To all our mommies and grandmommies...

Tyler Update and Weekend Warriors, Part 2

Hi everyone and thank you for all your prayers for Tyler. After a week and a half of throwing up every other night, we are finally over whatever it was and he is back to his little ol' self. Lately, he's really started to grasp the whole bedtime routine and enjoys using his brushes (hair and tooth!). Sometimes he tries to use his toothbrush for a hairbrush and vice versa, but it's fun to see him catch on!

This weekend, since we were all feeling much better, it was time to get back to our backyard makeover! Just as a reminder, here is the very sad before picture; weeds instead of grass, a forgotten flower bed, etc., etc.:

The sod arrived good and early in the morning so Andy got right to it. The ground had already been tilled so he and a friend scattered fertilizer and then used a rake to stir it in and level the ground.

And then: BOOM-O instant grass!

Since we were in gardening mode, we went ahead and ran to home depot to fill up our square foot garden. We got tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, thyme, red bell peppers, corn & basil (if I remember correctly. Since then, we've gone to Lowe's and added snap peas, some more herbs and strawberries. We have one more square foot to fill and we're thinking we'll get some cherry tomatoes.

Here's where I planted the herbs (the pics were taken before the Lowe's trip).
So here it is, our outdoor oasis all ready for some yummies and summer fun for Tyler. I see a kids pool and some patio furniture in our future...

Prayers for Tyler

Hi everyone,

For those of you who haven't heard, our Tyler's had a rough week. It started last Sunday. We had had a great day and were at our small group. Tyler was busy, as usual, playing with his blocks and walking in and out of the room. Suddenly he laid down and sucked his thumb. I went to rub his back and he was very warm. It was near the end of our small group so as we were on our way out, he threw up all over us (me and him). We tried to get cleaned up as best we could and hung out a little bit longer to make sure he was done. When we got in the car I called mom and as I was telling her what happened, I looked back at Tyler and he threw up again. I said "OH! Oh mom! He's doing it again! We're coming over - we need to get cleaned up!!" (we were on her side of town). :)

We all got cleaned up and I called the advice nurse, who just gave us the "sip liquids, no more solids tonight" advice and since it was pretty much bedtime, we went home and put him to bed.

The next day he was a little whiny, but didn't seem sick (no fever or anything) so he went to daycare, but I got an email that he was acting as though he was not feeling well. I got him at 3 and took him to the doctor. They just felt like he had a bug, and so keep sipping liquids.

Tuesday he had seemed to make a full recovery, did well at daycare and was fine that night at home. Wednesday too. Then Wednesday night, out of nowhere, he threw up again. Thursday morning Tyler woke up pretty lethargic and after eating, we noticed his lips were blue. We took him straight to the doctor, but by the time we saw the doctor, his lips had regained color. I told the doctor everything I could think of: Wednesday night we had noticed a molar came in, he had a big blowout diarrhea diaper that morning, he seemed to be throwing up fruit from breakfast, even though he was chucking up in the evening...None of it seemed to fit together. Doctor thought it may be that he's not chewing his fruit so it isn't able to be digested and it stews in his tummy all day, which irritates his stomach and then he throws up. We were do a pureed diet for a few days and then on Easter, try more solid foods again.

So...since it didn't seem to be an illness, per se, we were given clearance to go to daycare. He did fine at daycare Thursday, but when we got him home, he was very lethargic and not himself at all. Friday morning I went to work and Andy called to say Tyler had thrown up again, but this time just a little. Since he was still acting funny, Andy made him an appointment at the doctors (especially since we were entering the weekend and didn't want to end up waiting in urgent care or emergency). I worked a half day so I met them at the doctor's. At that point, Andy started feeling really bad, so I sent him home, almost relieved, since if Andy was sick, this just must be a bug and we'll be fine. The doctor had given us orders for blood work at our request, but we decided to see how he did.

Andy was very sick Friday, and Tyler threw up 2 more times. However, Andy recovered and is back at work today (i have the day off). Tyler did okay Saturday and then woke up from his nap Sunday mid-morning not looking so hot. He finally threw up again Sunday night, so we took him for blood work this morning.

Please be in prayer for us - that if indeed this is a nasty bug, that it run it's course quickly. Mr. T is such a tiny guy already, and not being able to keep much down for a whole week certainly isn't helping things. Also, if it is something more, please pray the blood work will show what it is and the doctors will know exactly how to treat it.

