Answers or More Questions

I know I have catching up to do, such is my life being the procrastinator that I am, but I was hoping someone could offer up some info about Collin's mouth. Look at the picture below, yes we are going to the doctor about it but I thought maybe someone would know what that black/purple mass is. Is it an infected tooth? Is it the reason he doesn't like to eat anymore? Is it an alien breeding in my child's warm moist mouth? Well, okay maybe not the last one but really holy cow people that is nasty! I found it this morning while playing with him, which of course makes me feel like a bad mother for not finding it earlier.

Craig got a clear shot of poor Collin's tooth/mass at the back of his mouth.
WTF? Is this the reason he hates to eat? Please comment!

Cyrus is almost walking now, taking a handful of steps on his own. He walks from chair to couch, person to person, and loves to walk all over the house with help. He does not know how to get up to standing from sitting without a chair or something to pull himself up. He is talking all the time, bottle (bah-bah), toes, blankie, and tons of baby babbling as he points to things.

I caught him laughing, what a great smile! The bump on his head is from a
recent fall while trying to pull a cup off of the kitchen table and losing his balance.

Collin is an airplane on, his big sister, Gaia's knees. She loves to play with
whoever is more interested in being cutest at the time.

I will get a better entry in later (isn't that just like a procrastinator?) but I have some things to do before getting Collin to the doctor, again. Between Collin's thumb (which has been referred to a dermatologist) and this, we are getting way to familiar with the pediatrician's office.

Xanga Returns!

I have not made a real post on there yet, but I just wanted to let everyine know that my original Xanga site is working again and I will be posting on it tonight! Yippee! But do not worry to all you Bloggers, I will still keep up the mirror blog. :) I am just so happy to have my old blog back.

Keeping up Appearances

We have been keeping busy with our very mobile young men these days. We go walking with my sister in law and her kids three days a week now to keep in shape, get out of the house, stay in touch with my family, and oh yeah, get out of the house! Cyrus is climbing on everything these days and if I do not figure out something for him to have "permission" to climb on soon he is going to end up behind the couch or in the ER. The boy loves to climb, what can I say, he takes after his parents. :)

We went to my parent's house for Mother's Day, which was one of the most out of sync days I have had in a long time! Not only did I set off my car alarm AND my house alarm, but I forgot my camera, some things for the boys and dropped just about everything I picked up that was not a child. It was a nice day anyway, I mean really, if you cant laugh at yourself...

Collin's thumb is still weird and spotty but some of the spots are "surfacing" but they are still not bothering him and so everyday I debate whether to take him back to the doctor. I have not yet because I know I will end up paying for another visit where I leave with nothing. They are due for their 18 month check up and maybe I will wait for that to bring his thumb up then, get as much done in one visit as I can. Cyrus is having more fun walking these days but still does not stand on his own for more than a second or two or walk by himself yet. He babbles and talks all the time, which is better than the screaming, and I keep hoping Collin will follow suit. Collin has followed Cyrus in his eating habits and now it is a fight every single meal to eat. Oh, oh, I need to take pictures but I finally found a sippy cup that the boys have taken to. Last week we had some old friends from last Fall's Tiny Tots and Cyrus kept trying to drink from their sippy cup. Carson and Jordan were very nice about Cyrus' theivery and now we have sippy cups! Woo Hoo one more step to meal time independence! Today they had Gouda cheese, crackers, and jalapeno venison sausage for dinner (with water in their new sippy cups!). Yum!

The boys go out on their maiden voyage of their new wagon.
They held on for dear life but enjoyed it. I look forward
to taking them for walks!

Just the sweetest smile you can get!

Some of our friends from Tiny Tots came by last week and
here we see Carson enjoying some cookies.

Jordan sits happily with Mommy, Shawn, and like her sister also
enjoying a plentiful amount of cookies.

Cyrus found his way into the dryer the other day. He was so proud
and Mommy knew it was time to keep them out of the laundry room.

Oops! What ever did I do with my star?

A family photo... All we are missing is the big sister!

First Words and Funky Thumbs

I cannot believe I didn't say anything earlier since I have been telling everyone in person. Cyrus has been talking! He says up, down all the time and lifts his arms up in the air. This morning I came in and he is standing at the crib railing saying down, down, down. He also says ball and is trying to say on, off, referring to putting the lids on the babyfood jars when I am feeding him. So his first word in context was ball but what he loves to say is up, down. Hurray Cyrus! Woo Hoo!

