author, I bring you a peek into a typical day with Kai:

Pre-Haircut, Pre-Halloween pictures

2010-11-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

This kid makes the funniest faces!

Here he is sitting in my sewing machine box. It was the perfectly sized "boat" for him.

Most days he spends a significant amount of time on his "Turn" (aka bike). He shoves his man mimi in between the handlebars and trots off as fast as he can. He still has trouble turning (which is why he calls it his "Turn"--I frequently remind him to "Turn-turn-turn-turn!" Yesterday, in fact, he called to me that he was stuck. I followed the sound of his voice into the living room but I couldn't see him. Eventually I did find him; he had ridden his bike under the sofa end table and was stuck on his bike between it and the wall. It was so cute and funny.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

After much deliberation

2010-10-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

We set the bar pretty high with Kai's first Halloween costume. Last year he was edibly adorabl e. This year (drumroll, please) Kai is going to be a Cub Scout!

This all came about to my twelve-year-old friend Hannah. See, I volunteer each week as a Cub Scout Den Leader and also as a youth leader of the 12-18 year old girls with our church's youth program. Last night I taught the twelve-year olds how to make bread. Hannah and I were talking about Halloween and it came up that I still wasn't sure what Kai would be. She suggested he be a Scout and it just clicked. I am so excited to create this costume for him--it's going to be perfect (and adorable, of course).

Thank you, Hannah!

Feat of Feet!!

2010-10-16T16:18:00.001-07:00

The Boy is a walking ma-CHINE! We got a walker yesterday at Shriners and he LOVES it!

Hope and Peace

2010-10-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

A facebook friend of mine brought this blog to my attention. I spent the last hour reading through it and, having been very touched, would like to share it:

http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/

Tragic circumstance but inspiring message.

Imprisoned Trains and Inviting Staircases

2010-10-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

A note about the video: I took this video using my laptop's webcam. When I move the monitor it makes a really loud and obnoxious creaking sound. Just FYI.

Kai got a train set for his birthday. He calls it his "choo choos" and is obsessed with it. He wakes up in the middle of the night calling, "Mom! Mom! Choo choos? Mom! Choo choos?" His sisters also love it and since they tend to abscond with and monopolize his toys, the beloved train set is not allowed to leave Kai's room.

On his second birthday last week, Kai climbed the whole staircase for the very first time. He was at the top before I discovered what he was doing (which was probably for the best because I'd have had an aneurysm if I'd seen him mid-staircase). Now he climbs the stairs every chance he gets. Thank heaven for baby gates.

2010-10-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

TWO YEARS OLD!

2010-10-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today marks the day when, two years ago, our son Kai was born. He weighed 5 lbs 3 oz, measured 15 inches long and had a head full of dark hair offset by big, blue eyes. Today he is 22 lbs, 25 inches tall. He is the funniest little kid I've ever met and we just adore him. He climbs all over every thing and every one and talks all day long. He loves to get into my purse and eat my gum, he enjoys scaring me to death by climbing the stairs and window ledges, and he thinks it's hilarious to wander down the driveway to the street.

Today, however, the only thing on his mind is his new train set, which he calls "choochoos".

To be continued...

Since I'm such a slacker these days, I'll let my cousin Aubry blog for me:

2010-09-24T19:50:00.001-07:00

http://justlikemarypoppins.blogspot.com/2010/09/kai-man.html

2010-09-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Summer's over. It started raining last week, so, true to my word, we're back. We've had a busy, fun summer! Updates will be coming (along with pictures and maybe a video or two!).

Summertime

2010-08-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

I love summer. Kai loves summer. We're going outside to play.

See ya!

P.S. We'll be back when it turns cold out and starts raining.

Broken Camera+Adorable Boy= Memories Lost

2010-07-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

I just caught Kai climbing the stairs. Climbing the stairs! That is both terrifying and triumphant!!

2010-06-29T23:22:00.000-07:00

Today we picked strawberries. Or rather, I picked, Kai ate. It was FUN! ...Now I'm just waiting for the diarrhea to start (Kai's, not mine). Proportionate to his body size, that kid ate WAY too many strawberries for his digestive tract.

