Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A little too much fa-la-la
Ross and I decided to have a little pre-Christmas get together at our house. The night was filled with good food, great friends and a few Christmas inspired games.
For those of you who haven't yet attempted Christmas Carole charades, it’s a must for next years line up. Just try acting out “Chestnuts roasting over an open fire” and see what you come up with. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. For the record the guys team was victorious and has the privilege of being charade champions until December ’09 – at which time there might need to be a rematch.
Even though we forgot to break the camera out until the end of the night, here are a few pictures from the debauchery.
For those of you who haven't yet attempted Christmas Carole charades, it’s a must for next years line up. Just try acting out “Chestnuts roasting over an open fire” and see what you come up with. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. For the record the guys team was victorious and has the privilege of being charade champions until December ’09 – at which time there might need to be a rematch.
Even though we forgot to break the camera out until the end of the night, here are a few pictures from the debauchery.
Connor Update
For those of you following Connor's food drama, here's the latest. Unfortunately, the new food that we had Connor on didn't work out. We had him on it for three full weeks and during that time, he didn't gain an ounce. His consumption was at an all time high with a daily increase of 140-160 extra calories, but still no change on the scale.
I guess that just confirms that he does have a cows milk protein allergy and that his body is fighting off the food instead of absorbing it. The good news is that during the last three weeks he didn't lose weight, so we're right where we were at the beginning of the month. For the time being we're switching him back to the nasty Neocate and waiting for the doctors next orders.
Connor's 9 month check up in on Tuesday and we're still holding out of a good weigh in. Fingers crossed.
I guess that just confirms that he does have a cows milk protein allergy and that his body is fighting off the food instead of absorbing it. The good news is that during the last three weeks he didn't lose weight, so we're right where we were at the beginning of the month. For the time being we're switching him back to the nasty Neocate and waiting for the doctors next orders.
Connor's 9 month check up in on Tuesday and we're still holding out of a good weigh in. Fingers crossed.
Friday, December 19, 2008
All I want for Christmas…
Is my two front teeth...
Connor will definitely not be singing that song for Christmas this year (regardless of the fact that he hasn’t learned to talk yet, much less sing). The point I’m trying to make is that not only does Connor already have his two front teeth; he also has four on the bottom and two more coming in on the top. That makes 8 teeth already!!
As everyone knows, I’m extremely competitive so this next comment shouldn’t surprise any of you. Out of all the kids in Connor’s daycare class – he has the most teeth (and the most hair). :) So regardless of the fact that he’s still a little peanut in the size and weight category, he’s excelling in the art of teething and hair growing – and those are the things that really matter. HAHA!
Like everyone that gets a new “toy”, Connor can’t wait to try out his new chompers. Since he still hasn’t gotten excited about solid food, he chooses to sharpen his pearly whites on my arm. Yup, my son’s a biter. He typically sucks me in by acting like he wants to snuggle his face in my arm and then before you know it - YEEEOWWW!
Which brings me to my next topic – discipline. Disciplining a 8.5 month old is difficult – if not impossible. Regardless, we’re finding subtle ways to help him understand that biting is bad. Part of the problem is that he’s still teething and his mouth is uncomfortable – still I have visions of sitting in a parent teacher conference years from now trying to explain why my son bit another kid in class. Ugh! Hopefully it won’t come down to that.
In a related story, Ross also used to be a biter. As one of his groomsmen so kindly shared during his speech at our wedding (in front of the minister –mind you), Ross got in trouble once for biting a black girl. When his mom asked him why he did it, Ross’s response was, “I wanted to see if she tasted like chocolate”. OMG!
Connor will definitely not be singing that song for Christmas this year (regardless of the fact that he hasn’t learned to talk yet, much less sing). The point I’m trying to make is that not only does Connor already have his two front teeth; he also has four on the bottom and two more coming in on the top. That makes 8 teeth already!!
As everyone knows, I’m extremely competitive so this next comment shouldn’t surprise any of you. Out of all the kids in Connor’s daycare class – he has the most teeth (and the most hair). :) So regardless of the fact that he’s still a little peanut in the size and weight category, he’s excelling in the art of teething and hair growing – and those are the things that really matter. HAHA!
Like everyone that gets a new “toy”, Connor can’t wait to try out his new chompers. Since he still hasn’t gotten excited about solid food, he chooses to sharpen his pearly whites on my arm. Yup, my son’s a biter. He typically sucks me in by acting like he wants to snuggle his face in my arm and then before you know it - YEEEOWWW!
Which brings me to my next topic – discipline. Disciplining a 8.5 month old is difficult – if not impossible. Regardless, we’re finding subtle ways to help him understand that biting is bad. Part of the problem is that he’s still teething and his mouth is uncomfortable – still I have visions of sitting in a parent teacher conference years from now trying to explain why my son bit another kid in class. Ugh! Hopefully it won’t come down to that.
In a related story, Ross also used to be a biter. As one of his groomsmen so kindly shared during his speech at our wedding (in front of the minister –mind you), Ross got in trouble once for biting a black girl. When his mom asked him why he did it, Ross’s response was, “I wanted to see if she tasted like chocolate”. OMG!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas has come early!
Christmas has come early at the McKinnon household this year. For whatever reason, Connor's finally found his appetite!! After all we've been through over the last year, this is the best present any of us could have asked for.
