Five months of Turkey

4/19/2014

Well this has been an interesting month, our Turkey has decided she wants to act like the typical infant. We have gone from sleeping all night to up every 2-3 hours, crying ALL the time, and the lovely I don't want to be held, I don't want to sit, and I don't want to lay down stage. I even posted the following on Facebook:

Missing: my all-night sleeping turkey
Last seen: one week ago
If found: please return to the Brady Bunch house
Sincerely: one tired mama who dearly misses her sleep and didn't fully realize how lucky she was for having a baby who slept through the night

AND
 
Free to a good home, one 13 pound teething turkey! Facts: hasn't slept through the night in weeks, has discovered her 'screaming' (bloody murder, I'm gonna die) cry, drools on everything, chews on everything, doesn't want to sit, lay down, or be held and has a slight temperature, but still able to have some 'oh my goodness I AM CUTE' time each day!

Here are some things that have been going on with me over the last month:

• Sadly those teeth buds that we have been seeing for months have still not broken through
• Although I don't understand peek-a-boo yet, I do enjoy putting things over my head until someone notices me
• I am mastering rolling over, mainly because I still despise tummy time
• I tried Rice for the first time
• I got my first car
• Everyone says I am a DIVA in training
• I've learned I can rock myself in my bouncy seat by kicking my leg or legs
• I went to Breanna's Special Olympics on April 2, 2014 and a therapy dog was so fond of me he stayed by my side most of the day.
• I am trying to become a master escape artist
• I got my first swim suit

3/21 First time having solid food - rice

3/29 Check out my ride!

3/30 Diva in training

4/2 Hanging out at Special Olympics

4/2 Mom tried to take my picture with the therapy dog without my food...NOT HAPPY!

4/5 You want to ride with me? I don't think so!

4/9 Trying to escape off the bed

4/17 Trying to escape my bouncy chair

4/19 Ready for the beaches and pools, bring on summer!!!

Family Fun Day 2014

Dothan hosts a yearly Family Fun Day for those who participate in Dothan Miracle League, Special Olympics, and Special Needs Citizens of Houston County. They had several activities for the special needs citizens and their families, including bouncy houses, air baseball, games, face painting, carriage rides, and food! They provided free lunch for everyone as well as snow cones and drinks.

Bre taking everything in

Sherriff's Helicopter

University of Alabama and one of the two trucks they brought and the Dothan City Bomb Squad

University of Alabama's second truck

Troy University's truck

Carriage Rides, Bre would not go on a ride

Special Olympics 2014

Houston County, Alabama celebrated their 38th Special Olympics on April 2, 2014 at Dothan High School. This years theme was 'My Olympic Moment' and Northview High School, yet again, started the games by winning 1st place for their banner, which will give them an end of the year pizza party and $250 for their classroom. This year they changed the awards for banners, in years past on 3 schools would win a pizza party and prize money, but now every banner won $25.

I don't if I was just preoccupied socializing and watching Turkey or if it wasn't announced, but I wasn't able to determine what song the Special Olympics choir sang in order to attach it to this years post. And I know some people might cringe at this, but I honestly love how most events in our area or our teams start with a prayer. Regardless of people religious beliefs or denominations, there is just something calming about hearing someone give thanks for the day, the surroundings, and the people involved for that activity.

So for anyone who follows our blog, it is obvious we have our Turkey but for Breanna and her classmates they get the extra excitement of having two new baby siblings. One of Breanna's classmates had a baby brother about 3 weeks after Turkey was born, named Brantley who was also at the games today, so the kids got tons of baby time in between activities!

The games started with the parade of students, followed by the introduction and acknowledgment of those who helped make the games possible. The mayor then gave a short speech, followed by the invocation and acknowledgment of previous athletes who were no longer with us. The Houston County torch runners then ran in the torch around the track and per tradition, once the torch reached the athletes and spectators, it was then passed down the line of parents. This part always makes me tear up, maybe I am just a sap, but it's the counties way of recognizing Special Needs parents and caregivers and the multiple sacrifices it takes to have such a blessing of having a special needs child. Once the torch reaches the last parent, the honorary guests then light the Olympic Flame and the games are officially opened.

