Bowden in the Bumbo

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Slacker

It has been a week since I posted and for that I am sorry! I hate it when I go to someones blog and they haven't updated it. Serious that is one of my biggest pet peeves - matter of fact I just removed 3 people from my blog roll for lack of updates! I PROMISE I will TRY to do better! (please notice the TRY)

This week has really been hard on me ... the babies haven't slept in 2 nights. Yes I said BABIES - Tatum who usually sleeps 7pm - 7am hasn't been sleeping either and if I am not rocking and holding her then I am trying to calm Bowden down so he doesn't wake her. It is a vicious cycle. Last night Bowden didn't go down until 10 and then he was up at 1:30, 4 and 6:30. I am not sure what happened to him because he was sleeping from 8 - 3 then 3 - 8.

Besides the lack of sleep we are having major problems at work.

WE ARE BUSY, which is more than most construction companies can say, but it is because we have cut all our prices, we have tried to stay in the bids by being cheaper and we will get the job. We haven't made a "profit" on the last 12 jobs we preformed, but we are busy and we haven't laid ANYONE off. However now the owners of companies are all trying to penny pinch so we are suffering - they are handing out back charges like you would believe and where we used to scratch a back and they would scratch ours, we are now getting charges for that. We are hurting for cash and not making any "extra" money or loosing money on a job is very hard. On top of all that my dad has started to have heart "scares" (all related to work).Several times a day at work I have to remind him to breath and slow down. He has mentioned bankruptcy and how he would commit suicide before he ever did that. So I am on edge trying to watch him, watch our money, and watch all the spending, and bids. It is a handful ... that on top of not sleeping, I am very edgy and I have to say that my husband is paying for it!

So are the kids.

Last Friday one of our guys broke his leg on the job. Which resulted in a 3 hour surgery - he will never be 100%. He is out of work for at least 6 months. Hello Workers' Comp bills and never mind the up in rate we will have once he is done!

As if all of that wasn't enough we also had ANOTHER HUGE OOPS ... every year we go on a fishing trip. This year is our 15th (6th with me) and it is our way of telling the guys thanks. Every year we go deep sea fishing it is a 12 hour trip and so very fun. We also have a Turkey Day dinner on Wednesday before Turkey Day and pay all the guys from lunch on Wednesday until Friday afternoon but do not let them work at all! Christmas we have a LARGE party that my hubby caters, along with Christmas bonuses for EVERY Employee! Last year some of them got over $2000. (yes they still bitched) This year we are only able to do the Fishing and a small Turkey Day and Christmas Party. No Bonuses. We told the guys not to expect ANY EXTRA money from us - they are all freaking out!So the Huge Oops ... the lady from fishing called my dad to ask when we were going - we always go end October beginning November - he told her the 8th of November. Well if you read

Robin's Blog you would know that the 8th is the evening that
and

Play at USC. Columbia is only 4 hours from me, Matt (Robin's Hubby) is covering the game from their news station. We (me and Andy) got us tickets and we were going to meet Robin and Matt at the game, and stay in the hotel with them ... well my friends ... my calendar said the game was the 15th. It isn't it is the 8th and guess when we are fishing - yep the 8th. Now we called the fishing co. to reschedule - we can't go the following week - they are booked, that is the last weekend of the season. So we couldn't go again until January. Now I can choose not to go on the trip, but I am a Owner of this company, named the VP ... what kind of message would that be sending my guys?! So you see hell of a week I have had!

It sucks ...

But you know what doesn't suck - my babies! I love them ... even when they don't sleep! I love my Husband he rocks, he is wonderful! He would do ANYTHING for me! I love him with all my heart, mostly because he can put up with me and when he sees I am down he always says

"keep it up honey you are doing a GREAT job!"

So on a good note - check out my babies!

Tatum went to a Birthday Party at the Fire Station.

She rode in the fire truck 2 times - had a blast!

My Little Man!

They wore their costumes to school yesterday!

My little Lady Bug!

It's getting cold outside!

Check out her little hat!

