Eight Months Old and Life With My Toddler Boy!!

Another month has come and gone... I feel like I just posted the last blog! Parker continues to be the toughest little baby we know! He narrowly escaped a hospitalization this month. We had things to do.. no time for the hospital! We are trying to document and record all of Parker's episodes in hopes to learn more about this strange little syndrome he has. He can get sick so suddenly and then it goes away just as quickly. Right now, there seems to be no rhyme or rhythm. We'll do our best! I know I say it all the time, but this baby is SO SWEET!!! He gives us these precious, scrunched-nose smiles that show those little baby teeth. That smile melts our hearts! We do not like him to feel bad! He also has two top teeth now! ALSO, he is pulling to stand. This boy is so quick with everything... I feel like he will be walking in no time!

Brooks is now 23 months old. Our giggly first born will be two next month!! It is amazing to watch life in the eyes of a toddler. At 23 months, Brooks has no more paci (VERY big accomplishment), always insists on eating with utensils, has a growing vocabulary (today he said, "I'm crazy!"), is learning to dress himself, and continues to be a joy to everyone! Seriously, that boy has the best sense of humor!

At the church fair. Brooks had SO MUCH FUN!

He had the sweetest smiles riding the fair rides. I want to remember those moments forever. He loved it!

Uncle Christian taking Brooks for a wagon ride at AG and MB's birthday party!

Uncle Jeff spending some time with Parker at the party. This was the first time he'd seen him since we got back. Parker had changed so much!

Holding the boy that made me a Mommy on Mother's Day! This baby boy is my best little friend. He is so happy and giggly. I love spending my days with him. 

Both my baby boys on Mother's Day!! 

Sweet Parker hanging out with Uncle Christian!

Brooks enjoys helping Daddy with the gardening!

My little bookworm loves to read. I love to squeeze those chunky legs!

Both brothers can stand and play at the train table! 

The Kurtz boys!

New way to grocery shop! Brooks is big enough to sit in the big part of the cart!

This sweet girl loves these baby boys! 

Happy 8 Months Old, Parker Samuel!! We love you more than you can imagine!!

A Diagnosis for Parker

Parker has been diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Just wanted to share this great article with you all of you. Even though it seems like we have been searching a LONG time for a diagnosis, Parker is so young to have this identified. I can't imagine waiting as long as this mom did. It will be interesting to learn his patterns and triggers. But if you know Parker well, you know nothing will stop our little go-getter!! He is an AMAZING baby. And gotta be tough to hang with Brooks!

http://weezyschannel.hubpages.com/hub/Cyclic-Vomiting-Syndrome-In-Young-Children-

Seven Months Old and Life With My Toddler Boy!!!

Oh my gosh.. we've had a BUSY month back. Just the way I like it!! I swear I get so much more done when I'm busy than when I'm not. We've all enjoyed being back home together and getting back into our daily routine. The boys are both doing amazing. We are enjoying watching them grow. Where to begin..... seriously, we've been busy!

Parker continues to do GREAT! The biggest news is he is CRAWLING! Yes, crawling.. all OVER our house. This baby is everywhere!! He also loves to stand and play, although not pulling to stand just yet. Daddy Chad already had to lower the crib because he will have standing mastered very soon. Parker now has two little teeth. I think baby teeth are so adorable! He makes the cutest smiles at us and shows off those little teeth. He also says, "ma ma mama." :)

Guess who else FINALLY says "mama?" Yep, BIG BOY finally says "mama!" Brooks is such a stinker! He said "Parker" before he would say "mama." Brooks' newest thing is to make animal sounds. He likes to tell us what sounds his favorite animals make. His favorite sounds are tigers and puppies.  Brooks is at such a neat age. It is so fun watching him grow and seeing/hearing all the new things he is learning. Hard to believe he will be 2 in only two short months. Oh, it passes too quickly! Brooks has also become a very busy climber. He climbs on everything. Always keeping me on my toes!

Beach babies!

Look at this cutie pie!! Enjoying a nice beach day with Daddy!

This is one cool toddler!

