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.

Busy Busy Busy

I have already broke one of my New Years Resolutions! I wanted to make sure that I blogged more but things have been very busy around here and when I get some free time I feel like doing absolutely nothing. So I am renewing my resolution starting now! Kylen has been a sick little boy the past two weeks. He had balanitis along with the flu and now he has a bad cold. We spent February 3rd in the emergency room and he was starting to get better when all of a sudden he got a cold. This boy does everything full throttle! Kylen has had his good nights and bad nights since he's been sick and last night was a bad one. He only wanted to sleep on me while I rocked him. Of course he has passed his cough and cold on to me so it was a rough night to say the least. Hopefully our little guy will start to get better or else we will be paying the pediatrician another visit.

Meanwhile my pregnancy is going well. Landon has been a much different pregnancy than Kylen was. Landon rarely moves which worries me constantly. I share my concerns with the doctor each time I go but he always has a strong heartbeat so they don't seem too worried. Doctors typically want 10 movements an hour which Landon never gives. I am lucky to get that many movements in an entire day. Kylen was a constant mover and still is! I could always get him to move by drinking some juice and laying down if he was having a lazy day but that is not the same with Mr. Landon. I try it all and rarely get a response. I much rather him do karate moves in my belly than be so calm but maybe this means he will be a relaxed baby! So different than our K-man! I guess time will tell. His lack of movement has been the biggest difference but my heartburn seems worse this time around. And although I am just as exhausted as last pregnancy, I don't have the time to relax since I am chasing a one year old around all day. I only have about five weeks to go. I am getting to the point of being very uncomfortable. You know, that time when even putting on shoes is a tough and frustrating task. It will be here before we know it and I am very excited to meet my son :o)

Kylen's First Birthday Party!

We had a family birthday party for Kylen on January 15th. It was very nice because Rene was in town and he had Myles and Lakai for the weekend so all the cousins were able to attend. We had the party at our house where we bar-ba-qued and the kids ran around playing tag. Kylen had a great time toddling around outside but when it came time to open presents he was exhausted and not as excited as I thought he would be.

Hanging with the boys- Grandpa, dad and Uncle Seth

Opening presents

The Cousins

Lakai helping Kylen open gifts

Michelle made a delicious lemon-blueberry cake for Kylen. He wasn't too happy when we sat him down to sing "Happy Birthday" and have cake but once we all started singing and he got a taste of his cake, he turned into a happy camper. 

The cake- YUM!

Not a happy camper

After presents and cake, all the boys and Lakai headed to the park across the street. They ran around like crazy while the rest of us stayed back and cleaned up. The kids came back tired but not nearly as tired as the big kids-Rene, Andrew and Seth.  It was a great time and a very nice first birthday party for Kylen. 

Kylen is One Year Old!

I know I say this all the time but I truly cannot believe how fast time flies. Kylen in now one year old.. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. This has been a year full of changes with lots of hurdles but I wouldn't change a single minute. Andrew and I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful little boy that brings so much joy to us each and every day.

Kylen is  a walking machine! He started officially walking a week before his birthday and he has been nonstop ever since.. he rarely crawls now. We are working on teaching him words. He understands a lot of them but we can't always get him to say it. He says dada the most but I am really working on mama :o) I have also started with the sign language but he has yet to pick up on that. When I ask him questions he will respond with either a big grin and bounce up and down or a shaking of the head to signal no.

He is still quite the daddy's boy. If dad is home he could care less about me. He has also been a little needy lately. He has learned to throw fits and cry if he is not getting his way. This usually happens when I am trying to make food and he wants to be held. That being said, he is also doing really well playing by himself. I am able to get more done around the house and in the kitchen because he knows how to entertain himself. I think that learning how to walk really helped with this. He loves to carry things around with him while he walks. It is usually a part of his train, a piece of his play mat or the computer cord. It is so cute to watch him.

He is drinking milk instead of formula now. That was an easy change- he started drinking it as soon as I gave it to him and he seems to be doing fine on it. I still give him three bottles a day- One in the morning, one before his nap and one at bedtime. We have pushed his nap to 11am or a little later depending what we are doing. He still sleeps about three hours at nap time. He loves food. We usually give him a little bit of what we are eating to see how he takes to it and he usually like it. I gave him blueberries the other night and you would think they were candy by the way he was eating them!

We started his birthday with his one year doctor appointment! Sorry about having to go to the doctor and get shots boogs, but I just couldn't wait to see how you have grown and if we could start you on milk. He now weighs 20.5 pounds and is in the 30th percentile for weight. He has grown to 30 inches long which puts him in the 60th percentile for height. Although he is a tad on the skinny side, Dr. Jones is not worried and instructed us to start milk and keep doing what we are doing. After his doctor appointment we went out for breakfast and he had pancakes, one of his favorites! After that we headed to Costco and then home to take a nap. When he woke up he ate lunch and then we took him for a walk in his wagon. He absolutely loves to ride in his wagon! For dinner we had pizza at our house and Andrew's parents and brothers came over. I made lemon cupcakes for dessert and although it took a minute for him to figure out what it was, once he did, he dug in and made a big mess of it!

Just woke up from his nap

Playing with dad and the dogs!

Not sure why everyone is singing and looking at him!

Yummm cupcake!

What a mess!

It was a fun first birthday for Kylen. I can't believe it has come so soon but we are looking forward to this year.

Happy first birthday my love. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, happy baby. Mom and dad love you more than anything!

First Christmas!

This Christmas was a big one for us. Not only was it Kylen's first Christmas but it was also our first one as a family and in our new home. Although it was pretty hectic, everything went well.

Andrew had to work so I woke up early with him to spend a few minutes together before he had to leave. Then I got myself and Kylen ready and headed off to grandma's house. We got there by 6:45am. Kylen did not wake up in a good mood. He was extremely grouchy until we made it into grandma's house. Then he was excited and kinda confused at what was going on. He really loved opening gifts, mostly because he got to tear the wrapping paper and chew on the boxes.

With Aunt Michelle before opening presents

Kylen helping momma open presents

Playing with the Leap Frog puppy that Aunt Chris got him

After presents, we ate breakfast and Kylen took a nap. When he woke up we headed back to our house to celebrate with Andrew. Santa brought Kylen a police car that he can either ride in or walk around in. He absolutely loves it! After our little Christmas celebration, the three of us went to Andrew's parents to open our stockings. Andrew's family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve so we had celebrated with them the night before. We spent about an hour there before we headed to dinner with my family. My Aunt Chris came into town to spend the holiday with us and she wanted to take everyone to dinner on Christmas. We went to Rustler's Roost and had a good time. Kylen loves to look around and eat so it was a good place for us to go.

In the police car Santa brought him!

Michelle and Tristyn dancing at Rustler's Roost

Andrew and I dancing :o)

Kylen, Pa, Aunt Chris and my mom

Kylen and Grandma

We figured out that he loves corn on the cob! 

After dinner we headed back to my mom's house so Andrew could open his gifts from my family and the rest of us had a few more to open too. And of course we ate dessert :o) By that time everyone was exhausted so we headed home to put Kylen down and Andrew and I got to relax for a bit. It was a very busy Christmas but all in all it was a very good one too!