Bowden had a play date last Friday with 3 girls ... haha

He is my All Star!

Go Gamecocks!!

We do this thing at home ...

"Tatum Bell"

"what sound does a cow make?"

MMM

"what sound does a bee make?"

BZZZ

"what sound does a duck make?"

duk duk

"what sound does a Gamecock make?"

Then we yell TOUCHDOWN and she throws her hands in the air

she claps and screams YEAH

it is too cute for words ... so here are pictures!

Getting ready - she knows it is coming

Touch Down

Yeah # 1!!!

Alright ... lets do it again!

Our Wedding

4 years ago ... We said I Do

It was one of the best days of my life -

I love you Andy! Happy Anniversary!

Tubes

Tatum got her tubes yesterday -

In the am things were Great! Tatum did very well with no food or drink. She was the hit of the show at the Dr office. All the nurses commented on how cute she was and how she was such a "big girl!" She walked back to pre-op all by herself, we did not have to carry her or calm her. She walked back to the surgery room all by herself waving bye to mommy and daddy and then 20 minutes later ... she was PISSED OFF!! Dr said she would be mad, but man was she mad. She was screaming and screaming - I think all in all she did not calm down for the first 1 hour after the surgery - then I got her to sleep and she was out from about 9am - 12:15 she was only up to eat and drink then right back down for another nap. She went to bed after dinner and I had to wake her up this am for school. She was her happy self this am! I hope that things will start to get better now!

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Waiting her turn - she was #4 in line!

Getting in her pretty hospital gear!

Playing bull fighter with Daddy!

They called my name ... I gotta go!

Alligator Adventure

It has been 6 days and I didn't post about Alligator Adventure yet ... I am sorry! Serious I am not sure how people do it ... how they work, live their lives and spend QUALITY time with their children and spouse. It is amazing ... 24 hours in a day is NOT enough. I went to bed 3 nights this week crying because I didn't feel like I spent anytime with my babies, my hubby or myself.

My typical day -

At 6:30 I get up shower and get ready in under 30 minutes. I wake Tatum up at 7 am ... get her dressed, brush her teeth and get her down stairs and ready to eat. Her daddy then comes home to help feed her and get her in the car. (If the baby is awake then he is in this picture too ... he still isn't on a set schedule ... sometimes he is up by 6 and others he isn't up until 8 ... all depends on what time he wakes up in the night) Tatum and I walk out the door no later than 7:45.

SIDE NOTE - Bowden's schedule - Monday Andy does not work, he stays home with the baby all day ... Tuesday and Wednesday my mom calls from her car as she is turning into the neighborhood, she waits outside in her car until we leave then she RUNS inside to get Bowden ... this is to avoid melt downs from the VERY SPOILED Tatum! Thursday Andy takes the baby to his mom's. Friday is my day with him and I take him to work with me! ... we had the same schedule with Tatum until she was 8 months old and she went to Day Care ... M-F I take Tatum to School and then go to work!

Okay now where were we ... oh yeah running out the door by 7:45am ... drop Tatum off by 8 ... get to work by 8:10. Work all day ... well it isn't really the ALL day I used to work, but it is as much a all day I can do and not feel bad about it! I pick Tatum up NO later than 4. Get home ... preoccupy the babies until dinner time. The following happens at least once an hour - Change a diaper if not 2, make, feed and clean bottles, clean toddler hands, wipe toddler nose x 100, dry tears, find blankets, wash clothes, feed the ducks, swing on the swing set, kiss boo boo's, play ball, read books, hold 2 babies at once, if I feed Bowden Tatum wants to help and if she isn't helping then she is up and down in my lap which is SO FUN with a 2 month old in your lap - can't drop the bottle, cant drop him and can't tell her NO. Lets see what else is there ... um yeah answer the phone, try like hell to drown out sports center!