Thanks everyone for your prayers already. We love you!
The Johnsons

Tyler's First Haircut

Well, the time had come. In fact, I had been putting it off. I knew I wanted to be the one to cut his hair, but I didn't want to mess it up too bad, seeing as how I had never cut hair before. But I bought some scissors and went to it. Here are some before pictures:The picture showing the back of his hair doesn't really show it well, but it was getting long and kind of curling under like a bob! hahaha! And when he had bed head, it was crazy to the point we called him a "mad scientist". Sometimes it wouldn't comb down very well at all, though it was still cute (of course!).

Oh - and here we're just having fun. :)

So we tied him in a desk chair and I wet his hair... And I, er, went to work. My first client was a little wiggly...

He wasn't very patient with me and so eventually we let him up and I just chased him around with the scissors and comb (and there are some spots where that is obvious). Fortunately, all his friends are his age and just as obivious about his looks as he is so I have some time to get it down. (Sorry son!) Here are the results:

Now he REALLY looks like his daddy! Handsome fellows, I say! :)

Weekend Warriors - Backyard Edition

It's been a long time since my last post. Shortly after I posted it, we all got sick for about a week and it took us a while to get back into the swing of things!! But we are back with a vengeance!

We have a desire to be a little more self-sufficient and though I never did much gardening in the past, since we've gotten our own house I've wanted to give it a try. However, it sounded so overwhelming and I didn't know where to start. A friend of ours told Andy and I about "Square Foot Gardening" and so I rented the book from the library. It sounds really fun and easy, but we'll see! hahaha.

The gist of it is that you don't spend time trying to get your local soil just right...you instead level off a part of your yard, lay some weed cloth, and build a 6" tall box, either 4'x4' or 2'x8' - just so it's not wider than 4' it can be any size. Then you mix equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and compost and fill your box. After that, you grid off your box into square feet using lath and then you have 16 areas in which to plant 16 different veggies or herbs (in the case of the 4'x4' box or 2'x8' box). Your soil is perfect and the weed cloth prevents weeds.

This sounded good to us, so we went about it. But first, we mowed and weeded the front lawn. Here are some pictures of Tyler "helping":

Then we went to Home Depot to get some wood and things for our Square Foot Garden. Tyler went down to nap and we went to work! But what transformation would be good without a "before picture"?!?! (Beware: it's pretty shameful!)

After two hours, Tyler was up and it was ready for a lunch break. Here's how far I got on clearing the weeds:

Now, here's the after. We just have to move the rocks by the house over by our Square foot Garden. Then we'll borrow a friend's rototiller to till up the dirt and plant new grass. We're on our way!! :)

OH - P.S. - we chose an 8'x2' and we're going to build more of them up against the fence and leave the middle open as a walkway to access them all. :) Can't wait!

Just Some Pictures

Here are some pics from the weekend. This boy - he's getting big. We're almost 13 months old now! :)

Long overdue update...

Wow - managing all of these social networks really catches up to you quickly! Since I got the birthday pictures up on facebook that I took, and haven't had a chance to load them here, I thought - "Hey - I'll post a link!" So here's the link to the facebook album of Tyler's Birthday. (OH - and if you were there and captured any better pictures, I would love it if you would email them to me! seamstress8102 at hotmail dot com)

Thank you to everyone who came! We were overwhelmedly (new word?) blessed to have all our loved ones gather in one place and to see all the faces of those we love - Thank you for your love and generosity toward us! "Papa" Gary made our burgers and dogs seem gourmet and Grandma Patti helped our cakes look professional. Many others helped in many other ways and we were beyond blessed. Thank you!

In some ways it seems like we are in "hyper development mode" with Tyler these days! Aunt Heather got him a "my first signs" video and he enjoys eating "O's" out of his snack cup, watching and sometimes signing along. He's toddles all over the place and is getting really fast! It is easier and easier to take him places as he eats what we eat now and is walking really well. He LOVES to read and often brings Andy a book and then promptly turns around and "plops" on his lap. I try to read to him, but I think he likes how dad does it a little better. ;) It's so cute! This stage really is a joy!

On a side note, if you feel like things are out of control in the economy or in the world in general, and you're feeling alone...check this out.

Love you guys!
The Johnsons