Go Steelers!!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the 43rd Super Bowl Champions. It was a fun and exciting game to watch. We went to my parents and enjoyed some yummy food and a great game!

What Logan Knows

Oh Logan is a smart boy. I love me some 20 month old! Him and I have a great time during the day while daddy is at work. We begin our morning with a cuddle while Austin is still sleeping. Then we are on to breakfast. Logan will go in the kitchen and wait as I make breakfast. His favorite is waffles or pancakes because he like to help pour the syrup. He says "help me" when he wants to help. Last week I made French toast one morning and he loved that also. He likes to eat is breakfast while watching "Manny" (he can say Manny) he loves Handy Manny. Then it is off to the bath tub where he could sit until he prunes up. He splashes and pours water and talks non-stop. "Mommy where baby?" "Where Daddy's truck?" "Papa, Mimi?" "Wuv You" (Yes he says he loves you)! Then it is out of the tub to get dressed which he hates. I have to chase him down to dress him while he is screaming "No, Owie, No!" That is a lot of fun. Then he says "I sorry" and I say "It's okay" and of course he repeats "It okay." Then it is time to take care of Austin (sometimes when I change Austin's diaper, Logan will carry his stool in and get a wipe and say "wipe kaka wipe baby peepee), laundry (which he sorts with me), any cleaning (he will wipe off the windows when I spray Windex). When we let Dakota out he stands at the door screaming for Dakota (Koda) to come inside. He then will say "I see good girl" all dogs are good girls! We play - we play a lot. We play band and march through the house, we have a dance party and turn on music and dance, we play with the train set which he destroys and I rebuild daily, we play with the baby, and then he against his 1 1/2 year old will will crash for a 2 nap, followed by lunch and a little T.V. time. He was really into Barney and now everything is choo-choo (Thomas the Engine). We usually watch a PBS show called Sid the Science Kid - so cute. He helps me make dinner in the afternoon and sits with me while I nurse Austin or he will go off and play by himself. He can point to all his body parts when you ask him to. He also repeats the body part (like hair, eyes, ears, etc) he points to his and then to yours! He really amazes me. You only have to show or do something once for him to follow and do it himself. He is a really sweet, loving, playful, happy little boy. I am so lucky to be his mommy (which by the way I never get tired of hearing him say)!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

I am skipping a bunch of blogs that I am working on to publish this most important blog.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Two years ago today, I married the greatest man. He is my best friend, an awesome daddy, a hard worker, a wonderful son, a super brother, the best friend a person could have, and I could do on and on. I can't believe how fast these last 2 years have gone. We have gone though so much and so many changes - I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us and our family. I am truely blessed with the most amazing husband and our children have the best daddy in the world. Brian, these last 8 years we have known each other have been the best of my life and I am so thankful to you for being the man of my dreams. You have taught me so many wonderful things and blessed me in so many countless ways. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. All my LOVE forever and ever!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Logan's 20 Months, Austin's 3 Months, Happy Birthday Papa Jones!

January 15, 2009
Today Austin turns 3 months (where has time gone), Logan is 20 months today (he will be two in 4 months), and today is my dad's birthday! However this day also marked the day that I had to go back to work until my replacement was hired. Yesterday was the end of my FMLA. I had given my resignation back in December, but agreed to work until a replacement was found. So I had to go back to work. My mom (I am sooo LUCKY) came to stay with the boys. I thought I didn't know what I was doing at school, but it is like I never missed a beat, I just picked up right where I left off. Teaching does come very naturally and I am so lucky I found a career that I was so passionate about - it was never really a job to me. I really liked going to school every single day. I LOVE school. I want to get my masters (maybe starting in the fall), I can't wait to volunteer in my boys classrooms, and I know one day I will go back to teaching or maybe even be an administrator. But all day my heart was at home with my boys. I was pumping during breaks and lunch. Calling and texting my mom when I could. I ran out of school at 3:15 to get home to nurse Austin and play with Logan. I was tired, but I had to keep going. It was Papa's bday! We went to eat Mexican (YUMMY) for dinner. Then it was back home. Again God Bless my mom, she took Logan home with her. I have to get up for school again tomorrow (Friday Jan 16). So she will come back in the morning with Logan to watch Austin too. Did I mention that she did all of my laundry, dishes, and cleaned up before I got home. XOXOXOXOXO Mom!!!