Okay it is now 6pm ... Tatum is screaming because she is starving and should have eaten at 5:30 but for some reason we can never get dinner ready by 5:30, and if we give her a snack after school then she doesn't eat ... even at 6:30 because you see 6:30 is bath time and bedtime is NO LATER than 7:20 or it is a disaster! I tell you DISASTER! I feed the baby and play with Tatum while Daddy cleans up the kitchen, then we trade, he takes over feeding Bowden and I give Tatum her bath, read to her and put her to bed! Then I come back down stairs take the baby back from Andy ... he cleans up the living room and finishes the kitchen. We watch one show while I hold Bowden (this is to keep him from crying and waking Tatum) I read my blogs, type comments with one hand, burp the baby and check my e-mail. Now it is 8:30/9:00 pm and I am ready to fall out. I take the baby upstairs, force some more formula down his throat ... swaddle him as tight as I can, lay him down. I am just about to fall asleep and in walks Andy ... asking for the remote to watch TV ... only for him to fall asleep and start snoring before his head hits the pillow! This past week I did tell him if he wanted to watch TV he needed to stay down stairs ... haha! Anyway I am asleep by 10 and then up at either 12 or 2. Up for 45 minutes, back to sleep and then up at 5 or 6:30 which ever happens first - crying or my alarm.

So ... you see this is why I haven't posted about Alligator Adventure!

We had a blast so many people showed up - here are a few pictures!

Me and my Tatum Bug

You talking to me?!

Tatum giving her Boyfriend Fletcher a Kiss ... one of many that day! hahah

Feeding time!

All the kids - Children under 3 were free, we used a total of 32 tickets!

The turn out was awesome!

PS I started this post yesterday (Saturday at 3:55pm ... almost 24 hours later you have it!!)

Ear update

Today was our follow up visit to the ENT. We are scheduled for pre-op surgery appointment on Monday. Surgery will be sometime very early morning on Tuesday and to tell you the truth I am more afraid of trying to handle Tatum with NO FOOD, or WATER, MILK until after her surgery. My child loves to eat, she loves her milk and juice in the morning. She loves it so much that we prepare her milk and juice at night so it is ready when she comes down the stairs. I have heard that an hour after surgery all things are easy! That most children don't even know what has happened and then the healing begins! That is what I am looking forward to ... My Tata to have a pretty nose, for her to actually go a day without digging her little finger in her ear! For me not to have to chase her around the house with a tissue and wet wash cloth. I feel so bad for her, her nose and her ears! Haha I feel bad for me too! The steroid and the antibiotic helped for 3 days and then bam just like the tides the nose started to run and the ears got swollen and infected! So you see my friends we aer out of options. Tuesday am will be our surgery day. Hopefully we will be the youngest in line so we will be first - first in means first out and that means she gets to eat and drink!

Pray for us!

Not posting

Hey Internet - after talking in depth with my DH we have decided that I should not post my story about the Gan*g. Even though the Hell*s Angel*s came in a saved us and it in turn resulted in a happy night for everyone, even though DH wants to write to them and THANK THEM and to the editor and tell them just how nice and wonderful they were to us ... we are afraid that they don't want us to "talk" about it ... I am just nervous and well frankly if it is making me think this much then it is better not posted ... however if you have commented here before and would like to know the story shoot me a line and let me know I will be glad to e-mail it to you as long as you promise not to post it or give it out ... haha

So I guess that leads us to the Alligator Adventure post ... stay tuned!

Question

I have my post ready about my weekend and the Gan*g ... does anyone know how to password protect this one post?

If I can't do that I am not sure if I can post it?! I am a little skitish to get the HA mad at me!

Pictures and Burnt Leg

I am working on the post about the Gang and the H*ells A~ngels I wanted to write it all up and take it all in before just throwing it out here ... so that blog may be posted tomorrow - until then ...