2010-06-12T20:39:00.001-07:00

The day we tortured The Boy

2010-06-11T17:30:00.001-07:00

Kai has pretty much the best physical therapist who ever walked the planet. She is FANTASTIC (you know you are, Eileen) and we adore her. She made arrangements for Kai to try out this power chair. Kai was thrilled! He loved it. See? .

Eventually we got him into the chair and, after about 20 minutes, he finally realized what that chair could do. I took lots of video with my phone but I'm at a loss as far as how to transfer it to a format that will allow me to post it here. I'm trying, though, I promise!

Kai's driving theory is based on (and much resembles) the flight pattern of a bumblebee, which is to say, he zigs and then zags, lurches forward, then spins around, meanders to the left, then angles to the right. I think the only direction he didn't go was straight forward.

Conversations with Kai

2010-06-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Following is a typical conversation I have with Kai every day around bedtime:

Me: Kai, let's go night-night.
Kai: No!
Me: Well, then, do you want a snack?
Kai: No!
Me: Do you want your juicey? (sippy cup)
Kai: Joosh. Joosh.
Me: Here's your juice. Where's your man-mimi? OK. Now are you ready to go night-night?
Kai: No!

We also often have this conversation:
Me: Kai, can you say, 'dada'?
Kai: No!
Me: Can you say, 'mama'?
Kai: No!
Me: Can you say, 'Ashy'? (big sister's name is Ashleigh)
Kai: No!
Me: Can you say, 'onomatopoeia'?
Kai: Eeeee.
Me: Can you say, 'Kai'?
Kai: No!

And this one is also classic:
Me: mooo
Kai: ooooo
Me: quack, quack, quack
Kai: wa, WA, WA (it gets progressively louder)
Me: arf! arf!
Kai: rar-rar-rar-rar
Me: (shrill horse whinnying noise)
Kai: Eeeeeeeeee! (incredibly shrill)
Me: Meow
Kai: ow

He does say mama, dada, and ash...but we've exploited that so much that he pretty much refuses to do it on demand. Other words he knows: ball, owie, amen, thank you, juice, hi, hello, ta ta (as in 'goodbye'), ta-da, and all done.

2010-05-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a boy just needs a quiet place (in this case, under the computer desk) to talk on the phone. Note the crossed feet. He does this all the time and it's so cute!

Pulling himself to a stand--this is new! He pulls himself to a stand with or without the boots on. This window ledge is perfect! The bottom stair is also popular--especially when sister is at the top calling to him to come up...

He's so little; it's precious to see him standing up. He's barely two feet tall (when they're born, most babies are about 20 inches and, within months measure over two feet in length). This is a huge accomplishment for him. Summer is coming and I'd love for him to be able to wander around outside. Scooting on his bum is great for indoor play, but outside it is completely useless.

Man Mimi

2010-05-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Before Kai, before John, there was me. And Ashleigh. And Hailey. And we were incredibly girly. When John joined up with us it became glaringly apparent just how girly we were. And now, three years later, we've acclimated John and Kai into it nicely.

For example:

For the girls and me, they're panties. For John and Kai, they're man-panties.

Nobody in our home "takes a wiz" or "pees". We all politely go potty.

The girls have their Mimis. Kai has his Man-mimi (or Manmi, as we sometimes abbreviate it). (Note: Mimi=blanket. It began when, at nine months old, Ashleigh dubbed her blanket "Mimi")

In fact, for anything feminine that needs to be masculinized, we usually just add "man" in front of it. Man-tutu. Man-crown. Man-doll (more commonly called 'action figure') Man-jewelry. Man-party. Man-camp.

But man-panties is my favorite. Every time I say it the girls and I can't help but giggle inside.

It's a Wonderful Life

2010-05-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

All over the house there are special little places that fit only me.

Bottom shelf of the pantry, for example.

I get treats.

My sisters swing with me.

"Man Mimi" and I fit in my new toy box.

I can be reverent for family prayer.

Roadtrip

2010-03-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Kai and I are heading to Utah next week. We will be driving (from Salem to Provo will take us about 14 hours). We are road warriors, that's for sure. We have family and friends in the area that we'll be visiting.