Austin Update - GI Specialist

We saw a GI specialist from Children's Health Care, Dr. Patel on Thursday. Brian and I took the two boys over to the Alpharetta satellite office for Children's Health Care. Of course we were early. Our appt was for 11:00 we arrived at 10:45, paperwork already complete and began to wait. Brian and Logan played, walked, had a snack, had a drink, while I nursed, burped, changed Austin. At 11:30 We were all getting a bit antsy. At 11:45 we were finally called back to the room where we waited for another 15 minutes for the Dr. to arrive. When he did he apologized and told us he doesn't rush with this patients. We was great. We really like him. He drew a diagram of Austin's stomach. He agrees that Austin does have bad reflux and put him on a medicine called Zegerid. When googled it is described as OMEPRAZOLE; SODIUM BICARBONATE prevents the production of acid in the stomach. It is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, and inflammation of the esophagus. There is a long (scary) list of side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•breathing problems
•chest pain
•dark urine
•fast, irregular heartbeat
•feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
•fever or sore throat
•high blood pressure
•redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
•stomach pain
•swelling of the ankles, legs
•trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
•unusual bleeding, bruising
•unusually weak or tired
•yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•diarrhea or constipation
•dizziness
•dry mouth
•headache
•nausea, vomiting
•stomach gas, upset

We will see the GI specialist again in 3 months. The x-rays of Austin's stomach are inconclusive. Meaning they are not sure if he has malrotatoin of the intestines. This will be looked at again as he approaches his first b-day and his stomach is a little bigger.
As for the apnea machine - we still need to keep using it. Dr. Patel wants a reading as does our pediatrician. Our first reading is due any day. Once we do it I will post the results.

Behind in Blogging

I am sooo behind in blogging and posting pictures. This is on my mile long "To Do List." I really thought I would have tons of time now that I am a full time stay home mom, that has proven not to be the case. There is always toys to be played with, diapers to be changed, laundry to fold, hugs and kisses to be given, dinner to get started, dishes to put away, pumping or nursing to keep little bit fed, more toys to play with and books to read, errands to run, appointments to be made, appointments to get to, family to see and spend time with, and a husband who could use a bit more of my attention! So I am very behind in blogging, but this is the weekend before our anniversary, so I will be putting the blogging, laundry, shopping, appointments, phone calls, and dishes on hold to give the love of my life 100% of my time. The boys are going to Mimi and Papa's to play with lots of toys, to get lots of love, snacks, and more hugs and kisses. On Monday I will get back to all the things that keep me from blogging and that night before I go to bed I am going to make an appt. with computer to post about the latest Harris Happenings!

Austin 3 Month & Logan 20 Month Pictures

Logan and Austin love their ya-yas (pacifiers). If Logan can't find his ya-ya you can hear him going around the house saying "ya-ya where are you?" Then when he finds it he says "I see it there's ya-ya." So Sweet. I love hearing him talk. If Austin doesn't have his pacifier he goes and finds it and puts it in his mouth. He will say "baby's ya-ya" as he gives it to him.











Logan loves his baby brother. He is always kissing, hugging, holding his baby. He can say his name (sounds like Aussie). He makes his voice high (like when I talk to Austin) and says "hi baby" or "its ok baby." Austin loves to watch Logan and smiles and now even giggles at Logan which then cracks Logan up. I love watching these two together!





Picture of Austin and his apnea machine





Logan and his crocs with fur (LOVE THEM) for the winter of course - he likes to take pictures too!



Look at this baby - SOOOO CUTE!