A Burnt Leg
Friday we got on the bike - It is a Indian ... now I did not know ANYTHING thing about a Indian - until we got out and started riding. People everywhere we went were gawking over this bike! It was a really cool feeling - so I came home and started to research it - They were the first American Bikes EVER!!! They started to make motorcycles in the early 1900's and most were made when the war was winding down to give the "men" things to do and to race. You can check it all out on their web site! Anyway it was fun to see all the "Harley" riders checking "US" out because we were on it ... and all along I thought they were so much better than "us!" haha

The one we were riding (it belongs to Andy's Dad, and that is another story in it's self, he doesn't ride, he and 2 other men all got cancer at the same time. They were all life long friends, Mr Freddy ... it was his bike, did not survive his. When he passed his wife thought it only right to offer it to my FIL, he bought it for what Mr Freddy bought it for in 2000. Only 100 or so were made and it is a "special" bike in so many more ways that just that there are only 100)it is the 2000 Millennium edition Indian.

Okay back to the story - sorry about that

(that is why I am taking my time on the other story) haha

Well we met up with our friend Aaron and April -

They were at a local bar eating - so we rode there and met up with them. When we got there it was not very crowded, actually much less crowded than what I was expecting. Andy is pretty good at driving it, but has not had ANY practice with me on it with him ... this was actually our first ride together ... I was nervous to say the least! So we get to the bar, hang out and all is well ... they say they are leaving to go to The B*eaver Bar ... it is a bar that one of my best girl friends family owns! Aaron asks Andy if he has ever had to park where it was CROWDED ... NO he said. So we decide it would be best to pay to park and to avoid the mass of bikes -

When I had my bike I wouldn't ride during bike week because

I was afraid to park in this Sea of bikes:

(sorry the pictures were taken at night, but at this point it was actually day time)

While parking the bike he pulled forward in front of the spot to walk it back into place - which is exactly how you are supposed to do it - I tapped him to let him know I was getting off. He started to walk it backwards and he saw something out of the corner of his eye - it scared him so he hit the hand break ... it caused the bike to jerk ... and him to tense up ... thus hitting his leg on the pipes ... he has a burn on the inside of his right leg/calf area that is the size of my hand. I didn't take a picture because he was embarrassed. I will try to get one tonight!

Me and Andy ... all bundled up and ready to ride home!

The Indian that guided us in the night!

Me being silly ... the glasses were hilarious!

ME and my CiCi ... love her!

This is the sign at Mr. Freddy's Bar ... we stopped in to see them all we wanted them to see us on his bike in his honor!

My Favorite Picture from the week ... can you see me in the mirror?

Notice the Dew Rag - that is the one that got me into trouble!

TOO MUCH, I am in over load

Hey everyone ...
Guess what?!
Are you ready?!
This weekend I was baby FREE from Friday at noon until today at 9am.
Baby Free for the weekend!.
Did I mention that is was also Bike Week?!
Did you all know I used to have my OWN Harley?
Did I tell you that my FIL has a Indian that he is afraid to ride?!
Did I mention that he lets Andy ride it when ever he wants?
Did I mention that we started riding Friday at 1:30 and rode all weekend?

I will give a full update tomorrow from work, thanks boss ... and I promise to add pictures ... but this is what you have to look forward to ...
a video of us riding
Lots of Fun Pictures
A story of a burnt leg
The story about the gang member that took the dew rag off my head, thus causing the H*Ells A*ngels to come and protect us! (I am not kidding)
and last but not least I will tell you all about 30+ of us going to Alligator Adventure today!

See you tomorrow

New Woman

I can't tell you all just how much the MUCH NEEDED night out has done for me. Andy and I had a blast, we held hands, we laughed, he kissed my forhead (that is my Favorite), we hugged, we sang and we were JUST SILLY! Thanks Angee ... I didn't realize how much I was in a slump! Friday night, even with the tossing and the turning, never mind the "cramps" I had a BLAST!

Saturday was amazing too - I am on cloud nine now! I feel like a new woman! Saturday I asked some people if they wanted to come over and Fish?! I really asked because Andy had to work from 3am - 5pm and I knew I would need help with the babies. You see the babies are NO trouble until nap time or bed time. Then it is so hard to keep Bowden quiet enough to put her down ... then I need a extra hand! haha I knew he would be home by bedtime, but I wasn't sure about Tatum's 2 naps ... so I decided I would ask some friends if they wanted to come over and fish! It worked - we had a blast ... Pat and Brandi brought their Daughter ... she is 5 she swam, played on the swing set and helped so much with both babies. Poppy (Andy's Dad) is always a HUGE help, he was there, my dad, my mom and another friends son, Conner, he is 7 ... we all had a blast it was BEAUTIFUL and yes they did catch fish, everyone but me caught fish! I think the Ouu Sie (out side) even wore Bowden out, homie slept from 9:45 - 3:30 it was awesome - see there is more of that new woman thing!