We're looking forward to meeing Grant Stone and Val Dean Dalling while we're there! If there is anyone else close by that would like to get together, let me know and we'll arrange something. I'll be in the Provo/Orem area Sunday March 21 through the 25th.

Sick Days

2010-03-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

"Put down the camera and hold me, Mom!"

"Hmm...what should I order for lunch?"

"Look at me all comfy and nestled into the big-kid bed!"

One of the first days we were in the hospital. Kai was pretty sleepy and out-of-it.

Eatin' peaches.

One of the last days in the hospital. He was a much happier kid toward the end of our stay.

Bal-looooon!

Bath: check. Perfect post-bath coif: check.

2010-03-14T18:52:00.001-07:00

Kai was discharged from the hospital on the 10th. He was in the hospital a total of 10 days! Poor kid. I have pictures on my camera...which is still in the trunk along with his "get well" balloons and sundry blankets, toys, stroller and at least one sour sippy cup...

We're still doing breathing treatments (nebulizer with albuterol) every 4-6 hours, to keep his airways open. He's hardly coughing anymore. He only lost about 1/2 pound, but John and I think he looks thinner in his cheeks.

Thank you so much for all the well-wishes and prayers. We are so grateful to have so many good friends!!

Kai is in the hospital

2010-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Kai has bronchiolitis (which is different from bronchitis). He's been sick since Saturday, and in the hospital since Tuesday. Because of the inflammation and mucous build-up AND because his lung capacity is smaller than average, he's having difficulty keeping his oxygen levels up on his own. He's stuck in the hospital until his oxygen levels improve. He'll most likely be in the hospital at least one more day, possibly longer.

A Woman's Week at the Gym

2010-02-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

My aunt emailed this to me and I thought it was SO FUNNY I had to share:

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Butthole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that demon Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Update on Kai

2010-02-09T09:05:00.001-08:00

Turns out Kai didn't have bronchiolitis; he had developed pneumonia! He's doing better now and due to the inhaler and a big shot of antibiotics he was able to stay out of the hospital. His fever is gone, he can breathe more easily, he coughs less and less every day and he seems generally stronger. What a fighter!

Thank you everyone for your well-wishes and prayers on his behalf!

Today we have an appointment up at Shriners; Kai will be getting his new AFOs. He's well enough now that I think it'd be OK to take him. Pictures soon!

Bronchiolitis

2010-02-05T22:49:00.001-08:00

Kai has been sick for almost a week. It started on Sunday with a fever, then the coughing started, and every day the cough got worse and the fever didn't go away. Yesterday I took Kai in to see his pediatrician who listened to his lungs then ordered up an x-ray. She said she thought he had bronchiolitis, but wanted Kai to have an x-ray to rule out pneumonia. The x-rays came back clear so she wrote a prescription for albuterol and sent us home with instructions to come back today. We did.
Today he's not much better than he was yesterday. He still has a fever but it's not as high as it has been. His breathing is still raspy and labored. The pediatrician explained that she was considering admitting Kai to the hospital based on three criteria: 1. Oxygen levels (Kai's were good) 2. Hydration (Kai has NO appetite and is barely drinking anything) and 3. Difficulty breathing (Kai was struggling with this one too). Since two of the three were borderline, she decided not to admit him, but that I should bring him back in tomorrow for another follow-up.

Right now he's sleeping but every so often he wakes up to cough. He's been laying on the carpte like this all week. He just doesn't have the energy to scoot around.

He fell asleep on the carpet and I couldn't resist getting a picture of his cute little feet.

Bless his heart! I feel so bad for him. Hopefully his health will continue to improve. The doctor also said that this might be the beginnings of asthma. I hope not! He detests his inhaler.

2010-02-05T22:31:00.000-08:00

What a mess of cords! There's the Wii, John's Xbox 360, surround sound and five speakers, DVD player, and Dish receiver. I HATE this corner of our living room. We got a big screen TV that doesn't fit in our entertainment center. So until we get a new entertainment center, the TV is simply sitting on our entry-way table in the corner of our living room. Kai LOVES this corner of the living room for exactly the reason that I hate it: the cords. ...and Daddy's controller.

