Diabetes Research

When Alohi was first born we got to be apart of a clinic study for infant formula and how it relates to diabetes (please don't ask me for details of what all the research involved because I can't remember).  She was apart of the nursing group and each month we would go get weighed, measured and a few other things.  Every 3 months there would be a longer appointment to do more than the normal thing.  We were able to use the $$ made at appointments and being apart of the study to help pay for diapers and any other needs of Alohi.  Where is this going... I'm getting there.  Dr. Fields sent out a email asking all the kids from the study to come back to do a follow up.  Unfortunately the dates didn't work out for us since we moved to Nebraska, however.... They extended the study for a few more months and Alohi got to do her follow up while we are here for Rylan's training.  Yippee!!!

First of all, I had originally scheduled the appointment while we were in Nebraska (Mountain Time) and put it in my phone.  While coming to OKC, my phone changed the time to Central Time and it bummed it up an hour.  Lesson learned, any events scheduled in a different time zone will change to the current time son, but keep the original time zone time...Good luck with figuring that out, but it makes sense to me.  Thankfully I got a phone call that morning as a reminder and to let me know that the location of appointment changed.  After rushing around to get out the door, we made it there on time.

The first thing we did was take care of the paper work.  Alohi was weighed (27 pounds) and measured (don't remember).  She got into a swim suit and then got her fat (which she has NONE) on her arms, back, thigh, and belly measured.

 Then she got weighed again and here she is with her protective cap on.

When we were on the way to the appointment, I told her all the things she would be doing.  This next step was the hardest for me to explain.  It took a little bit to get her okay with going into the Bod Pod.  My understanding it is like a scan of your whole body.  I told her she would be able to see me through the window, where I made silly faces and showed her pictures from my iPhone.

You can see the look of uncertainty on her face.

 Throughout this, the computer would do its reading and had to open the door 3 times to do the complete test... The whole thing took about 5 minutes or so.

Once it was done she was so happy and insistent to climb down on her own!

Next, I did this test first because they use both the child and the parent in the study.  Thankfully this one played music and she knew once the music stopped she was done.  She did so good!!

The last test was another body scan, but it looks at the bone density.  They allowed her to watch Cars during this test.

 She had to lay really still! When the machine started to move she would look up to make sure what was happening, but she did great!

Po'okela hung out in his stroller during Alohi's test. She even pushed him around in between the test.

After all the test, we walked around Children's Hospital to look at all the neat things they have there.  She wasn't sure about the clear glass railing, so she made sure it was there by putting her hand on the glass.

She made me so proud to have completed all the studies.  It was even better when I found out since we are out of state they would give us some travel money for coming!!  Po'okela did great too so, we celebrated at Chickfila with Pepaw!

9 Month Stats

Had a great trip to our Dr's. They did call me to double check that we weren't driving from Nebraska for this appointment and that is a whole other story in itself, but over all we have a healthy boy!!
Current Stats (if they matter to you)

17.1 lbs (Alohi weighed in at 27)
27 in long
and I can never remember his head...

So far he is reaching all the milestones and that is all that matters. We got to okay to go for real people food, which he got mac & cheese and pears for lunch, then Pei Wei noodles, rice, chicken and mushrooms for dinner.  I am happy to know I can buy mushrooms and I won't be the only one that eats them.  I end this short post with my healthy boy!!

So thankful his hair is getting better!! And if you know what his 6 month stats were please share... I have it written down in Nebraska, but it does me no good there.

Po'okela 9 Months

I can't believe I am already writing this post because I can still remember me writing the 8 month post in Scottsbluff.  The even crazier part is that in 3 months you will turn a full year old. I am not sure if I am ready for you to be 1 yet and thankfully I still have 3 months to get used to that thought.

There is so much that you are learning to do and I am so thankful to be able to watch each day.  For example you have started to army crawl (or Nana calls it the Terminator crawl) and have found yourself in so many new places now that you are on the move.  Like the picture to the left, you are under the tables in our apartments, making the blinds clink, eating your sisters things (dresses, shoes, purse, etc.) or anywhere new that you want to explore.







Another first is learning to sit up on your own.  For a full day I kept trying to watch you or catch you sitting up on your own. I would walk into the kitchen for not even a minute and return with you sitting with a toy, huge smile on your face.  After waiting all day and three days later, I was finally able to see how you sit up by yourself.  That was when I had the huge smile on my face because I was able to watch you learn something new.

Other new things you have gotten is more table food.  You love real food and who could blame you.  I normally feed you before I eat anything because if I am start eating, you want nothing to do with the baby food and just want what I have.  Most times you have this "mmmm" or "mamammaa" sound you make when you want my food.  When you see real food and I am still feeding you baby food, you start to sign all done.  It normally means you eat a bunch of real food instead.  I am sure you are ready and can move towards just having real food, but I am going to wait until tomorrow when we meet with Dr. Bowen since you only have two teeth.  (Picture to the right/above you have pesto on your mouth from the pesto ravioli that you tried and LOVED!)

So I had a running list of it from last month and have lots more to add. Here it goes... ravioli pesto pasta, spinach pasta, many types of breads, strawberries, blue berries, avocados, banana, baked beans, refried beans, spanish rice, sushi rice, broccoli, zucchini, squash, donuts, ice cream cones with ice cream, chocolate chips, tortillas, cinnamon rolls, and I am sure there is more that I can't remember.

