Maximo ~ the Heavyweight

 When we left the hospital Max was a shave over four pounds. Obviously growth was a concern.  Going into cold/ flu season he needed a little extra weight, and fast, in the event he did get sick.  I pumped and boosted that milk with powdered formula to get extra calories into him.  He was gaining well, at least an ounce a day, but his tummy was always upset.  So we came up with a better plan.  Now, at the risk of sounding like a Holstein, I pump off the watery foremilk and feed Max a few bottles a day of the creamier stuff that follows. A bit of a pain but it's working quite well, no more upset tummy and he gained like a champ this week, better than the boosted milk even!  Suddenly, after surpassing the six pound mark Max has realized that eating is his favorite pastime.  I loved his little "krill" stage, now it seems as though he is growing before our very eyes!

We have made an appointment for a consult with a pediatric neurologist to have an MRI so if anything does happen in the future we have a good baseline of his cerebellum.  And it will be good to be armed with as much information as available so we know what to expect or plan for if at all possible.  I'm kind of excited to see what the doctor says, just because that's how I roll.  The entire body is fascinating, but the brain especially so.    

Max is seeming to act more and more like a normal baby, not just a little doll.  His eye contact has been fantastic, getting noticeably better these past few days.  I can't wait for those first little smiles.  I told the rest of the kiddos he'd smile sooner if they talk to him a lot.  I walked into the kitchen last night and casually said, "Hey Max." Nicholas immediately corrected me, "No, Mom, you need to say it this way, " then in a sing-song voice immediately began to demonstrate how Max should be spoken to.  "Hi little Maximo.  How are yooooooou?"  

In the midst of everyday life it often seems as though everything is normal, like Max's history is just a bad dream.  We ordered his medical records just so we (I) don't forget.  It is apparent while reading through them what a miracle we hold in our hands.  As I sat in the Costco parking lot today nursing and listening to Christmas music I just began crying.  For the first time postpartum it wasn't because I was feeling "blue," it was because I was so darn happy.  No matter what Christmas gift I ever receive in the future, it will never compare to the gift we now hold.

Michaela's Buck

Michaela had a special buck tag this year.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a ton of time to scout the area and hunt a lot.  A rancher from the area made the hunting much easier for Michaela and Shannon as he knew what was going on family-wise and allowed them pretty much free rein on his property.  It helped that his son worked for Shannon last summer.  Now we just need to deliver some of Michaela's scrumptious cinnamon rolls to them!

On the final day of the season she bagged a decent buck, and while he may not be the largest trophy in the woods, she has a story that can't really grow as the years pass ~ it was that wild and crazy.
And that's what hunting is really about....the memories!

Maximo News

These past few weeks have been a blur ~ sleep deprivation, coupled with the busy-ness of the season haven't left much time for anything really.  But, I keep reminding myself ~ and I mean it every.single.time ~ I will give it all up.....sleep, extra time, skiing, whatever.....to be holding my baby!

The little man was 5 lbs 9 oz as of last Thursday.  We decided he has now graduated from "krill" to "shrimp." He is nursing exclusively at the moment as we are trying to get rid of his upset tummy and it seems to be working. The extra formula that we'd boost my milk with seemed to be bothering him.  Hopefully, he will gain what he needs to this week so that there is no need to return to supplementing.

Sleepin' with Daddy ~ at least Daddy's sleepin'! 

Soooo ~ this little outfit kinda reminded us of a prison suit after we put it on ~ 

Daddy taped St. Maximilian Kolbe's prison number on Max and sent a picture to Fr. Stu

Isn't he just so cute??

 Annika certainly thinks so ~

Just chillin' on the counter while Mommy makes dinner ~

The only wonderful thing about bottles is Max's brothers and sisters can feed him at times ~

Anyone that says bottles are the way to go hasn't nursed!

Our little stocking stuffer ~

Nicholas

As seems the case every time we gain a new addition in our family, the youngest seems to grow up over night.  Just prior to Max making his debut, Nickles asked if baby Max could come out and play for a while. This was right after he was convinced he could no longer see because his eyes were so tightly squeezed together while taking a bath.

The guys and their babies

Now that we are all home, Nickles always has some commentary.  I guess he always has, but now he states it all with such authority....or something.

Friday I decided all the kids needed flu shots.  At the moment it seemed perfectly logical to drag eight kids and a husband to the doctor's office.  After signing everyone in, Shan took four into one room, while I sat with the other 4 in an adjoining room.  Just as Dom was preparing to receive his shot, Nickles let out a bloodcurdling scream while receiving his.  That did nothing to comfort Dominic.  They both were given Bugs Bunny bandaids, which should have been reward enough, as I never buy character bandaids.  Later in the evening, Nickles was looking at his when he abruptly tore it off.  Kath asked him why he removed it.  He replied, "Because I don't like that Dr. Lady."  

And I should have been suspicious when Nickles was washing his hands on his own.  Knowing he can't hold Max without washing up, he was just being a good boy.  The next thing I knew he was picking up the little guy who had been sunning on the living room floor.  "Mom, I'm fine. I've got it."

Uh, no you don't. Or at least you shouldn't.  

Then, there is the nursing discussion.  It happens every time after a new child arrives. Nickles was sitting there observing and you could almost see the wheels turning in his little head.  

"If I didn't have teeth....." 

"Nickles, if you want to try a bottle, you can."

He jumped at the chance and now that issue is resolved. It was not his favorite.

He arrived in the kitchen today to announce that Max was thirsty.  Because I wanted to see what he was thinking I asked him what I should do about it.

"Umm, get some water from these," pointing to his chest.  

Then, at dinner, a friend sent Papa Murphy's pizza and brownies out.  Nickles was in heaven eating pizza til Daddy brought the brownies over.  He immediately ditched the pizza, which he love-love-loves, in favor of a brownie.  Who knew life was that simple!

Shannon congratulates Max every time he has a nice burp after eating.  It seems appropriate at the age when that is one of the only things he can do well.  Unfortunately, Nickles has picked up on this so we are now having to retrain him.  Belching is NOT a good thing when one is almost 4 years old.

Max is not quite ready to play ~

Happy Feast Day Nickles ~

A simple reminder that I live in a house full of children ~

No more clean windows!

Max's Baptism

Yesterday we celebrated Max's baptism.  It was a bit of an emotional moment.  As Monsignor annointed Max with Chrism oil I couldn't help but think that this wasn't how it was supposed to be.  I wasn't supposed to be holding a beautiful, tiny baby boy who was stretch-stretch-stretch-stretching in my arms.
But I was.
And to make it even better, at that moment I was was holding a new Life in Christ right in my hands.

Typically our children's baptisms are a fairly private affair, but another family was having their children baptized as well yesterday.  As everyone's voices prayed the Our Father together my heart sang and the tears began to fall.  So often during Max's pregnancy I would kneel beside my bed with no prayers to even utter, afraid to ask for my heart's desire, afraid to ask for the strength to get through whatever trials may come, afraid to really pray at all.  But I could feel myself lifted in prayer at different times and knew that while I was unable to pray, someone was praying for us.  As everyone's voices rose together in prayer, the Body of Christ, the Communion of Saints, was so apparent.

All dressed up and ready to roll ~

Thank you for my little boy!