Update on Allergies

So I talked with Miles' allergist doctor today. Apparently either the lab made a mistake or he did when filling out the lab request because we were suppose to test for peanuts as well, but instead got the results for pecans. So we know Miles' isn't allergic to pecans, but I'm certain he's allergic to peanuts since he had a horrific hive experience just by coming in contact with peanut butter (on his skin, never eaten it). His doctor also referred us to some reputable websites. The food allergy website the kids with food allergy website. Lots of recipes for no egg, no milk, no wheat, no soy foods. I even found a recipe to make your own "flour" out of rice flour and some additional starches (potato, arrowroot and tapioca).

Our biggest challenge will be keeping Macey from sharing her food with Miles. She loves to give them food. I've started telling her that it will make him sick if she gives it to him. We'll see how that goes. That could backfire on us.

I asked the doctor if he felt we needed an epi-pen as he had mentioned that in our first visit with him. He said that he would call one in for us. We don't know what his response would be if he ingested eggs or peanuts. He also stated that by removing the items he's been eating from his system if he was to ingest some he could have a more severe reaction than what he has shown.

Good grief...

We took Miles to a pediatric allergist last week. We have witnessed some additional reactions with food that made us suspect he had some allergies. The blood tests came back today and we were right. Milk, eggs, soy, wheat and dust mites all made the list. I also think he's got an intolerance/allergy to peanuts. So what do you give a 10 month old that is allergic to milk and soy? The answer is Elecare. Where do you get it? You got me. Luckily the allergist gave me several samples of it. What is it made of? Good question. It's an amino acid based formula.

Photo shoot day!

Ok, I'm a little late in posting this. Saturday morning we met with an AWESOME photographer and had family photos done. It was an 8am shoot and we met her at Mayfield park in Austin. Lots of ironing, packing, planning, and more planning the night before and then getting a jump start in the morning enabled us to only be 5 or 10 minutes late! Daddy was dragging his feet a bit (got sidetracked playing with the babies, who can blame him) or we may have been a little earlier. But we did manage to leave the house around 7:20. We were hoping to beat the heat, but after we got there and unloaded everything, I was already sweating. It was really humid! The kids didn't seem to be so bothered by it though. Poor Christina, the photographer, she had the hardest job! She did so well with Macey, who was the most uncooperative. There are tons of peacocks at this park and she wanted to chase the birds instead of smile for the camera. Well, Macey wanted to do a lot of other things (exploring, picking up feathers, etc) than smiling for the camera. Christina was so great at getting Macey's attention and corralling her to get some good pictures of her. She got some amazing pictures of us.

You can view the pictures on her website. Click on either html or flash and then click on "client". Our password is "jones". She's loading them as she completes them. I can't wait to see more! She's awesome!

Summer events

Nothing much going on in the Hardeman household. Just chasing babies. Miles and Camryn are on the move. Miles loves to walk around and cries when you stop holding his hands. He's a little cautious about his moves, but he makes them. He has times when he shows no fear, but overall he's calculating about the things he's going to do. Camryn has no fear, NONE. She's a climber. I thought Macey was bad (and she is), but somehow Camryn has managed to top her. She tries to climb EVERYTHING. She's tried to climb up on the side of the tub while she's taking a bath. She's successfully climbed up on a little kid sized wooden rocker. Not only climbed up on it, but stood in it while holding onto the back. She's climbed onto the bench of the kid-sized picnic table and stood on the bench seat while holding onto the tabletop. She tries to get her legs up on anything. Her latest feat was accomplished while holding onto the window sill and trying to see her daddy who was outside, she stood on the baseboards to lift herself up. Yep, those 1/4 inch thick things that only tiny toes can get on, she stood on it. They both can climb the stairs, oh boy. They are both letting go with one hand and maneuvering around to the next piece of furniture. And Camryn will pull up on the wall/cabinet/dishwasher and bang on it, letting go with both hands as she's banging. Macey thinks that jumping and then throwing her feet out from underneath her and landing on her bottom is so much fun. Of course this is done on the couch, bed, anything soft. And a lot of times is done to dismount from said piece of furniture.

We took them swimming this past weekend. It wasn't so daunting of a task. They all loved it. I was a little hesitant at putting Miles in the water since his skin is so sensitive, but he did fine, no rash/irritation. Thankfully only one of the three is walking. Next summer should be interesting should we decide to take them swimming.

I don't have any recent pictures since Sean took control of the camera again.

More Marker Mania

Hmmm...is this an indication...

of what is to come. You can see the wheels turning as I caught her in the act.

Now you might understand why I call her my little billy goat!

Here's another one of Camryn. She can vibrate her tongue at the top of her mouth; like when you make the purring noise for a cat. She does it at the very beginning of this video.

Miles and Camryn are 3 months away from being 1 today! On our shopping expedition this past weekend there was a lady with what looked like a few day old newborn. She was in the baby section and was carrying her around. Seeing such a little tiny baby reminds me how fast mine have gotten so big! I can still carry both of them at the same time, but it definitely has gotten more weighty!

Recent pictures and video

The kids survived the stomach bug. Macey ended up laying around and sleeping all day Sunday. 5+ days of it. Whew. Hope it doesn't return for a WHILE.

Handsome Miles

Beautiful Camryn

Marked up Macey (with her toddler markers, so easy wash)

These next two pictures of Miles need explaining. So we're still splitting them up at naptime. Sure you think, just lower the crib. Sounds easy, but if you're really interested in hearing how our schedule doesn't allow for many "kinks" in it, just ask. Anyway, when we put them in their room for nap Miles and Camryn can see each other, but only if he stands up. Miles often starts falling asleep standing up, sucking on his fingers, with his head laying on the rail. Miles can't sleep like this and starts complaining, so that's our cue to go in and lay him down. He won't lay down on his own. I guess he misses his sister. The same can be said for Camryn as she's often on the end of the pack n play that faces the crib.

Miles snoozing

Camryn dreaming

Sweet sleepers (this isn't how they were put in bed, but this is how they were found; they get put down on opposite ends of the crib and this is Miles's side)

I guess I interrupted the fun

Talking

Hanging out

A glimpse of the fun. Sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper. All 3 of them will follow me at times. I usually have at least one following me and the most frequent being Miles.

The camera battery died as I was recording so it got cut short. But they just crack up at each other. Don't ask me what's so funny, only they know that.

I went on an extended shopping trip today with them in tow. Usually when I go it alone I go to one store, get in, get what we need, and get out as soon as possible. Today we went to THREE stores, just me and the kids. One of those was a pet store. This was the fun store. When it's a thousand degrees outside you have to improvise. Pet store=air conditioned fun viewing of loads of animals. I used the double stroller, so Macey walked around the stores. She was so good at listening to me and staying with me. At our second store a woman with a toddler in her basket commented on how well she was listening. Proud momma moment (but of course I'm not kidding myself...she is only 2, so at any moment things can change). I kept giving her tasks to do, like "okay, we need to find the syrup, will you help me find the syrup." When we found it, she took it off the shelf and loaded it into the bottom of the stroller. Miles and Camryn were great as well.

I have to add a "pat on the back" to Sean and I. Potty training a barely 2 year old with 8 month old twins=big undertaking. If we didn't have such an easy participant we might be singing a different tune. God definitely knows what he's doing...if you ever questioned that.

Oh and Camryn now has 3 teeth through and the other front top tooth is about to come through. If you look closely at the smiling picture of her you can see one of the bottom teeth.