Video finally

I am nursing Finn while creating this post - talk about multi tasking.  Finn's blood test results were as follows: (the scale goes from 1 (minimally allergic) to 6 (highly allergic))

5 - milk and peanuts

3 - wheat and eggs

2 - soy

no allergies to: fish, cats, dogs, or dustmites

The doctor suggested I remove milk, peanuts, wheat, and, and eggs from my diet.  I have done so and the results have been drastic, dramatic, life changing.  Finn's skin is amazing. It's like having a whole new baby.  He's not itching all the time, or oozing, or writhing with hives and such all over his precious little head.  I thought removing all these things from my diet would be hard...and I guess I lamented a little bit in the beginning, but once the test results were in and I knew what I had to do, it really hasn't been that hard.  (And, I have mentioned this to some before, I can still eat french fries and drink diet coke, SO the change hasn't been that difficult.)  Mostly, I am eating way more salad, fruits, and vegetables.  In general, I feel amazing.  And clearly, little Finn is feeling much better too.  When he is a year old we will retest him (as the only part of the blood results that is truly accurate is the milk and peanut part).  Hopefully he won't be allergic forever...I'd hate to never share an ice cream cone with him.  At the same time, if I have to revamp my cookie recipe to make it healthier and suitable for Finn, I gladly accept the challenge.

Thanks to my baby I am losing weight and lowering cholesterol.  Thank you Finny-Finn for saving my life.

Oh, were you hoping to see some videos? Well, here they are.  Up first: "Hot Wheels."  Ever wonder what 93 hot wheels cars looks like? Wonder no more:

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Now, all of you know I am crazy and one big kid...so I am sure it will not surprise you that I whole heartedly supported Littleman's request for a ball pit.  (Papabear on the otherhand was a little less thrilled when he came home from work and found this...) Aunt Barbara, if you are wondering what we spent your Christmas $ on, here it is...well, a chunk of it.  At the end is a tiny clip of the Finnster bouncing in his bouncy thing. Just as cute as can be.

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How much do you love our playroom?  I know, I love it, too.  A whole room filled with toys, dedicated to entertaining and pleasuring my little ones and their friends.  Seriously, a dream come true...for a person like me, who pretty much lives for her kids, it's the best thing ever...now, if only I could dig a basement and build a sound-proof, state of the art recording studio for Billbers.....well, it just wouldn't be fair if we had everything, now would it?

Finally,  thanks to Littleman dragging his piano down a flight of stairs Finny Finn has discovered the wonders of music.

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This video was taken yesterday - check out those beautiful, hive-free, rash-free cheeks!  I tried to get close enough so you could see his two little teeth poking through, but no such luck.  

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Tidbits...

Most recently, Little Finn has developed an allergy to milk. Two weeks ago we had a really scary incident. I mixed a tiny bit of formula to make his cereal at dinner (didn't have any thawed breastmilk and I didn't think it would hurt).  Within in minutes of eating his food his face turned red, eyes were blood shot, and then his eyes started to swell shut.  Thankfully, Papabear's urgent care is very close and Littleman understood that this was an emergency - Finn was being treated within 11 minutes of me seeing that he was having a very bad reaction.  At the urgent care, they gave Finn a shot of epi, benadryl, and steroids and in less than ten minutes he was back to normal.  It was scary though, very scary. 

SO, we've taken him to an allergist - a pretty UNhelpful one.  He did order a blood test, though, (results to come back early this week, I hope) and said I definitely need to lay off all milk products.  We'll see what the blood test reveals as to any more allergies.  Finn's pediatrician, at his 6 month well visit, is concerned about his eczema - which as far as I can see has gotten better since I no longer partake in butter, cheese, and all the other lovelies made with milk.  BUT, she says it's the worst she's seen. Tomorrow we are taking the little guy to a derm specialist in Dallas.  Hopefully she can sort some of this out - his face is so red and dry and itchy.  He looks so uncomfortable most of the time...I just want him to be healthy and happy.  What else?

So there's the Finn situation for now.

