2 years!!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet boy!!

I can't believe that 2 years ago I became a mother! Best two years of my life.

February 9, 2010 seems like so long ago, yet I can remember it like yesterday. I can't believe how much he has grown in 2 years. They start out so little and helpless and in just 2 short years, they are bigger and (more) independent.

We have enjoyed starting birthday traditions with him now that he is older. Derek and I filled his room up with balloons the night before his birthday. When he woke up we went into his room and started singing Happy Birthday to him. He was a bit confused by the balloons, but he has loved them. He runs through them and throws them. They are currently all still in his room:)

Aunt Rachel came to watch Ellie so we could take him out for a special birthday lunch. We took him to Jason's Deli; he loves the free ice cream! Then we went to the mall for dinner at Chic-fil-A and went to Build a Bear. He was one spoiled boy! We had his birthday party on Saturday. We did a Thomas the train theme. He had 2 friends come and friends and family. They enjoyed playing and helping him open gifts. AND CAKE!! All night Caden kept asking me to open his cake:) I made a Thomas cake and he loved it; well the frosting. That is all he eats when he has cake. He loves sugar! He enjoyed all his presents
He is 36 inches long and 27 pounds 9 ounces. Long and lean, like always! 92nd percentile and 45th percentile.

Caden is the sweetest boy. I catch myself looking at him throughout the day and just smiling. I love when he just comes over to me and says "Up." When he gives me random hugs and kisses. He loves being around Ellie, and he will only call her Baby. Whenever he leaves and she is staying, he has to give her a goodbye hug and kiss. However, he doesn't like to share with her. I have pulled out all the baby toys and stuff and he thinks they are for Caden. When Ellie is playing with something, he walks up and says "Caden's." He doesn't say mine, just Caden. So cute.

He loves playing with ALL his toys and watching his movies. He is currently obsessed with fire trucks and school buses. Before bed when we are rocking he asks for his songs: EIEIO, Jesus Loves Me, Wheels on the Bus and then either Car or Truck. We have to make up the Car and Truck songs:) He is still a great sleeper, gets in bed at 8 and gets up around 7. He normally takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon.

He is talking so much. Sometimes I can't believe his vocabulary. He isn't talking in sentences yet, and I am fine with that. There is plenty of time for him to talk like a big person:) I enjoy his baby talk and his cute way of saying things.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH CADEN THOMAS!!

Overwhlemed

If I had to pick one word to describe my last few months I think overwhelmed would be it. 

Ugh. I just gotten to the point of thinking that life was going to get easier (end of November/ beginning of December) and then wham. Ellie started acting super fussy and wouldn't sleep. She acted like she was in so much pain, so the quest to help her began. Little did I know it would take almost 2 months. 

I first thought it was dairy, so I cut out the major dairy in my diet. No real change. Then thought maybe constipation was to blame, nope. Then back to dairy. Then the nurse practitioner thought it was reflux, started treating her for that. No improvement; she actually got worse Decided it wasn't reflux. I was dairy free for over month and a half, but completely dairy free for 4 weeks straight. (Accidentally had it over Christmas break) Took soy out for the last 2 weeks and then gluten for a few days. During this whole time we were going to the Chiropractor, I love her:) Such a great help and knowledge base. She had us trying everything! Peppermint oil, probiotics, chamomile, digestive enzymes and the list goes on.

Ellie was a wreck: crying, not napping, up all hours of the night. She would draw her legs up constantly and just seemed to be in so much pain. I just felt SO helpless. I didn't feel like anyone truly understood how bad it as. I knew it was not normal. My baby was in pain and I didn't know why:(

Afternoons seemed to be the worse. She did had a few good nights and days during all this. But they were few and far between. By the middle of January I was so drained. Physically, emotionally, mentally. Every bit of me was spent. I spent many nights crying and praying.  I felt like I couldn't handle it anymore and didn't know what else I could do. I was willing to try anything to help her. 

On Thursday, January 19 I had scrambled eggs for breakfast. I hadn't had eggs for breakfast for awhile because I couldn't put milk or cheese in them. Ellie had a horrible afternoon and night. Friday morning I was talking to a friend about it and said the only thing it could have been was the eggs. A light bulb went off. I have cut eggs out of my diet since then and she is a new baby:) Praise the Lord!!!

I have added everything else back in. She is sleeping through the night, 7 to 7. Takes good naps for the most part and is just so happy. I am so happy to know what was causing the pain, but wish it wouldn't have taken so long.  Life around the Mueller house is much calmer and happier now:)

She is just the happiest, smiley little girl. My heart just melts for her. Caden loves playing with her and interacting, except when she pulls his hair! I can't believe she is 4 1/2 months old already! At 4 months she weighed 15 pounds 9 ounces! She is just perfect, although she needs more hair. I am afraid she inherited my fine hair and not much of it!


*I wrote this over a week ago and for got to publish it.