4th of July 2009

What a privilege to live in the U.S.A. It's hard to express my gratitude for the men & women serving our great nation, overseas and here at home. As each year passes though I realize their sacrifices more-and their family's sacrifice as well. IMO It really brings these feelings home when a member of your family is risking it all for our country. My cousin DJ served in Iraq as a marine. He just returned home in May from his second call of duty. I remember just breathing a huge sigh of relief when I knew he was stepping back on to American soil.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Our little firecracker is 100% again!!
Chuck and Hayley & Carly came over to our home with cute baby Logan. Hayley made ALL the food. Pork sandwiches, potato salad, pasta salad, even the dessert. How spoiled am I? Great company, delicious food, and NONE of the work.
My sis "in law" Hayley is amazing. She works full time as a nurse at Banner Hospital. She has a crazy schedule, nursing baby Logan, keeping up with her own home...and she thought **I** needed a break? Not as much as her, I'm sure of it. She makes everything in life more fun! Everyone loves Aunt Hayley.
our first 4th as a family of SIX =)
Chuck & Hayley- Logan and sister Carly.
yikes, loosen the grip brother.
Kyler's FAVORITE way to enter the pool.
We waited for over an hour for fireworks to start at our church. It was packed full of people but it was worth the wait (and buckets of sweat).
Uncle Chuck spoiled the kids with glow necklaces
We all sat with our friends Nicci & Anthony as well as Michelle & Drew and their kiddos. We had quite a crew sprawled out on blankets and lawn chairs.
The fireworks started and Kyler FREAKED. At first he was hiding with his hands over his eyes. Then he'd pop out and tell me it was "too sca-wee". I couldn't stop laughing. Soon the excitement hit though. Wow. Honestly I watched him more than I watched the fireworks-he was pure entertainment from start to finish.
Brayden's eyes got as big as watermelons for the first few minutes. Then he was ready to nurse again. What a shocker. I think he makes it about 45 minutes before THATS on his mind again =)
AND WHO IS THIS GUY? Never seen him before in my life. But Kyler decided he wanted to snuggle with him and watch the show. I kept trying to get him back with us but this group was thoroughly amused by Kyler. They kept saying "oh just leave him". What are we going to do with this kid? He is a one man entertainment show, that's for sure.
At the end of the fireworks display it was after 10 pm. It was STILL blistering hot, over 100 degrees. We all looked like prime candidates for a heat stroke.
We headed to our traditional stop after fireworks. SONIC! 4 root beer floats please (I'm still off dairy). They chugged 'em on down and we called it a night at 11 pm. What a day!
WANNA WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE?
copy & paste into browser:
http://themerwinzoo.blogspot.com/2008/07/lil-fishes-on-4th-of-july.html

http://themerwinzoo.blogspot.com/2008/07/flashback-friday.html

http://themerwinzoo.blogspot.com/2008/06/our-own-lil-photo-shoot.html
P.S
Meet Carly. She is my saving grace this summer-ha! Seriously though I don't know how I would have done it without her...especially with all our issues with Brayden. She's been coming over a few days a week to hang out with the littles. The girls said we can't call her a "babysitter" per say because they have never actually had one of those-I mean, other than close friends and our family (and our church's date night). So we are supposed to call her their "paid friend" LOL. Carly is living at Chuck & Hayley's home and spending her summer break from college here in the blistering heat. She's working as a life guard at big surf and now helping me out too. She spends a couple hours here in the morning before her job at the water slides and also some Friday's she's given John and I a chance to have a date as a couple. Brayden is still attached by the umbilical cord (well we're attached alright but not exactly there =) and so really she is my right-hand girl with keeping life manageable this summer. I've been able to start back up at the gym, go to the grocery store without the tribe, and just take some deep breaths. She'll be here for another month and then it's back to the university (in Mont) where she's studying to be a child psychologist. The kids LOVE her! And Kyler is happy to have "fresh" prey to take advantage of =) She is an answered prayer!!

