Feeding the Ducks!

Andrew and I took the boys to feed the ducks at Freestone Park a couple weekends ago. Kylen loved it but didn't understand that if he got too close he could fall into the lake. We took a whole loaf of bread, thank goodness because he was having a ball throwing piece after piece into the water. He also started feeding the birds that flocked around him. 

Too interested in the ducks to get a smile

After the bread was gone and the ducks were full, we headed over to the park for him to play for a while. He is getting good at climbing up the steps and going down the slide. He tries to be quick and get away but we are still faster than him! 

While Kylen ran around, Landon relaxed in his car seat and with dad.

After the play ground, Andrew took Kylen to run around on the soccer field and climb the hills. He was exhausted after all that playing and fell asleep on the way to Grandma's house. 

It was a good Sunday at Freestone!

Kylen's First Haircut!

I finally decided to take Kylen to get his haircut. Andrew wanted him to get one for a while but I was hesitant because I did not want to part with his curls yet. But his hair was starting to look like a mullet so I knew it was time. We took him to Cool Cuts on Warner and Gilbert. Once we got there I was still unsure how short I wanted to go but I finally gave in and let her give him a little boy haircut. Since it was a place for kids we thought he may do better and not mind it so much because he got to sit in a car and watch Elmo but were we wrong! He hated every minute of it. He clenched on to me and tried climbing out of the seat multiple times. He also kept reaching for the scissors and screamed the entire time! Not one of the most fun moments. We were all happy when it was over. It took me awhile to get used to his short hair but now I like it. He looks so cute!

This isn't so bad!

This isn't good..

Oh no!

Get me out of this chair!

Telling grandpa about his rough day!

Water Table!

Kylen was a lucky little boy and got to get a water table at Toys R Us a few weeks ago. He loves to play in it and get everything wet. I knew he would since he always plays in Sammie's water dish. He sticks his hands in her water dish and then rubs it on me or puts it in his hair. The other day when I was cleaning, he ran over to Sam's water and then ran to the media stand I was cleaning and started helping me wash it with his wet hands. Wasn't much help I suppose, but it sure was cute! I figured the water table would be a good toy during the summer. Here are some pictures of him playing with it.

Kylen is 15 Months!

My little boy is growing up so fast. It amazes me how much he changes in just a couple months. He has been full of personality, like always, and I absolutely love it. He has the energy that I dream of having and uses it to run around the house and entertain himself. That being said, he has also been quite cuddly and a tad sensitive lately. He has his moments when he cries at the drop of a hat and wants to be held a lot but I am trying to take it all in since I know it won't last forever and I will miss the fussiest of moments.

Silly Boy

Went to sleep with wet hair!

He adores his little brother. I was worried when I brought Landon home that Kylen would be very jealous and want everyone's undivided attention but he isn't that way at all. He gets so excited to see his brother when he wakes up and throughout the day. Landon is the only one that can get kisses on demand. Kylen gives so many to Landon that it will leaves Landon's hair wet at times. I still have to tell him to be gentle with Landon and not poke his eyes. He is learning body parts right now so he loves to point them out on Landon.. poor guy!

Checking on brother

Cuddling in the morning

Having Landon home really shows how big Kylen has become. He is in 18 month clothing, size 4 diapers and wears a size 4/5 shoe. He weighs 22 lbs 4.5 oz and measures 30 3/4 inches. He still loves to eat but I have noticed that he is not a breakfast person, like his dad. He mostly snacks in the morning and then goes to town on his lunch. Unlike a lot of little ones,  he loves vegetables and isn't big on sweets. I have tried to get him to eat donuts, muffins and pancakes in the morning but rather snack on his fishes.

Naps are still once a day around 11. He had a couple weeks when his naps were only an hour and a half which was rough but I think it was because he had an eyelid infection. Yes,an eyelid infection. This boy manages to get all kinds of odd medical things! Sure keeps me busy!

He is a little daredevil! He has taken his fair share of falls and tumbles which end in many bumps and bruises. The same day I took him in to get his eye looked at he fell and hit his head on the corner of the wall in the kitchen. So he had a red and swollen eye with a massive knot on his head. Wasn't pretty! I have a feeling this is just the beginning considering how he plays!  Andrew is apparently more fun to play with since he throws him around and is more rough then I am. He loves to play with his dad so much that it is hard to get him to finish his dinner because he just wants to get down and play. He loves to play golf/hockey. He has loved his golf clubs for a long time but Andrew recently showed him how to play hockey with them. The other morning Andrew was getting ready to leave for work and Kylen came running out of his room with two golf clubs and a ball. He tried handing one to Andrew so he could play. It was adorable but I know it broke Andrew's heart. Kylen has always loved playing with Sammie but Sammie is starting to like playing with him too. They are really cute to watch. Kylen loves to steal the toy she is playing with and take off running with it.Then Sam takes off after him and tries to get it back. I have never seen a dog play with a little one like she does. She plays but is so gentle and careful at the same time.

