Not feeling good and appt tomorow

Well, today Parker is not his happy self. He had a temperature at lunch and has been sleeping most of the day. Tylenol helped bring it down, so we will see how he is in the next hour or so. If he isnt better I guess we will be off to the pediatrician!

Tomorrow we have the always dreaded but anticipated cardiology appointment. I never want to go because I am always afraid of bad news, but I always want to go so I can know how Parker's heart is doing. Everytime we go I hope for that relieved feeling I get when Dr Seib walks in the room and tells us that his echo looks the same and everything is good. Please pray for the appointment tomorrow. Parker hasnt been doing well with doctors or nurses lately. Whenever they get near him he just starts crying uncontrolably (I totally understand why, but it just makes the appointments so hard for me--I hate to see my baby crying like that!). I am taking bubbles this time for during his echo. I hoping that they will help keep him occupied and STILL!!! I will let yall know how it goes. Thanks for the prayers.

Hello Mickey

My family went to Disney World for spring break and they got back today. My mom gave Parker a Mickey hat and I just wanted to share these cute pictures with you. These are the only shots I could get because he kept taking it off and wanting to put it on me!! I just love this little cutie!!

Ever since I was a little kid my family has gone to Disney World every year. I havent gone in a couple of years because I am a grown-up now and there arent spring breaks or summer breaks anymore!! I miss it and I cant wait to start taking Parker!!

Silly boy

The other night my two sisters (Amy and Kelsey) thought it would be hilarious to put Parker in Amy's tall Ugg boots. Ok, I thought it was pretty funny too!!!

Today, Parker thought it would be fun to get in his bumbo. Yes, it is still in the corner of my office! He squeezed through all of his toys to get back there and when he finally go into the bumbo he thought it was the funniest thing. He also thought it was so funny that he couldnt get out without Mommy's help! The funny thing is that he still pretty much fits in it!! Someone needs to put some meat on that kids bones! (He does weigh a whopping 19 lbs!!!)

Just thought I would share some pics of my fun little man!

Not the news I was hoping for

Parker had his swallow study this morning. One of my best friends Diane went with me to ACH because it is always nice to have an extra set of hands at the doctor's office and she is on spring break (she works at a school). Parker was so hungry by the time we got there...he was not pleasant. The whole swallow study thing is never fun---I dont think I would be happy either if they made me drink strawberry flavored barium!! Parker did not want to cooperate, but they got some pretty good pictures of him swallowing. The news was not good!!! He did worse than the last study. He completely aspirated the thin liquid and didnt even cough. This means that when he swallowed the liquid it went into his lungs and he didnt cough. Normally when something goes down "the wrong pipe" we cough to get it out. So, we have to keep thickening any liquids he takes in. We dont go back for 10-12 months!!! That is a long time!! We also have to start thickening his medications (any advice on that would be greatly appreciated!) Now we are going to start working with speech therapy to figure this whole swallowing thing out. They dont know why he is still aspirating--he should have grown out of it by now.
I am worn out from this morning, Parker is getting harder and harder to keep still!!! He was walking all over the waiting room. He walked over to this little girl and leaned in and kissed her!! I couldnt believe it...I appologized to her parents ( I dont think I would want some random child coming over and kissing Parker!!) He is just a little flirt!
Anyways, Parker is doing amazing! I guess I am just being a little negative because I was hoping for less work for me, that is kinda selfish, isnt it? I also wanted one more thing to be gone that reminds me he is "sick". I guess God wants me to keep being reminded for a little while longer. I'm ok with that. God is good, He is always good! My prayers were answered, even if it wasn't in the way I hoped. Parker is as healthy as he can be and thickening his food keeps him that way!!!

One more thing....please pray for baby Stellan. His heart is doing some crazy things and needs our prayers!

Tomorrow's appointment

Well, tomorrow Parker has a swallow study at Arkansas Children's Hospital. I am not nervous, I just hope that he passes this time. We have been thickening any liquids Parker drinks since he was born! It is hard when there is a new teacher at Sunday School or anywhere he is kept by someone else. All of the other kids can just have water or apple juice in their sippy cup, but not Parker. I have to make sure he already has something thickened and ready to go. It isnt that big of a deal, but it sure will be nice if I didnt have to do it anymore.

Please pray that he cooperates during the test and that the results are better than last time!!!

Sneakpeak and my new favorite toy!!

Most of the time I dont go around and announce that it is my birthday. Well My birthday was this week and the only reason I am posting about it is because I got an iPhone from my sweetie. Let me tell you...I was happy with my normal doesnt do much cell phone...It made calls and took pictures (isnt that all I needed?) NOOOO, I need so much more!!! This phone is amazing and I am addicted! There is even a blog icon! it takes me straight to my blog and I can post from the phone with pictures and everything! It is so easy (I am not smart when it comes to gadgets!!!). When I first got it I was really nervous. It didnt matter if I messed up my old boring phone, but now I have this amazing exciting phone!! I knew how to use my old phone and didnt want to learn something new. There wasnt anything to learn...it is just simple and sooooo fun!! Anyways, I will stop going on and on about my fun new toy..... I cant wait to post from it!!

