Eric, Hillary, Q & A

I am what Missionaries call "trunky". I am SO ready to move to Seattle! Eric went out of town this week and it was just me and Q. It was very lonely. If we were in Seattle I could have hung out with some friends, or gone to my moms. I even looked into flights, but they were crazy expensive. Dang the midwest.

We are going back in April for Erics MBA weekend, which will be fun because Q is going to be with his Grandparents while Eric and I enjoy a weekend to ourselves! I am SO excited. It will be hard to come back to Wisconsin. Good thing I have a Wedding to go to a few weeks later in St. George!

MBA Weekend: 12 days
Bergen's Wedding: 36 days
Move to Seattle: 125 days

Before Daddy went out of town- he passed out

He was sad his Bracket was losing to Dad

Weight: 12 lbs
Length: 24 inches
Clothing Size: 0-3 Months
Sleep: You still dont sleep through the night, but I think that is because you dont weigh enough. Last week I had you start taking your naps in your crib. Crazy idea. Even better is I lay you in your crib wide awake, and you will fall asleep on your own! Its wonderful!!
I Love...: Talking, and smiling at other people. You are such a flirt! Anyone that says hi to you, you flash them your smile and they instantly fall in love. You will even talk to them sometimes. You also like playing on your play mat and your bouncy chair, because the hanging toys make noise. Also you love watching Despicable Me. We watch it when you are crying and we cant get you to stop. You started Giggling as well, you were before but now we can play with you and you will giggle A LOT! Its so cute to hear you!
I Hate...: Being left alone. You will play by yourself as long as someone is in the room. You also dont like waiting for food. When you want to eat, it better be ready!
Trips: No major trips. We do go to the Doctors office once a week for weight checks and dermatology appointments. You really dont mind the doctors office. We did go to the ER again, because of an allergy to Milk based formula. You keep mommy busy.
It was funny when...: Daddy likes to tease you and put his finger in your mouth for you to suck on, you make the funniest facial expressions. You also only suck on 2 of your fingers, you mostly suck on your left hand. Maybe you will be left handed! Also, you talk to the TV. Mostly Giada, you just talk and talk and sometimes I hear you giggling to yourself. I have tried to catch it on Camera, but when I get it out, you see me watching you and become instantly camera shy.
Other facts: You are under weight, so the doctors are having us give you formula from now on to make sure you are getting enough food. You kept losing weight so they were concerned about you. Your rash is still around, and seems to come and go. Hopefully this next month we can see an allergist, maybe you are allergic to something and thats what causes the rash.

WE LOVE YOU!

This last week I have taken Q in to the doctors 3 out of 5 days. It was only supposed to be Wednesday and Thursday just for check ups. The Pediatric Dermatologist for his rash, and just a weight check with the nurse. However, the doctor on Thursday told me that his weight hasn't gone up since he initally lost half a pound a month ago. So they had me come in for a full appointment on Friday. Bummer.

On Friday I was shown graphs of Q's height and weight, they had been following a curve and then dropped, then flat lined. The doctors were super concerned that he had a moderate case of "failure to thrive" so I would need to start supplementing him after I fed him.

So I came home, and the next time I had to feed him after I nursed him, I put together a 3 oz bottle of Formula. I waited about 20 minutes, just so he had time to make room for this extra amount. At first he didn't like it, and he gave me the "what the crap is this" look. But didn't have any problems chowing the entire bottle down. About 5 minutes later his eyes were super swollen and he was rubbing them. I thought this extra milk had made him really tired. Kinda of like Thanksgiving day when you overstuff yourself and just want to pass out on the couch. I swaddled him and started rocking him to sleep when I heard the worst noise ever. He started gagging. I looked down to see him trying to cough/breath/throw up all at the same time. I started pounding on his back and rushed to the sink as a huge ball of crap came out of his mouth. More gagging and chocking followed. This is about the point i also noticed his eyes were completly swollen over, and he had rashes on the back of his head and his hands. I have nannied enough kids to know what an allergic reaction looks like. I instantly gave him a small amount of Benadryl and called my mom. Cause thats what I do. I was talking to her when he started gagging all over again, and looked like it was getting worse. I called the doctors office and after talking with the most annoying receptionist ever, I was told to call 911. This whole time, I am texting Eric, my mom is calling him, all to no avail.

