Rain, Rain Go Away!

You can't fight mother nature and expect to win, especially when a tropical storm/ hurricane is predicted. So we are postponing Camden's birthday party. We are now planning it for next Sunday, October 5th at 3 pm. It will still be at riverfront park in Old Town. I hope you can all attend!
Camden is now starting to stand on his own! I walked into daycare and he was standing up in the middle of the mat, not holding onto anything! He changes every day! But the thing he really wants to do is eat! He stares at the other kids when they eat Cheerios, and cheese and almost drools. Hopefully, we get the OK to move foreword with feeding Camden more foods when we go to clinic in October.
Camden, Maddie, Andy and Jack went to a UMaine football game last week. They all had a great time!
Camden then had his first ear infection last week and had to be on antibiotics. Boy did they give him the loose stools! he pooped nothing but water for days! We called his pediatrician and asked if we could stop the antibiotics early, which we did.
This past Thursday, the whole family went to an apple orchard in Levant and picked apples and pumpkins! There was a corn maze too, in the shape of a tractor. With our tickets, we also got a free small ice cream. Maddie loved that! Camden even stole a few bites of Andy's before he ate any. OK, I gave him a few bites, and he loved it! We then met Robin and Chuck at Dysart's, one of our favorite restaurants for dinner! We had a great afternoon. Too bad I could not find my camera to get some snapshots:(

Big Birthday Boy!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY CAMDEN!!!

You're Invited!!!

Camden's FIRST birthday is rapidly approaching and plans have been made to celebrate! Thursday, September 18th is is official birthday, but due to multiple scheduling conflicts, Sunday September 28th is the date. Riverfront Park in Old Town, Maine is the place, and 4pm is the time. We have been so blessed by all the support this past year, it has made such a huge difference! The nurses and doctors at Children's Hospital told us that it made Camden's plan of care and speedy discharge much more effortless since we were able to spend so much time with him. We could not have been able to do so without all the help back home. So we are saying THANK YOU to everyone who helped. Bring you lawn chairs and enjoy a BBQ on the banks of the Penobscot River in Old Town. There is a gazebo, playground for the kids and lots of room to have fun. If anyone has lawn games, bring them!

Labor Day

Labor Day was spent at my mom's for a lobster bake and family portraits. It has been ten years since the last Fox family photos, and there have been many changes in the family. The biggest changes have been the addition of 6 great grand children for my grandparents!
Since Labor Day, things have been very busy with work, play and daycare. Camden is settling into Parkside very well. We have also set up a feeding schedule. The consistancy has worked well, with eating more, and pooping a little less during the day.

Camden's First Day at Parkside!

Camden started daycare at Parkside Children's learning Center Monday. This is the same daycare ("school") that his big sister attends. Her classroom is right down the hall from his. Camden seemed to fit right in with the other older infants in his room. His teachers, Miss Sue and Miss Jenny, were right there for his first day and jumped at the chance to learn about his G tube button! We took supplies over last week and in serviced them on how to administer two of his medications, and left them the tools to practice and play with to get comfortable with it. They seemed confident when we dropped him off this morning that they could do this, and we even typed up detailed step by step instructions to keep in the classroom.

Andy and I then went out to Dysart's for breakfast, alone!! It seemed quiet at first, then we started talking about Camden's first birthday party plans and time flew by. A 3 hour nap that afternoon felt really good too!!!!

After we returned home, we talked to the dietitian at short gut clinic, Megan, about Camden's nutritional needs. We started him on more of a feeding schedule, which has worked well. He even took 39 ounces by mouth last weekend up to camp! On average I would say he take about 25 ounces a day now. The consistency of feedings helps to prevent huge blow outs in his diaper, but he still poops watery stool many times a day. We did pray for poop early on!!

He has adjusted to daycare and his teachers say he is doing very well.

We also have a date for our next clinic appointment in Boston. We will be there October 9th. I cannot wait for them to see all the changes and growth!! It is hard for me to believe Camden is already almost one year old!! I bought his birthday invites tonight on my way home and almost started to cry!! I am trying to get the final details of his birthday planned, then I will let everyone know.

Visit to Dr Ross

Today, Maddie and Camden both had wellness check ups with Dr Ross. Maddie weighs 32.8 pounds (50th %tile), and is 37.25 inches tall (75th %tile). She is doing very well and will not have to see him again for a check up for a year!

Camden is 18 pounds 13 ounces (8.56 kg) which is 10th %tile, but we a re now on the growth curve!! he is 28 inches long or 25th %tile, and on that growth curve also!! Dr Ross feels that he has caught up on his weight and is doing really well!

We discussed eating and how well he is doing with cereals, yogurt etc... and will need to discuss with Boston about formula amounts and if we should be pushing the formula or foods.

So things over all are still progressing well and we will see Dr Ross again in October for his 12 month visit!

Busy Brown Summer!

This summer is flying by!! It is already late July, it is hard to believe. I know it has been more than a month since my last post, sorry! We are all so busy this summer, time got away from me!
Camden it doing quite well, no hospital or clinic visits this summer, other than well baby check ups with his pediatrician. His weight isn't growing fast, but he is not losing weight either. On these hot and muggy days, we have a tough time getting him to eat his formula. We give him boluses of formula (which seem to go right through him), or large volume at night. He has tasted a variety of foods so far. He has not made icky faces at applesauce, pears, peaches, peas, guacamole (go figure!!), potato, and he even got a hold of a spinach and cheese bread stick the other night and chewed on it and ate some of the filling! He really enjoys drinking water, much more so than his formula!
We have enjoyed spending time with family this summer also. Nana and Grampy have helped with child care conflicts in our schedule, and are getting more comfortable with tube feedings. Grammy is also learning how to care for the MikKey button, give medicines, and tube feedings. Living two hours away, she doesn't feel all that comfortable yet, but she will with more practice.