Wordless Wednesday - SuMmEr FuN!

k

our plan of action

Sorry in the delay of posting Brayden's progress. Thanks to you all who have checked on him!
Our visit with Dr. Morgan (the naturopathic Medical Doctor) was posponed because John had a last minute business trip to Seattle. It is now on for this Thurs. Dr. Morgan is going to do bloodwork on ME and test to see if I unknowingly have allergies or sensitivities to anything. This is a good indicator of what Brayden may also be reacting to. Of course, this is "moms terms" and he can explain it much more accurately and thoroughly. I have had some moms email me for his contact info and so I'll post it here for anyone else. Dr. Morgan works alongside pediatricians as well as maintaining his own private practice he has here in the valley. He has been incredibly insightful and actually far more accurate about Brayden's situation than any pedetrician who's worked with us. I'm looking forward to the findings from the blood work. I always thought that I was free from allergies but I'm told that you can have them and not even know it-it shows up as headache, excema, fatigue, and a whole host of other symptoms-some of which I am experiencing.
DR. JOEL MORGAN -
PHONE: 480-632-0757
CROSSROADS: Lindsay/Ray in the East Valley
***Specializing in pediatrics
and children with developmental disabilities (especially Autism & ADD)
Brayden has made an amazing recovery. I have completely eliminated dairy from my diet- also no eggs, no peanuts, no soy of any kind. This all triggers the vomiting. My flesh wants to melt into the floor when I can't put cheese on my turkey sandwich but it's better than having Brayden vomiting and screaming for hours. Oh and no seasoned food either. Yeah, he's taking all the fun out of the refrigerator :)
We're still nursing every hour to every hour and a half during the day. He can stretch the feedings to every two hours at night. He doesn't tolerate formula AT ALL so I'm the milk truck for the next 10 months, it seems. Oh well...I can see him porking up before my very eyes-and I'm so thankful! He pretty much still just wants his mom-but he's getting better. So there 'ya go...that's what is going on in the merwin zoo. Good thing I'm getting lots
of
these!
he's a keeper for sure.

dad's day!

okay so this has nothing to do with fathers day-except this incident happened the eve before.
Anyone who has known me for awhile knows that I used to l.o.v.e dressing the girls alike. Yes, I am one of those moms. So, imagine my delight when Brayden was finally well enough for us to all attend church together this weekend. I chose little sky blue jumpers (with the cutest embroidery on them) and was just giddy to put them on and get a picture...just as I had done so many times with our sweet little girls =)
So I got Kyler up from his nap and tried to put this jumper on him.
"what is THAT"? Kyler asked me with a frown.
I told him it was an outfit just for him.
"WHAT is on it"? Kyler asked again (pointing to the embroidery), this time more agitated.
It's sailboats and stars, I said. Put it on buddy-we need to go.
"I not wear THAT...nope, I not wear it".
Long story short, I wrestled him down (not quite) and got him to put it on. He was mortified. He just seemed tortured to even walk around the house in it.
THEN JOHN CAME DOWN THE STAIRS. He saw both his boys wearing the jumpers. Kyler locked eyes with his dad and went running into the shoe closet and buried his head. He wouldn't move. Ahem, HOW does he know that this outfit is not going to please his dad? I'd like to know.
Anyway
oh. my. gosh. It's obvious where Kyler's disdain for sky blue embroidered jumpers comes from. John snorted and moaned about those dumb jumpers until I a.l.m.o.s.t gave in and found something else. John even told Kyler if he "needed to have an accident"-as in bathroom talk...that it would be a fine time to do it-before we left the house, that is.
Nice.
Finally I told Kyler if he would just take a photo in it-I'd give him blue m&m's and he'd never have to wear it again. He complied but not with a smile. It's safe to say I will not be dressing Kyler and Brayden alike too often and I will not have smiling, cooperative children if I want to try. I'm glad my girls are still willing, happy participants =)

for fathers day we had a very lazy, easy day. I am still so exhausted from Brayden's new "put on the pounds" nursing schedule. Every hour during the day, two hours through the night. Ouch. mama is in need of some serious sleep. I will post this week on the dr's diagnosis and our plan of action as well.
we made John breakfast in bed and let him eat in peace. What a treat for him =) Then he opened presents
he got a plaque, a "daddy needs a time out" shirt, a platter to barbecue his favorite foods on, and I surprised him by ordering a family picture for above the fireplace-kinda a gift for all of us to enjoy =)
his girls made him a delicious confetti cake
uncle Chuck came over with baby Logan and we all enjoyed a big taco bar and root beer floats.
it was a fun day, despite being completely exhausted (shown above=). This month has been a wild ride!

GO BRAYDEN!

Today was the big appointment- the one where the pediatrician needed to see six ounces added to Brayden's little frame.
She said one ounce a day was what a "healthy"(NO issues or difficulties) newborn should gain.