Andy had to work Sunday 7am-3pm my parents drove the boat up and took me, Tatum, and Bowden out ... it was a blast - see below pictures! Bowdie got sea sick ... I think! I felt so bad! But again he slept 9:30 - 3:30 yeah and when I got up to get ready for work at 7 him and Andy were still fast asleep!

How was your weekend? I hope it was as great as mine!
Why wont they nap like this with me?!

My night with no babies ...

I know you are all on the edge of your seats, just biting your nails to see how we all did ... (sarcasm haha) Anyway I will get to it. I took Tatum to my moms, we hung out for a while, played outside (OU sie) that is how Tatum says it now ... and then I left to go to Angee's to drop off Bowdie. When I got there I started to tell her all about him and what I thought his schedule would be ... she then KICKED ME OUT! Yep wouldn't even let me set up the pack-n-play! Just like that MADE ME LEAVE, said if I didn't I wouldn't! I cried driving away ... knowing he would be fine, but what about me?! We went to dinner, (we rode the Motorcycle, I haven't been on one at all in 4 years.) My friend Trea, her Hubby and his sister and hubby, and Andy's Brother and his GF met us at Gordon Biearch ... it was FUN! I had a beer sampler (after all it is a brewery and then had the beer that was my favorite. We had a shot when we left (Andy was allowed to have 2 beers, which he did) It was so nice out we drove the bike down South to a bar where some of our friends hang out ... and yep it was just the way I remembered, too crowded, hot and LOUD. So we jumped back on the bike and went to a new bar ... well not a new bar, but one of my new BFF her parents bar ... The Beaver Bar! It was awesome! Good Ole Biker Bar ... we had, well I did another beer and a few waters and a tickle my pickle shot ... gosh how I missed those! We were home by 10:30 .... in bed ... I COULD NOT SLEEP! Serious!! Andy was snoring in 2 seconds and he didn't even TRY to get it on ... if you know what I mean! Haha I told you guys we were tired over here! Haha So 11:30 I am still tossing and turning, 12:30 still not sleeping, 1:30 I am finally asleep and Andy starts screaming ... CRAMP,CRAMP, OMG CRAMP! So out of bed I go ... I run to his side of the bed, I start massaging his leg, I get the cramp out, go down stairs, get a banana, and some water for him. Back up I go, and wouldn't you know it, he is already snoring and once again I can't fall asleep! So even though we had a great night I didn't really get much sleep ... we will see how this coming Friday goes!

A Night of Sleep

Okay so one of my friends ... Angee (may now be my new BFF ... sorry Melanie, and Robin I had to)! Ready ... are you all sitting down?! She is a Saint, a angle sent from above to be my saving grace ... she is keeping Bowden tonight ... ALL NIGHT! Tatum is going to Grammy's and I am going to dinner with the hubs, and some friends then ... SLEEPING ALL NIGHT! ALL NIGHT! I will get at least 9 hours of straight sleep - can you believe that?! OMG ... Angee I love you! You are my Queen, anything you EVER need I will be glad to do it!

PS - Angee said she wanted to keep him again next Friday night, which by the way is even more wonderful because it is Fall Bike Week and you see my friends, I haven't enjoyed a bike week in 2 years now.

I hope my nerves don't take over and make me freak out - you know the mommy syndrome, "no one can do it like me." I know Angee will take great care of him, like he was/is her own ... but it is still very very scary! Pray for me ... I know he will do great, but for me and Angee ... Angee to have enough patience for him and me to have the strength to not miss him SO horribly that I want to go get him in the middle of the night ... but if I go to bed early enough then maybe I will sleep through it!