I am the Den Mother to five Cub Scouts (Wolf pack--8 year olds). We recently learned about recycling and for our activity we made "Re-bots" (Recycle+Robots). This was the one I made to show as an example.

OK, it's more like a monster than a robot, but re-bot sounds much better than any combination of recycle and monster that I could think of: re-ster? moncycle? recy-ster?

Welcome!

2010-01-26T21:48:00.000-08:00

Meet Guilherme. Born in Brazil on November 28, 2009, just over 7 lbs, and 16 inches long. What a handsome boy!

Casts on his legs; reminds me so much of Kai when he was a newborn.

Proud parents Cassiano and Andreia

Welcome, Cassiano, Andreia and little Guilherme! I am so glad you found our little blogging community!

See Guilherme's blog here

2010-01-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

Kai stole my apple and wouldn't let go of it.

Apples are his new favorite snack/toy/weapon.

He's not such a fan of the skin, however. He spits it out

(that's a shred of apple peel on his bottom lip)

In other news, Kai's MRI results were positive and he will not be having surgery of any kind in the foreseeable future, neither on his feet nor his spine. At our last Shriners visit, Dr. Sussman explained that he'd been in contact with Finnish specialists (in Finland, the prevalence of DD is much higher than here in the US. These doctors, therefore, are much more experienced at treating DD kids' orthopedic and spinal issues). These doctors explained that no matter how bad their spinal issues, neck surgery seemed to always make matters worse. As for feet, DD kids don't have average club-feet; after a tenotomy (which releases the tension and elongates the achilles tendon allowing for increased plantar mobility), the feet tend to regress back to their clubbed position with 6 months to a year. In essence, it doesn't really help.

So! Kai was fitted for a new pair of AFOs (Ankle-Foot Orthotics) that will be ready February 9. In these AFOs Kai will be able to stand. They will be built up on the bottom to compensate for his feet; the bottoms of the AFOs will stand flat on the floor.

Recent Pics

2010-01-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

I don't know what this face was but it was so darn cute. I snapped it as soon as I saw it, which is why the angle isn't the greatest. What a funny boy.

Kai's "watching post" where he waits and watches to see if Daddy is home yet.

Sometimes he'll take little toys and play with them on the window ledge. It's so cute.

Christmas, Between the Couch and the Wall, and Big Belly (not necessarily in that order)

2010-01-07T23:01:00.000-08:00

At my parents' house in Idaho; wanting to go down the stairs.

Hangin' out with Dad on Christmas Day. I can't remember why he was naked at the time, but he sure is cute. He loves rubbing his belly.

Presents!

There's a floor vent beneath the wall where our loveseat is positioned so, to keep from blocking it, the loveseat sits about ten inches away from the wall. Apparently that's just enough space for a curious little boy to get into...

...but not out of. He got stuck and "called" for help.

2010-01-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Phew! The holidays have been busy. We drove 14 hours to my parents' house in Idaho for Christmas (a long journey, undoubtedly, but well worth it). We came home for three days then went up to Seattle to spend New Year's with more family.

Kai has mastered a few signs. He can sign "more" and "all done". Next we'll work on "please", "thank you" and "sorry".

Pictures coming soon!

2009-12-14T14:42:00.000-08:00

This is what my handsome little man looks like today. When I stop and think about it, it seems unbelievable that so much time has gone by so quickly. Last night at midnight Kai woke up STARVING so we both had a PB&J snack. There were only three slices of bread left and being the selfish mom that I am, I made Kai's out of the heel so I could have the soft slices. I slapped jam on one side, slathered peanut butter on the other, and folded it in half, crust side out. Kai loved it--he thought it was a pretty cool book. He opened and closed and opened and closed it, book style. Before long he realized that his new book was edible, but only from the inside. I watched him press the whole thing to his face so he could bite the jam chunks off. This, of course, left a bread-sized imprint of peanut butter on his cheeks and forehead but it was so much fun to watch. The little bite marks out of the bread were just precious.

MRI

2009-12-04T07:26:00.001-08:00

Today is Kai's MRI. I'm sure everything will go just fine; there's a pediatric anesthesia team, which is comforting to know. Since they have to put him under general anesthesia it's good to know that specialists will be in charge of doing it.

