Panda & Grandma Steph Celebrate 7.

After the birthday party, we headed over to Grandma Steph and Panda's house to help them celebrate 7 years of wedded bliss. They were kind enough to invited us to join them at their anniversary dinner.

July 20, 2009- 7 years of marriage.

Luke and Panda enjoying the amazing Oreo Bread Pudding. Luke wearing most of it.

Only a kid this cute would be allowed to crash a romantic evening.

Pump It Up.

While up in San Jose, Luke was fortunate enough to be invited to a birthday party for my high school friend Melissa's two boys, Dylan (4) and Luke (1). It was at Pump it Up in Morgan Hill and, not only was I thoroughly impressed with the place and want to open my own in SLO, but Luke had a great time. He had never experienced a bounce house (and neither had I- but it was a secret wish- now fulfilled!) and he loved it. I was nervous when the big kids would come charging in and scare the pants off of him but Luke kept asking "Where babies go?" (he calls all kids "babies") when they would leave so I think he liked the commotion.

Luke's mid-bounce face.

Luke and "babies."

Luke and Birthday Boy Dylan.

The slide I took him up and down (no small feat maneuvering he and I up there.)

A lot steeper that I imagined from the bottom... But Luke was fine with it (not over-joyed but not terrified.) We only did it twice.

Birthday Party Group Picture. Birthday Boys Dylan and Luke are sitting on the big red arms.

Luke with another high school friend's (Jenny) son, Preston.

Thank you, Melissa and Doug, for inviting Luke to celebrate with Dylan and Luke! We truly had a great time and look forward to seeing the Remmick boys again soon!

Pass the Torch.

I thought it would be nice to get some pictures of Luke in the tub where I was bathed at his age. Luke misunderstood my intentions and thought I was working on his "America's Got Talent" application. Luke's talent? Being RIDICULOUSLY cute while drinking his own bath water. Buckle up David Hasselhoff.

Begin by being adorable.

Drip the bath water into you mouth with as much flourish as possible. Make sure to use props.


Finish with a signal that you are now completely refreshed yet still amazing adorable. A lip smacking "AAAAAHHHHH" should get the crowd on their feet.

Aunt Nameless.

Luke and I were in San Jose from July 16th-23rd for a variety of activities. On the 18th, Luke's grandmas and I threw a bridal shower for VERY-SOON-to-be Aunt Sarah.

This brought MY Aunt Christine all the way from Reno to attend the shindig. We all stayed together and Luke got to spend lots of time with Aunt Christine which was excellent. What wasn't excellent was his reluctance to even attempt to say her name. Ah 2 year olds...

Fortunately, that nice lady staying with us didn't mind and still gave Luke lots of love and attention. He was very fond of her as well.

He may love you but he will NOT be your puppet. Sorry lady.

Weeks after our visit, Luke woke up from a nap one day and started asking for "Tiss-teen." I asked "Aunt Christine?" and the King of "NO!" promptly responded "da" (Luke's affirmative.)

He is going to be a fun teenager.

Two Year Old Trickery.

Back on July 16th, Luke had a series of xrays of his upper GI and small bowels. They were looking for any irregularities that would explain his throwing up episodes. Fortunately (unfortunately ?) none were found so we were referred to Dr. Drew Kelts, a pediatric GI specialist down at Cottage Hospital down in Santa Barbara. More on that later.

Back to our xrays. Luke had to drink barium in order for them to watch his system digest. Ugh- that stuff is NASTY but we worked our darnest to convince our little friend that it was just a milkshake and tastes oh so good. He wasn't buying it so, being the egotistical toddler that he his, agreed to drink it as long as I took pictures of him. Our boy just loves the camera.

Nothing says refreshment like a radiocontrast agent. Imbibed while pant-less.

I took about 20 pictures that look exactly like this (red eyes from crying and all.) Whatever got him drinking we were will to do.


Since nothing was found to be wrong with his system (and he had 2 more episodes) we went down to visit with Dr. Kelts on July 28th.

His theory on Luke's episodes is interesting. He feels that Luke is experiencing migraines which is causing him to have this crazy disorder called "Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome." The literature he gave us briefly describes it as a "condition characterized by recurrent, prolonged attacks of severe nausea, vomiting, prostration with no apparent cause." Not a great diagnosis (it can last forever) but something for us to hang our hat on nonetheless. Or so we thought.

Dr. Kelts started Luke on Periactin which is an antihistamine. It's suppose to work as a blocker to the migraines therefore stopping the vomiting. 14 days after the last episode and 10 days into the meds- he got sick again (last Friday.) And it was exactly the same in severity.

So we discontinued the medicine for a few days (Luke developed a stutter but we're thinking the timing is just coincidental and it's just his brain working faster then his motor-mouth) but started back on Tuesday. We're going to ride this diagnosis out for a while but I'm going to pick our opthamologist's brain tomorrow. My new gut feeling is telling me that these episodes could possibly have something to do with motion sickness due to his crazy eye site. I could be WAY off base but I think I'm starting to get the hang of this Dr. Mom thing.

Stay tuned...

Another Musical Masterpiece!

I have TONS to post from the last few weeks but I'm still trying to go through all my pictures and organize. But lucky us- Matt did a new video!

Forever Young from Matt Henard on Vimeo.

And You Are?

If the random bouts of vomiting weren't enough, Luke is also teething. Combine those parental nightmares with the fact that he's TWO... Ugh.

So I thought I would provide photographic proof in a scene from our day on Monday. Luke is reacting to me taking away the remote control to the TV in Matt and my room (he's on our bed.) Luke decided to THROW IT as hard as he could, smashing it against the headboard and shattering it in 4 pieces. I would not give it back so chaos ensued.

Just getting started...

Fortunately, a nearby paper towel added so some extra flair to the performance...

"Bow nose" and SCENE.