18 Months Well Visit at the NEW Pedi!

I still cant believe that Brooklyn is 18mths old! That is just CRAZY!

She had her pediatrician appointment with her NEW pediatrician yesterday! We ~had~ to switch since I was losing my mind continuing to go there. We LOVED her doctor at the P.O.C. but hated that we could only see her when Brooklyn was well. Everytime she was sick, I would call and be forced to see some other random doctor. Other than Dr. Clawges, I really didn't want to see anyone else.

So we switched! I love the new place. It is a very small practice with only a 2 or 3 doctors. It actually reminds me of the pediatricians office that went to when I was little.

Brooklyn walked right in and started playing with the toys. She was sold from the beginning! LOL

Before walking to the room, Brooklyn weighed and measured...She did surprisingly well. She normally doesn't like the temperature taking part but she did well!

18 Mth Stats:

Weight - 28lbs. 3oz. ~ 90th percentile
Height - 32 1/2 ins. ~ 75th percentile
Head - 43 cm ~ 90th percentile

While we were there she had to get a shot (DTAP) and was given the once over to make sure that everything was good. Dr. Wood was SO nice and Brooklyn went right to her when she came in. She was checking out her laptop that she brought in AND the doctor actually let her explore without telling her NO, its not a toy! She was very sweet to her.

My list to talk about -

1. Possible Milk Allergy - I asked about this and she confirmed that the constant loose stool is a sign. Since we have already tried switching from Organic Milk to NON-organic milk, she would like us to try switching to Soy Milk. We are going to try this for a month to see if anything changes. If it doesn't, then Brooklyn will be sent for allergy testing next month. I will be SO glad to figure out if this OR something else is causing it. It totally sucks cleaning that kind of poo off cloth EVERYDAY!

2. Refusing the Chicken Pox Vaccine - Since she is a new pediatrician, I was ready for a fight. She just looked at me and said hopefully she will get it on her own soon. That is exactly what I want. Dave and I both had the chicken pox's and are totally fine...Brooklyn will be too!

Then of course, there are MORE things that I forgot to ask about. Am I then only one that does that? I hope not! She doesn't go back until September, so hopefully I will remember all those extra things next time! Yeah right! ;)

Lots of pics!

Dave and I ~finally~ finished Brooklyn's new room. It took us longer than we thought since we were dealing to lots of sicknesses going through our house. We moved Brooklyn into the guest and are giving her old room to the new baby. Since her old crib would have been a pain to move we thought this would be easier.

I love her room and I think that she does too. She will wander back to her room and sit in her little chair and read! It is so cute to see...I have video of it and need to upload it still!

Here is the new room!

View from the door -


View from the dresser/changing table -


View from the crib -


Some other random pics from the last few months -

Playing in the tub -




Playing outside - Gotta LOVE springtime!





I also added a belly pic from 22wks pregnant! I am planning on taking another on this week....I cant believe how FAST this pregnancy is going. I have a little over 15 wks left! CRAZY!

There's a question...

that I find that I am always asking myself. You wanna know what it is....

"Why do I do this to myself...it is NOT worth it!"

Now that you know the question, here is a wonderful story that in the end I was asking myself that very question.

Brooklyn had yet another stomach bug (maybe the flu..I just don't know) this past weekend. She was puking up everything, even water for a good 36 hours. Loads of fun. Patty (Dave's mom) we up to watch Brooklyn, since Dave and I were going to the WVU/L'ville game on Saturday Night. Thankfully, Patty was eager to help clean and didn't care that the house smelled like vomit.

The weekend came and went when Brooklyn finally stopped puking. Unfortunately, the puking was followed by a high fever that wouldn't respond for anything. After, almost 48 hours of 102+ temperature, I decided that I should probably call the doctor just so could tell me that something was going around and to keep an eye on her.

So I called...
Left message for nurse to call me back...
She called me back after awhile...
During the call back she didn't tell me to just wait and see...
She actually freaked out, telling me that a temp 'that high for SO long' was not alright and that the pedi needed to see her...