His last solid food was this morning at 7. He can have clear liquids until 10. We have to be there at 12 noon, his sedation is at 1 and the MRI begins at 1:30. That is a long time for my little guy to go without food!

Stunned

2009-11-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

Today's mail*

*click to enlargeMODs: What have been your experiences with insurance and your LP child?

This letter only just came today and right now I'm feeling definitely taken aback, confused and frankly, unjustly discriminated against. If Kai were terminally ill I could understand being turned down. But he's not! He is as healthy as and has the same life expectancy as an average height child his same age. In fact, I would venture to posit that Kai is, in many ways, more healthy than an average height child his same age.

I'm going to get to the bottom of this.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

So much fun. Kai was the cutest little gingerbread man.

Big sister Ashleigh was a bride.

John was an army guy, I was a gypsie, and Hailey was a witch. We didn't plan for John to stand in front of the plant with his camo-painted face. He blends in pretty well, doesn't he?

This is Kai's favorite girl, Britanie.

Calling Cards

2009-10-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

When we're out and about we often meet people who are enchanted with Kai. And now, thanks to these new "business" cards I just ordered, I can direct them to his blog more prettily than scribbling it on whatever scrap of paper or receipt was handy.

"Run, run, run as fast as you can..."

2009-10-29T09:38:00.001-07:00

Costume

2009-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

I sewed Kai's Halloween costume last night.

Pictures to come (my camera battery is charging).

Any guesses on what it is??

Hint: It's something yummy.

Back to the Usual

2009-10-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

The spots went away after a few days. They started on his face, spread to his abdomen and from there moved out to his arms and legs. Then they disappeared.

We had a visit with the neurosurgeon up at Shriners. They showed me the x-rays of Kai's spine. There is abnormal curvature at its cervical and sacral parts. At the back of his neck his spine curves forward; instead of the vertabrae stacking on top of each other, they are slanted, somewhat like stairs. The major concern right now is spinal cord compression. Kai needs to have an MRI to determine if there is any immediate danger to his spinal cord. Assuming all goes well witht he MRI, he will only need a follow-up visit in about 5 months. They didn't tell us "worst case scenario"; they didn't have to. Worst case scenario is spinal surgery.

The MRI will be scheduled for sometime in the next 6 weeks. It will be done up at OHSU in Portland where they have a dedicated Pediatric Anesthesia team. Kai will have to be put under general anesthesia for the MRI, which is a danger in itself. C'est la vie.

*click photos to enlarge

2009-10-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Kai is currently covered in spots. I'm relatively certain he's having a rare reaction to the chicken pox vaccine he got on the 5th (I have a half-memory of Kai's pediatrician telling me that he could break out in a rash up to two weeks after the shot). In the photos he's got Cortison cream slathered all over him (it didn't help).
(and yes, I am aware that one of my hairs is stuck in the lotion on his cheek. Gross, I know. I can't always be perfect.)

As bad as his little tummy looks, his back is even worse!

He has no fever or other signs of infection. But this begs an important question: are the doses of vaccine standardized and therefore too high for him? He's barely longer than an average newborn and 97% of his peers weigh more than him...I suppose I should ask his pediatrician, but in the meantime, MODs (Mothers of Dwarfs): What have your experiences been with vaccines/vaccine reactions in your LP kids?

A Visit to the Roloff Farm Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Matt Roloff (who we all know and love from TLC's Little People Big World, and who has Diastrophic Dysplasia, just like Kai) and his family live less than an hour away from us. John and I have wanted to meet the Roloffs for more than a year; since we found out about Kai's dwarfism. We had plans to go to their pumpkin patch last year but didn't make it because Kai was (surprise!) born four weeks early.
We finally made it there on Saturday. We had a FANTASTIC time! It was well worth the trip. We got to meet Amy as well as Matt's parents Ron and Peggy (who were delighted to meet Kai, who, they said reminded them of Matt when he was a baby).
We took a tour of the farm and the infamous western town. We picked pumpkins. The girls took a pony ride and ran through the straw-bale maze.