Austin in the hospital

We have been staying at Children's Hospital of Atlanta since Wednesday. Let me start at the beginning.
Wednesday - we went shopping with Daddy and then over to Mimi and Papa's house to go out to eat. After Austin ate, Mimi was holding him and all of a sudden he was limp and unresponsive. We had to gently shake him and blow in his face to make him take a breath. It was very scary. However I thought it was just a fluke. I took the boys home after we ate. I put Logan to bed and then fed Austin. After Austin ate I put him in the boppy and he became unresponsive again. After getting him back, I called the pediatrician who directed that we take Austin to the nearest hospital NOW. So Brian and I left the sleeping Logan with my parents and rushed to Gwinnett Medical Center's Pediatric ER. Once there the doctor told us he would be admitted (at Children's Hospital) for observation. They did blood work, put an iv in, and called for an ambulance - a big yellow one from the Children's hospital. I rode with Austin and Brian followed.
We got to CHOA (Children's Health care of Atlanta) at 2am. By 4am the doctor (resident) came in and got info on Logan. I asked that the metal crib be taken out and a bed be brought in for Austin and I to sleep in. By this time Brian went home to get some rest before opening the restaurant.
Thursday - I was alone at the hospital with Austin all morning while his vials were taken and he was monitored. He had to have an X-ray after the pediatric doctor came in to see what was going on. On the way to x-ray Austin couldn't breath and had to be put on oxygen (he had a little O2 mask - it made my heart sink). This was a special x-ray where he couldn't eat for three hours prior and he had to drink some white chalking stuff. We could see the fluid going down on the x-ray. The technician said he had really bad reflux (you could see the liquid go back up his esophagus. After that the pediatric nurse came in to talk to me. My mom-in-law came in at this time so she was able to listen also. The doctor thought Austin had malrotation (the intestines were backwards causing reflux) and would need corrective surgery for the birth defect. She told us that the surgeons would have to look at the film and get back to us later that evening.
My mom came with food, Brian came with stuff for me to change and shower, my dad came with Logan to visit, my brother Kevin and his girlfriend Amy came to see Austin, and then Brian's dad came to spend time with Austin. We really didn't know what was going on. A lot of tests were run, a lot of people in and out taking care of our sweet baby. After everyone left I went to the computer lab at CHOA and looked up malroation.
We spent Thursday night in the hospital again.
Friday morning began with an x-ray at 6:30,another one at 9 (this time looking at his heart - again heart sinking), Meg had to attend a CPR class in order for Austin to be released. When I came back from CPR, the doctor had been in to talk to Brian. Turns out Austin has really bad reflux causing him to be in pain and the acid to close his airway. She put him on a liquid form of prevacid for the reflux. He does not have malrotation (thank god). We then met with a company called Life Touch who gave us an apnea machine to keep Austin hooked up to. It will alert us if he were to stop breathing or if his heart rate was dropping.
We were discharged Friday afternoon at 1:00pm. It is good to be home. Lots of laundry to do!
We are very blessed that Austin is for the most part ok. It was hard to see him get an IV, ride in an ambulance, have an EEG on his head, all the x-rays of holding him down, and not knowing what was going on or what was going to happen. However, Brian and I both said we were lucky, we were able to walk out of the hospital with our baby. We saw a lot of families and children that have been at CHOA for a long time and some that may never leave. It is heart wrenching to see the children in the hospital beds or being wheeled around in their wagons with shaved heads, bandages, by worried, sleep-deprived parents. We hope we never have to go back there and will pray a little longer tonight, thanking God for taking care of Austin and praying he looks after of all the children and parents at CHOA.
We had some wonderful nurses. Thank you to Kimi, Michelle, Mindy, and Hwoit who made sure we had everything we needed to be comfortable and that Austin was thriving under their care. Thank you to Dr. Taylor, the ped doctor at CHOA who took such good care of Austin. She took her time doing a range of tests on Austin to rule things out. Thank you to our own ped, Dr. Peralstein. She is the best; from her Johns Creek office, she took all of my phone calls and updates from the CHOA doctors. We will see her Monday to talk about seeing a GI specialist for Austin. Thank you to my mom and dad for taking such great care of our first baby, Logan. He had sooo much fun with Mimi and Papa. Thank you to all four parents for staying with us, asking questions we didn't think of, and being a great support system. Lastly, thank you God for watching over our family and taking care of our babies.

It's Offical - I am a SAHM!

Today I met with my principal to discuss the resignation process. I am resigning to stay home with our children. Brian and I made the decision together. It really is the best thing for our family. I always knew I would stay home at some point, but this soon is a blessing. So my maternity leave ends next Wednesday, if my replacement has started I will have to return for a few days. However by the end of January I will be released from my contract. My Principal was so gracious and supportive. She even told me that when I was ready to return to teaching to look her up and she would help me get a job. So maybe when the boys go to school I will go with them!!! So play dates, story time, swimming lessons, MOPS, here we come!!!
Oh - and I am going to help Brian do some data entry for the pub in the comfort of our home. I still need some play money:)

Christmas & New Year

We had a wonderful holiday season. I will be posting pictures very soon. It was a lot of fun with Logan this year and baby Austin was such a sweet boy as usual!