I am not sure if our athletes weren't signed up to participate in all the activities or not, or if the 'student helpers' were just enjoying their free day but our group participated in the softball throw and the 100 meter run or walk. After the games the remaining Northview High School students decided to end the games in style by running through their banner.

Waiting for the parade of athletes to start

Northview's winning banner

Ms Barbie, NHS Special Education Teacher

The parade of athletes

The parade had a brief stop, so I tried to get a picture, but when taking it the athletes started walking again and Ms Michelle said it was time to start moving again!

Dothan High School (host school of the Special Olympics) Band

Lighting of the Olympic Flame

Some of the officers in the Torch Run

Bre after completing her softball throws - as usual I was unable to capture any pictures or video of her throwing!

Turkey cooling off under the tend

Some NHS girls waiting for their 100 meter walk

More NHS students waiting for their heat

Go Bre Go!

Bre with one of her favorite student aids

The girls getting their awards, Bre received 4th again because she stopped before the finish line

Last picture of the banner before running through it

Four months of Turkey

3/17/2014

Another month has come and gone! And for mom this is the no-fun stage as I am in the crying, flailing around, not sure what I want, and constantly hungry stage (nursing an average of 6 hours a day). Since I am grasping more, and appearing very interested when mom eats and brushes her teeth, mom bought me my first toothbrush and some spoons.


I had my 4 month check-up on 03/20/14 and I weighed 12 pounds 12 ounces, was 24 inches tall and my head (yep it's big) was 41cm (a little over 16 inches). I also received my immunizations and we know what that means...shopping for more accessories! Today it was pink polka dot sunglasses. The doctor, although she didn't fully recommend it, told mom I could try a little rice and/ or increase supplementing formula because I obviously love to eat...I mean look at that weight! So be.sides my sunglasses I also got some formula and rice.

3/20 Check out my new sunglasses!

Here are some things about me over the past month:

• I despise tummy time! No I really mean it, put me on my tummy and I will scream bloody murder till someone pics me up or puts me on my back.
• I drool constantly! Mom and dad can see teeth, but nothing has broken through yet
• My grasping skills are improving, especially if someone puts something really close to me 
• I am laughing more. Dad finally heard me laugh on 3/12/14. But no one can catch me on camera because the minute I see the camera I stop and pose for my picture to be taken!
• I have to put EVERYTHING in my mouth
• I am obsessed with having to sit at the dinner table each night and I am fascinated by watching everyone eat their food
• I enjoy sitting up more and an attempting to pull myself up into sitting position
• I have discovered my toes, but haven't started to grab at them yet
• I tried out mom's jogging stroller, I am not sure I like it yet, but I did finally fall asleep in it
• I love watching mom do stuff on her computer, as she types this I am sitting in her lap leaning over as close as I can watching her fingers type 
• Still won't take a bink, but I FOUND my fingers! And they are delish!!!
• I went to my first Miracle League opening ceremony and game on Saturday, March 15, 2014 and slept through most of it
•  Tried out my walker to see if I could sit up better, unfortunately I am still a bit small, but mom figured out how to hold me in with blankets

2/27 Mom bought me a pod with her b-day money from grandma

3/1 Are you looking at me???

3/1 Trying out my new toothbrush

3/1 Licking is good too

3/2 In the jogging stroller

3/2 Nappin' in the stroller

3/4 Supervising mom making dinner

3/5 Tebow-ing

3/15 Nappin' with my fingers in my mouth at Miracle League

3/17 Just being cute

3/17 Sitting in my walker

 And cause mom still laughs every time she sees this, here is me practicing sitting

Until next month...

To be an adult

I honestly can't tell you if I am excited or a bit depressed that I have another adult child. Yep it's true! Jarom turned 18...sigh

Most mom's I know dread when their son turns 18, mainly because of having to register for the draft. Me...well I was, I don't want to say thrilled, but I'd rather take that option than Jarom joining the military at age 18. It took a lot of convincing, but he decided to go straight to college instead of joining the air force, HUGE sigh of relief. Now please don't misunderstand, I am all for people serving, heck I think every 18 year old should at least have to go to boot camp. Boy would that change a lot of attitudes and give quite a few of them a huge wake up call...but that's another story/ post that will probably never happen! (At least I am honest)

Since we had to complete his Financial Aid before his 18th birthday, his Selective Service paperwork was already completed and he received his documentation on his birthday, along with quite a few other pieces of mail, a package from his girlfriend Heidi, cards from other family members, and a few pieces of mail from colleges...including one that I hid from him until the next day, the one he really, really wanted to arrive on his birthday because he only wanted one thing for his birthday...an acceptance letter from the University of Washington.

