Camden's First Halloween

We had a fun Halloween day! After church we went to a pumpkin patch that we had originally planned on going to last Sunday. But, of course, due to Camden being ill, we never made it until today. There were not nearly as many pumpkins there, but we were able to take some fall pictures.




After lunch, Mason, Braden and Shawn decided to tackle the pumpkin carving. Mason and Braden drew how they wanted their pumpkins to look, and Shawn took care of the rest. Camden sat and observed all the activities taking place.

All gathered in the kitchen carving pumpkins.

Mason with his finished pumpkin.

Braden with his pumpkin.

As for Camden's costume. It truly was a no brainer as to what he was going to be. Over a month ago, my great friend Lorrie emailed me a picture of an elephant costume and felt it most appropriate that Camden be an elephant. She figured that Shane would not mind him being an elephant since that is Alabama's mascot, and of course she was right. My sweet angel was the most precious elephant you have ever seen! (I am not partial or anything.)

My sweet little elephant.

The Ninja, Scream, and my little elephant.

Ninja (Braden), Melissa and Scream (Mason).

Since Camden's bedtime is normally 7:00 pm, and it did not get dark until close to then, he did not last too very long trick-or-treating.

My sweet little elephant asleep on Daddy's shoulder.

On the Eve of Halloween

For several weeks now Camden has been wearing different Halloween outfits and pajamas in preparation for tomorrow. I thought it appropriate on this Halloween Eve to share some of his pictures.

Happy Halloween!!

9 Month Appointment

Today, Camden and I both woke up feeling much better. I spent the day feeding him small amounts of food, alternating with formula (which he will only drink about 2 to 3 ounces at a time - quiet the difference than his 5 or 6 ounces per feeding). No vomiting occurred today, and we just spent the day playing and napping until it was time for his doctor's appointment.

We had an appointment with Dr. Charnette Taylor, a pediatrician my sister suggested to me. I really did like her and she was great with me and Camden. Up until this week, I had been so anxious to see what Camden's weight was, and was almost certain that we had made it above the tenth percentile in weight. But, after the vomiting that had been going on since Sunday, and looking at how thin he appeared, I knew it wasn't going to be as good as I hoped. Well, let me just say, it was down right disheartening. He weighed 16 pounds, 4.1 ounces and was 28 inches long. This makes him in the 2nd percentile for weight and 46th percentile for height. Yes, you read that right, second percentile! He had been in the ninth percentile at his 6 month appointment. Dr. Taylor did not appear alarmed, stating that the gastroenteritis can definitely take the weight off of babies, and now that his reflux is inflamed, it would take awhile to get him back on track. She suggested we hold off on increasing his reflux medication at this point since he had been doing well up until this time and I am to let her know in a week if this reflux does not seem to be improving. She wants to see him in 1 month to do a weight check and also to reevaluate his reflux. He received two immunizations to catch him up to Texas' immunization schedule since Alabama's is different. She wanted to give him a flu vaccine, but since he is allergic to eggs, she decided not to administer that, and instead referred him to see an allergist to let him evaluate the egg allergy. She states that egg allergies seem to worsen as a child ages and would rather the allergist determine where Camden stands with that. She said that if he felt Camden okay to have the vaccine, he would administer the first dose to Camden. She also referred him to a gastroenterologist just to keep an eye on his reflux. She had reviewed his records and noted how we have been fighting his weight since he was an infant and also how much of a problem he has with constipation (since we give him almost 1 tsp of Miralax twice daily) and felt it best that he be evaluated. She said that the doctor she is referring him to probably will not have an appointment until late January or February but felt he just needed to be followed up to make sure nothing was being missed. I appreciated her and she was more than eager to answer any questions I had. She was not forceful with any of her referrals, she just suggested them to me and was fine if I did or did not want to take Camden. At this point, I feel it would be better to be safe than sorry with the allergy issue, especially since we also seem to have the dairy intolerance, and also feel that a GI consult is not a bad idea since we not only have reflux that does not seem to be improving with age, but constipation that is just miserable for him when not treated with Miralax.

