IT'S HALLOWEEN!!!!

So here are a few photos of me in my Lion costume.  The 1st few were taken outside before Halloween so mommy could make photo cards of me to send out to family and friends.  It was a really nice day out and I had tons of fun crawling around, ROARING and laughing.

But on Halloween since my birthday party was tomorrow, I had both my grandparents, my great grandma come visit and my daddy flew in from Houston so I had a house full of people.  Mommy got me all dressed in my costume and granddad went to the metro and picked daddy up.  He got home just in time to carry me around.  Mommy held my pumpkin and we were off to walk in the parade.  In our community, before everyone trick-o-treats, all the kids and parents line up and walk once around the block.  That way everyone can see us.  Mommy took some video of that but we have it on the cam corder not the camera so she can't post it.  Anyway, we walked around once.  There must have been 50 kids.  Afterwards, everyone scattered to go get candy.  I can't eat any of this stuff but mom and dad can so they went from house to house and I got to pick out a piece of candy.  After a while they decided to push me in my red car.  I guess I'm getting a tad heavy for them to carry around.  But like I say, it's good exercise for them.  So as we walked around, we waved to grandma, granddad  and gram.   Grammy G was walking with us.  She thought it was so cute to see my reactions to picking out candy.  This was so much fun!  Can't wait till next year.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Cranial Technologies

Today we went to Cranial Tech.  I have 2 more weeks to go and I get my helmet off.  I can't hardly believe it.  Mommy is so excited.  She was hoping to have it off before my 1st birthday but she's so happy that it's coming off and we don't need a 4th helmet.  She's also very happy that my head is rounding out as nicely as it is.  She looks back at old photos and can't believe how much my head had changed.  

Well, it was such a nice day out today that we took a stroll in my red car.  Check me out!

2 parties in 1 day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUINTEN!!!

Today is my cousin Quinten's 1st birthday party.  So mommy took me to Richmond to join in the festivities.  He had all his family there and it was tons of fun.    Quinten's mommy and daddy took lots of photos of him.  When he ate his cake it was all over his face.  It was funny.  He also got a ton of presents.  I got to touch a few of his toys when he wasn't looking.  Hee-hee.   Check us out! 

Quinten, being held upside down by his mommy  Weee!

Say CHEESE!

So then mommy drove home but before we got there she called her friend Deann and Gabriel who were having a HALLOWEEN party.   Mommy absolutely loves, loves, loves Halloween.  So she wanted to go even though she didn't have a costume but she had mine in the car.  So after we got to the party, mommy changed me really quick in my lion costume.  We were greeted at our car by Mrs. DeAnn and went inside.  Everyone loved my costume and although I know how to ROAR like a lion, I wasn't sure if I wanted to show everyone.  I did really like her stairs and mommy got to get her exercise in today by chasing me while I was 1/2 way up them.  The party was super cool.  Mrs. DeAnn made spooky cupcakes and treats.  None that I could have but mommy sure did eat for the both of us.  We didn't stay long because it was getting close to my bedtime and I needed a bath too.  But today was a really nice day.  I got to see a whole bunch of people and celebrate my cousins birthday.   

Home already?

Today grandma and granddad surprised me.  The took me on a long drive and before I knew it, I saw mommy.  I had a great time with grandma and granddad.  They were telling mommy all sorts of silly stories.  Like....that I was getting into the kitchen cabinets, turning on the stove and even trying to open the oven door.  Mommy's eyes got bigger and bigger.  She couldn't believe what she was hearing.  Her sweet little baby getting into so much stuff.  What mommy doesn't realize is she hasn't seen anything yet.  Boy do I have a ton of surprises for her in the upcoming weeks.

Stay tuned for some funny stories!

Visiting Grandma and Granddad

Today mommy drove and drove.  When I woke up I was at the Gettysburg Outlets in Gettysburg, PA.  I get out of the car and lo and behold, Grandma and Granddad appear.  Mommy didn't tell me anything about meeting up with them.  How exciting!!!  To my surprise grandma and granddad were going to babysit me this week.  Ms. Lusine, my sitter is going on vacation and mommy has to work so grandma and granddad volunteered so I have to be on my best behavior for only a week.  That way they'll watch me again.

Anyway, we all went shopping for a bit, ate a little and off we went.  

5th tooth coming in!

Wow, today mommy found a tooth popping thru.  I've had my 4 front teeth for awhile now and now my 5th one is finally coming down.  It's the upper right one.  Before you know it, I'll have a mouth full of teeth.  But it doesn't matter right now since Dr. Alpan put me on a liquid diet.