SO 911 came. By now he was no longer coughing and chocking. His eyes were still red and swollen but not nearly as bad as before. They told us we needed to head to the ER so he can be montiored and make sure his airway is clear. Eric walked in the door about this time, so off we went.

When we got to the ER they had us they checked his breathing, his eyes, rashes and bumps (He had a HUGE ball of something on the back of his neck) After an hour, they came in and told me that he didn't have an allergic reaction, but that he just was coughing and thats what caused this.

I was so mad. I know what happened, I know he had an allergic reaction, namely because thats what happens when I have an allergic reaction. Stupid Doctors! Anyways- they said he was fine and we should just monitor him. I hate how they make you feel like an idiot. Like you are overreacting. How is it, that myself, my mom, the nurse and the EMT all think what we are seeing is an allergic reaction, but the doctors think it was just a bad cough? grrrrrrrrr.

Needless to say, we threw away all of our milk based formula and just bought Soy. Hopefully he wont have the same reaction to Soy, and we will be able to help him gain some weight!

I have decided that every week I am going to try something different. I have a tendency to change everything at once, and then I get overwhelmed, and when I cheat in one area, I get upset and cheat in ALL areas. So this time, I am changing 1 thing a week.

Last week I gave up Soda. If you didn't already know that Diet Coke is my crack, you dont know me very well. I refuse to munch on treats during the day, so I usually grab a Soda, but no more. I now will drink water any time I walk into my kitchen wanting a snack, I get a large glass of water. I miss my crack. :(

This week, I am getting a salad anytime I eat out. I dont like getting a salad when I go out to eat, because I should get something I cant make at home. However, from now on if I go out to eat, I will either Only get a salad, or I will give up my carb, like Mashed Potatoes, and get a Side salad instead. So far so good! I went to Panera and got a salad with the dressing on the side. (That part is also key) When we went to Longhorn Steakhouse, I got a Salmon with a salad. it was delicious.

I haven't decided what next weeks item will be. Well actually I can think of a few, I just dont know which one I WANT to do.

What would you suggest next week be?

Weight: 10.5 lbs
Length: 23 inches
Clothing Size: 0-3 Months
Sleep: Huge break through this month! You will sleep in your crib now! Once you are asleep we can put you in your crib and you will sleep for about an hour or 2 depending on when you fall asleep! Its amazing!
I Love...: Being swaddled. once we start wrapping you, you get smile on your face. You also love your hands. You try to fit your entire fist in your hand all the time. We also put you in the convertible cars eat and you seem to enjoy it more. there is still crying, but not nearly as much. We will never use the infant car seat again.
I Hate...: Being sick- you have had an awful cough and then the rash. Waiting for food- you want food NOW, you hate waiting, also, you dont like getting left. You are ok with laying by yourself as long as you can see people, if you cant your upset.
Trips: We went to Seattle over Valentines day to visit the Grandmas and Grandpas. We had so much fun, Daddy showed up for the weekend.
It was funny when...: Watching you try and put your entire fist in your mouth. You try hard to talk, so its fun to watch your facial expressions as you try to talk. You throw your head back and arch your back when you cry. Its very dramatic and we laugh at you every time. We can tell you are going to be a tantrum thrower, not just crying but you will put your entire body into it.
Firsts: Rolling over and Trip to ER
Other facts: You like to follow us around the room, and still want to be held a lot, but if you can at least see us where you are, you dont mind staying put.

SO- to say I am exhausted would be an understatement. We got back from Seattle on Monday, and hit the worst traffic on our way to Cheesecake Factory, every time we fly in to Milwaukee we stop in at Cheesecake. So like I said the WORST traffic, and I had planned on feeding Q at the restaurant but because the traffic was so bad we went passed his 2nd dinner time. He was LIVID. We couldn't calm him down and couldn't get off the freeway. Once we did however, we found a parking lot so I could geed the baby. Went to dinner after that no harm done.

