Bloodwork done

We don't have the results yet and may not for a couple of days, but we've had Jaemin's blood drawn.  I know when they couldn't get blood from Chelsi I gave up and never went back, but hers was just being precautionary.  I wasn't worried when the doctor asked that we get blood drawn to check for iron, lead and CBC.  I figured, no rush.  But, when he started to show more allergies to berries we couldn't hold off.  We decided to get enough drawn to do it all at once.  That's a lot of blood.  Blood for the allergies alone is a lot.  The first arm they tried the vein just kept rolling.  Then, the second arm rolled too, but she managed to move the needle and get the vein.  They started filling vials as quickly as they could.  hey were a little shorter in each vial than they had hoped, but they were going to put his birth date on the vials and let the lab know that they really need to try to get all the results we need off the blood he already gave so we don't have to put him through this again.  We're praying they can make it work.

I don't remember what all they're testing for, but they're testing for everything they have a panel for.  All the regulars, plus extra fruits.  It's hard to keep his ear clear at this point from the last reaction, so we don't want to risk giving him any other food he can't handle.  I'm praying he's not allergic to too much or anything too difficult to eliminate from the diet.  That will be difficult with 5 kids.  Praying he's okay.  Hopefully, they call soon so we can just know.

Momma loves you little man.

Lisa

Teething...

yikes!  Jaemin was doing so well with it.  He broke his first through on Saturday.  Then, I could feel the next one trying to come through beside it by Sunday.  He was doing so well.  He wasn't really drooling and wasn't too upset.  Today it all hit.  He's been so grouchy.  Even holding him was doing no good by this afternoon, which isn't like him at all.  No bottle, no food.  He didn't want anything.  I finally gave him a little tylenol and about 1/2 hour later he was fine.  And he's been drooling like crazy this afternoon.  His chin is constantly wet!

Hopefully, tomorrow's better.

Lisa

Update on Us this Week

We've all been doing well.  And, yes, this blog will be inundated with Jaemin pics for awhile.  He's just so darn cute!  Tonight was his first night at church and he did well.  No real tantrum, just some talking.  :)  Kae had a friend down to play Friday and they were truly in girl mode with secrets and lounging and all that.  Chelsi's been adjusting better than expected to being ousted from her position as baby so suddenly.  The first few days she was pretty loud for her, but she now creeps around the house if she thinks the baby is sleeping and keeps rubbing his hair very gently saying "he's so cute". I think she likes him. Honestly, it's starting to feel like he's been here forever and we haven't missed a day.  He's only been home a week and while the first few were beyond rough he is really bonding.  He holds tight to me and is SO excited when I walk back into a room.  He likes me to wear him while I do dishes like Chelsi did.  But, he can be independent too, or he's trying to find it anyways.  He's such a sweet, loving little man.  He's even getting better about bedtime.  I go into his room, turn on Mozart and he knows.  He lays his head down on my shoulder and relaxes.  Sometimes he doesn't, but it's usually within minutes.  Tonight I even put him in bed semi-awake and he just went to sleep.  He only wakes once or twice and it's not been terrible.  We are truly blessed with such a sweet surprise.

Here's Jaemin trying to get to his hiding spot.  Yes, apparently, my rocker needs a dusting underneath.





Bye Bye



Daddy and me.



This is the only way I like to sleep....arms and legs free and on my side.



Here Kae with M.....girls.  They're wearing each other's shoes too.  Sheesh!

Kids are SO literal!

Kaelin and her friend (neighbor girl) Madison were playing outside.  We were upstairs with Jaemin and Chelsi.  They come into the basement and Kaelin asks for a bandaid.  Brian asks who's hurt.  She says "M. I."  Like we don't know her last name.  :)  Then Brian simply asks "where".  Kaelins replies "downstairs".  We had to literall say "Kaelin where on Madison's body does she hurt".  She finally told us she "accidentally ran over her with her bike and skinned her knee".  Don't ask....it's hard to say what they were really doing.  :)

Lisa

All together now

I took pictures of them all the day Chelsi arrived, but was just so tired after we got home from Korea with Jaemin I didn't get around to it until yesterday.  Here are the 5 together.  So cute!

Almost forgot

Chelsi wanted a picture with little brother.  Here it is.

We're home and doing well

Between just not having time to post and just not choosing to out of exhaustion I haven't done what I haven't had to in the last week.  We're all starting to catch up now and it feels much better.  The last two nights have been much better.  Jaemin grieved pretty heavily each time he got tired, day or night, since I picked him up.  He pushed away, thrashed around, you name it he didn't want us.  Brian decided we needed to really try a pacifier to help him through just a little, not to mention the fact that his first tooth just broke through Saturday and he also hurts.  We took him to the doctor Monday for a check up and to make sure nothing else was going on that we needed to know about.  He checked out fine, so it really was just grief and teething.

Since we got him to take the paci and attach to his snuggly he's been great!  He sleeps from about 8 or 9 to about 8 the next day with a couple of wakings in between.  They're very short lived the last couple of nights though.  Either we can put the paci back in and rub his back or give him a quick bottle and he goes right back to sleep.  Even the nap today got easier.  I just sat on the floor and held him and he went right to sleep.  He actually let me rock him like a baby which he's not let me do until now.  He's a HUGE cuddler!  He loves to give hugs and kisses and tells everyone bye-bye by waving.  He's extremely smart...we can see that already!  If daddy's playing with him so I can do something and they come to visit me he gets so excited!  He definitely has attached to mommy!  I'm seriously enjoying this little man!

The trip from Korea was rough.  It's a 15 hour flight with an infant, plus customs, immigration and layovers.  I promise, it's pretty rough.  He did great the first few hours of the 12 hour flight from Seoul to Chicago and then he hated sitting still.  The stewardesses on Korean Air took him for many walks since it was hard for me to get out with the basinett in front of me.  They kept telling me he was crying because he couldn't understand me, but if they quit walking he cried for them too.  :)  They were truly very nice.  It's a wonderful airline to fly.  We only had a 2 hour layover in Chicago, so we literally got through customs and immigration and ticketing just in time to catch the next flight.  He slept on the flight home, but it was only 1 hour.  We met with the entire family and a friend of ours met us at the airport too.  It was so great to be home!  Chelsi and Chase ran to each other, once she woke up.  The boys were so happy to have her back!  Jaemin didn't care for the carseat too much, but I sat next to him and he calmed right down and fell asleep.

Since we've been home, Cole's been dying to hold his brother.  He's still off limits to everyone except daddy and I though.  Shortly, we'll let Cole hold him some, but if he throws a fit I don't think Cole could hold onto him because Jaemin's so strong.  So we'll have to be careful with that.  Kaelin and Chase pretty much stick together as usual and do their own thing.  Chelsi was pretty loud and seemed jealous at first, but has gotten to where she loves to gently kiss her brother and give him small hugs.  He's almost as big as her for goodness sakes!

That's about it for now.  We're all doing great, catching up on sleep and finding our new normal with 7 people in a smallish house.  It's all good though!  :)

Lisa



Here are some of the kids finally getting to swim!