Can you believe he did it again?  He told mommy to call him next Friday with the results of the diet instead of actually seeing me in person.  He wants to know if my ezcema is as flared up with this special diet or if it clears up my ezcema.  I don't know, all I know is I want real food.  Mommy's not happy with him and is thinking about switching allergists.  He sure doesn't seem to be that interested in me.

So today mommy took me to the Children's Therapy Center to participate in my final therapy session.  This was a last look over since we never had a ending session.  I did a great job.  It's been a few months since I've seen Ms. Shannon and she was amazed at how big I was.  She watched me turn my head from right to left, crawl, stand, walk and climb up stairs.  Afterwards, Mrs. Shannon said I looked really good and improved a lot so I don't ever have to come back.  Mommy still has to continue with some neck exercises to make sure I still look to my right and to my left.  Mrs. Shannon also wants mommy to monitor the way I walk up the stairs.  Sometimes I favor the same leg so she wants mommy to make sure that I alternate my legs crawling up the stairs.  

Here's a picture of Mrs. Shannon and I.  

14 steps!

14 steps!!!  I'm so going to walk this weekend.  Both mommy and daddy are so proud of me.

Ok, so earlier today mommy took me to see Dr. Alpan, the allergist.  She was so angry at him today.  When we got there he said, oh what brings you in today???  Ummm....mommy said, yo

u never responded to my e-mail regarding the results of Cody's patch test.   **Just a quick

 reminder** Cody saw Dr. Alpan on Oct. 2nd regarding Cody's unfortunate trip to the emergency room.  Anyway, on the 2nd he put together a patch test for Cody and sent me home to put it on his back.  He would wear this patch with 9 different foods on his back for 2 days.  The Dr's instructions was to take draw lines around the patch test, take it off, take photos of the results and e-mail it to him so he may review the e-mail and get back to me.  So I did all that and the dr. failed to ever look at my e-mail so I had no idea which of the foods Cody was allergic to.  I thought that was very unprofessional and the fact that I want to avoid Cody going to the emergency room again.  I couldn't believe that the doctor sent me home with the test and didn't even want to see Cody's back in person afterwards, he wanted an e-mail and again did

n't even look at the e-mail to give me his medical opinion.  So, below is the photo of Cody's 

patch test.  

Here is the before photo:  under each circle is a piece of food whether it's in a solid form or liquid.  He wore this for 2 days on his back.

Here's is the after photo:  This is where I had to mark where the patch test was with a marker. I also had to mark where each food item was.  

So, as you can see, it looks like Cody pretty much reacted to everything. But then again, wouldn't you if you wore food for 2 days on your back or anywhere on your body?  As a mom, it's so frustrating because you want your child to be happy and healthy.  Ken and I are certainly happy that overall Cody is healthy little boy but we worry that he will eat something that will take him to the hospital again.  Allergies are serious and I hope that we will get a better idea of what he can and can't eat and hopefully over time, he will outgrow some of them. 

So back to the trip at the allergist.   Since the doctor didn't look at the e-mail I sent him, I decided before even coming to the doctor's office to bring my laptop which had several photos of Cody's back, like the one you see above.  I plopped that laptop down on the desk and showed him the pictures.  I also had the patch test on me.  After taking the test off Cody's back, I put it on the paper of instructions that the doctor gave me.  He looks at my pictures then looks at the patch test on the paper and writes +, +, -, - +, +, +, +, +.  Apparently he claims that Cody had a reaction to everything but apples and bananas.   Dr. Alpan then decided that Cody needed to be on a liquid diet.  I was baffled???  A liquid diet.  He's almost a year old and you want him to drink liquids instead of eat real food?  So he explained to me that he wants to see if Cody is truly allergic to food and that food is flaring up his ezcema.  The special liquid diet consisted of 3 different types of liquids.  Neocate, Ellecare, and Splash.  Each liquid is hypoallergenic and is suppose to be a special formula that is designed to help toddlers with their gastrontestical tract.  Which the doctor never said anything about that.  So it's frustrating.  I feel like the doctor is way off base with this and I'm not comfortable with only giving him liquids for a week.  He told me to give this to Cody for 1 week.  He can have apples and bananas too but stay strickly with the special diet and call him next Friday with the results.  Again, he doesn't want to see Cody in person, he just wants me to call him.  So again, I will follow his instructions even if I don't feel believe it will work, Cody's best interests is my priority.  So, he sends us home but before that, the nurse put another patch test on Cody's back.  This time it's rice.  This whole putting food on my son's back is getting really old now.  So he wears this for 2 days, I take it off and look at the results.  Hopefully he doesn't have a reaction to rice. 

