Hard Choices

Being a parent is a hard job but one that I love doing. I love all of my children more than anything in the world. I would do anything for them. Sometimes being a parent is all fun, it is work and some times the kiddos aren't happy with you. 

Bailey has been pinching Kam for a few weeks now. I have tried and tried to have her work on this but nothing has worked. Not being allowed to watch shows, not having her iPod, having to go to her room.. None of it works.

What happens now if Bailey pinches her brother? She must select one of her toys and give it to Goodwill. She is not happy about this but it what she must do. I hope over time she stops and then no longer has to give up her toys. However I hope it also makes her learn not to pinch her brother.

So far she has given up two...

Karson - A New Tube

Today Karson had to go under again for what we thought would be getting some dried blood out of his left ear so his tube would work. On August 2nd he got tubes in both ears. A day later he had blood in his ear and it didn't stop for a few days. He had seen the ENT 2 times after this and last week she said she could not get the final scab off without hurting him or making him really upset so we needed to put him under again. I was so upset after the last visit because we had to hold him down for so long.

Today he was taken back and the report came back that his tube had fallen out and the hole was closed. She found this out after the scab was removed. So it was a good thing he was back. New tube, no blood thus far. The right tube looks great.

Hope and pray this is the last time this year we have to have Karson go under. He did really well this time waking up which was made it easier for all of us.

Dolls for Daughters and Kenzi's Kidz

Dolls for Daughters and Kenzi's Kidz is having an amazing year! I could not be more pleased with the year we have had since becoming a nonprofit in 2009. Our Silent Auction last month raised over $5,200 for DfD and KK.

On August 1st we had our first Kenzi's Kidz family selected and the family is amazing! Marcellina is a mother of 4 and she is working hard to create a stable life for her children. I am looking forwad to a rewarding year with her family.

Time to get busy! October 1st we kick off our 4th annual toy drive. This year we are Dolls for Daughters and Toys for Boys! We will be collecting toys for girls and boys ages birth to 18. We will donate 500 new dolls to the charities we have been working with the past years and we will give away an additional 3,000 toys on December 11th! This is my dream come true. Hosting an event for children in our community to give away toys for the holidays!

Please think of DfD this holiday season when you are out shopping for toys! We need all the help we can get!

Visit our website for more information.. www.DollsforDaughters.com/blog.

What a difference Kenzi has made since 2007! I love and miss you sweet girl! xoxo Mommy

Bailey's in 1st Grade

Today Bailey started 1st grade. It is hard to imagine she is already 6 and in 1st grade. She is such an amazing daughter and person. She is still so thoughtful (most of the time) and is ready to spread her wings and be a "gril". She is ready to have her time away from Kamden but he just loves her so much.

Bailey is playing soccer and lacrosse this fall and seems excited for both. She continues to swim one day a week and has loved going to our pool over the summer. Here are some photos from her birthay and the first day of school.

Bailey on the morning of her birthday with a gift.

Bailey and her brownie cake

Bailey and her cake!

Bailey's first day of 1st Grade!

Karson Update

Karson turned 1 on August 5th! What a year he has had. We hope things will look up for him in his 2nd year of life.

He saw his lung dr about two weeks ago and she is happy with how he has done over the summer. She has not changed any of his meds and hopes he does well with fall coming. She did say that if he does get sick that she will want to see what virus it is. We go back in 4-6 weeks.

Karson saw Dr Tucker on Monday for his one year check up. He weighs 20 pounds 7 ounces - 20%tile. His length is 30.5" -75%tile. His head is 48.5 cm - 90%tile. All my kids have big heads... We discussed Karson's eating and how he does not like foods with much texture. He has just started eating a whole puff without me having to break it apart. He doesn't like many of the stage 3 foods and is still on neocate. Dr Tucker suggested we contact Child Find/Denver Options to set up an evaluation. He might need OT for his food issues and this should help with his speech. They are backed up at Child Find so I have to wait for them to call me to set up an appointment and then hope we get in in the next few months. Other than those issues, Dr Tucker thinks he is doing great. However if he is not off the neocate by 15 months he wants him to see an algerist.

Karson had tubes put in his ears a week ago Monday after 7 ear infections in one year. He did pretty good but has had some blood draining from his left ear. We follow up next week with his ENT rather than 4-6 weeks. We will still see her and get his hearing checked in 4-6 weeks.

We follow up with Dr. Barrios on the 17th to see about trying a new formula again with Karson. He does not want Karson having milk until we can get him off the neocate and see how he does. The last time we tried it increased his spitting up by a lot.

So that is what is new with Karson. He is not walking yet but can get around fast on all fours. He also pulls himself up on everything.