Sweet Anabelle's reaction of her family coming home!

Baby on the move!

First time sitting in a grocery cart. Look at those cute teeth!

Enjoying MB's birthday party! I love this handsome boy!

Parker had fun too!

Brooks just helping with some yard work. 

Look at this humpty dumpty!! Can you believe he was ever under weight??? I LOVE baby rolls! 

BROTHERS! So special to watch them grow. :)

7 Months Old!

Taking a stroll with Mommy. We LOVE our double stroller!! Thanks Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff!

Parker standing and playing. 

Parker was scared of Ana when we first got home. As you can see, he now loves her.  :)

Fun, silly, sweet, handsome baby boys! 

Six Month & Brothers Pics!!

Tammy Ellington (tammyellingtonphotography.blogspot.com) came all the way to Augusta to photograph my sweet baby boys the week after Parker was discharged from the hospital. We've known Tammy forever.... but had NO IDEA she had such an amazing talent! Here are just a few of my favorites! 

One Month Out and a PICTURE OF HEALTH!!

Literally, HUNDREDS of people have prayed for our sweet Parker over the last 7 months. I'm asked daily how he's doing and I just want to report that this boy is PERFECT!!! I've been planning to share pictures of our journey, but have been pretty busy getting our hot mess of a life back together. Saturday marked ONE MONTH since Parker was discharged from the hospital. Parker has not been out of the hospital an entire month since he was 2 months old. We are SO THANKFUL! This journey has been HARD. I've questioned every decision I've made for this sweet child, as it was so difficult holding him down for testing, IVs, feeding tubes, etc...  If you were counting, Parker had 6 hospitalizations and a dozen or so ER visits. When we left for Atlanta, Parker was bald, extremely pale, had elevated liver enzymes, lactic acid and pyruvate acid levels, as well as a very pronounced head tremor. When we left he wore three month clothes. The night we came home, I realized those baby clothes had to be changed... he now wears NINE month clothes! Through it all, Parker has loved us, trusted us, and been the sweetest baby you will ever meet. Parker Kurtz, you are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made! We thank the LORD for healing our youngest son. We thank YOU for all of your prayers. We are so happy to be home as a FAMILY! 

First trip to the ER... He was SO sick this night... I had to put this gown away. I could never look at it again. 

Going for our first rounds of GI testing. 

Sweet Parker's very 1st hospitalization. 

Daddy loving his boy. 

Nothing sweeter than cuddling with an infant. 

Sweet brothers holding hands. 

Holding my angel after his scope. That almost gave me a panic attack! 

Home for a few days with his brother!!!

Getting an EEG. 

All of Parker's hair fell out in my hands one day. His nutrition was awful at this point. 

Another test... such a trooper!!

Watch out!!! A wild little boy spent the day at the hospital! 

What a cute little baldy!!!

Then the head tilt began...

This was in January. We went to the park and had a family meeting. We decided Parker needed to go to Scottish Rites.

Parker was admitted to Scottish Rites in Atlanta!

He had sweet visitors...

He got some rest...

He had more visitors...

He got a feeding tube...

He met new friends!!!

Daddy did too!

While we were there, Brooks had a GREAT time with Mema and Papa! 

He had wonderful care. He's a loved baby boy!

Sometimes he had to wear "no no" sleeves to keep him from pulling out his feeding tube. 

Enjoying kisses from Daddy. 

Leaving Atlanta for Augusta! 

Holding BOTH my boys! 

With his tube, Parker GREW!!! 

And he enjoyed playing too because he felt so much better. 

This is how we traveled with our feeding tube backpack. 

Lots and lots of dr appointments!

Sometimes he pulled out his tube. Look at that proud face!! Notice we are back in the ER!

Back in the hospital in Augusta. 

But he's always smiling!

What a precious, precious boy! 

Leaving the hospital...

Back again.. but still smiling!!

Brooks is his favorite visitor!

No tube and learning to eat!

What a big boy in his high chair!

Ready to go home! For good this time!!!!

Our Family.. TOGETHER!