7 steps!

Holly smokes!  I took 7 steps today.  I think I'm starting to like this now.  I'm real wobbly but this beats chaffing my knees on the wood floors.  Stay tuned.  I think I'll be walking before you know it.

2 steps!

So tonight I've been standing up in front of mom.  When daddy was driving home from his training class in Baltimore, mommy told him that I've been standing straight up from a sitting position.  Daddy was really surprised.  So while they were talking, I decided to stand up and take a step.  Mommy said whoa!  Honey Cody took a step....and another step.  Oh my goodness, he just took 2 steps.  Daddy can't wait to see when he gets home.

Cranial Technologies

Ok, so mom took me to cranial tech today and we found out that I get my helmet off forever on November 10th.  Of course mommy was hoping that it would be off before my 1st birthday but just to know that it's coming off makes mommy and daddy so happy.  So the countdown is:  28 days left.  We're all so excited!  

Daddy!!!

Today daddy came home from Houston.  He works so hard.  Mommy was really excited too.  Since I knew daddy was coming home I showed mommy that I could stand up real tall and stretch real high.  I can almost reach the door knob on the front door.  

Hi Da-da

Today Mrs. Lusine told mommy that I said Hi Da-da today a couple of times.  Mommy is so proud of me but wonders when I'm going to say Hi mama.  Soon mommy, soon!

Veggie Soup...Mmmm

Today mommy made vegetable soup.  She put in a whole bunch of stuff like green beans, ground beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, corn, tomatoes,  and celery.  Mommy said it was really good and she gave me a little bit.  I only ate the potatoes, cabbage, carrots and a little bit of ground beef.  Mommy's not sure what types of meat she can give me yet.  The allergist did a chicken patch test on my back but mommy has not heard back from the allergist yet so she's taking a risk with the ground beef.  I tell you, this veggie soup beats gerber baby food hands down.  I'm never going back!

Ok, so there is this squirel that lives in our tree in our front yard.  A few weeks ago, daddy and mommy bought a whole bunch of pumpkins for the house and to decorate for Halloween.  This squirel has taken several bites out of each of mommy's pumpkins.  It's like he's doing it on

 purpose just to annoy her.  He even leaves his chewed up acorns on top of her pumpkins too.  Mommy finally took the pumpkins and put them in the garage.  She at least would like to decorate a few of them.  So here's the squirel that lives in our tree who loves to eat pumpkins.

  

OK mom what's the problem?

OK mom, you're putting us all to sleep now!  My blog is over a month old.  Let's update this thing soon!  I have lots of things to talk about like, my doctor visits, Halloween, my 1st Birthday and so much more.   Let's get a typing!

 

CHECK BACK SOON FOR REALLY COOL STUFF!

11 months old!

Wow!  Time is really flying by.  I'm 11 months old today.  There are so many things I like to do.

I can walk really fast behind my blue hippo.  I can even walk behind outside on the sidewalk.  Look at me go!  I really like wheels on toy cars.  I'm amused at how they turn in circles.  It's fun to spin them. 

Trip to the allergist

Mommy went to the allergist on Monday and today was the soonest she could get me in to see the Pedi Allergist, Dr. Alpan.  So he took one look at me and mommy told him that I went to the hospital for an allergic reaction.  She started to explain what happened and what I was exposed to.  Mommy did a lot of research this week so the doctor had all his facts. He stopped her pretty much in mid sentence and said it was the "tilapia" that sent me to the hospital.  Mommy said how could that be, he's not allergic to shellfish?  Couldn't it be cross contamination?  He said no, so she sent the nurse to go get a sample of tiliplia.  The nurse rubbed a piece of tilapia on my arm and sure enough, I started to itch.  I got a rash on my arm.  It was horrible.  Then I got really itchy and I had to scratch all over.  Mommy couldn't believe it.  She fed me tilapia and that's what did it.  She felt so bad.  Why didn't the doctor tell her he couldn't have fish?  They then tested for tuna and salmon.  Again I was allergic to those too.  Mommy was again, just completely shocked.  So the allergist asked mommy what I was eating and mommy listed out a few foods that she could think of.  So Dr. Alpan decided to test me for those.  So the nurse put a patch test together for me and this is what I had to wear for 2 long days.  I mean really??  Who wears food on their back?  So for 2 days I wore:   Soy, apple,

banana, chicken, peach, corn, oats,  white potato, and barley.     On saturday I get to take the patch off and see how I react to each food.  Hopefully I won't have any reactions.