The mail that came...see that one at the bottom?

The mail I gave him on his birthday

I know it's hard to tell in this picture, but that letter that he so desperately wanted and told every person who called or spoke to him on his birthday wasn't the actual gift he had hoped for! Sadly, it was the one thing I couldn't make happen or give him, even if I tried. I was devastated, so much, I cried for him and still do. If you saw the way he lit up as he told everyone "the one and only present I want didn't come today", they would then ask what that gift was and he'd reply "My acceptance to Washington"...and then I would have to leave the room because I would be in tears. With how 'crappy' his senior year has turned into, why or why couldn't he just get this one thing?

Surprisingly, when I did give him the letter the next day...he already knew what was in that envelope based on the look on my face. Believe me, I really did try to give the big smile, positive attitude...but he knew...I was crushed. He did open the letter and it stated that this was the largest amount of freshman applications they had EVER received, over 31,000 applications and only about 6,000 available slots for the freshman class. Still we were both disappointed, it didn't matter what they wrote, it was still a denial.

But just like he has been through this 'crappy' senior year, he turned this rejection into a positive. He had already decided that if for any reason he wasn't accepted to Washington, he knew what school he would chose to attend...but I will save that for another post...that post will happen!

Now back to his birthday...besides that dreaded letter he had asked for 'stuff for college' and steak for dinner. Since I didn't have much notice on what 'stuff' to buy him (there is a completely different I need/ I want list based on what school he was going to attend), I focused on his dinner! I don't want to brag, but it was amazing! Bre and I had gone to the store after getting that dreaded letter and found 3 LARGE steaks, one each for the boys and one for Bre and I to share...with leftovers! We also bought some ice cream, picking out some of Jarom's favorite flavors to add to the stash of flavors we already had at home. We were also going to make either cupcakes or waffles with cake mix, but Jarom wasn't really in the mood for them since we had quite a few other sweets in the house.

Overall, besides me having to excuse myself several times that night to compose myself, I think he enjoyed his day. Sad to think that next year, I will have to make a 'surprise' appearance at his college to celebrate with him.

Month three of Turkey aka Kylie

2/2 Hi!!!

Well Ms Turkey hasn't been called turkey as much as in the past, now its baby! While she doesn't have any scheduled doctors appointments this month I figured I'd keep a log of new things she's done or experienced over the last month.

• Took my first bath in mom's big bathtub on 01/31/2014. I had a massive 'explosion' while Jarom was doing the dinner dishes so the kitchen sink was not an option. Mom took a videos of my second bath in her tub, again due to a massive 'explosion' and hopefully she can figure out how to change the view and upload it to here.
•  I went to my first soccer game on 02/01/2014 where Jarom's Northview High team played some of the almuni and they actually won, but it took a shootout to claim that victory.
• Mom had to put all my newborn clothes away, with the exception of a few onsies, and I have so many 0-3 and 3 month clothes from Brooklyn and Grandma Butts, I am not sure how I will be able to wear everything before I outgrow them
• Even though I am not supposed to be watching TV, I love it! Mom tries to keep me away from it most of the time, but the second I catch a view of it I am glued
• I love some of the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn apps, mainly Animals and Learning Letters
• Laughed, more than one time, without scaring myself on 02/14/2014
• As of today, I still refuse to laugh for dad, but everyone else has seen me or can make me laugh...poor dad! Yes he even tried again for 30 minutes before mom posted this, with no luck
• And the best thing that has happened over the last month or so, I think I am a cat! I like to lick myself, mainly my hands (which I like to clench really tight) and arms 
• I am starting to grab at my blankets and toys

2/3 I love sleeping in mom and dads bed

2/6 Yep, I am cute

2/6 Showing off my 'licking' skills

2/7 Watching Little Mermaid

2/7 Shark chase

2/10

2/10 Looks like my eyes are going to be Hazel

2/10 Turkey playing with her turkey

2/10 I love my tongue

2/10 Mom loves my lips!

2/13 Hanging out at Breanna's award ceremony