FINE...I WILL BRING HER IN!

Of course, the next appointment that they had open was 35min later. After I explain to the "pleasant" appointment lady that Brooklyn and I were both still in our PJs and that an appointment 35min later would probably be pushing it for us. She responded with "Mam, WE are trying to help you out...I hope you understand we are all booked up."

WHAT???? I didn't even want to come...

So, I tell her that I will do my best to get there! After running around the house like a crazy women getting dressed, getting Brooklyn dressed, grab the diaper bag, and head out the door. To my surprise, we were actually there at 11:03. WOOT! I did better than I thought.

As soon as we get there, checked in, seated waiting to be called back I hear Brooklyn poo! That's right, I heard her poo. If you are a mom, you know what kind that would be.

Found a bathroom with changing table, changed her and found our seat again to wait. We were called back super fast. The nurse checking Brooklyn's weight, temp, etc was nice and didn't bother Brooklyn too much. She showed us back to the room where we proceeded to wait....and wait...and wait....and wait some more. Well actually waited for 50 minutes (that's right..after I hauled ass to get there, they made us weight 50min before seeing anyone)

While we waited in the 5 x 5 room with a toddler Brooklyn blew out her diaper 2 times and cried for 30 min.

When the doc finally came in, she checked Brooklyn out and told me that it was a bug and to watch her.

That's right....all that to tell me something I already knew. I got in the car and said "Why, do I do this to myself?"

Just letting you know...

I have been stressing and stressing about making a blog post to update everything that has happened in the past 3 weeks.

I have just decided that I am NOT going to update. I am going to move on....start a new post about what is CURRENTLY going on and forget that I was stressing about the update post.

Just letting you know...

PS..........I am SO freaking happy that spring is almost here....the time change and 72 degree weather is the best! Yay!

Getting to know you...Ugh, I mean ME!

This is from my friend Nancy's blog...she wants to get to know all of her blog friends. SO here I go...ENJOY!

Q1: Let's say you are driving by yourself in the middle of a long drive. You are in a good mood and you have every album ever made available to listen to. Name 1-3 albums you would choose to listen to.

A1: I cant think of the albums BUT I do have the Top 3 singers/bands/eras...

1. Any thing from the 90's. It ALL rocks!

2. At the moment Taylor Swift

3. All American Rejects

Q2: Let's say you have been dating a guy for 1 year and he just broke up with you. What ~sad~ break-up music would you listen to?

A2: Probably something from Mariah Carey (back when she was still cool though)

Q3: Now you are more pissed for him breaking up than sad. What ~angry~ music would you choose?

A3: Alanis Morissette - she has some good angry music

Q4: You are on death row and have been offered a last meal. What would you pick?

A4: Oh my...My Aunt Debbies potato salad, burnt hotdogs, corn on the cob and my Grandmas kinklins YUM-O

Q5: You have a free night to hang out with your friends and you get to pick the night. What would you choose to do? If you would go somewhere to have drinks, what kind of club/bar would you want to go? Would you rather have a girls only night? Or mixed company?

A5: I would probably pick to go shopping in another city followed by dinner/drinks (if I wasnt knocked up, of course) Always a Girls Night. Those men can fend for themselves!

Q6: You are on your night out with friends and someone else is the designated driver. You have all night and nothing to do in the morning but sleep. What would you choose to drink? What level of drunkenness would you chose to achieve?

A6: I would drink...I probably wouldnt get 'drunk' since Brooklyn would still be there in the am!

Q7: Your designated driver is now driving everyone home and offers to stop anywhere you want to feed your drunk ass. What would you pick?

A7: Always McDonalds! YUM-O

Q8: You have a gift certificate for 2 pairs of shoes to a shoe store that carries every brand of shoe in the world and every shoe costs the exact same amount. What casual shoe would you pick? What dress shoe would you pick?

A8: I am not really into shoes...now if we were talking purses or clothes then that would be a different story all together!

