August Rush

August provided our little family (mainly learning experiences for Dave and I) with many firsts. On top of all of our unexpected activities, Peyton turned 6 months August 2nd and has progressed A LOT in the last month.

August began like any other month until Peyton's temperature kept spiking to uncomfortable levels. Everyone thought it was one of the timeless excuses for all infants this age: growth spurt or teething.  Peyton's temperature spiked to 103 the first week of August and Dave and I did everything we knew to get the fever down: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, bath, naked play time, cool rag on the forehead etc.  We finally got it down, but the next day it spiked back up!  I was really worried that there was something else going on so I called our AMAZING pediatrician and made an appointment.

Because it was urgent that we see someone we were not able to see Peyton's regular doctor. Instead we saw his P.A., Zane.  Zane looked her over, checked her temp and asked if her urine had smelled different lately. I told him It had been a brighter yellow and maybe a little stronger, but I hadn't payed any attention.  I mentioned that she had been really fussy when we changed her and she wouldn't open her legs up for us to clean out her privates.  He said that she might have an infection and wanted to get a urine sample...  My mom is an RN and I know all about catheters and I was worried they would have to do one on her in order to get the sample... sure enough, Zane came back in after consulting with our doctor and said that the only way they could get a sterile sample was by doing a catheter.  As soon as Zane left the room to get the supplies and the nurse I broke down. I felt like a horrible mother for not noticing that something was wrong with my child. I felt guilty for possibly being the one to cause her to get an infection. I felt angry that these people were now going to have to torture my 6 month old daughter to get a dumb sample of urine!  Of course these reactions are a little over the top and crazy, but I was emotionally drained. I had been trying to help a sick baby for almost a week with out any knowledge of what was wrong and I was literally done.

I am so glad Dave was there for me (or was he there for Peyton? I don't know :) ). He assured me that this could very well be his fault too and this is a common thing for little girls because their urethra's are so much shorter than boys.  Zane came back in with the nurse and a lab tech.  The tech took a blood sample and the nurse started on the catheter procedure.  It was torture after all. Peyton was so uncomfortable.  They eventually had to ask Dr. Church, our pediatrician, to come in before he left for the day and see if he could get it.  They finally got a sample after trying three times all together.  What a painful experience. The results came back positive for a urinary tract infection the culprit, e-coli.  (another guilt moment for Dave and I)

After the whole UTI debacle, we had to take Peyton to Mckay for an ultrasound and VCUG so they could make sure her kidney's were working properly. The results came back in our favor- our little girl is healthy again!!

Peyton is finally big enough to fit into the dress I made her before she was born.  Here are pictures of her in her little dress.

My cute baby girl

Peyton loves playing on the floor. She especially loves her Octopus book Grandma Trapier got her.

I am SO GLAD Peyton finally learned how to hold her own bottle. This has helped me out so much! I can get things cleaned up while she is eating away and she doesn't even get distracted.

Labor Day Weekend



Peyton really enjoys sitting in her umbrella stroller because she can see what is going on. This is her the morning of the Labor Day Parade (Onion Days) in Payson.



Peyton's first ride in a Cadillac



Peyton knawing on what keeps her safe


  

Peyton with Duke the Dog





My big girl sitting in the cart at Costco all by herself.



Motherhood; No Greater Call

I am so grateful for my motherhood. Peyton is going to be 6 months old in a couple of weeks! Where has the time gone?  I have had a lot of time to ponder on what motherhood means to me this last month. I have seen women who value their motherhood, women who pray every night for motherhood, and women who degrade and knock down those they have stewardship over.

My heart breaks for those little children who are sworn at, knocked around and abused in other ways.

I am grateful for adoption. Without it many wonderful women would not have the ability to be mothers in this life.  I am grateful for those individuals who choose to adopt. There are SO many children who need good homes to grow up in.

Sweet little Peyton: picture updates.

Little mishaps... 

One doesn't need any explination, but the other: Peyton got SO frustrated when her leg popped out of her pj's... she screamed until her leg was put back in. 

 Sitting up all by herself at 5 months old and being cool with Uncle Ryan.

First times:

In the grass and swimming

I love my family.

Big Girl Food and many other updates

This summer has prooved to be a busy one for Dave and I already. Due to Dave taking a chemistry class this summer (with a lab) it feels like spring semester never ended.  The light IS at the end of the tunnel though, and I CANNOT wait!

We have already had many adventures this month, which I give the credit to Peyton for. 

The first and probably one of the BIGGEST accomplishments thus far was, dun dun dun, Peyton's first over nighter away from her home and bed. Mommy and daddy were there of course, but if you have kids, you know how hard it is to have your children/infants away from what is familiar to them for long periods of time.  We traveled to my dad's house in "Happy Valley" last weekend to enjoy a weekend away from the monotonous busyness that is our lives. 

While in happy Valley, Peyton kept mommy and daddy up all night Saturday (pretty much), She cried all through Relief Society on Sunday (lucky mom), and She finally zonked Sunday Evening while at a get to gether at my grandparents house (thanks Dad).

She had some pretty awesome experiences though:

Her first horse encounter- It was pretty adorable to watch her STARE at them.

One on one time with Great-Grandma Hicks



Five Generation Picture




Grandpa Hicks put her to sleep

June 2, Lil' P turned 4 months.  She is in the 75th percentile for her height and 25th for weight (a little over 12 lbs) and head circumference.

Peyton started eating baby food this month. It took her a couple of days to get used to a spoon when we started with rice cereal.  Once she got the hang of it we started the good stuff (or as good as baby food can get.) 



She has a hard time sitting still sometimes. When the food isn't coming fast enough she flips.

Peyton got something stuck in her hair for the first time. I am not sure what we had on our kitchen floor, but I was doing the dishes and picked her up afterwards and she had a glob of something stuck in her hair.



Dave and I love to hike and we had been searching around for a hiking backpack to carry Peyton around in. We finally found one at Babies R Us for a decent price. IT IS SO AWESOME! If any of you are looking for one I suggest the Chicco brand (I think that is what is called) at Babies R Us.

We went on our first family hike up Waterfall Canyon last Saturday. It felt so good to be out in the woods enjoying God's creations.



Peyton did SO well on the hike. We let her nap before we left, but she was still super tired when we started our hike. She was wide awake until we got 3/4's of the way up and then she zonked. We were nervous about hiking with her asleep so we turned around. Even though we didn't make it to the top it felt so good to get out and hike again.

My cute family

The valley from the canyon

Peyton woke up at the bottom of the trail. I love that I caught her sticking her tongue out at the camera.