ENT

Ear Nose Throat
We had our appointment today ... we left the office with ANOTHER round of antibiotics and a steroid. He was very nice, he thought that the steroid would cut down on the swelling in the "tube" and would allow the fluid to move out. You see all the other antibiotics we have tried have knocked out the infection but NOT the fluid. After that fluid sits stagnate for 1 day it again is getting infected ... thus leading up to 8 weeks of being sick. I hope that this works, we go back in 2 weeks to check the fluid level and if it is still there we try one other thing (which I didn't even ask what it was) then we start talking tubes.
Please send some prayers this way that this round of drugs works and that the steroid does NOT make her too hyper! haha

Have a great night, I am getting off of here ... the storm coming through is HORRIBLE!

Getting better

Well we are all starting to feel a little bit better ... all of us but Tatum. I feel so so sorry for her, her little nose is so red and sore. She has had a ear infection for 6 almost 7 weeks now and FINALLY the Dr has convinced us to go see a Ear, Nose & Throat Dr. I am hoping that it wont result in tubes, but I would guess that is the route they will try to steer us. I am so afraid of tubes, with the pool and all in the back yard I am not sure how we will keep her out of it or keep those plugs in her ears ... anyone out there have plugs in?! Got some advise for me?!
We had some friends stop by yesterday ... and we ended up hanging out all day and night, it was a blast! Pat and Brandi ... Pat is a long time friend of Andy's and he and Brandi have now been married a year. They fished, we hit golf balls into the river and then we cooked out steak and crab legs ... both babies were so so well behaved! Bowden slept through dinner, and Tatum was wonderful ... the FIRST FULL meal I have eaten since having Bowden! It was much needed! However Bowden slept too much during the day and then last night SUCKED! But it is getting better folks! Really it is ... I am starting to see light at the end of my tunnel!
Hope you all had a great weekend and that you have a great week!

Alive, but sick

Hey everyone ... I have been reading all of you! I promise, I haven't been able to comment for 2 reasons ... 1st I have 2 sick babies. Yep - Tatum is STILL sick (7 weeks now) and yes she passed it on to not only her 5 week old brother but to me too ... so you see if I am not holding her I am holding him. Second ... I am so sick that I can't even think! So excuse this bad post ... just wanted you all to know I am here, I have read and I miss you all! I love my Internet ... I worked on Monday it was nice to be in a ALL ADULT world, but then when I got home from work ... bam I felt like I ran into a brick wall, Tatum was running a 103.4 fever and her brother had a 100.4 fever ... so of course this am we were all at the Dr. I will leave you with 3 pictures ...

The first ... Tatum was introduced to Jello Pudding ... the second and third are of a photo shoot I had with Bowden Monday before all shit broke loose and everyone got all sick! You can tell I am not a photographer ... I never even turned off the "date" stamp on the pictures ... Duh!!

... ENJOY!

Look Very Very Close ...

Okay look really really close ...

Do you see anything?

Do you notice the difference? um yeah ... I wore 2 different shoes to work yesterday ...
Can you say I am sleep deprived or what?! OMG!!!

No wonder it was easy for him

The week before we became a family of 4 I made Andy start to put Tatum to bed, just to make sure she would let him and all would go smooth when we came home from the hospital! He successfully put her to bed 4 nights so I took the last before birth day! Anyway ... so now 4 weeks later and Bowden is now on bottles (which makes me both happy and SAD) and I tell Andy ... you feed the baby I want to bath Tatum and put her night night ... we do up stairs. I give her her bath, we have so much fun singing, splashing and playing! I take her into her room, dress her, give her her sippy cup and sit in the rocking chair with her ... we say our prayers and we hum a lullybuy ... then she is done with her sippy cup of milk so I get up, kiss her head and put her in the crib ... and then ... WAAA WAAA SREAM YELL CRY! I walk out ... because you see dear internet that is what I USED TO DO! Put her down still awake, and she would sooth her self night night! Well I guess he missed the let her fall asleep on her own memo ... he has been rocking her to sleep each and every night!!! OMG I wasd so so mad ... oh well he didn't know and now we are starting the cry it out phase! Wish us luck!

