House, House, House

It seems like all we are doing lately is talking about houses, looking at houses online or calling our realtor or bank! We are a little antsy because, well, I live in a cracker box! So...I have put up a poll over on the right side- vote if you will so that I can see what others think about buying a house in this economy.
Dustin now is thinking about building with his brother as our contractor. My problem is- I don't want to build just to have it be too small for when we have another child and then build again! Also, he wants horses but we can't afford a huge lot and a new house! And, we can get more for our money by buying an 1990's house...I am so in love with the house in Dayton that I posted a while ago, but now Dustin thinks it's too far away...Men- always changing their minds (isn't is really supposed to be us women that do that?!?!)
For gosh sakes...if I make it through this decision without going crazy it will be a miracle. I seriously don't get to sleep until 1am because I worry and contemplate EVERYTHING!

"The Club"

Ryker and I have joined "the club"....the all-nighter club! Ryker has slept through the night for 5 straight nights! (I know, finally after 8 months!) He puts himself to sleep at 8, wakes up once and cries for like 2 minutes, but then it's quiet until 6! I get a full 8 hours of sleep and then he comes into my bed until 9...I think I have died and gone to heaven.
The reason for all this? ZANTAC...I love you Zantac! After adding this to his medicine regiman he is a different sleeper! I am also a much happier mommy :)
I just had to update and brag a bit about my little man.
In other news, I now have a new toy that I need...a Dyson PINK vacuum (how fun would cleaning be when you are using a pink vacuum?!?!) I am on strike from vacuuming until I get a new one...the other night I cleaned the front room and Ryker came right after me, picking up stuff and putting it in his mouth. Why bother? My current vacuum sucks (well, it really doesnt- that's the problem!)
Dustin inherited a truck- a '65 Ford! :) After a little work, it runs like a champ. Sorry again for the lack of pictures but I have misplaced my camera charger (me? Misplace something? How odd!)
Today and this weekend we are: possibly going to look at houses and/or talk to a loan person, go to the Thalman reunion, going to the doctor with Grandma Joyce (we are praying she hasn't broken her hip), getting Ryker a haircut (mullet mania going on!), going to Brock's wedding, having lunch with my Dad's family, being set apart as compassionate service committee member in church and probably having lunch with Dustin's family on Sunday (wow!)

Crystal Hot Springs and a Calling

Since everyone and their dog is at the Logan pool on a Saturday, we thought we'd go to Crystal Hot Springs this weekend. Well, let's just say it's a little- no a lot- ghetto! No grass, see through bikinis and ladies who obviously did not look in the mirror after or before putting on a tiny two piece! I totally could have gotten away with wearing my bikini- and looked like a super model.
Anyways, we made the best of it and the kids had a ton of fun! We went down the slide a couple of times and I took my daredevil of an 8 month old. He LOVED it, squealing all the way down and only disliking the water in his face. I also took my niece Shaylee down once and of course we had to be going mach 90 around a turn and totally biffed it- Sorry Shay!

Thanks for the pictures Lisa (please excuse the hair, I had too much fun on the slide!)

Ryker got to practice his swimming for a bit then totally crashed for Grandma Cindy. Why is it that kids fight their parents so much when it comes to sleep and well, everything- but Grandma gets him to sleep easy peasy?!

So that was our Saturday. Sunday, Ryker and I went to church and he was such a whiner all day! I took him out of sacrament and we were going to leave because Dustin was patiently waiting at home for us. Well, we couldn't leave because his little toy duck had rolled all the way up to the pulpit and I couldn't get it when we left...so after waiting for all of sacrament I went to retrieve it and was then called into the bishop's office. I have been called to the compassionate service committee. I think it is perfect because I love that type of stuff and also because I can not feel too guilty about missing church to be with Dustin (we're still working on this difference...faith and patience I guess?) So I am super excited and have my first "duty" today- organizing and taking a cake to a luncheon for a viewing.

Once again...

Anyone tired of hearing about acid reflux? Because I sure hate this evil little monster that won't let my son just be!!! Well, things are good but since we know that it is acid reflux that is disrupting Ryker's sleep (causing not just stress on my part but real pain for him) we have up-ed the ante (I am so sure I spelled that wrong!)

He is now taking:5 ml once a day

2 times a day

With a smidge of this as needed

The nurse at the pediatrician's office said "you're giving him HOW MUCH?!?" I know!!! This is just so unexpected, because we were told that most kids just outgrow their dose and the GERD at the same time- so when they sit up and are on solids there is usually no need for medication.

It's okay though- I am just glad that there is something to help my little guy. His painful cry is so heartbreaking! To think that in the past little babies were diagnosed as collicy when in fact they were in so much pain is so sad! Tonight is the first night with the Zantac, so hopefully it helps him!

First Masterpiece

Made this little diddy today...

First use of my deep dish baker...in the microwave (okay, my grandparent's microwave because mine is mini)...and it was YUMMY! (Notice the missing leg? I tore right into it!)

Did I mention I love this new toy? Next up, enchilada casserole in the grandparent's microwave :)

Swimming Lessons

Ryker loved swimming lessons. A half hour was just perfect for him to enjoy all the little games and then take a long nap after all that hard work. We learned to:

Kick our legs

"Swim" to a toy

Go under water (LOVES it!)

