A blog trail of our adventures as a family; learning, laughing, and loving as we go. It is also a look at our daughter's (and family's) journey with Cystic Fibrosis.
Well, this happened about a month ago... but such is life! Trying to keep it up here, trying!
We finally took Benjamin to the dentist. Yes, he's almost 3, and yes, he got all his teeth early. Oops. Thankfully, no problems to speak of AND he was an amazing patient! He did everything the assistant and dentist asked, and he even listened as they taught him how to brush and floss. He seemed intrigued and happy the whole time. PHEW! I was one proud mama! (Let's hope all dentist visits are like this... Lord knows his mama kicks and squirms when she actually goes...shh!)
Oh, and this dentist was awesome - he even has a Finding Nemo fish tank in his waiting room... which did make me wonder if he had a slightly crazy niece that shook fish to death or if any of the fish were plotting elaborate escapes. But thankfully Benjamin didn't make that connection!
Here's a few pics and videos (yes, perhaps overboard on the pics department this time!):
I just can't believe you're three months old today. For lots of reasons. These past three months have been both incredibly fast and incredibly slow and filled with incredible highs and incredible lows. We're still learning so much every day about you and your awful disease, and I say a prayer every day that someone will cure you of it. I hope you always know how much we hate that your life will look so much different than your brothers or those of your friends. It isn't fair, I know. I will never know what it's like to live through it as you will, but from the outside I already feel the pain each day for you. But I also know that this pain and struggle will only make you stronger, braver, and more beautiful than you were the day before. We trust that God has a plan in all of it, and we know you are LOVED no matter what. My biggest prayer is that none of the tough stuff gets in the way of how happily and joy-filled you live your life. And though we know it will only get harder, we hope our strength and courage continues to grow in all of us.
This past month hasn't been easy, but every day you seem to do a little better. We can't quite figure out why your digestive system is giving you so much trouble/discomfort, and it hurts to see you in pain. But I am so thankful for your smiles - they get me through the day! I just hope each day keeps getting better for you and that you keep growing to get big and strong to be able to fight off whatever comes your way in the future. You're still a tiny little peanut (at your CF clinic checkup a few weeks ago you were in the 3rd percentile for weight and 0.89th percentile for height... grow sweet girl, grow!!!), but we know you've got a big personality with a lot of fight in you. Keep that always :) (Other random things just for note, you're taking 3 enzyme pills before each feeding and still not quite used to the applesauce, and we just started you on soy formula to see if it helps your tummy any!)
These are some of the fun things about you this month:
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Your brother still adores you. I am SO thankful for this! He's always making sure you're happy (but also wakes you up from naps because he wants to "say hi" or show you a cool toy) :)
Here is a clip of him showing you Monkey and the Party Hat. You look "amused" ;)
You are an expert frowner.
You LOVE napping/sleeping in the Rock-n-play still which is killing us because we want you in the crib, stat! We are thankful that you do give us about 7 hour stretches at night, sometimes 8, but you go to bed so early that we still have to get up around 4am. We'll take it for now!
You've started to love your activity mat and reach for all the toys (which you think is super cool).
Still love the swing!
Mornings are rough around here with you, me, and your brother after dad leaves for work. So, many times we snuggle in bed and watch Curious George or Bubble Guppies. :)
See... I told you you like this mat!
You have a built-in best friend a few blocks away who was just born three weeks ago! (No real pressure on either of you, but I do hope you love each other like your mamas love each other!!)
You've started to love finding things with your arms/hands (and you smile more!!):
Concentrating so hard!
You visited the CF Center once this month, though your mom has been on the phone with the nurses/doctor/dieticians quite a bit... we're still so thankful for how much they care about you!
Did I mention how loved you are?
You still get your CPT twice a day, and so far Mimi is the only person beside your mom and dad who's given it to you! You slept right through it for her, lucky Mimi... you cry for mom and dad most of the time!
You love taking baths with your brother!
(Here's the mat again... and Mimi dressed you in the Christmas sleeper! Hehe)
The life of a second child... a lot of time in the carseat:
The smiles that melt my heart:
Your first Halloween costume, a baby giraffe:
I tried sticking you in the Bumbo the other day because it's tough to get things done carrying you around everywhere... and surprisingly you didn't hate it! Still a ways to go before you can enjoy it :)
Lots of morning bed time with mom and Benjamin!
Hanging out with your almost-birthday-twin buddy Huxton (he's one day older!):
You love watching and trying to touch Benjamin's old elephant, George. Glad he's still around!
Oh, and Benjamin loves to entertain you, usually showing you all the cool things Monkey can do (or serenading you with "Jesus Loves Me"):
Video evidence of both:
This is the face you have most of the time... so stoic!
