Dear Stockton -

You're considered one of the worst places to live in California. You're super hot in the summertime and cold and drab in the winter. Your crime rate is ridiculously high. And, to be totally honest, I'm kinda bummed with you today. You're taking away my dear friend and selfishly I really want her back.

Stockton, I hope you know that you're getting a real treasure. She's a super fun gal. And she loves you. God put you on her heart (and her husband's too) and they're following the call. Some parts of you are pretty unlovable, and yet she's coming to pour on the love.  I am proud of her. Her heart is yearning to know you, help you, love you, teach you, and see Jesus save you. 

Since she's coming to hang out it's important you know some things.  She super loyal. Once friends she works hard to maintain the relationship - even forgiving you if you are terrible at calling her back. When she says she is going to pray for you she really does it. And the Lord hears her prayers - you will see your life change.  

Her family is her first priority and she's an excellent wife and mother. But, she doesn't let the responsibility of family keep her from having fun! This girl likes to laugh - and her smile and laugher are super contagious. She loves a good party - and is eager to throw one for nearly any occasion. She is both saucy and serious; ready to discuss a section of difficult scripture or enjoy a kids jolly jump. 

She enjoys coffee with her sugar, Amish cooking, and bunco bunc-offs. Her face is almost perfectly symmetrical.  Ask her about laser hair removal and hanging Christmas lights. She never goes to the store - only to the Grocery.  Children love her face and her handmade baby blankets.  It is important that you celebrate her half birthday. 

She's pretty much the best kind of friend; and you're lucky to have her. Treat her well.

Love,

Anna

I'm gonna miss you, girl! (btw - in 3 years we took like NO pictures together!)

Dads

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To The Three Best Men I Know

Life's Little Twists

So, I'm currently missing a body part.

No longer can I claim an appendix. 

They took mine out last Saturday night at approximately 8 p.m. I can't say I was particularly sad to see it go - the useless, little thing had been causing excruciating pain for more than 24 hours. At one point, the pain was comparable to labor. That bad. 

I couldn't walk, could barely talk, and was laying prostrate on the bathroom floor moaoning... and yet, RJ insisted that it was just a nasty flu bug.  :)

All kidding aside, RJ was amazing through the entire ordeal. 

Because I had to go into surgery we ended up needing to put Landon on formula for awhile so RJ could care for him. My appendix was so nasty I got an infection and had to stay in the hospital an extra day.  It was absolute TORTURE being in the hospital for two nights away from my boys, but I was confident that my little one was being well taken care of. (Even if he did spend most of the day Sunday nuzzled in the "nest" RJ created the back of the Tacoma so Dad could continue the yard work.)

***********************

In other news, while I was hospitalized RJ took Landon to his 2 month appt. Our little love-bug is currently 13 pounds which puts him in the 95th percentile. Hurray, for chubby babies!!

Here is a pic of RJ at 8 weeks old. What do you think? Does Landon look like him?

Videos Only A Grandparent Could Love

Lumberjack Landon

Only Patagonia

RJ had to watch Landon this afternoon while I ran an errand. He took the little guy to work with him...

Turned A Corner

Landon and I are both doing so much better than a few weeks ago. We seem to have turned a big corner - thanks to a wonderful drug called Prevacid. 

Landon has Silent Reflux (baby heartburn). At first we noticed that the poor little guy would spit-up often, then throw his head back, arch his back, and cry heartily. The doctor explained that he has Reflux - the valve that closes his stomach after a feeding is immature and opens allowing milk and stomach acid to head back up his esophagus. The acid burns resulting in all the crying. The doc suggested some at home remedies to try to help ease his pain (camomille tea and holding him upright for 20 minutes after each feeding). 

We tried the home remedies for about a week and while the spit-up seemed to decrease Landon's crying only got more intense. I did some research and realized that our boy had decided to become a Silent Refluxer. Rather than letting his spit-up come out he would swallow it back down resulting in a double-burn and extra wailing. Combine this with the fact that the kid tends to get bad gas and you'll realized why I was ready to put him back in my womb (so I could still love him but not hear him!)

The doctor had told me that there were some prescription drugs available if the home remedies didn't work.  However, I'm not big on prescription drugs. I don't even like taking over-the-counter meds. I don't know why, I guess I would just rather go the hippy-dippy natural route. So, I faced a big dilemma,  put my 5 week old baby on prescription meds (the same stuff they give adults just a smaller dosage) or wait it out until his stomach valve matured and endure long, loud, exhausting days in the meantime. 

I had a major case of  nerves because I was basically diagnosing him myself. The doctor told tell me symptoms to look for but he wasn't around to actually see Landon exhibiting them (of course, every time we go to the office Landon is an angel child). New Mom doubts flared, "What if crying this much is normal and I just don't have what it takes to handle it?" "Do I really hear him swallow his spit-up or do I just want to hear that so I have an answer?", etc. etc.

I found myself on my knees in prayer. And the Lord is so faithful. Within a few hours I had two people confirm that medication would be okay for Landon (and they didn't even know they were confirming my prayers).  I called the doctor a few hours later and got the meds. Within 3 days I had a totally different baby. I feel so much better knowing that he feels better. And since I feel better he feels doubly-better. We heart Prevacid. 

(Moms - if you think your baby has colic ask the doc about silent reflux. I've read that alot of colic babies are actually just SR kids.)

He is still a bit of a fuss-butt though. Landon is sensitive and has a flare for drama. You should have seen him at my postnatal appointment this morning. The only thing cute about him was his outfit.

I can't deny it - the hair is officially strawberry-blonde, and he suffered from the worse case of baby acne ever, but still a cutie in our eyes.