I do my best not to be an over protective mother and feel like, for the most part, that I don't fret over Camden. As I have said before, nursing goes right out the window when it comes to your own child. I feel helpless when it comes to his reflux and know that it will take time, but want him to be better NOW. I just keep praying that I am doing the right things for him. Luckily, he has such a great disposition, even when he is sick. We are so lucky that we have such a happy and wonderful child!

Camden playing with the band-aid he took off his leg.

From Better to Worse

To update on Camden's illness, well, I don't even know where to begin! Camden slept well through the night Sunday night so Monday we packed him up and sent him to daycare. When we picked him up that afternoon, his teachers reported to us that he did not eat that well that day and just didn't seem himself. As I was gathering his belongings and Shane was holding him he projectile vomited. Just lovely! We got home, tried to feed him some juice and applesauce, and he ended up projectile vomiting that also. We decided that I would stay home with him on Tuesday and work to get him over his stomach bug.

Tuesday was pretty uneventful. He did have diarrhea two different times that had the sickness smell but he never once vomited. I only gave him small amounts of juice, bananas and applesauce for the majority of the day, and then finally reintroduced his formula. It was obvious, however, that his reflux was on overdrive and he had more than his share of wet burps. He slept well last night, but woke up a tad early this morning due to being hungry. So we all headed to daycare and work figuring he was on the mend.

Mid morning, I started feeling a bit unsettled, but just worked my way through it. By lunch time, I had no appetite and was nauseous. By 12:45 pm I was puking in my office full of students - LOVELY! Of course, I felt much better after this and continued to work (despite my better judgement). By 2:30 pm, we had heard from daycare that Camden was vomiting again and having horrible smelling diapers, and requested we come and get him. I called the doctor's office and made an appointment for them to see him this evening, just to check things out. I am sure that his reflux is causing an issue, and I just wanted to make sure he didn't appear dehydrated to them. Since Shane and I rode together to work, we left to pick up Camden and head home. After becoming sick again, I took some medication and passed out on the couch while Shane tended to Camden. He took him to his doctor's appointment where they said he was not dehydrated, and that the gastroenteritis would definitely have an effect on his reflux and just to follow the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples and toast). They suggested we keep his 9 month appointment which I had previously scheduled for tomorrow. After resting for several hours, I woke up and felt a bit better. Again, we decided I would stay home with Camden tomorrow.

Camden resting and relaxing.

Helpless

Today was not a fun day for Camden nor myself. For Camden it first started at church when we left him in the nursery for the first time. I checked on him 20 minutes into the service and was informed that he would fuss a little and then was fine. I knew that he would pretty much act like that because it was normally his nap time. After church when I went to pick him up out of the nursery, I was informed that he had cried off and on. When we got in the car and headed to go eat, he fell asleep right away and I knew he had had a rough morning. Shane and I ate lunch and then we headed home so Shane could go referee soccer games, and so that I could feed Camden his lunch and then head out shopping for the weeks groceries and other personal items we needed. After Camden finished his lunch, we headed to Kohls and picked up a few items for Camden and then headed to Target. He fell asleep on the way to Target, so I kept him in his car seat so he could sleep while I shopped. He woke up just as I had only 2 things left on my list and looked around and then projectile vomited, twice! I cleaned up the best I could with his diaper rag, picked up the last item I needed and headed to check out. He was covered in vomit, bless his heart. I put the items we purchased in the car, and headed home. We weren't 2 minutes out of the Target parking lot, when he started projectile vomiting again. Now, he had a double layer of vomit all over him! We got home and headed straight to the bath tub. He seemed to be feeling a touch better. But of course, not 20 minutes later, he vomited yet again, but this time just a little bile. Then for the next few hours he dry heaved every 30 to 40 minutes. Talk about feeling helpless. There is nothing I could do as a mother, but sit there with a diaper rag to catch whatever came my way. And of course cuddle with him, even though I knew he felt absolutely miserable. Finally, around 5:30 pm he was a new baby - of course right after his daddy got home. He was happy and laughing and having a good time. We gave him some watered down pear juice and he sucked it down like no body's business. I then gave him a Mum-Mum which he ate up, and then some applesauce mixed with cereal so he would have something to stick to his ribs. As I write this, he has been in bed since 7:30 pm and I have not heard a peep from him. I keep praying that it was a short lived virus and that he will be back in action in the morning!