Wearing the toy he stole from Sam!

Riding home from Nana and Grandpa's

Sitting on Sam

All boy!

Easter

Landon was still in the hospital on his first Easter so we had to split our time between both little ones. Kylen woke up on his second Easter to a basket full of books, bubbles, Milky Ways and a couple toys in a giraffe backpack. Not only did the Easter bunny bring him something special but so did both grandmas. Grandma got him a picnic table and Nana had a play truck full of clothes and toys for him. He is one lucky little boy. After we opened his Easter backpack, Andrew took him to church with Nana and Uncle Adam. I went to the hospital to spend time with Landon and my mom. Landon got an adorable ducky Easter basket with his first Easter outfit, a book and a blanket. He also received a basket from his Nana. We spent a few hours there and then I met Andrew and his family for lunch at their house. It was a nice and relaxing day but I wish we could have all been together.

Update on Landon

On April 3rd we received the news that we were dreading. Landon was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome.  This is a genetic disorder that is caused by the absence of chromosome 15. It causes low muscle tone at birth and will eventually make him feel as though he is constantly hungry. He will also have a low metabolism with the potential of a low IQ, learning disabilities and trouble reaching his milestones. Only time will tell how severe it is, but we are hoping that he has a mild case. I had a very hard time when I first learned that he would be a special needs child but I have now accepted it and feel blessed to be his mother and have him in our lives. Andrew and I are going to do our best to make sure he lives a happy, healthy life. This will have to be a team effort and an entire lifestyle change for the whole family and we realize that we have a long road ahead of us but we are ready to take it on.

His diagnosis requires many doctors appointments with different specialists but we are lucky that there are so many programs and people to help us get through each step. The staff at the Banner Desert NICU was so wonderful- we couldn't of asked for a better team to help us get through this tough time. Landon is currently taking hormone shots to help with his low tone. He is seeing a endocrinologist, Dr. Holland, and a geneticist, Dr. Pearson. He has also started in the AzEIP, Arizona Early Intervention Program, which will send therapists to our home to help him.

It is very unfortunate and I do not wish for any family or child to go through these kind of difficulties, but Landon is lucky to have such a large support team behind him and family to love and care for him, as are we. Thank you to everyone, we really appreciate everything.

Relaxing with dad!

First bath mom gave him in hospital

He got to take his feeding tube out! yay!

Our Lovely Landon (meant to be posted on April 3rd)

It has obviously been a long time since I have blogged but we have had a whole lot going on. About a month before I was due to have Landon we found out that he was frank breech. I went in for a version which was extremely uncomfortable and painful and was ultimately unsuccessful. The doctors allow you to try as many versions as you please but since we were not able to move him much at all the first time, I decided to try just once more and if it did not work then I would go immediately in for a c-section and if it did work then I would be induced. So on the morning of Wednesday, March 21st, 2012, Andrew, my mom, Michelle and I all went to the hospital to try to turn Mr. Landon. We tried for a while but he would not budge. Therefore, I was headed in for surgery. I was very nervous and a little scared but we had no other choice.

The morning of Landon's birth

Two happy, excited parents

Landon Dean McClamrock was born on March 21, 2012 at 11:36am. He weighed 5 pounds and 14 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. As Dr. Wilson was delivering him, I heard him say "Well that is the reason he wouldn't turn." Landon was born with a very short cord, only about 6 inches long. So not only was my placenta inverted, which acted as a cushion when they tried to turn him, but the cord was also holding him back. There is no way I would have been able to deliver him naturally so I guess it is good that we did not manage to rotate him head down. Not only was his cord short but he was also having trouble breathing when he was delivered. Since I was being put back together, all I could see was the nurses working on him and giving him oxygen. He did not have the loud cry that newborns usually do. Andrew told me everything was okay but I could tell by his eyes that it wasn't. Jenny, our nurse who also delivered Kylen, said that he did not look 39 weeks. They took him right up to the NICU and he was supposed to meet me in the postpartum room right when I got there. Right before we left for the postpartum unit, Jenny told me that Landon wouldn't meet us till 6pm that night so we stopped by the NICU so I could finally hold and visit with him. Well here it is April 3rd and he is still in the NICU. He has very low muscle tone, undescended testes and he hasn't taken to eating. Each day he seems to be more alert and his eating is slowly getting better. He has had multiple tests done. Many of his results have come back normal but today we find out some of the gene test results. I am hoping for the best.

Meeting my handsome boy
(That is a towel around my head because I got sick)

5 pounds 14 ounces - Little guy 

He is a very relaxed baby that does not cry and rarely whimpers. He has thick, dark brown hair and is absolutely beautiful. We cannot wait to take him home but the doctors want to give him a diagnosis and get him to eat a bit more before he can leave the hospital.