The Waiting Game With a Sick Little Boy

The past week has been a true test of my patience on many fronts. For one, I was once again a fool as I was with my pregnancy with Cooper to think that I was going to give birth early. I believed this because I am dilating and contracting regularly. So I think "hey if I am already 3cm, then I must be close, right?" Wrong? This is the same situation I was in with Cooper almost 3 years ago. So here I am. Still pregnant. Uncomfortable. But, I haven't even reached my due date. So I need to relax.
But, I think this is quite the blessing in disguise. My little man is very sick right now. It started with an ear infection last week that would not get better. A fever that kept coming back. Hummm... so a change in antibiotics was in order. Well, after he took the new antibiotics he broke out in a rash, a nasty one at that, his first rash ever. Did I mention this is only the second time he has ever needed antibiotics. An allergic reaction to the antibiotics, right? Wrong again. That would have been too simple. Apparently when you give certain antibiotics to someone who has Mono, they get a rash. Perfect. But luckily, our pediatrician is great and figured this out right away. So now we know what we are dealing with and what to expect. Viruses suck! They have to "run their course" and you have to simply do what you can to make your little one comfortable and "wait it out". Well, we have a very lethargic and itchy little guy. Luckily, now that he is not on the antibiotic the rash seems to be getting better but as far as the mono goes, it could be a while before our spunky boy is back.
He has been all about his mommy and this would have been very tough had I been in labor or had a new baby. So, thankfully, she is safely within my womb getting all the immunities she can from all the illnesses floating around my house right now. I have disinfected the house twice over in preparation for her arrival. Most importantly, I have been able to give my boy plenty of attention during this time when he feels so bad. There has been a lot of cuddling and napping on the couch.
So now we keep waiting. Waiting for our healthy boy to return and waiting on a healthy girl.


cuddling with Sophie, his kitty

Wordless Wednesday/ Play Ball!

For Daddy

Doug/Daddy,
You are a patient, loving, exciting, father and husband. We are so lucky to have you. Every day that I watch you be a father I fall in love with you all over again. I am so blessed to have you to share in this adventure of parenthood and life.
We love you!
~Elena, Cooper, & Baby Girl

This past week and a half has been all about Daddy. His birthday was June 9th and we celebrated it for over a week. Then, it was fathers day, which was chilly and rainy but we still celebrated Dado (that's what Coop calls him when they are being spunky).
On Daddies actual birthday, we went to dinner with Doug's mom, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins, and niece and nephew at a local Italian Restaurant. Doug's mom made him a banana cram pie which he gets every year. It was very fun!
Then, a few days later, we met up with our closest friends for drinks and lawn bowling while Cooper was home with the babysitter. It was so much fun!!
Then, Doug's dad treated us to dinner on top of the Space Needle which was such a treat for Cooper!
Then, on Fathers Day we went to breakfast with Grandpa Bob and ended with a party at a friends house.
It has been a lovely week and a half celebrating our Doug, our Daddy.









All of the above photos are from lawn bowling. If you haven't tried it, you should! It was so much fun!! We went to the Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Park.






Don't I look ripe! This is our family with me 38 weeks pregnant. Any time now! Cooper got sparkling apple juice in an actual champagne glass and he loved it.

Pilot Cooper

I know I have said many times that Cooper is VERY into airplanes, just like his Po. While we were in Abq for Nana's memorial we spent lots of time at my dad's hanger at the International Airport in Abq. What a treat for a little boy who loves airplanes. And what a treat for a grandpa who has fostered that love.
Cooper may have blue eyes and light hair, but look how much he looks like his Po. They truly have a special bond.

In The Garden

Today we were grumpy....until we went into our garden. We saw all the wonderful new peas, chard, herbs, lettuce, and raspberries and we were renewed. Cooper enjoyed finding bees, spiders, and worms. I enjoyed watching my boy's love for our garden and all the creatures that live in it and I enjoyed the fruits of our family labor.

Cooper "Wearing" His Baby

When we were visiting a friend who has a little girl, he took a lot of interest in one of her dolls. We are assuming this is because of all the baby talk going on in our home. She told us we could barrow the doll. He holds her and coos at her occasionally and has even nursed her. Then he goes weeks without even noticing the doll at the bottom of his toy box. If you are wondering, no, it does not concern me at all that he has a doll. In fact, I am proud of the little father that he is to it. It makes me feel good to see him nurturing his baby the way he was and still is nurtured.
In attempts to make him feel included, I bought him a tiny sling so that he can "wear" the baby just like daddy and I will "wear" the new baby and just like we still "wear" him today in the ERGO. I found this sling at a local store and thought it was so stinkin cute. Here he is wearing his baby. He put her in and rocked her and admired her "tiny hands". I know he will be a loving brother and a loving father one day too!

Our Family At Our Wedding Chapel

When we were in Abq a few weeks ago, we spent quite a bit of time at the hotel where we were married because my sister and her family were staying there and we all used the pool. Here we are in front of the chapel where we were married with Cooper and Baby Girl. It has been almost 4 years and we have gone from 2 to almost 4. Amazing how fast things change. I think this is a special photo, even though all Cooper could think about was the pool and he was NOT in the mood to look at the camera :)