Tuesday, June 21, 2011

From Here to There, We're on the Move!

Where she was left...


To where she ended up...

Happy Daddy Day!!


You are one super daddy to these two very active children of ours...can't even be still for a photo! Love you! They adore you! Thank you for everything you do for us!

New Skin Regimen

My baby girl sure does love to take a bath, but her poor little skin is far too sensitive to take them very often. She has extreme eczema. I have it too. And Cole has had a spot or two in his life, but she has the worst case of all. It is a chronic condition. There is no cure, but it can get better over time and it can be managed. Mine has improved over the years, so I pray for Claire, we can get hers under control quickly.

The battle began a few months ago with just a few red bumps. Then a breakout on one of her outer arm/elbow area. She looked like she had been burned. It was raised, blustered, and filled with puss. I know, gross. It was and that extreme.

It would go through its stages of blistering and healing, then come right back. Then it spread to her other arm and across her back and under her chin. I knew what it was, there was no doubt. At her 7 month check-up, I did show it to her doctor, but it was in a good stage. She did, however, confirmed my conclusion and gave us our first prescription.

Last week, it spread to her face, around her mouth and eyes. That worried me. I was not sure what I could and could not put on her face, much less that close to her eyes and mouth. So Friday, we returned to the doctor for another look. We left there with two more prescriptions, a new moisturizer, a new bath wash, and a new hydrocortisone cream.

Saturday morning, we began are new skin regimen. It took awhile.

Loving the Mirror and that "Other" Baby

Here is a before bath picture of her back. Let's just say it did look worse. (Saturday morning)


Two Days Later (Monday morning)

All the Products/Prescriptions

Listed Left to Right
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Mupirocin Ointment
Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream
EpiCeram: Skin Barrier Emulsion
5% Hydrocortisone Cream

The Mupirocin Ointment was the first prescription given to us. I did not like to use it frequently because it contains a steroid, but do use on pussy areas to prevent infection. I definitely will try the other, more mild products first.

The EpiCeram is EXPENSIVE! So we only use this one on the face and when needed elsewhere for extreme breakouts.

The Triamcinolone Cream is not safe for the face, underarms or diaper area. Apparently, it burns. But it definitely works! This is the product used on her back and after 3-4 applications, there was a huge improvement! (see photo above)

5% Hydrocortisone is mild, and safe for the face.

Hopefully, all of these products will help manage Claire's eczema, but we will definitely be making an appointment with a pediatric dermatologist in the mean time to double check this is all the is going on and these are the best products to be using on her delicate skin.

More then you all cared to know...right.

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Claire: 5 Months Old


-Claire does not smile a ton like other babies, but one sure fire way I have found to make her smile is by sitting her up facing me and doing cheers, hands motions and all. So cute. She just lights up.

-Chews on her pointer finger. Her favorite toy is her hands.

-Pulls up legs while laying on her back and rocks back and forth.

-While on her tummy, she pulls her legs up underneath her and inches forward a bit.

-Started taking a bottle from ME without a fight. And I have gave it to her at room temperature a couple times too.

-As far as sleeping, we are making good strides. In my last milestone post, I mentioned she was making it through the night without waking up. That lasted about 10-12 days. Then we went back to some good nights and some bad ones again, followed by traveling and congestion. Her bedtime was between 7 and 8pm. About a week and a half ago, she ate at 3 or 4pm two days in a row and didn't wake up again for 12 hours. What? 12 hours without eating is totally normal for her but that's too early to go to bed because she can't make it 15 hours. But I have learned not to wake her late in the day. It totally messes up her sleep cycles. And she only does that late in the day. I would wake her if it happened in the morning/early afternoon hours. So I am trying my best to push that back a bit. So now I do all I can to make her stay up until 6am and she sleeps until 6 or 7am, with a few exceptions of course.

-It's been 5 months and I have only had to buy one package of diapers! I was so blessed with diapers by friends and family or pre-bought just the right amount so far. Thank you everyone! It's such a blessing to just have to open her closet instead of having to go to the store.

-She loves to stand, play in her Jumperoo and look outside.

-She seems to have outgrown her bouncy seat.

-We are trying cereal again. I say "we" because it was me that wasn't consistent about giving it to her, not her refusing it.

-She talks/coos a ton. Jabbers. So sweet to listen to.


-Eyes are still blue. Hair is still brown/auburn.

-Happy and content. No major meltdowns pretty ever. If there are, then it's because I am not responding to her needs and she has given me all the warning alerts.

-Goals for next month: MORE FLOOR TIME. I am so bad at that this go around. But she always naps so much that she isn't awake alot just us either, not that it has to be always just us. But it would be fun bonding time. We need to get rolling. :)

-Recognizing and smiling at Cole more. Loves to watch him play, sing/talk to her.

-Nicknames: Claire Bear, Sweets, Little Bit

-She is an observer/studies everything around her. One very similar trait that is like Cole at her age.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Houston Rodeo 2011

A few weeks ago, we headed to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We were given four incredible tickets for a Saturday which worked out great because Brent's parents were in town for the weekend for Claire's baby dedication. So we headed down to the rodeo. The weather was not the best in the morning but I am so glad we stuck it out because it got better as the day went on and we had a great time. I will say an extra jacket would have been nice for the morning though.

Both kids did so great! We arrived around 11:30am and left around 5:30pm! Claire just relaxed/slept in her stroller for all the carnival things, ate twice and then was held for the livestock portion of the day. She was a rock star!

Cole LOVED all the rides and would have rode more if we would have allowed him. He is so brave. He likes thrills just like me. If you didn't know, I am a bit of a roller coaster enthusiast.

Oh and the livestock show. Great. To be honest, I have never really paid much attention to it or have never gotten into the stadium in time for it. Cole loved it as well. He hasn't stopped talking about the bull riding and calf roping. He makes Brent the bull and he is the cowboy, hat and all. He has made his dinosaur blanket his lasso to rope the calves. It's pretty cute and creative. He runs around the house screaming, "I'm a RODEO COWBOY!! YEE-HAW!!"

Here are some photos of our day:

Mimi & Papa (It was bright. We needed our shades.)

My Little Cowboy


A John Deer Man

The Bumble Bees

Face Painting



The Goliath Slide

The Tiny Teacups

First Roller Coaster & Ready to GO!

LOVED it!! His face says it all!

PhotoShare: January 2011 Favorites

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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

How We Watch TV...

(Feb. 2011)

PhotoShare: Novemeber 2010 Favorites

A few weeks ago, I decided we have so many pictures and I hardly go through them and never print them, so therefore I am not sharing them. I am now trying to go through all my pictures each month and making a "favorites" folder and uploading that to Shutterfly to share with everyone.

I started back with November since that was a BIG month in our family! Welcome, sweet Claire!

Here is my first album, enjoy:

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