Milwaukee is about an 1 hour and 45 minutes away from where we live. Since we had dinner, we figured traffic would have cleared up. It did- however we were unaware about the snow storm that was hitting Madison and Milwaukee. It was so bad, that we couldn't see the road, or the lines. We slowed down to 20 miles an hour at one point because it was so bad. Luckily Q was passed out in the back seat. We couldn't pull over anywhere because there wasn't a place to pull over without getting stuck in the snow. We could only keep driving, and PRAYING. Eventually Q woke up because it was time to eat again, however, we were no where near being home (like I planned we would be), and there wasn't anywhere to pull over! It was a huge blessing that I had put a bottle of already made formula in my purse. I dont usually carry formula since I breastfeed, but I figured there was nothing wrong with that. Blessing 2 was I had a nipple of the formula- something else I dont carry! Q didn't want to be in his carseat so i pulled out my phone and turned on Dragon Tales. Who would have thought a 3 month old would have like Dragon Tales.

After a lot of praying and deciding this was the 2nd worst drive home we had ever encountered, we made it! I had called earlier that day to take Q to the doctors because he had a rash on his body- I figured it was Eczema that just needed stronger medicine.

At ER- This was all over his body

At the ER

The Doctors appointment was at 10. Of course the doctor didn't show up till 11 grrrr. Then she couldn't figure out what the rash was. So she brought in 3 other doctors! Still couldn't figure it out. They did say whatever it was, it was infected. He was also losing weight and was super unhappy. So we were sent to the ER. I arrived at the ER at 12. The Doctor and Nurses at the ER were super nice- maybe that's because it was the Pediatric ER. They also couldn't figure out what was going on, so after taking pictures and sending it to other doctors and dermatologists they gave us some infection medicine, and steroid cream. I finally left at 330 PM. By the time i drove home and picked up the perscriptions it was time for Eric to come home! Did I mention that the only thing I had that day to eat was a SlimFast from breakfast?

After ER- just looks like Chicken Pox now

After ER

Wednesday we had a 1030 appointment with a pediatric dermatologist. They also showed up late. They looked at him and just said ya, just keep using the medicine the ER prescribed, and come back in 2 weeks. So that's what we have been doing, and the rash looks a TON better!

Its been quite a week. Especially since it has been storming here... Winter Storm Q. I thought Eric was kidding when he said that was the name of the storm. Since our Q has been sick he is stuck in doors which means I am stuck in doors. I am going crazy! Our little apartment is only so fun. Any ideas on things to do inside your house to keep from going crazy?

Back in Wisconsin ( i'm in Seattle right now) our condo has no internet. Also my phone doesnt get great service (thanks midwest) So I have spent a lot of time texting Eric. (He has been thrilled... not) I dont understand hashtagging things (Is that 2 words? Should I have just put the pound sign?) As confused about this trend as I am, Eric cant stand it. I'm not sure he sees the humor in it. So while I had no internet I was texting Eric via hash tags- #mylifesuckswithoutinternet #imsobored #isthisgoingtobeforever #my3gsucks you get the picture. Well Eric responds by telling me to stop hashtagging- so i say #sorrynotsorry.

Yes I know that hashtagging doesnt work in texts, but i wont use it on facebook, twitter or instagram. I only use it to bother my husband. Like when we sit on the couch watching tv and he tells me he cant jump very high (in relation to basketball) my loving response? #whitepeopleproblems

Yes I think I am hilarious. I hashtag in normal conversations. Eric just stares at me and says "Really?" to which he gets #sorrynotsorry.

As you can see I have internet now- no one is more excited about this then Eric. I also got the Jumping Johnny out for the baby. He kinda liked it. It swallows him up though! #premieproblems

Maybe I have a problem

One of my Resolutions this year is to read more, especially doctrinal books. Since I am unable to go to Institute and Sunday School has turned into a joke with a baby that wants to be fed, I feel like I my spiritual bucket is not getting filled.