Out of sheer desperation and against our doctor’s advice, Ross and I changed Connor's food last weekend. It's amazing how many types of formula we've tried with him. We started with breast milk, then our doctor advised us to switch to Similac Advanced, then Nutrimigen, then Allimentum, then Soy, then the crem-de-la-crem...Neocate. The doctor "prescribed" the Neocate when we left the hospital after being on the feeding tube. At the time, it was the only thing that was helping Connor gain weight. This formula is so 'elemental' that his body had to do little to no work to break it down and absorb it. We would have done anything at that point, as long as he was gaining weight - we were happy.
As a very shocking side note, the Neocate costs $150 per can! For those of you without kids, one can of formula usually lasts 2-3 days depending on how much your baby is eating. Since this was doctor 'prescribed' our insurance paid for the majority of it - thank God! Ok, back to the story...
Our problem was solved...right? Well not quite, Connor was severely constipated on this new formula. I won't go into details, but it was heartbreaking. We dealt with it as long as we could, but this weekend Ross and I had enough. So we decided to switch his food - back to the normal run-of-the-mill Similac.
The jury's still out on whether Connor will be able to gain weight on this new food, but so far his consumption has gone through the roof! Connor's only been on this formula for four days now, but he's had 31 ounces 3 out of the 4 days! That may not sound very impressive, but it's by far the most Connor's ever eaten in one day - ever. Not only that he's become easier to feed (the daycare ladies love this - we do too) and he seems to like the taste.
Out of sheer desperation and against our doctor’s advice, Ross and I changed Connor's food last weekend. It's amazing how many types of formula we've tried with him. We started with breast milk, then our doctor advised us to switch to Similac Advanced, then Nutrimigen, then Allimentum, then Soy, then the crem-de-la-crem...Neocate. The doctor "prescribed" the Neocate when we left the hospital after being on the feeding tube. At the time, it was the only thing that was helping Connor gain weight. This formula is so 'elemental' that his body had to do little to no work to break it down and absorb it. We would have done anything at that point, as long as he was gaining weight - we were happy.
As a very shocking side note, the Neocate costs $150 per can! For those of you without kids, one can of formula usually lasts 2-3 days depending on how much your baby is eating. Since this was doctor 'prescribed' our insurance paid for the majority of it - thank God! Ok, back to the story...
Our problem was solved...right? Well not quite, Connor was severely constipated on this new formula. I won't go into details, but it was heartbreaking. We dealt with it as long as we could, but this weekend Ross and I had enough. So we decided to switch his food - back to the normal run-of-the-mill Similac.
The jury's still out on whether Connor will be able to gain weight on this new food, but so far his consumption has gone through the roof! Connor's only been on this formula for four days now, but he's had 31 ounces 3 out of the 4 days! That may not sound very impressive, but it's by far the most Connor's ever eaten in one day - ever. Not only that he's become easier to feed (the daycare ladies love this - we do too) and he seems to like the taste.
I'm hopefully optimitic.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Thanksgiving in Alabama
Ross, Connor and I headed to Birmingham for Thankgiving this year. It was Connor's first airplane ride and he did fantastic! He slept all the way there and only cried once on the flight home. He's such a little trooper.
Thanksgiving was a blast! It was so nice to see all of Ross's family. As always, it was a little bit of a mad-house. :) Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the craziness.
1. Brett carving the turkey
2. Bonnie and Emily pulling Connor's pants up to his armpits
3. Reese making a funny face
4. Emily and Connor playing with the kitty.
5. Emily, Nana and Connor hanging out on the couch
Thanksgiving was a blast! It was so nice to see all of Ross's family. As always, it was a little bit of a mad-house. :) Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the craziness.
1. Brett carving the turkey
2. Bonnie and Emily pulling Connor's pants up to his armpits
3. Reese making a funny face
4. Emily and Connor playing with the kitty.
5. Emily, Nana and Connor hanging out on the couch
92 is the new 65
Ross, Connor and I drove up to Kerrville today to celebrate my grandma's 92nd birthday! We took her to eat at her favorite restaurant and then went back to her place for cake. I just adore my grandma and love her for all her crazy quirks.
Here are just a few of my favorites...When we take her out to eat, she's notorious for gasping when her food arrives and always claims that it's way too much. She usually takes a few bites, boxes it up, and then orders a huge dessert. Two years ago, she bought a new car. She called me to tell me about her new purchase and when I asked what kind of car she bought she tells me that it’s a Tyota Cameron (no typo here). I think she still calls it that.
At 92 she's still going strong. She lives by herself in an adorable garden home overlooking Kerrville and still drives all over town - although she occasionally forgets which car is hers :) I can only hope that I’m doing as well at 92.
Love you grandma!!
Here are just a few of my favorites...When we take her out to eat, she's notorious for gasping when her food arrives and always claims that it's way too much. She usually takes a few bites, boxes it up, and then orders a huge dessert. Two years ago, she bought a new car. She called me to tell me about her new purchase and when I asked what kind of car she bought she tells me that it’s a Tyota Cameron (no typo here). I think she still calls it that.
At 92 she's still going strong. She lives by herself in an adorable garden home overlooking Kerrville and still drives all over town - although she occasionally forgets which car is hers :) I can only hope that I’m doing as well at 92.
Love you grandma!!
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