Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Grandmas!

My Grandma Irvin had a birthday on the 24th and my Grandma Novek had a birthday yesterday on the 29th! Mom ate lots of good food and cake this week. I had a great time seeing everyone and visiting with the extended families. I have been such a good boy this week! I have been happy and smiling all day every day.

Here I am with my Aunt Karla. Grandpa Nelson, Karla, Great-Grandma Nelson and Harlan came to see me last weekend. I had a good time.

And here I am with Great-Grandpa Ray in Lake City.

We went to Lake City to celebrate Grandma Novek's birthday, visit Ray and go to an open house where my Great-Grandma Bernice, Great-Grandpa Ray and all of my Great-Aunts, Great-Uncle and Grandma Novek grew up! Evan my Daddy lived there for a while when he was little! It was neat to visit the place that I have heard so many stories about. Click here for a link to the house's auction site.

Griping about Gripe Water...

Every morning I get up and ponder turning on the local news...and then I think better of it because I hate starting my day off hearing about something unpleasant and that seems to be all they talk about these days. But...yesterday there was nothing on to watch so I flipped on Channel 9 News. To my surprise I caught the end of a segment about the Baby's Bliss Gripe Water that Evan was taking to help with his "colic."






It had been recalled! Apparently it contains a parasite, cryptosporidium , which causes diarrhea, decreased appetite and stomach cramps. The past few weeks Evan has had all three symptoms - all of which we attributed to growth spurts and nursing! I looked up the information and compared the lot numbers. Sure enough, the bottle we had at home was one of the contaminated bottles.



So, I called the clinic here in town and they had me bring him in. He seems healthy and happy for the most part. Dr. Heilman said that it should clear up on its own within a few days (I guess cryptosporidium does that) and we don't have to be worried. He gave us a stool sample collection kit to bring back just to be on the safe side. (By the way, its terribly difficult to collect poop from a diaper! They suggested lining the inside with saran wrap to make it easier...yikes.)

If you would like more info for your own peace of mind click on this link: Gripe Water Recall

This week has gone by so incredibly fast! Evan weighed 13 lbs, 5 oz at his appointment on Thursday. Even taking off 3-5 oz for his onsie that is still a lot! I'm so proud of our little bean-sprout! He's growing so fast! He is already in his 6 mo PJ's and onsies. The 6 month pants are still a little long for him though. Its been so chilly here all week that I have actually had the chance to dress him in some fun outfits instead of just onsies. Evan, of course, would rather be naked. He loves being naked and he loves bath time. He kicks and giggles and coos on his changing table when he has his diaper and clothes off - its so funny!

Emily and Evan

Grandma Folstad, Evan and Papa - Evan fell right asleep on his Great-Grandma's lap! It was so sweet.

Papa and Evan - Evan had such a good time with his grandpa this week! It was fun spending time together and Evan hardly fussed at all in Grandpa's arms!

Its been a wonderful week and an awful week all at the same time. As for the good, the bad and the ugly...

THE GOOD:

• Papa came to visit his new grandson! We have been having a fun time and getting lots of pictures.
• Evan has really begun to coo and smile (when he wants to!) and has become very curious about the world around him - so fun!

THE BAD:

• Jonas had surgery yesterday on his rump. It is really nasty and I won't go into detail. All I can say is when I picked him up from the vet's office I almost cried.
• I'm exhausted! Between Evan and Jonas I haven't gotten much sleep. I feel like I run around all day and never get anything done.
• I have to go back to work on Monday.

THE UGLY:

• Jonas's rear end. Its very ugly at the moment. I won't post pictures of it, don't worry. Suffice to say he has to wear a cone and he can't sit down very well. He's on pain pills for a few days and antibiotics for two weeks. I feel so bad for the little bugger.

Papa and Evan

Dad and his little boy on game day

Evan wearing his "Jonas" sweatshirt (it has a beagle on it that looks just like Jonas!)

Wow, he looks so grown up in this picture!

9-9-07 - we made it a whole year!

So, this Sunday we celebrated our first anniversary by (drum roll please...)watching football. Emily was thrilled (not really.) Actually, Jeremy, Evan and Jonas got ready for game day together and went to the Dahl's to watch the game on Justin's big screen t.v. while Emily and Katie went to a movie. Later on that evening Evan went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Irvin while Jeremy and Emily enjoyed a peaceful dinner together at the River Bay Cafe in Bay City. It was delicious. Jeremy's trout came with eyes and a tail - something we're not used to - but it was finger-lickin' good. Emily had her first alcoholic beverage in 11 months, which was also delicious. If anyone is looking for a nice place around here to go eat dinner we would recommend it.

Jonas, Jeremy and Evan ready for the big game. The Vikes won 24 to 3, by the way.

Rico and Jonas napping on the couch. Rico stayed in that position for two hours. If I did that I wouldn't be able to get up!

I made Evan a mobile on Friday night. Its a bit wobbly and unbalanced but he seems to like it. It keeps him occupied while I'm getting him dressed.



Evan discovered a toy on his crib mirror yesterday! I was so proud of him! I would have gotten his dad up to see, but it was pretty early in the morning. He laid there, content, for ten minutes banging the purple toy on the bottom and smiling at the "other" baby inside the mirror.

Some play time with Dad last night. Take a look at those chubby cheeks!



"Mom - quit flashing that light in my eyes! You're making me crabby!"

Evan loves his popasan swing!

No new news this week, I'm afraid. We missed the weigh-in at the hospital last week, so I'm not sure how much Evan weighs now. He sure has packed on the rolls, though! I love it. He has started to really smile this week and I hope (and PRAY) that his colic episodes are over for good. The last couple of nights have been pretty good for the most part...lets hope that lasts!