I took a deep breath, put him on the scale...
he didn't gain the six ounces.
.
.
He gained TWELVE!!!! Praise God.

This week has shown a huge turn-around for Brayden. He is gaining, looking healthier, seeming more content.

We will go the naturalpathic route to ensure he keeps gaining weight (more on that to come) with Dr. Joel Morgan. Thank you SOOO MUCH for prayers and all your support! I'll go into more details soon, it's nursing time again =)
God is so good!



Stay Tuned...
in an effort to stay entertained at home this week, the girls decided a garden would be just dandy. They have been hoeing rocks and sweating in the AZ sunshine in order to prepare this area beside our house. Don't they just look like a couple farming girls? Transformation coming soon...

trust

6/18/09*************UPDATE****************
Thank you for all your prayers and your help, each one of you. The phone calls, the texts, the comments posted below...it has been really encouraging and so appreciated. Brayden is sleeping next to me right now. My milk supply is up and we are headed in the RIGHT direction, I just know it. Tomorrow may be a big day and drawn out, depending on the extent of testing-I think we're going to order the ultrasound on his stomach, just to rule out a few issues. I'll post results of Brayden's appointment (and some cute pics I took of him sleeping tonight =) as soon as we're home. Thanks again for everything. I need to get some zzzzz's before Brayden's next feeding-he is nursing every hour during the day, every two hours at night. Gotta stuff this boy full before tomorrow's big "weigh in" =)
***************************************
6/15/09
Brayden's vomiting has significantly improved but still happening. I had been told this was normal and leftovers of the virus he was recovering from.
On Friday, I took Brayden in for his routine 2 month checkup. I put him on the Dr's scale and my heart sank in disbelief when he weighed only 9.6 lbs (he was nearly 11 pounds a month ago). The pediatrician believes the virus is gone and now has a few different explanations of the vomiting, two of which are reflux or lactose intolerance. The other possibility is more serious. Per the Ped's instructions, we tried supplementing formula(s)- but all he can keep down is breast milk.

I was told the only reason Brayden wasn't being admitted to the hospital on Friday was the fact that he was smiling and cooing at her and not showing signs of malnutrition. Regardless, she wants to see him again in one week (Friday AM). She said she'll give Brayden ONE more week to put weight on (6+ ounces to be exact) or he will be hospitalized with IV's and an "ng tube" inserted into his stomach. Then further tests will begin. I'm told 6 oz is quite a lot of weight for a baby-the Ped. didn't seem too confident he'd accomplish this. But we Merwins love a challenge =)

I am feeling stretched and weary but I am confident of one thing. What I DO know is that Brayden is in his loving Father's hands. I'm doing my very best to stay positive and not step into fear. I'd love to hear from anyone who's been in this situation or anything similar. Even if you just stumbled onto this blog, would you leave advice if you have something to share? This is all such a mystery to me. I'll leave in the comments section all that I've tried thus far. Maybe someone can offer further instruction? I'd love to hear it.
Above all, we appreciate your prayer.

Two months young!

Our little Brady bear,
I cannot believe that two months ago -today- you came into the world!
You and I have been through the wringer this month. The virus you are recovering from has really messed up our great schedule and left you over a whole pound lighter. We had lots of sleepless nights and pacing the floors. Lots of concern, a few tears (mom included). Lots of prayer. I am so thankful to finally see your eyes brighten and your chub coming back =)
Some may (and some do) call you spoiled already=) Even tease that you're "ruined", perhaps (I won't name names, honey). But I just say you are very loved. It's true that often you only want your momma. Your sisters can make you *almost* laugh-a few more days and I bet you'll have that down. But already you're a steady source of smiles and cooing. Even with all you've been through this last month, you still have such a fun personality. All of us could just eat you up.
The first month you were nearly sleeping through the night, now you're up 2-3 times. I'm okay with that. I just want you to feel better-then we'll talk =)
You are so loved, Brayden...by your family, by friends. Even the amazing DOD Leaders came together this week and prayed for perfect health over you- and for the record, that toddler that tries to sneak in a push on your soft spot...he loves you too- I promise.
You fit right into our family so well-almost like you've always been here. You go everywhere we go, tucked inside your sling or watching intently from the sidelines. I think you're just happy to be in the action- and we've had so much fun watching you grow and change!