Leiakkoni's Baptism

While the rest of us were camping in Oregon, Leiakkoni opted to attend church camp with his cousins. After his time there he decided he was ready to get baptized, and it took place this last Sunday along with his cousin Tasi.

Oregon Coast Camping

We just got back last week from about a week and a a half camping trip in Oregon with my parents. We had a great time, and Xavier absolutely loved it. We saw some beautiful sights, especially the ocean, and definitely needed a vacation after we got home!

Antibiotics, and rashes, and benadryl, oh my!

Awhile ago at Xavier's 15 month check-up he had an ear and sinus infection that we agreed to treat with antibiotics. A few days in we noticed Xavier had a fine bumpy rash all over his body. Well we figured it was a reaction but seeing as it was Friday night and Anthony and I were both working all weekend with my dad babysitting, we decided to take him to the ER just in case. They gave us a new prescription and told us to follow up with his pediatrician in a few days. The next week we went to his pediatrician and they checked him out, he still had a slight rash and a low-grade fever but chalked it up to the antibiotic. Not long after leaving, the Nurse Practitioner called and asked us to come back in. She had a nagging suspicion about the rash and fever and swabbed him for strep throat, which came back positive. He had already finished his antibiotic course, but it wasn't a high enough dose to treat strep, and we weren't sure if the rash was a reaction or just the strep, so we got a new prescription for a different antibiotic. Xavier got a couple doses that day and when I went to get him out of bed in the morning I couldn't believe what I saw. My handsome little boy was a lumpy nightmare! This was an obvious drug reaction so again we went to the pediatrician, stopped all antibiotics for a few days and treated with benadryl. Little man was a trooper through it all and is back to feeling (and looking!) like his normal self. Hope we don't have to go through that again any time soon!

(poor baby)

(back to himself)

A Teenager?!

We officially have a teenager on our hands! Leiakkoni is 13 years old already. He is still such a great boy, but those teenage colors are showing through, must be the testosterone! He has been busy finishing up 7th grade and is enjoying summer vacation so far, spending time with friends and family. Wish us the best as we navigate through the teenage years!

Xavier is 15 Months!

My 15 month old toddler is growing (albeit slowly). Xavier had his well-baby check-up today and behaved so well! My little monster is jumping up in height, measuring in at 30 1/4 inches tall (about 20th %) His adorable egg-head is 47 cm (about 40th %) and his weight is 18 lbs 10 oz (less than 1st %). Because his weight growth curve has started to flatten out we will be checking back in another month to re-weigh. Poor little guy had 2 immunizations today as well as an ear/sinus infection, and he has not been shy about letting me know how unhappy he is! Besides not feeling well today Xavier is usually such a sweetheart and so much fun. He is getting more and more vocal, and is into repeating words such as "wow wow wow" "bird bird bird" and "bye bye bye." He is still sleeping good all night and taking one nap a day, and is eating very well (though obviously not enough to make him gain weight!) He is such a joy and life would be so dull without him! He understands a lot, will point to what he wants (or just open the pantry and get it himself) will hold mommy or daddys hand to climb up/down the stairs like a big boy, can climb off the couch/beds (but not up yet, yay!) and is just all around a funny little boy.

14 Months

Xavier is just over 14 months old now and full of it! He loves to play and has really enjoyed the nice weather because we've been spending lots of time at the park where he is learning to climb the equipment and go down the slide. His more recent words include "brr" (bird, or any animal really :-), "schox" (socks), and "dat" (as he points at what he wants). He understands much more of course, and we make a nightly game of filling the bath, then I tell him to go to his room to get undressed, so he runs to his room. Once naked I tell him it's time for his bath and he runs back to the bath tub in all his naked glory. He's as sweet and cuddly as ever, especially when tired or not feeling well. We've been taking him to the kids club at the gym and he does pretty well (some days are hard to drop him off) and whenever we come to pick him up he's usually wandering around the play room by himself, often spinning or clapping his hands, off in his own little world. He has a total of 11 teeth now, and the last 1 year old molar is almost through. He's been eating great lately, and loves daddy's home-made spaghetti. He drinks milk out of a regular cup or uses a straw which daddy helped him master. He loves his family and all the attention he gets from his cousins, uncles, aunties and grandparents. We've been weaning him off being rocked to sleep and he's doing well with that. Today for his nap after being laid down to sleep and kissed by mommy he put himself to sleep within a few minutes. What a big boy he's becoming! I can't believe how much he's grown and changed, he has so much personality and is such a blessing. We can't wait for more warm weather and all the adventures to be had this summer. Hope all is well in your lives!