Jaden's First Girlfriend

Sam brought the boys to visit me at school for lunch last Friday (Jaden loves any opportunity to come to mommy's school...preschool - enough said!). Jaden played, I got to feed Elijah, and we had lunch. And poor guys, I rushed them off pretty quickly because I had a student coming in for one-on-one work (and I didn't think it would look too professional if I had my two-year-old running around the classroom during that time). So Sam took Jaden to play on the little preschool playground before it was time for them to go. Meanwhile, I headed outside to pick up Ayannah and as I was walking her back to the classroom, Jaden spotted me and rushed over to see who I "traded" him in for (at least that's what I felt like he was probably thinking :o( ). But he was very excited to come over and say hi to her and they both giggled; then he ran off to play some more and we headed inside. About an hour later, Sam comes boppin' back into the building with the boys (I thought they had left long ago) and I ran into them in the crowded hallway as Jaden loudly announces, "Mom, I have a girlfriend!" I think everybody in the building heard, and everybody in the hallway definitely heard, as they turned and laughed at my little cutie, oblivious to it all! I didn't know who he was talking about; I thought maybe he met a little friend out on the playground. But then he insisted that I let him come back to the classroom with me and his "girlfriend." Aha, figured it out! My little student is Jaden's first "girlfriend." So I let him come to the classroom for a little bit, and they had their first date, singing "Old MacDonald had a Farm." And then they had their first fight, over farm animals!

Yummy Rice Cereal

Elijah finally had the pleasure of tasting rice cereal for the first time. He wasn't as thrilled about his first taste as I was about giving it to him (it's an exciting milestone for a mommy :o) ). But by his second feeding, he was sold (and coincidentally slept through the night that night too...hmmm).

Allergy Tests

About a month ago, Jaden had an appointment with an allergy specialist, in our attempt to find out more about his allergies and the constant runny nose he seems to have. I already figured that he was allergic to peanuts, as he has had a previous reaction, so the doctor prescribed an EpiPen, but also ordered blood tests to confirm, as well as to test for all other nuts. The doctor also ordered blood work to test for tropical fruits because I recently noticed that the outside of Jaden's mouth turned red and splotchy while eating a banana. While at the appointment, the doctor determined that Jaden has exzema, and also prescribed a nasal spray and Claritin to help with all the other "stuff" he's got going on.

Well, we finally made it to the lab to get Jaden's bloodwork done. When we got there, Jaden asked, "Why you taking me to the doctor, mommy?" I tried to explain (in two-year-old terms) that the doctors needed to take some of his blood out to see if peanuts make him sick. His response was, "But I not have peanuts in my blood!"

We (Sam and I) were very, very, very nervous about the the needle and how painful it would be for him (the main reason we put it off for so long). I imagined him screaming, not sitting still, trying to grab the needle (and that's just Sam...I could only imagine what Jaden was going to do)! They had Sam hold Jaden on his lap and sit in the chair. Jaden was as calm as could be, while Sam could not even think straight, he was so nervous! The blood-takers (what are they called?) were trying to distract Jaden from looking at the needle by having him look at Elijah and were asking him a series of questions to keep him occupied. One of the ladies asked Jaden how old he was and as Jaden was trying to get his little fingers situated to say "two," Sam nervously answers for him, "A year and a half!" Jaden looked very puzzled at Sam's response, as he held up his two fingers. I corrected Sam's response, "TWO and a half" and Sam answered, "yes," not even realizing what he had said; he was soooo nervous!

And poor Jaden, they poked his right arm and couldn't get a vein. After wiggling the needle around for a little while, they decided to try the other arm. Luckily they got it, and at that point there was no more distracting Jaden as he watched in amazement at the blood that was coming out of his arm and filling up the little tubes. And to our amazement and relief, he did not cry one bit (now Sam, on the other hand...).

Final test results = postive allergy to peanuts and bananas (and that boy LOVES bananas)!

It was a truly sad week as we said goodbye to an amazingly beautiful person in our lives, our dear Aunt Nancy. Her spirit and optimism are infectious. There is nobody quite like her. Her joy, love of life, and strength are something I will carry with me forever. I am so thankful that Jaden and Elijah had the opportunity to meet her and play with her, as she so loved to do. She will be truly missed, and in our hearts forever.

Jaden and Aunt Nancy last summer.

Helping Aunt Nancy fill the dishwasher.

Aunt Nancy with her grandson Jonathan, and Jaden.

Jaden wearing Aunt Nancy's hat.

Julie, Aunt Nancy, Jonathan, Grandma, Grandpa, Me, and Jaden

Aunt Nancy giving Jaden and Lainey a ride.

And through the sadness comes joy as my cousin Amy, Aunt Nancy's daughter, welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world on Labor Day, September 7. Can't wait to meet Miss Scarlet!