We left exhausted and happy.

Evidence of Paintball Wars

Rivas+Roloff

Ron and Peggy Roloff

Kai was so confused about what was going on!

Birthday Blogging

2009-10-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've procrastinated blogging about the big number ONE birthday. I didn't get any pictures at his party on Friday because I was too busy enjoying it! Luckily my sister-in-law took lots of pictures so when I get copies, I'll post them.

The party Friday was great. We raised money for Shriners (thank you to all who donated!), had cake and ice cream, and spent a large amount of time adoring the birthday boy!

Saturday (his actual birthday) was equally fantastic. Kai got some good presents (including some handsome new clothes--pictures to come).

Yesterday was his 1-year well-child check-up; complete with 5 shots. He weighs 18 lbs (3rd percentile), is 23 inches tall (0 percentile), and his head is back into the 75th percentile (he's got big brains, what can I say?).

One year ago today...

2009-09-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

...I was 35 weeks, 4 days pregnant and feeling bulbous and uncomfortable. John and I hadn't bought a carseat yet, but other than that I was so ready for Kai to come. Or, better said, I was so ready to not be pregnant anymore. But, being only 35 weeks, I thought I had several more weeks of pregnancy (a.k.a. discomfort, acid reflux, restless nights, and ill-fitting maternity clothes--if you've been there, you know what I'm talking about!).

It seems unreal to me that my little Kai is almost a year old. So much has happened to us as a family in the past year that the time has flown by.

17 (and change) pounds, 1 foot 11 inches tall

2009-09-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Those are Kai's measurements, as taken today at Shriners. We also got x-rays, which showed that Kai's cervical spine is weak. Dr. Sussman would like us to meet with a spinal surgeon in a month to discuss what to do about Kai's spine. Only after we have that sorted out will we start worrying about his feet.

Miracles

2009-09-16T13:10:00.001-07:00

In a surprising turn of events, we've moved back to Salem (we moved from Salem to Kennewick, WA in July of this year)! I am so glad to be back. For the past three months we've been cramped in a tiny upstairs apartment in the hot, dry desert of SE Washington. We came back because John was miraculously able to get his job transferred. Our Salem house has been on the market for three months with no success and, with mortgage and rent due every month, it seemed too much of a risk not to leave it on the market and hope it sells in the next several months before our savings runs out.

This is no less than a miracle for us and we are so grateful for it!

Additionally, Kai had a great support team here: his physical therapist Eileen, his pediatrician Dr. Farrah, and all the fantastic people at Shriners Portland. We are so glad to get them back!

11

2009-09-03T23:07:00.001-07:00

Favorites:
-Nursing
-Eating "big kid" food
-Rejecting baby food
-Laughing at his silly big sisters
-Splashing in the bathtub

Milestones:
-Giving kisses
-Eating "big kid" food
-Drinking from a bottle
-Saying "dadada" when prompted
-Shaking his head "no-no-no" when prompted

Happy 11th month, Son!

Highlights from our trip to Idaho

2009-08-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

We recently got back from a visit to Teton Valley, Idaho, where my parents live. Kai's favorite things about this trip included

Meeting new friends...
Wearing Uncle Christian's most prized possession (Christian is my 16 year-old brother who--I think--got this hat from my other brother, Sterling, who is in the Utah National Guard)

Getting hit over and over and over...and over...in the head by cousin Audrey (my sister Carrie's one year-old). It got to the point that whenever Audrey was close by, Kai would squeeze his eyes shut and brace himself for the inevitable impact of Audrey's fingers in/on some part of Kai's face/eyes/head.

Tolerating Audrey's kleptomania. There was never a toy Kai had solely to himself the entire time we were there.

And of course, sitting in the fruitbowl. Classic.

BACK ONLINE

2009-08-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

Today we got internet in our little apartment (yay!). And not a moment too soon, because today is August 3, which, as you all know, means that Kai is ten months old today! Happy un-birthday, son!
Here he is, trying to take a bite out of the table.

MOVED

2009-07-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

We've rented an apartment here in Kennewick until the Salem house sells. We're still unpacking and (annoyingly) without internet. Hopefully we'll be back up and online in a few days.

