Struggles

I know..who doesn't have them?! I am having usual Mommy struggles. I just am not used to them because I have never had a 4 year old and almost 2 year old before. Most of my struggles are with Aydyn, my more complex (a.k.a difficult) child. Although Krystian has had his moments.

Krystian's struggle for the entire year has been to learn to ride his bike. We got it for him really early like 2 years ago. He would ride it with someone pushing him, but then we quit pushing so he quit riding. Jake and I (mostly me) decided to dust it off and give it a go again. My dear sweet baby boy has become lazy. My in-laws have gotten each of my boys (against my wishes) a four-wheeler. Krystian knows that he can go to Grandpa's house and ride a four-wheeler that doesn't require any pedaling. Why does he need a bike?

Well, I am proud to say that after a few weeks and revelation from Lyn that he is outgrowing his bike, Krystian has learned to partially ride his bike. He only likes to do it in the drive way which is sloped. The road is too flat and still requires too much work. How did I do it? I found his weakness...FOOD! Haha! That's right I said food. Krystian said, "Mommy, I want a snack." I said, "You can have a snack if you try to ride your bike." After a second of thought, he said, "Ok." I got out the bike and helped him get on. He tried to pedal and the seat fell off. Jake didn't tighten it all the way the last time he raised the seat. I had to fix the seat and yes, I tightened it. Then Krystian got on and pedaled all the way down the drive way (almost hitting my car at the end). His reward were gummies for a snack. (Yes I use food as a reward when it works!)

Aydyn's struggles are a little more complicated. For starters, he is a picky eater. He would rather have junk food than anything healthy (except for carrots). Jake and I are of the belief that he will eat when he gets hungry, especially after talking to our pediatrician at his 20 month visit. However, my loving in-laws are of the idea let him eat what he wants when he wants. They kept my boys Saturday night. On Sunday Aydyn had the following: sausage and eggs (offered, but not eaten); Krispy Kreme donut (eaten); Cheese Nips (eaten); ribs, mac & cheese, lima beans, biscuit (offered, but not eaten); pork chops, scalloped potatoes, peas (offered, but not eaten). Thats right folks on Sunday all my son ate was a Krispy Kreme donut & Cheese Nips at church with my in-laws. I was not around. Monday was no better. He ate only the morning and afternoon snack at daycare. They had soup for lunch, and Aydyn doesn't eat soup...He had corn bread. He refused to eat dinner that night as well. My son went 48 hours without eating ANYTHING NUTRITIOUS! I am a HORRIBLE mother. I made the mistake of going to eat with my in-laws tonight because we fight every meal about how to feed Aydyn. Tonight was no exception.

My other struggle with Aydyn is more of Mommy Guilt. For Krystian's birthday, we bought 3 tickets to go see Monster Jam Monster Trucks in Jacksonville, Florida. Here it is Wednesday, we leave Friday, & I am totally hating the fact that I have to leave my precious baby boy for 3 days. I am going out of state and leaving him. I feel guilty! I know that I need to spend time with each of them, but I have not been away from him for more than 24 hours at a time since his birth. I feel like no one else can handle him the way that I would especially with this whole food issue. We will survive, but I had to vent.

Worst Check Up Ever!

When I had Aydyn, I realized that I would end up having two check up appointments to manage. I also decided to try to make as many as possible together. Today was one of those two children check up days. Krystian had to go in for his four year old check up, and Aydyn had to go in for his 20 month check up.

Aydyn's check up was not so bad. He weights 26 pounds and is just over 34 inches tall. He couldn't get his regular vaccines today because he hadn't been exactly 6 months, so he just got a flu shot (I know its late, but better late than never.).

Krystian's check up was fantastic until the shots. Lisa, the nurse (who is awesome), snuck in the hemoglobin test. He didn't realize what she was doing until she pricked his finger. He LOVES Dr. Mike! After Dr. Mike came in and checked him which he did well with, Lisa came back in with the shots. Krystian had to have 5 shots. It went a little something like this...Lisa holding Krystian's legs and giving shots; Jake at Krystian's head holding his hands; and me in the middle holding his stomach and watching his poor, poor pitiful face. I have never seen my baby boy cry like he did today getting his shots. Four years old is horrible! They know exactly what is coming and they HATE it. Yes, I cried when Krystian was a baby and got his first set of shots, but this was TEN TIMES WORSE! His face was red, the tears flowed like a river, and he screamed at the top of his lungs. At one point, Dr. Spence walked in to see if we needed assistance.

After today's experience, I have vowed NOT to take Aydyn for his four year old check up. That is all up to Jake. I cannot handle that pain any more.

The good news is that both boys are healthy and right on track. Aydyn is in the 90th percentile for his height. He's going to be tall and skinny like his daddy. Krystian will be short and dumpy like his mommy, but that is ok because I love them both with all of my heart.

Birthdays

We celebrate the usual holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and mild Valentine's Days, but my favorite days are birthdays for my boys. Ever since Krystian's first birthday, Jake has used his computer talent to make a movie of the year from birthday to birthday. I cry every year, and I sit here and watch him make it.

Tomorrow Krystian turns four. It is amazing to think that four years ago tomorrow, I was lying in a hospital bed strapped to pitocin (spelling, I know) so drugged up on pain medicine that I barely remember anything. I remember Dr. Rainwater saying that he wasn't dropping and that we would do a c-section. I remember Dr. Rainwater saying he was out and showing him to me. His cord was wrapped around his neck, and that is why he didn't drop. They suctioned him, and then handed him to Jake. Jake had the beautiful privilege of carrying Krystian to the nursery where they cleaned him up. The anesthesiologist tried talking to be, but the drugs were making me so sleepy I remember thinking that I just wanted to sleep. My mom who had come to see me early in the morning, but had to go back to work, ended up coming back to see me on her lunch break while I was in the recovery room. I got to nurse for the first time in the recovery room, and then we got to go back to our own room. Krystian was great at nursing. I just ate sausage biscuits every morning that I was in the hospital and it gave him gas. We were in the hospital for 5 LONG days. Jake had taken a week of vacation the week that Krystian was born, and we spent almost all of it in the hospital.

It is very hard to imagine that my little boy will be 4 tomorrow. I am excited, happy, sad, and nervous all at the same time! He was such a good baby. I could count on him to be calm and happy almost always. I had to fight Jake's family to accept the fact that I was breastfeeding, but they got used it. Krystian has taught me a lot over these four years, and my education continues! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRYSTIAN! :)