Soccer Saturday

Today Shane, Camden and I got to take Braden to his soccer game since he and Mason each had soccer games scheduled at the same time. He did an awesome job scoring several times and having a few assists.

Braden playing some great soccer!

S C O R E !!!!

Camden cheering Braden on.

If You're Happy and You Know It . . . .

When we went to pick Camden up from daycare yesterday, we were informed that he started clapping. I know that they have been working with him on clapping, because sometimes when we go to pick him up, Mrs. Ellen (one of his teachers) is sitting on the floor with him trying to get him to open his hands up in order to clap. Also, the past week he has really been focusing on his hands and likes to look at them while they are open. He likes to pat anything that will make a clapping noise.

Well, tonight while eating his supper he decided to show off for me. He just clapped and clapped. What is even better than him clapping is the fact that he says "Yea" while clapping. It is the cutest thing ever!! It was great and he was thrilled to be able to show me his new trick. Braden enjoyed being there to see it too and did everything he could to make Camden clap even more.

The . . . .

clapping . . . .

cycle!

Braden enjoying Camden clapping.

Camden just loves Braden!

Baby Mum-Mum

Since introducing some of the Stage 3 baby foods, we have found that Camden has some texture issues. For instance, when giving him 'Apples and Bananas with Oatmeal', he will gag and spit out the biggest piece of oatmeal that is in his mouth. With 'Chicken and Mixed Vegetables', the second a chunk of carrot lands on his tongue, he again is gagging and spitting it out. And if he can't get the chunk out, then he will just sit there with his mouth wide open waiting for the food to fall out of his mouth. Pretty smart and talented!

Due to his texture issues, we decided we needed to try to broaden Camden's horizons. There are some foods we would like to try, but due to his milk allergy are unable to do so. While at the grocery store on Sunday, we found some new food items for him to try. Tonight he tried these teething crackers called Baby Mum-Mum's and he seemed to enjoy them!

Getting Ready

With Halloween drawing near, I decided that today Camden could start wearing his different Halloween outfits to school as well as his Halloween pajamas to bed. If I do say so myself, he looks really good in orange!

Weekend Fun

This weekend we headed to Lumberton so that Shane could celebrate his birthday with his family. Of course, Camden got lots of goodies from his Nana and Poppa Ron. He got books, a Tonka truck (big boy toy) and clothes!

Camden reading one of his new books

After church, we stopped at Wal-Mart so Camden could finally meet his great uncle Stinker. We surprised Stinker, so he was ALL smiles when he got to hold Camden.

Stinker and Camden

Momma

I have been trying to teach Camden since he was at least 2 months old to say 'Momma.' I was bound and determined for him to say 'Momma' before the words 'Da Da' came out of that sweet little mouth. Well, a few weeks after moving to Tomball, as I was again working with Camden to say 'Momma' my nephew, Braden, informed me that Shane has been working with him to say 'Da Da'. Boy was I shocked, because according to Shane, he has not even talked to Camden about that! BUSTED!!! Well, not a week or two later, I overhead that sweet angel of mine saying the word that he was not supposed to say yet! But, lo and behold, today he finally said the sweet word that every mother waits to hear their child say, 'Momma'. I told Camden he should have said it a day earlier and that would have been the perfect birthday gift for his daddy. ; ) Now, I do realize that he is unaware as to what he is saying, but I can assure you, it is still so sweet to hear it. I also realize that in a few years I will be asking myself why I ever wanted him to say my name! Until then, I will enjoy hearing his sweet little voice call my name.

Happy Birthday Shane

Today was Shane's birthday and Camden was very thrilled about the card he got his daddy! Unfortunately, due to his mother's error, the Alabama socks that Camden got for his daddy did not show up today. However, they should be here tomorrow! Camden was already in bed by the time we were able to sit down and celebrate Shane's birthday, so he did not get to enjoy the festivities of pizza and chocolate cake! Happy Birthday Shane - We love you!!!

Camden getting his daddy's card ready

Shane and Camden reading the birthday card

Shane blowing out his candles