I took Collin to the doctor Wednesday morning and of course they had nothing pertinent to tell me. If it gets worse come back, if it spreads or if Cyrus ends up with it, come back. Other wise just keep an eye on it and do not worry. Well, I decided that I would share the "rash" with all of my loyal viewers (you get the good, the bad, and now get the ugly) and see if anyone might have an idea of what this might be. I am going to track it (not to worry, I wont be putting pics up of Collin's thumb for the next few weeks) and hopefully it will just go away. But after my experience in the NICU, just going away can be a lot to ask.

The raised bump at the tip of his thumb is the worst.
Most of the other bumps can only be
felt if you put pressure on them.

Just another angle for your viewing enjoyment. The doctor said
they couldstick it and see what is inside, but it puts Collin
at risk for infection.Um, thanks but no thanks. I will
wait for something more to happen before I stick
my child with needles again.

NICU Reunion 2006

Sunday was the NICU reunion at Cook Children's Hospital where the boys stayed, and we made it back for our second reunion. Last year was fun, but the boys were still on oxygen and I was all by myself so it was difficult. This time they were aware and interactive, and to top it off my mother came along and helped take care of the boys while we mingled. We had a great time seeing some of the nurses that I had not seen since the last reunion, a few since the NICU. Time seemed to go by pretty quickly and before we knew it the reunion was over. Cyrus got his hands on someone's cup and dumped ice and water all over himself, causing us to have to change him. I wanted to put a link to last year's NICU reunion on here, but I am still having problems with Xanga on my computer. (*Cries* I miss my Xanga site; I worked so hard on it, you know.) Later that evening we had a visitor from Craig's most recent job, Jarred, come over and meet the boys. They had a great time and the boys really took to him. What a busy Sunday! (Psst- Adrienne, let me know if I messed up anyone's name ok?)

Which reminds me, the day before we all went over to see the Swain cousins and Collin was completely entranced by Uncle Chris' guitar. I got a great video clip of them. Cyrus liked it but lost interest after a few minutes while Collin watched him play the whole time. Perhaps we have a musician in our midst?

Today I noticed that Collin has these little white bumps on the tip of his thumb while I was clipping his nails (which has become increasingly difficult lately, just Collin though). They are small like pin head and hard like a bead. They could be nothing but I am taking him to the doctor tomorrow anyways. I will let every one know how it goes.

Miss Adrienne took care of both the boys while in the NICU,
and is an avid Collin and Cyrus follower so I came to discover.
She asked me how my trip was! So I had to get pictures of her
and the boys on here, the boys loved her too as
some of their best pics were with her.

Cyrus smiled for the camera! It is such a rarity these days.
Note the necklace from the previous picture has now been
taken out of reach. Yeah, hands of little Cyrus!

Miss Frances also took care of the boys and helped me deal
with some issues I had while they were still in the NICU.
Cyrus loved her and practically did not want to let go.

Miss Michelle keeps Collin away from her keys.
Both of the boys just loved those retractable badges.
It was so nice to see you again!

Miss Sheralyn reminisces with Cyrus but he is distracted by the
hot dog bun floating in the corner. Spooky! (Shh, you don't see the fingers!)

Miss Janet also took care of the boys, and I remember spending
a good deal of time near the end talking with her. I heard one
night she held Collin when he was having a hard
time without his mommy. Thank you Janet!

Tanner won a door prize, a potty prize! His very own Royal Potty,
all set now aren't you Tanner? Ok ready, set, GO POTTY!

And can you believe we won something too? By the time they
called Cyrus' name there weren't any real baby toys left, but
we got a cool nerf basketball hoop which the boys love. The nerf
ball is already in the trash since Cyrus took a big bite out of it
(I got all the pieces back from him, not to worry).

OK so it was not so easy getting all the boys together for a
picture.This is my best one, Teri Lyn, I hope yours are better!
Tanner's Dad Marcus tries to keep Tanner from running off, good luck with that. :P

Our friend Jarred came by for a visit and the boys thought he was
a newjungle gym. He was very nice and humored them playing
a bunch. Thanks Jarred. :)

Cyrus enjoys his peas, but I think he likes wearing them the most.

How does one child get so much on him in one sitting?

Collin was enjoying Cyrus making an incredible hulk of himself,

Mommy just snuck into the picture out of boredom.