Acid Reflux Update

Well I was correct ... see not such a bad mommy after all!~ My mother intuition told me something was wrong with my little guy. He has Acid Reflux, not a HORRIBLE case, but bad enough that he has troubles sleeping. We went to the Dr on Friday ... we got a prescription for the reflux, he has had 3 doses so far, and I have noticed that his burps have become less wet. I am not saying that it is working ... just less wet. I have switched him to bottles, (cries and sobs from mommy) and am currently mixing his bottle 1/2 breast milk and 1/2 AR formula. AR formula is made just for Acid Reflux babies and has rice cereal in it so it is THICKER. I hoped to breast feed him for 6 months as I did with Tatum, but I knew that it may be stopped early ... but thought it would be because of Tatum, not because of him having "Belly issues." Oh well I hate that I can't breast feed him ... many have asked why don't I just continue to pump and mix 1/2 and 1/2 for the 6 months ... well to be FRANK ... IT HURTS ME! Makes me bleed and crack ... now when he is eating I don't even know he is there, but the pump kicks my ass ... yes I tried several different "nipple cups," they all hurt. I adjusted the speed and the suck and I put my self through the pain with Tatum ... but if this special formula is really all that special I think as soon as he can get 100% of it the better ... maybe he will sleep longer at night too?!
So if you can say a little prayer for us ... more sleep, less acid reflux, less wet burps, less gaging and spit up ... I will take anything as of now ...

PS I am kinda excited that we are making the move to formula sooner than later ... you all know this means I will get to pass him off for feedings! HAHAHA Already have somethings lined up for us to go to dinner ... now if I can just find someone to keep him for a night ... holly molly the sleep I will get!

PSS ... Hanna did not hurt us, we lost power for about 45 minutes last night, no big deal ... our yard was ankle deep in water while it was raining, but has since all drained into the HUGE river in our back yard, which by the way is the highest we have seen it since living here ... it rises and falls with the tides so it too is higher. Glad that Ike is not coming our way, and for those of you that Ike will affect ... I am sorry and I will be praying for you!

OMG Horrible Mommy Of 2 Over Here

Okay so a Lady just stopped by to talk to us about cleaning our house every 2 weeks. We had a cleaning service at our other house, and it was wonderful. They came every 3 weeks and DEEP cleaned ... we vacuumed and picked up in between but for the most part they did all the deep nasty cleaning. We haven't used that service since we moved, with both house payments and all of our double bills we decided we could do it. Now I am almost ready to go back to work, DH is at work FULL TIME and with 2 babies to watch after our house is a mess. Okay so on to me being a horrible mommy ...
The lady was supposed to be here at 4 ... she was running late - didn't actually get here until 4:35 ... Tatum was supper crabby after Day Care so I went to up stairs to put her down for a nap ... she had JUST fallen asleep when the lady ran the door bell. We have this Musical Door Bell that DH picked out ... it is LOUD and obnoxious. So of course ... Tatum wakes up screaming (she doesn't usually nap after day care she is usually in bed by 7 and sleeps until 7, yes I know LUCKY that is how we ended up with baby #2 ... she has been sleeping 7-7 since 3 months old) Anyway ... I put Bowdie down on his boppie on the couch ... sitting up (to try and help his acid reflux) and took Tatum into the kitchen to wash her hands and face ... I have to keep her clean so she can touch her brother! Andy was walking the house with the cleaning lady and all of a sudden I hear Bowdie SCREAMING ... I get Tatum dried off and walk into the room thinking he is just screaming so he can eat AGAIN ... NOPE he fell off of the couch. ON TO THE FLOOR ... yes he did. AND IT WAS MY FAULT! Holly shit how can I be so stupid as to leave him on the couch and walk away ... serious. I am an idiot. He seems to be okay ... of course I called the Dr ... they are so sick of me I am sure ... she said he is so small and it is okay they can handle much more than we think they can ... I of course was crying and telling her how dumb I am. She of course telling me I am not dumb, everyone has accidents and he will be fine ... aack I need a break! Really I do!