Voila!

2009-07-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

This is momentous. Look at what The Boy can do!

It is a huge accomplishment for him to be able to pick things up from off the ground when he is in a sitting position. YAY, Kai!

Pictures

2009-07-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

This is one of Kai's and my very good friends, Jessica Curry. She has a magic touch with him; he loves to fall asleep in her arms.

It has been so hot this summer. One night I stripped The Boy down and put him to bed wearing only a diaper.

We are in the middle of moving from Salem, Oregon to Kennewick, Washington. Poor little butter bean has had to just entertain himself while I pack.

9 Month Well-Child

2009-07-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

Today was Kai's nine month well-child visit where he was weighed, measured, listened to, watched and talked about. Here are his stats:

Length: 22 inches (0 percentile)
Weight: 16 lbs 13 oz (3rd percentile)
Head: 55th percentile

FINGER FOOD

2009-07-16T23:18:00.001-07:00

There is no modest way to say this.

2009-07-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today the boy used his three-piece set of Cutco teeth to saw through me while nursing. Thank heavens for the power of connective [albeit delicate] tissue. And coagulation (oh yes, there was blood--TMI, I know).

I have been trying to avoid him all day in the hopes that he will forget all about me (and therefore all about breastfeeding) but that's hard to do when you're the sole care-provider.

Finger Food

2009-07-12T19:39:00.001-07:00

Today the boy figured out finger food! Pictures to come.

Nine.

2009-07-03T07:33:00.001-07:00

Baby:

Big Boy:

Here's to the nine months I've spent in love with my little boy!

2009-06-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Summer's hottest fashion statement: drool on your shirt. All the cool kids are doing it...

What started with an accidental drip during lunch ended as a monumental mess (and an impromptu bath). But in the middle, it was TONS-O-FUN!!

Don't you love the chubb?

Chompers and Shopping

2009-06-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

Kai is STILL teething. He has one top tooth and one bottom tooth already but I swear I can see at least three more. Poor kid.

Yesterday we took Kai to the Oregon Coast on a little day trip. It was too cold to go down to the beach so we went to the outlet mall instead. He's finally big enough to move up a size (from 0-3 to 3 months). This is momentous; I've hardly bought any clothes for him since before he was born and The Boy is now 8 1/2 months old.

So we're there at the counter and John is holding Kai in his arms and the store clerk says something like, "My, he's a big one!" --something like that. I just chuckled. I think she thought he was only 3 months old; that's the size of clothes we were buying for him. I wanted to tell her that he was really 8 months old but I realize she was just saying something to be friendly and conversational, so I didn't correct her.

I went to a new hair stylist a few weeks ago who said kind of the same thing. I mentioned Kai's dwarfism (he was there next to me in his carseat) and she said that she hadn't realized he had dwarfism; she thought he was just a fat little baby.

As I type, the "fat little baby" is screaming in his bed. I had hoped he'd fall asleep but he can have a will of iron when he's tired and wants to nurse.

Yes. That is exactly what you think it is.

2009-06-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while his physical therapist was here, Kai sat up unsupported for the first time. It is my personal belief that he was saving this trick for her because he has a little bit of a crush on her; he's constantly flirting and showing off for her when she's here. In this picture though, he looks like he's about to say, "I know, I'm just as surprised as you are, Mom!"

Bumbo, Haircut, and Serious Regrets

2009-05-27T19:50:00.001-07:00

Post haircut. If you look closely, you'll see that Kai is covered in hair. (click on the picture to enlarge it)
I put the plastic cape on him to keep him entertained. It worked. He loved it. The downside was all the hair that was thrown into the air.

His face tells the whole story here. Kai was not such a big fan of the clippers.

Pre-haircut. Outside on the patio enjoying the afternoon. He LOVES the Bumbo seat. It is so perfect for him. It supports him up to his shoulders in the back. He rests his arms on the sides and sits there with a kingly attitude--like it's his throne.

Oh, and the serious regrets: I regret cutting his hair. Good thing it will grow back.

