Happy 7th Month, Wells!

Here we are again... another month has flown by, and I'm pulling from all parts of my brain to document about this month. I love these little month celebrations, but they come so quickly. I have not been very good about writing on the month, but I am also taking a deep breath and realizing it's okay.

Wells,

You aren't sitting up yet, but boy do you try. I think you've realized just how vulnerable you are when laying flat. You have a little book I put in your lap, and you absolutely love it. The book has paper inside that crinkles, and you love that sound. The book must taste pretty good too. ;-)

You're still teething without any teeth actually coming through. I think the teeth have bothered you this week because you've been fussy during nap and before bed. You were so upset Monday night that you slept in our room. I didn't mind, of course.

Since we've taken the plunge for solids, you are well on your way to being a big boy. You have eaten rice cereal, sweet potatoes, cinnamon, the barley/rice/oatmeal mix, banana, carrots, and applesauce. You love bananas, sweet potatoes and cereal. The apple sauce is tart because you make the most sour face when you eat it. I've started to mix it with carrots, and you'll eat better then. You're not a great fan of plain carrots either. You liked the cinnamon, but spots started on your trunk so we nixed that spice.

You're still sweet as ever. You are getting a lot more vocal. "Ba ba ba ba" is your favorite word. We need to have a wave down by 9 months, according to Dr. Jeannie.

We love you, dear Wells. You are such a joy and blessing to us.

-mom

Ooltewah Tidal Waves

We have started a new sport in our casa: swim team! It has taken some encouraging, bribing, and anything else to get a positive, eager to learn swimmer in the water, and Lilly Scott has done so well!

She's not to the point of swimming for points at each race, but she does swim exhibition for at least 2 set ups. {Swim team lingo is something I'm learning and may use, but I'll explain if I can.}

Meets are Monday and Thursday evenings, and practice is every week day morning. Practices and meets aren't required, but if one wants to improve, practicing a minimum of 4 times a week is encouraged. That's our goal. 

Our friends are doing swim team parenting with us so LS has her sweet friend, Gracie, right alongside her. 

Once you get the 'heat sheet' of events, it helps to write the race number, stroke, and lane on the swimmer's arm. This helps them keep up with what they've been assigned.

The first meet LS swam expedition freestyle. Then it was rained out so we finished the meet in bowls of chips and salsa at a local Mexican place. 

We are still working on diving off the block. 

First swim meet freestyle race seed time was 51:18.

The second meet LS swam exhibition freestyle, expedition back stroke, and she swam for POINTS in the backstroke relay. Swimming for points means that your time is calculated with your team so your time is kept and documented for the team, not just a personal account. 

The meets have us juggling quite a bit, but it's fun and worth it to celebrate and cheer for our Scotty. 

On Fridays, we play in the baby pool during practice. 

as always,
ashley

Doctor, Doctor

We are a big family. I love it. I cherish it. I pay for it. When a bug goes around, it's times three, sometimes times four or five. Thankfully we haven't experienced a times 6 yet.... yet.

After Disney, Wells had a rough night. He slept for about an hour and woke up crying. It really isn't his nature, but I was exhausted so I wasn't being as sensitive as Dad. Jordan went in and got him, and our long night of ups and downs began. 

It was odd.. He isn't a big crier, and he loves his sleep {just like his mama}. The next morning I had an appointment to do a weight check since he dropped off his curve from the 2 month appointment. 

At the doctor's office, Wells melted. He cried, and he cried. He would be soothed for a minute or two, but then he started again. It was alarming to myself and the nurse so she had Dr. Jeannie come in to check Wells. His poor right ear drum was trying to rupture from pressure. He was in so much pain and completely miserable. Thank goodness the other 3 kiddos were at home with Ms. Renae so I could focus on Wells. 

She gave him a shot of rocephin {OUCH}, and she asked me to feed him to see if he could calm down. He wouldn't nurse or take a bottle. I went home with two handfuls of syringes to feed him if he wouldn't nurse. Crazy that we went in for weight and left with a shot and a new feeding regimen. His weight was great, by the way. 

I had to take Wells in the next morning for a follow up appointment. He was doing so much better that we decided to go with an oral antibiotic. That worked until nap time. He had slept in a baby bouncer the two nights prior and each nap, but he was in such good spirits I laid him flat for the afternoon nap. Mistake. He woke up screaming 45 minutes later. I gave him Tylenol, and he was still screaming 30 minutes after that. We went back in for our second shot, which committed us to a third shot the next day. Poor guy. 

He's doing much better this week! Sweet boy, I am so sorry you got so sick. 

This week.... Let me back up... Last week, when I was at the doctor with Wells, Paisley got into an ant hill. She got a yellow blister in the center of a red circle on her foot {we assume it was an ant bite}. I didn't pop it because I thought that made it more prone to infection... I've now learned my lesson. Fast forward to this week, and the yellow is gone, but there's a huge blister. Saturday we popped it, and it was looking meaner with each day this week. 

I measured so I would have a reference.

We went to the doctor again Monday and got a prescription for Bactrim {P has an allergy to penicillin and cephalosporin}. Read about her first reaction here. We also got a topical cream that's like an 'extra strength neosporin.' 

The skin is starting to peel so something is at work in her little foot. 

Monday night, Mac had yellow gunk in his eye. I wiped it and the stuff returned, again and again. I assumed allergies, but I was wrong. {If you're keeping track that list is mighty long.} The next day after swim practice and the museum, his eye started turning pink. I had pulled more crusted gunk from his eye that morning, but I really didn't think any more of it. Well.... trusting my intuition once that eye turned pink, his eyelid drooped, and a mama friend's opinion: Mac has pink eye. 