So my first book is "Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon". I found it in my parents library during the holidays, and felt impressed that this should be my first book. I was searching for a book, because while I am feeding the baby I get bored. 40 minutes of breastfeeding throughout the day is a long time, and there are only so many iphone games to keep me occupied (I have mastered all the Flow Bridges levels).

But back to the book. From the moment I opened it I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a good easy read doctrinal book. There have been so many different insights and teachings that I can not list all of them here. But I would like to share 2 that have stayed with me.

Overcoming Trials and Weakness
Awhile back, Eric and I were talking about our new little monster Q. I love him with all my heart, but recently I think he is more like Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde. He must be held all the time, he wont sleep in his own crib or bassinet and he likes to cry ALL THE TIME. He is my new trial. Who would have thought a baby could be a trial. I thought my trial was going to be getting pregnant and staying pregnant, which it was, but it now is Q.
Elder Henry D. Moyle stated that " We unquestionably knew before we elected to come to this earth the conditions under which we would here exist." Pres. Joseph F. Smith wrote "I believe that our Savior... possess a foreknowledge of all the vicissitudes through which he would have to pass in the mortal tabernacle... If Christ knew before hand, so did we. but it coming here, we forgot all, that our agency might be free indeed, to choose good or evil." I thought back on all the trials I had in my life, and thought it interesting that i would have known about them before hand! I look at my current trials that I have and now apply these 2 quotes, I knew I would have a difficult baby, I knew I would be living in a State that I dont love, with a Body that breaks on my constantly! These quotes have totally changed how I will face this trial and all others in my life. I knew about them and still chose to come to earth. My favorite quote, and truly the one that has made the most impact on me, concerning my trials is from Neal A. Maxwell "God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked... Let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and therefore... when we feel overwhelmed, let us recall with assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear." I have always been taught that you will not be given more then you can handle, but I love how Elder Maxwell puts it! How much more strength do I have now?! I can look at my adorable trial and say to myself, "I knew I was going to have a difficult baby, AND I know that I can handle this! I feel as if I have been given a little shot in the arm! Now when a new trial comes my way instead of saying "Why me!?" Or suffering through, I feel like I can now hit it head on, and say to myself, I picked this, and I can beat this, with the Lord on m side I can do anything!

I couldn't help posting this picture- I gave him a mohawk.

Weight: 9.5 lbs (0 percentile)
Length: 22.5 inches (6% percentile)
Clothing Size: Newborn fits best but you are starting to wear 0-3
Nicknames: Q, The Baby, Monster
Food: Milk
Sleep: You now will stay asleep for like 30 minutes if we put you in your crib. You wont fall asleep in your crib, but you now dont scream the minute we put you down!
I Love...: You love smiling and when people smile at you and talk to you. You are trying SO hard to talk and laugh. You also love the whit noise app on mom and dads phones, it is the only way to calm you down when you are screaming and how to get you asleep
I Hate...: Still hate the carseat but if someone will sit back there and talk to you you wont scream the entire time... just some of it.
Trips: Flew to Utah! Mom had to go to Utah to work and daddy had to get back to Madison, so we made our first solo flight. You rode in moms purse. Talk about first class flying
It was funny when...: when you are half asleep you smile and sort of laugh.
Firsts: Flight to Utah, 2 month shots,
Other facts: While in Utah you did great and everyone at work loved you, you also rolled over while on your tummy. we were at the hotel in utah so we had to facetime Daddy so he could see.

We were so excited to get away from the 15 inches of snow! This year was Eric's family on year for Christmas. We try the best we can to divide the time we are there evenly between both families since they are only 45 minutes apart. Our flight was delayed leaving Milwaukee and then we sat on the tarmat for 45 minutes once we landed. So we didnt get to Eric's house until 3 am :( After that little hick up we had a great vacation! On Sunday we blessed Eric in my home ward.