With all these new foods you are trying I have found that you have a food allergy to tomato pasta sauce.  For example, in pizza or spaghetti.  Your sister was having cheese pizza for lunch one day and I gave you some, which then led to red rash like spots around your mouth.  The same thing happened before when you tried spaghetti, which I didn't make the connection until the pizza incident.  However, you have had sliced tomatoes and haven't had a problem. I think it is the acid that is found in pasta sauce.  Just another thing I will be talked to Dr. Bowen about.


 Picture above is smiles after having some donuts. Below left, strawberries and avocados following your baby food. Bottom right, you are having a mini ice cream cone.

The best thing about being at home is getting to watch you and your sister interact.  You two haven't figured out how to really play together, but I get to watch her try to teach you things or tell you not to do something because she isn't allowed to do it.  She tries to hold you or move you, but it never really works because she is so petite.  Your favorite toys to play with are ones that have a cause and effect reaction or makes noise.  If it doesn't do that you will either try to make it make a noise by banging it on something or putting it in your mouth.  Now that you are kind of crawling, find new places to play I think is your favorite thing to do.  The following pictures are of you and Alohi playing.

Bath time is so much fun!!! 

I am thankful that you and your sister are good sleepers! Most days you take 2 naps lasting at least 1 1/2 hours each, but sometimes can go 2 1/2-3 hours depending on how our day looks.  If there is a nap I try to sacrifice it is always your morning nap and means that you take a long afternoon nap with an occasional 30-45 minute nap late into the afternoon. At bed time you go down around 7:00-8:00 and sleep until about 6:45/7:00.  Bed time for you is easy, unless your sister is in there trying to keep you up by talking and playing.  Mornings are the same, unless your sister wakes you up.  Today, you started something new at naps... since you have learned to sit up, you do this at naps and don't know how to get back down.  I know I could go in and rescue you, but then that will start a habit of me fixing the problem rather than you problem solving.  I am sure I am going to need to stay put for 2-3 days so you can learn how to do this.  When I am not 100% sure when this will happen...

 Here's a picture of you with your sister in pack-n-play.

Since being in OKC, you have gotten to see many friends and family that love you.  Memaw Loves having you!

In this last month you have had tons of first and I know this is just the beginning of more to come and I won't be able to slow down time, but I will cherish each moment.  Tomorrow I will post your status after the doctors appointment along with a picture of you and moo.

I love you sweet boy!!

 

Zoo Date

Alohi has been in an arranged marriage for a while now... Actually she has been set up many time, but this is the only one I hope or even wish that would come true.  My closet buddy from Creek had a little boy (Mason) a few months after Alohi arrived.  We weren't teaching in the same grade, but she moved up to teach 4th grade.  We were in the same boat; having our first little one, teaching/working with a little one, married to "Ry's" (which got confusing at times) and life.  I can't even begin to tell you how many time she was there for me in the middle of chaos and vise versa.  

Since moving we never said goodbye and pretended that I was on an extended maternity leave.  Our first weekend here, Rylan wanted to get to the zoo. OKC has such a wonderful zoo and you don't realize what you had until it is no longer there for you.  We took full advantage of a family pass (we have already been 3 times and plan many more trips).  We met up with the Reeve's family for a zoo date and lunch!  

Mason and Alohi ran into each others arms and melted Amy & my hearts.  They are so much fun to watch together!! Here are a few pictures from our day.

 

 (I so wish I had the picture of her last fall on this same statue... I will compare when we are back in Scottsbluff)

Mason and Alohi had so much fun at the splash area after lunch!

Po'okela wasn't too excited about the water, but he was a happy boy once his clothes came off.

Po'okela eyeing Mason's cotton candy!

They are so cute together!

 Yep... he finally got some!

 I got a good workout pushing the stroller around!!

I love this picture!

Kids and their dads!

The best way to end...

They actually ran off into the bamboo by themselves and we had to chase after them. It was so cute!

Things to fill the time...

I can't believe that we have been in OKC for nearly a month now. There is so much that we have done and time is going by so quickly.  Here is what our weeks normally look like. Mondays we stay home to recover from the weekend, Tuesdays the kids go to Mom's Day Out at church (I stay close so I can come back to nurse Po'okela) and Wednesday are either at home, groceries, or something. If we get out on Wednesday then we stay in on Thursday and occasionally make a play date with a friend.  Fridays Alohi gets to go to the churches Toddlers Day. Po'okela and I get to hang out and do stuff, but it is hard on him because he normally doesn't get a morning nap.  In the evenings we spend our time visiting with friends we haven't seen.

I could make a list but who wants to read that when you can see the pictures and they are in no particular order of the days it happened on...

Ice Pops on the balcony!

Rolling and playing in the blinds.

Silly faces with Paul & Lis 

(My first college family that I just LOVE!!)

Donuts before a trip to the zoo!

Po'okela getting his donut fix too!!

Reading or playing on the iPad with Pepaw!

Playing at birthday parties with friends (that's Levi in the background).

Teasing brother Austin who was at home...

Alohi crawling in pack-n-play with Po'okela. She does this sometimes in the morning and I get an extra 30 minutes of sleep! She may not know it but I LOVE IT!

Po'okela crashed out Sunday morning in the nursery!

Alohi (in the blue dress) in bible class with her friends.

Shaving cream playing.

Many first for Po'okela... here he is with an ice cream cone we had at Tuesday Ladies lunch. He ate it all and had chocolate everywhere.

Learning to crawl.

Stroller rides together.

Sorry this is a horrible picture... Swimming at the pool!

First bike rides... well he just sat there and tried to rock.

Tea parties...

There are so many more pictures I could/can/will share. The internet is working slow right now, so I am going to play with the kids.  My favorite thing today is getting Po'okela army crawling and watching him figure out how to sit up by himself!  Have a wonderful day!!