Could it be Reflux

Hey everyone ... First a big thanks to all of you for the support, ideas and suggestion ...

Second let me answer some questions:

1) Latch ... he is latching well and I guess I should not have said that I was like Hamburger ... I am not sore, not bleeding and it does NOT hurt for him to eat. I just feel USED AND ABUSED! He is eating every 1.5 hours from start to start, and you see that only leaves me about 30-45 minutes of sleep at a time. He is eating for 30 minutes straight each time! so 30 minutes of eating, a diaper change and the time it takes me to fall back asleep ... I am very sleep deprived here!

2) Schedule ... Tatum was the easiest baby ... the day we came home she was on a 4 hour schedule and she ate everyday and night at the SAME EXACT TIME ... Bowden is having NONE of that. I have tried to keep him awake in the day, I have tried to keep the room as dark as possible and NO NOISE at night ... I have tried to force him to stay awake and eat longer ... I have tried it all. It is just amazing at how differant they are!

3) LeLeche League ... I contacted them while breastfeeding Tatum ... they were not my favorite ladies ... they beat it into you like the guy that is a born again Christian and thinks they everyone should go to church 5 nights a week and 2 afternoons on the other days. (not that church is bad ... I am a Christian but you all know the type)

4) Pacifier ... HE WONT TAKE ONE ... drives me nuts I have tried this also!

5) Enough milk ... I am almost drowing him over here, he really doesn't even need to suck, he can just open up and drink from the spicket ... haha most times he eats I have to "expose" of some milk before he can latch on.



THAT is all I got for you ... I did call the Dr today ... they are so sick of me, and we are all on first name basis! You see Tatum is still, I repeat STILL SICK. We went to the Dr 3 times last week, on Friday we almost went to the ER, but the Dr told us to meet her at her office ... (after hours, now that is a great Dr! I love her)

Anyway now back to the Reflux - I believe my baby has acid reflux ... he is constantaly spitting up, he will be sound asleep and then all of a sudden he is gagging, and I have to rush over pick him up and get all the gunk out of his throat, he has some horrible gas. he pulls hislittle legs to his tummy and lets them rip like a grown adult ... all while he is ripping them he is screaming in pain! It is really sad, and I am doing everything I can to keep him quiet so he doesn't wake the other baby in the house up ... haha

Life here is grand, one has been sick for 4 weeks now and the other eats every 1.5 hours! Life with 2 under 2 ain't so easy! I know it will get better, but any prayers your can save I will greatly accept!

Question

~~~~~Updated ... thanks so much for all of you advise but I think I made the hamburger thing worse than it really is ... I am just exhausted!

So I am breast feeding ... with Tatum I breast fed her 100% until she was almost 5 months old, then for a month we mixed stored breast milk and formula (then I had to stop because I found out I was all knocked up again ... haha) anyway ... The new little man in the house is eating WAY TO OFTEN for me to pump ... I am like hamburger meat over here. Tender, sore and really over it ... so my question ... have any of you ever formula and breast fed off the bat?! If you haven't do you know if I can ... if you have any suggestions on how to introduce him the formula?! What kind of formula should I use and HOW MUCH?!!

~~~~~ I guess I should not have said tender and sore, because I am not ... he is and has lached on great ... no bloody nipples or soreness ... just not enough sleep has made me re-think all of the buzz of breast feeding! Sorry for misleading so many of you ... I just need a physical break for my mental state of mind!!!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions ... ps I am exhausted, he is still eating every 1.5 hours from start time!

Here are some pictures because I know all of you love my babies like I do ... haha

Tatum wanted to hold him ... so I tried to let her ...

Bowden's Tiny New Shoes

Snoozing ... PS he doesn't sleep like that at night :(

Tatum's new pool from PopPop Kemp ... Thank You she loves it!

Picnic table and umbrella came with the pool ... she loves it!