In other news, the best thing that has happened recently is my joining of a new gym.  Costco offers a two year membership at 24hour Fitness for $299.  That works out to roughly 12 bucks a month and you really can't beat that.  It's NO Lifetime (my old gym), that's for sure.  There's no fancy pools for the kids, no eucalyptus steam shower, and definitely no towel service. BUT, it does have Step Aerobics and Zumba classes.  And it does have a lap pool for the days when I am not taking a class.  It works.  Last week was my first day and tears sprang to my eyes as I stumbles up and over and all around my step.  I was SO happy.  I couldn't believe how happy I was .  THIS is what has been missing.  Things are fine and swell, but when it comes to my health, nothing compares to group exercise.  I really just NEED it.  It gets all sorts of endorphins and what not pumping through my veins that makes me sleep better, eat better, and just plain BE better.  I don't know why my lovely elliptical machine and exercise ball at home do that...but, I don't need to ponder that for the next two years.

Well, Finn is sleeping and I'd like to make a chicken salad for lunch. Think I'll go do that. Hope to get some video up soon. Oh, here are some fun Finn stats.

At 6 months:

-15 lbs, 12 oz,  26 inches

-can roll over - front to back, back to front, but prefers to just hang out on his back and swat at things.

-gurgles and coos the CUTEST nonsens.

-has cut his first two teeth just last week - bottom two.

-loves his Jumparoo and walker.

-loves sweet potatoes, pears, peaches, prunes. Is okay with peas, carrots.  Might be allergic to apricots.

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Winter Wonderland...in Texas!!!

We received over 7 inches of snow!!!  It was amazing. I never dreamed I would ever have to shovel my driveway out here, but it has come to pass.  It was wonderful making snowmen with Littleman AND shoveling the driveway.  We really enjoyed it.

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Some say our snowman looked a bit like Harry Potter.

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Can you believe this is Texas???

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My love of old men...

Not sure how many of you know this about me, but I LOVE old men.  I mean, OLD old - white hair, rough leathery skin, pants too high or too short, perhaps a bit of a hunch or shuffle in their walk.  Man, my heart just melts when they say "Good Morning, young lady," or "That's a fine looking boy you've got there" in a parking lot or grocery store line.  I just want to give them a big old hug or squeeze their hand as they cross the street....it's weird, I know...but it's good for you to know as I tell this recent tale of my adventures in a Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday.

SO, Littleman was off to the movies with his grandma, and I ran out to the store to pick up more baby tylenol for poor little Finny-Finn and a few other necessary items (like bananas and colby jack cheese, yum).  His nose was all runny and he was just looking miserable in his adorable way as I pushed my cart to the back of my car.  As I was unloading, an older gentleman and his wife came shuffling up. The wife was pushing their cart and the man was walking over to me, grinning at Finn, and saying, "Now look at that fine young gentleman." (*sigh*, oh how my heart began to ooze all over my insides at this cuteness...) 

I notice, now, that the man is digging in his pocket for something.  It's probably important for you to know at this point that this was a well appointed couple. They were dressed VERY nicely - I'm pretty sure the wife was wearing a Chanel belt and he had a fancy kind of fedora hat. They were clean and "safe"-ish looking.  Still, the pocket digging did concern me a little.  Then he says, "Now, let me see if I have anything extra here...," and he pulls out a big ole wad of money!  He flips through a bunch of bills and plucks out a dollar.

"Oh, no no, sir, you really don't have to do that," I protest.

With an endearing twinkle in his eye, the kind only older, grandpa-like men can have, he replies, "A handsome little man has to have a little extra spending money, " and he reached right past me and tucked the dollar under the belt of Finn's car seat.  Then he shuffled off to catch up to his wife who was chuckling affectionately.

I mean, have you EVER????  That couple was so out of place in that parking lot....but, still, perhaps I should get Finn a little thong or something in case other people want to start tucking dollar bills on him....

Onto other things.  I somehow missed this wonderful picture of my mom and Finn the first night at Jackson Hole.

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Awwww, I can hear all of you sighing.  How precious...

And here is a picture of a picture Littleman drew. It's me and him on a sunny day, with a few clouds in the sky.  My absolute favorite thing about Littleman's drawings of people is that they consist almost entirely of a happy face.  We are just two giant smiles with eyes, nose, a little bit of hair, and a few appendages.  OH, he's recently added belly buttons.  His "people" are just smiley faces...never mad or sad...I hope that this is a reflection of his soul, his heart, his happy view on the world.  Oh, how to keep them this happy.....

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