TOOTH

2009-05-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

The boy has a tooth! For the past few days Kai has been cranky--which is HIGHLY unusual. Even when he was sick with a fever a few weeks ago, he was happy and smiling and as wiggly as ever. Because his crankiness was so unusual I knew it could only mean one thing: teeth. And today during church I saw it!

Now and Then

2009-05-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

Now...

Then...

Has it really been seven months??

2009-04-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Kai had an appointment up at Shriner's March 31st. Dr. Sussman took a look at Kai's feet and was pleased that they were maintaining their correction so well. He told us that Kai should be ready to have surgery (tenotomy) in three to four months! They took x-rays of Kai's feet and of his spine. His spine is beginning to have some curvature. Dr. Sussman is most concerned about the curvature at the top of Kai's spine and reminded us to be very careful with Kai's neck; that it's more fragile than it seems. While we were there, Kai was also fitted for new AFO's which will be ready next week.

Dr. Sussman also commented to me that Kai was looking pretty chubby, almost too chubby! He recommended that I "cut back a little bit." LOL. How do I do that when I'm only breastfeeding the boy? --the next day, April 1st, was when I started feeding him cereal. That has decreased the frequency of breastfeeding, but now he's hooked on cereal and eats a ton of it! I feel like we've jumped from the frying pan into the fire!

In truth, though, I'm not too concerned about Kai's chubbiness. He does have his six-month well-baby check on the 22nd and I'll ask his pediatrician about it then. If she seems concerned then I'll be concerned. But I think she'll tell me not to worry to much about it until he's a little older.

Momentous

2009-04-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

The boy eats cereal! I took these pictures today while Kai gallantly ate almost all of his third meal of rice cereal (his first two were earlier this morning). What a champ.

And yes. His eyes are still blue. *sigh*

It's amazing how much of a difference a couple of weeks can make. About a month ago I tried feeding Kai cereal and he rejected it. He gagged, he fussed, he wouldn't let the spoon get into his mouth. Today, in contrast, he opened his mouth and made his "cereal face" (formerly known as "nursing face") and hardly spit any out.

Go Kai!

It's ugly...but who cares? It works great

2009-03-11T13:57:00.001-07:00

Our lovely physical therapist brought this over for Kai. It's homemade-from cardboard (heavy duty)! The contact paper on it isn't the prettiest; I think we'll recover it. I have some better pictures of what it really looks like but I haven't uploaded them yet. Kai loves this chair! It keeps his hands and arms forward and the tray comes up right under his armpits so it's the perfect height. The high back and corner positioning help him use his muscles to stay upright in it. He can reach his toys so much better because they are at just the right height.

His sisters tend to overwhelm him with toys. They think he needs all of his toys on his tray at the same time.

Exercise

2009-03-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

We have a fantastic physical therapist who comes out every two weeks to work with Kai. This is one of the exercises she recommended--altered "tummy time" (our doctor at Shriners advised against traditional tummy time). Because Kai is unable to push up on his hands and lift his upper body the way most kids do, he has to rely solely on his back and neck muscles to hold his head up when laying on his stomach, which is extremely difficult and could injure him. So instead, we prop him up like this: (yes, that is a big glob of drool about to drop from his lip onto the Boppy)

The sleeper he's wearing is a newborn size. He's finally able to fill the arms and legs (almost) to the end....now that he's five months old!

He loved this position for quite a while but it's hard work for him to hold up that big dome piece (his head is in the 70th percentile, remember?).

Boy Toy

2009-02-26T22:39:00.000-08:00

These are some pictures of Kai with his favorite toy. I'm so glad we found this thing (at Burlington Coat Factory, of all places). Most toys are too small for him to hold with both hands. This one is nice and wide. I made him a "nest" on the couch and put the toy on a pillow where he could see and reach it easily and be played happily for quite a while.

FOUR MONTH WELL BABY CHECK-UP

2009-02-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took Kai to his pediatrician for his 4-month well baby check. He is doing very well; he weighs a whopping 14 lbs 1/2 oz (which puts him in the 25th percentile for weight), he is 20 1/2 inches long (he still hasn't made it into the percentiles for height), and his head circumference is 43.2 cm (putting him in the 70th percentile which only means one thing to me: the kid has some big brains housed in that noggin of his!).