(I just love the look on my face...not! Crazy mom drowning baby?)

"Jump" off the side and swim back

Pancake rolls from front to back

Back float (not a big fan)

Notice the crossed feet- he even did this in the womb! (maybe brought back memories of being in water for 9 months?)

Tigger hop in shallow water

Wear a lifejacket (I could barely find him in it- the runt!)

Most of all- to have fun in the water

His favorite part was singing "the wheels on the bus" and doing all the actions

I am so glad that I am sharing this love of mine with Ryker. I learned to swim early and have always loved the water. I would highly suggest it to everyone else (I think they run through August).

Tuckered out, cuddling with Grandma

New Member

Welcome the newest member of our family...

The Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker

I did a whole PC show just to get this one item and I am so glad I did!

I am seriously more excited than I have been in a while (see what kitchenware does to a married gal?!?!) I have found like 100 recipes that I HAVE TO TRY. A whole chicken, in 30 minutes, in the microwave. And pretty much anything else that is cooked can go IN. THE. MICROWAVE!! (CAKE, cassarole...)

So...you may not see me for quite sometime...I'll be in my tiny kitchen but this time with a big grin. Anyone hungry?

Fun on the 4th!

First of all, has this summer flown by or what?!?! I am so enjoying it but everyday gets closer and closer to me going back to school :(

Boy did we enjoy the 4th of July! We went to the Hyrum parade. I finally broke down and put real shoes on my baby. I don't usually for 3 reasons: 1)They make him look big and I hate it! 2) He can't crawl and stand well in them yet 3) We lose them because his feet are so long and skinny. But here are his cute scoots!

After the parade, we went to the Nielsen's and had dinner and played outside. Can you tell he likes being outdoors? He is his father's child :)Ryker also took his first 4-wheeler ride. He wasn't quite sure, I think Dad is too big of a daredevil :)

He also learned a new trick. Up, up, up he goes. He steps on your ear to try to get higher. What a monkey! On Sunday we headed out with Colby, Kristi and Kel up to Monte Cristo. We went to the family property and ate lunch by the lake. We went to another spot and the guys fished, the kids napped and the Mommys took the 22 to shoot praire dogs! It was my first time shooting at a moving target. SO FUN! I hate guns, but I am starting to think they are okay...

We then went back to the property and the boys went coyote hunting and became mosquito food while we played in the car. All in all a VERY fun day!

Today we are regrouping, getting the house put back together and catching up on sleep. Hope everyone had a fun, safe 4th!

A Turn Around

I just wanted to update on Ryker's sleeping status...
He is a completely different baby! I think that the reason for the night owl behavior was a mix of acid reflux and just wanting Mommy :)
We have changed his medicine dose again and I will call the doctor today to change it so that we won't have to give him anything in the middle of the night. We also started letting him cry :(
It was really not bad at all. The first night he would fuss for about a minute, every 15 minutes for 3 hours, but no real crying. The second night he slept until 4:30- I gave him his medicine and he fussed for a minute then slept till 6. Last night I kind of messed him up because we went on a fun little trip. He only woke up once to eat at 2:30 then right back to sleep...So, all in all it is 1 million times better than it was and as I type, he is napping and has been for an hour and a half (unheard of in our 30 minute cat napper :) Thanks for all the support, we are going to be alright!

Trouble Yet Again

Everyone who reads my blog knows what a terrible sleeper Ryker is. I have tried and tried and TRIED to fix this. His naps are very rigid- I make him go to sleep at the same time in the same way EVERYDAY. He goes to bed at 8 o'clock sharp EVERYNIGHT with the same routine EVERYNIGHT. Consistency is supposed to be the key, right? WRONG! He also puts himself to sleep at night and I don't pick him up from his crib at night- the 2 things "they" say are supposed to lead to good sleep habits. It has just gotten worse and worse the past month.
We doubled his acid reflux medicine dose, he gets ibuprofen, baby orajel and teething tablets everynight (hopefully you can't overdose him on this stuff!) Even with this, he is staying up from 1-3 hours everynight.
Talked to the doctor today and he said to increase his acid reflux medicine and if that doesn't help then all we can do is let him cry himself back to sleep in the middle of the night and hope that gets us some relief...
So I am left frustrated and completely exhausted. I haven't had a good nights sleep since November 4th...8 months.
If you haven't had a child that doesn't sleep, you really don't know how hard it is to live like this. We are completely exhausted and can't enjoy life like we would like to. I have a suprise for Dustin for our anniversary and we are supposed to go out of town for the night in September, but I am going to have to sell our tickets if this doesn't get better. Things are just plain hard. Endure to the end is taking on a whole new meaning for me because there is no hope in sight...I had a dream last night that I was comforting an 18 year old Ryker in the middle of the night- no joke!
Well, that is what is going on in our lives right now- so not fun and very very hard to find the silver lining. I know I shouldn't whine when there are sick kids out there, but in a way I feel like he is sick because something is so wrong with him. Dustin says I will miss this- yeah right! After 8 months, I have had enough and there is NO WAY I will miss this!