Q9: Let's say these things all cost the exact same and you are told to pick ~three~ things. What would you pick?: Pair of shoes. Handbag. Bundle of craft items. Outfit at your favorite store. Day at the spa. MP3 player. Dinner & drinks at your favorite restaurant. Concert tickets to your favorite band. 3 month gym membership. Hotel room at the city's fanciest hotel. Makeup/beauty bundle. Haircut and color. A kitchen appliance like an espresso machine, something frivolous.

A9: something frivolous, a kitchen appliance & a tie between a spa day and a handbag.

Q10: What do you do for a living? Is it your dream job? If not, what is your dream job?

A10: I stay at home...Yes, it is my dream job! Now only if it paid actual money! LOL

Q11: Do you have a college degree? If yes, what is it in? If no, are you planning to go back?

A11: Yes, Elementary Education K - 6

Q12: If you could start your education over, would you change anything? If so, what?

A12: I might have a double major also major in Photography.

Q13: What are your summer hobbies. (Things you actually do, not things you would like to do but rarely do them. For instance, many people say "hiking" although they can't remember the last time they went.)

A13: Playing Co-ed softball, swimming, walking, and eating loads of yummy summer foods.

Q14: What are your winter hobbies?

A14: Staying warm, going to WVU football & basketball games, hanging out with friends.

Q15: Are you ~happy~ with your life? If not, what would make you happy?

A15: Yes, I have a awesome husband, beautiful daughter and another exciting blessing on the way. I really cant complain...well, at least not that much!

Impressed!

I am not one to ~ever~ be impressed with something that a celebrity does or says but finally I am.

After hearing about so many celebrity moms having elective c-sections (at 37wks) to fit the birth into there schedule, lying about the obvious fertility treatments that they have used, and refusing to nurse their children for silly reasons FINALLY a celebrity mom that is actually doing something that I am proud of.

http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/02/11/salma-hayek-nurses-baby-on-nightline/

Selma Hayek not only is ~proud~ to be STILL nursing her 16mth old and gladly does in public. She actually was taped nursing a 1 week old sick baby in Africa. She wasn't worried about what the world would think, if she would still be able to get into the coolest restaurants and about what acting gigs this would get her. She wanted the BEST for this baby and gave it to him because his mother couldn't.

I just hope that others read this article and they start to think that maybe this sound be the norm and NOT the other way around.

Just in case Selma ever reads my blog....Great Job...As a fellow nursing mom, I am hope that more people start to think like you and I!

Puke Fest 2009

It finally happened...after almost 17 mths of no puking Brooklyn ~finally~ caught her first stomache bug.

It hit her really fast and really came out of no where. We went to the WVU basketball game on Saturday afternoon (a 4pm game) and then went to dinner with the 'other' Shrewsberrys. We were having a great time. Brooklyn and J were playing like always. They actually got in trouble a few times for being loud in the resturant and running around.

We all ate a good meal...Brooklyn probably ate more than anyone (nothing odd about that). Dave, Brooklyn and I got home, changed Brooklyns diaper and put her to bed. She was really tired and seemed happy to see her crib.

About 10ish, I was tired and went to bed. Went to check on Brooklyn (cover her up again, find the pacis that are thrown out, etc.) when I moved her she felt a little warm and then I found the puke.

There was a huge pile of it! Thankfully, there was none on her just in the crib. I called Dave in and while I held the puke girl he cleaned the crib and put new sheets on it. While he was doing that, Brooklyn puked again, and again, and again.

Basically, the lag time between puke sessions was just long enough to change her sheets, clothes, and put her back to sleep. This continued until about 2am when she was just SO exhasted that she couldn't keep her eyes open. Poor thing....

Sunday, she slept in until after 11am and then took another 3 hour nap in the late afternoon. Today, Monday, she is still moving slower and not eating as much...but other than that she is great. We have done a lot of TV watching on the couch this morning and will probably do that this evening too.

I hope that everyone elses weekend didnt include puke!