Thank goodness I have the drops for it so Mac joined in the lineup of meds at nap and bedtime. 

Yesterday Jordan was home sick. He has a sinus infection in his face and chest. He's back at work today so either he realized rest doesn't really happen at home, or he's made a serious recovery. 

My turn, although I wish I could be spared... Before Disney, I had a mysterious bump on my bum. My brain is in so many places so I don't pinpoint symptoms or put them together until they start screaming. A few nights before I noticed the bum bump {ha}, I felt like I was coming OUT of my skin. I scratched, no relief. I tossed and turned. I was so exhausted that I would start to fall asleep and then the 'bugs crawling in my skin' feeling returned. I started to think I was having a reaction, and the last thing I had consumed was Bud Light Lime. No!! Not my Bud Light Lime!!! 

I had an appointment with my OB a couple days later and showed him the bump. It had a vertical line running through it as well as blisters on it. Lovely. He immediately knew it was shingles. Shingles?! How in the world??? Apparently you don't have to be 86 to get shingles. Yay, me. 

So last night... I noticed a strange red spot on the inside of my forearm. You have got to be kidding me, I thought. I took note of it's size, and this morning the red streak is slowly but surely making its way to the spot. 

I don't have a primary care doctor so I phoned a few places I had been referred. Since when does a doctor have to 'accept' a patient before they can be seen? All the places wanted me to make an appointment 3+ weeks away. I only call the doctor when I'm sick so it's odd to have an appointment for a meet and greet. Honestly, that's bogus to me. Clearly, I don't have time for this.... 

Turns out I had another round of valtrex to be filled at the pharmacy so I started that today. Fingers crossed all these issues in our house will leave as quickly as they came. 

We ask for His healing hands to be laid on our family, Amen!

as always,

ashley

Wells is 6 Months!

This post is several days shy of your 7th month, but I honestly forgot. It's summer, we've been to Disney, and we are in full swing of swim team. But here it goes...

Wells,

It can't be said enough: you are the sweetest thing. Rarely do you cry, and often you laugh. You are a cuddly one, and you melt in arms {while you melt hearts, I must say.} I can't tell you enough how absolutely loved and adored you are. Your brother and sisters absolutely swoon over you.

This month you roll to your belly and push up to see the world around you.. or to watch out for Paisley ;-) You get excited and kick so fast. You're a vascular little thing-- when you're hot, your skin turns bright red. Dr. Jeanie asked if you were sunburned at your 6 month check up because of your color. I actually have avoided that so far. Avoiding the sun really helps out with that too.

Wells and his pal, Landry, visiting Thomas the Train.

This month we tried rice cereal for the first time. It's about time since you're 6 months. We were given a green light to introduce solids at 4 months, but it isn't really encouraged by the AAP until 6 months. Plus it was one more thing to add to our morning while LS was in school. So we waited until after our big surprise trip to Disney World. You were technically 6 months and 13 days when you ate the rice cereal. You enjoyed the first solid. No surprise there. :o)

Carsen's graduation party with Grandpa

Thank you for being so sweet, so good. I am thankful the good Lord knew I couldn't handle anything but your wonderful nature. When people say you'll always be my baby, well, that's exactly right.

We love you SO very much, Wellsey.
#allenfantasticfour

Easter 2014

We went to our hometown for Easter. It was the weekend at the end of spring break so we got to see a lot of family. 

We went to a Good Friday service that evening, and Mac loved the bunnies. We tried (oh, we tried) to get a pic of the kids with the costume bunny, but no way was that happening. Not even close. 

The next day we went to Brentwood for cousin time. 

Paisley was riding high with the big girls, Mac couldn't get enough of the toy cars, and LS learned to zip line. 

The car ride home:

The next day we celebrated Easter at the park with Nana, Paw Paw, and Uncle Jeff.

The kids dyed eggs, hunted for eggs, played, had a picnic and completed the weekend with sugar rush and crash. 

Jordan is too cool for a selfie. 

I have no idea... Except this is typical Paisley...

Before he went to sleep I got a picture of Wells in the same Easter outfit that Mac wore. 

Here is their Easter 2012 picture in the same place:

Be still, my heart. 

One last picture to end on.. 

Happy Easter, y'all! Celebrate the resurrection of our King who defeated death. He is Risen! 

as always,

ashley

Wells is 5 Months!

My Wells... These months continue to fly by us too fast. You're growing, changing, and interacting in every way. You are so loved with siblings to parent you and parents who adore you. 

You are blowing raspberries, teething, and being attacked by a sticker monster. 

This month you've laughed more and more. You've found your hands and are starting to discover your feet. You've rolled over! Both front to back and back to front. I'm sure you would have done this earlier if I were able to lie you down more. For one, I want to cuddle you all the time and second, you have a large cheer section that gravitates to you when the opportunity arises. I can't blame them. You smile ear to ear with each unique greeting. 

You love bath time. You kick with big eyes like all your might is displayed with each kick. You love when I cheer you. 

This month you've chatted up a storm! Anyone who makes eye contact and conversation falls in love with your social self. 

Paisley puts her baby things near you or in your absence. The swing, bouncy seat and crib are all up for grabs around these parts. 

We have taken a lot of selfies this month. I have to remember to get IN the picture with you as much as behind the camera. 

Here's Carsen loving on you a course weekends ago. Another fan right here. 

We love you sweet boy. Thank you for being you. 

-mommy and daddy