Now.....Parker had Easter pictures made today with a LIVE bunny!! He did so good and smiled the whole time. I think he was flirting with the photographer. I took this one picture from the back of the room before she caught me (it is apparently frowned upon to take your own pictures in a photography studio!!). This isnt the best picture and you cant even see the backdrop all that well, but I just wanted to give a sneakpeak of Parker's adorable Easter outfit!!! It is a vest and a tie with brown slacks. He was kinda turned when I took the picture and his vest and pants arent fixed, but you can still get the idea of how cute he will look on Easter! He just looks so old!! The professional pictures turned out so cute!!

The entire session Parker was so sweet to the bunny (not pictured above). By the end of the session I guess he got more comfortable with the live bunny. He grabbed both ears, picked it up and threw it across the room. Dont worry the bunny is fine, but I was a little embarrassed!!! Luckily, everyone just laughed!!

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

Yesterday after work we met Stephen, Sarah and Sydney and went out to Wye Mtn. The daffodiles were in full bloom and it was a beautiful day. It was sunny and 75 degrees!! We took tons of pictures, but these are a few of favorites!! It was so fun because Parker has really started walking and he loves being outside.

Parker and Daddy walking towards the field.

Parker and Sydney rode in and out of the field in their wagon.

Have a great day!!!

Kiss me...I'm Irish!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

My little walker!

Touchdown!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

State Champs and lately

Last week we went to Hot Springs and watched the Arkansas Baptist High School boys basketball team win the state championship!! It was so fun to watch and the crowd was amazing!! The last time they won state was 10 years ago. I was there, but I was a cheerleader at that game. This time my sister was the cheerleader. I started missing the good ole days of highschool and then I actually remembered them and got over that feeling. I am so proud of my wonderful high school and sooo very proud of my beautiful sister!



Parker had so much fun cheering on the Eagles!

Just after winning. I cant remember the exact score, but we won by like 10-12 points!

Here is Parker going to find Kelsey in the crowd.

This is my sister Kelsey, isnt she pretty?



The next night we went out to eat for my grandmother's birthday. Here is mimi and Parker..


Last night Stephen, Sarah and Sydney came over for dinner. Parker and Sydney had so much fun together!! They also made green rice crispy treats for st patty's day!

Parker always tries to kiss Sydney!!

This is me, Parker, Sydney and Sarah

Notice Parker bending down to pick something up from standing!! He has been working so hard to do that at therapy!

Look at all those teeth!!

Kissing mommy!

Parker is still mostly crawling, but he is walking so much more!!! When we arent looking he will walk across the room, but when we want him to he wont do it!! He is so stubborn!

Good News

I took the GRE today at noon. It was not fun, but I did pretty good. The requirement to get into graduate school is to make a total of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the test. Well.....I made a total of 1010!!! Yeah!! I am so happy, even though I made the lowest score possible. Who cares that I barely made what I needed....I made what I needed!!
Nurse Practitioner here I come! Now I just have to apply.

Thanks for the prayers!

The dreaded day!

So, today is the day. I am taking the GRE today at noon. Please pray for me. I am really nervous!!

I will let you know how it goes.

Back to Normal

Well, life is finally getting back to normal in many ways. A new person was hired at work. I have been training her for about a week and today is her first day to sit by herself. This is my first day to sit at my own desk with my own work in about a month or so. It feels so good, but it also feels very overwhelming...I have a TON of work to catch up on, but I am not complaining! I am so happy that the new girl understands her new job and is going to work out. (just pray she doesnt quit!!)

Also, Parker is pretty much back to normal. In the last 3 weeks he has had 2 of his two year molars come in!! They were like four teeth each, because each point had to come through the gum at different times. He also had 4 other teeth come in at the same time. He was really fun, let me tell you!! Last week I had to go get him early from mothers day out and I had to get him from PT early because he wouldnt stop crying. He wouldnt eat anything. We were doing good if he drank one bottle of pediasure the entire day!! I was getting worried about him but now he is drinking and he has started eating solid foods without gagging!! I am so excited and so proud of him. He has only had 3 visits to speech therapy, but it seems to be working. He is talking so much. He has learned to say more and sign it with his hands! I am still working with him to want to eat solid foods but he has come along way in the last week or so. We are also all sippy cup all the time!! I guess it has been about a month since Parker drank from a bottle--PTL!! He is still taking about 6-8 steps and then he gets scared and sits down. We are working with him to walk without his AFOs (leg braces) and that is going pretty good. I have an old video that I never had time to post of him walking. I will post it but he is doing so much better than this now. I will try to get an updated one soon.

We have alot coming up in the next two weeks...

--I am a nures (for those of you who didnt know) and I have been thinking about going back to school to get my masters in nursing (nurse practitioner). Well, I am taking the GRE on Thursday. I am pretty nervous!! It has been a while since I have had to find the area of a cirlce!

--Parker has a few appointments coming up. He will get his last Synagis shot for the year on the 18th. He has a swallow study on the 24th. Please pray that he passes this time. I really want to stop thickening his food!!! April 1st is the long awaited Cardiology appointment. I always get nervous about going to the Cardiologist, but I am sure everything will be just fine.

--We also have the Heart Walk on April 4th. I will post about that later today.

I better get back to my real job! Of course, I will leave you with a picture of Parker from this past weekend. It has been so warm and he loves to be outside!! Here he is in his new go cart. It is the kind that is battery operated that you have to charge. The button is right on the steering wheel. He is still figuring it out, but he loves it. The second picture is Parker's new trick. He does this whenever you say "touchdown"!! His daddy LOVES it!