PT & Safe Arrival

Our Little Man had his first visit with his physical therapist today and he was such a cooperative little patient. We learned so much today about Gavin's little condition. It is believed that the torticollus is a result of him being so smashed in the womb from being a large baby at birth.

We are confident that with the help of PT and us working with him at home that this is 100% correctable, However, we were informed today that this could be muscular or skeletal. Skeletal is much worse and not correctable, so we are prayerful that ours is muscular and can be corrected over time. The skeletal version is only diagnosable through Xray and we are going to try and avoid that for a while due to his age.

As his parents we refuse to accept that it could be skeletal and we stand strong in our belief that we serve an awesome God that is already at work on our sweet boys behalf.

The PT was very confident that she could correct this through several sessions a week and with us stretching him at home 5 times a day. I am sure we don't need to tell you that we are committed to do whatever we have to do in order to correct this immediately. The PT was not real optimistic that we would be able to avoid the helmet. Once again, we will continue to pray and believe that the ultimate healer will be in control of that too.

Part of the process of PT was determining the degree of the head tilt which was only 20 degrees. From our understanding Gavin has a very mild case. Our PT currently is working with a 6 month old that had a 40 degree tilt and it has been reduced to 17 degrees with only 16 therapy sessions ~ Praise God for that sweet baby.

We are believing that Gavin's condition is muscular and is going to show great improvements in the weeks ahead. We will also continue to pray that at his 6 month check up he will get a "that a boy" and avoid the helmet.

Thank you for your prayers and your kind words on behalf of our little man. I appreciate all the emails and I will continue to share with you how successful Gavin is going to be with his PT.

We arrived at our vacation destination and quickly got settled in for a few days of fun. I had to share with you that we pushed the 2 queen size beds together so the Frazier Four could snuggle up.

4 Month Check Up

Our BIG BOY went for his 4 month old check up today and he was a trooper.

How much longer is he going to be able to fit on the little infant scale? Just look at him...he is hanging off everywhere. Don't squint, I took an up close picture of the scale for his Daddy to see how BIG this boy has gotten.

You saw it right....20lb 12oz....26 inches long and his head measured 17 3/8 inches. The boy is HUGE! Yes, that is all from being nursed too...nothing else. I have had people doubt me on this one, but I promise I do not give my babies food till they are 6 months old.

Poor little thing...honestly, he barely cried. I think he has enough protection on those chubby little legs that he did not feel it until the 2nd one and that is because it burned.

Look at the brave Big Sister...she did not want any part of watching her "little buddy" get shots. Oh no, she told the Dr. we were leaving on "cation tomorrow to the ocean to see the sharks and the dolphins"...she really believes it. We have told her over and over again that we are not going and we would go next year.

So, we found out today that Gavin has Torticollis and Plagiocephaly which is a tightening of the neck muscle which is causing some flattening of the head on one side. We were told if it does not correct by the time he is 6 months old, he would have to be fitted for a helmet that must be worn 23 hours a day.

We were referred to physical therapy. I wasted no time and drove there immediately to see what we needed to do and sign him up to begin. Needless to say, my 4 month old will be beginning physical therapy in the morning at 9:30. We are scheduled to leave for vacation in the morning, so we will just leave as soon as we learn a little more about what we can do to help correct the torticollis.

Please say a little prayer for Gavin if you get a chance. It is not a big deal and it is totally correctable, so I feel a little selfish asking you to pray (but who couldn't use a few prayers on their behalf, right?). As for me and his Daddy, we will be praying daily for this problem to be corrected before he is 6 months old.

P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E

We spent the day yesterday playing with the little ones and they seemed to have a good time.

Emma got this little water table from her Nana for her birthday and she loves it. Afterall, what kid does not enjoy playing in the water? We had company last week and I looked out the window and she had climbed up in it and sat down. Silly kid!

I have a feeling the days of this little guy laying around are over. He enjoyed some exersaucer time yesterday for the first time and really enjoyed it.

Emma has been wanting to play with this sprinkler ball for a while, so we finally set it up yesterday. Daddy enjoyed playing in it too, but told me I could not post any pictures of him. Oh, they are funny.

Look at this sweet boy... don't you just want to squeeze him?

This kid would stay outside from sun up to sun down if we would let her. This picture just makes me smile.

Just think, next summer both of them will be running around and playing...I can't wait!

From the cradle...

to the crib. Oh my heart is aching, my baby boy is in his crib for the first time tonight. I am sure I will not sleep as I adjust to listening for 2 monitors opposed to 1. Yes, Emma still sleeps with an Angel Care Monitor and now Gavin is using his too. Well, he has been using the sensor part, but not the handset since he has been sleeping in a cradle only an arm reach away from his Daddy.

We knew it was time to make the move when we woke up the last 2 mornings and he had flipped over on his belly and had his little neck stuck out like a giraffe staring at us. It was really cute, but probably not a good idea to leave this big ole boy in a cradle.

No doubt in my mind he will sleep so much better, but the selfish part of me wanted to keep him in here forever. There is something about knowing it is your last baby and you have to move him to his bed...hard to explain, but I am sure someone out there understands.

Sweet dreams baby boy, sweet dreams!

Hot Summer Days

We have spent our days in the neighborhood pool this summer and it has been lots of fun. Emma is getting braver everyday, but is still a little nervous at times.

She normally wears either the floaties or the ring, but yesterday decided to wear both of them and it worked out better for all of us ~ seems to keep her a little higher up out of the water.

Gavin loves the water too and is so good when we go to the pool. He just hangs out, kicks his little feet, babbles and watches the big kids.

Next week we will be going on a little mini vacation (Emma calls it a cation) with the kiddos. Emma is so excited and keeps walking around here saying, "get on an airplane, go to the ocean on cation to see the dolphins and the sharks". Hmm...she might be a little disappointed when she discovers we are traveling by car and there is no ocean, sharks or dolphins. I don't even know where she came up with this, she just started saying it.

If you're happy and you know it...

say Amen, Amen...if you're happy and you know it say Amen, Amen...if you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it, if you're happy and you know it say Amen, Amen!

This is one happy little fella right here... day or night, dark or light, what you see is what you get...he is a LOVER of life.

Drooling up a storm, might be a tooth making its appearance soon. We go to the Dr. on Monday to find out what "our little man" weighs? I am thinking those cheeks alone are about a pound each. Oh, and check out those cute little feet and toes...they are so darn cute. We finally got some shoes and wore them for the first time last week. However, I must admit...my favorite baby feet are shoeless.

Just dawned on me that I completely forgot to post on July 3rd...that was the day 1 year ago that we found out that the 4th Frazier would be joining our family and I am so glad HE did. This is the picture we shared with our family to announce that we were pregnant...took them about a second to catch on.

Look how much the "Itty Bitty" has changed in 1 year. If I could only slow down the hands of time, I would do it in a second and I am sure many of you would join me.

Emma vs.the Dentist

This Mommy should have known that it was not going to go over well, when her little feet hit the floor this morning and she started saying, "no, I am not going to the dentist". Well, needless to say we made our way to the dentist and as soon as we hit the reception area she started crying and saying, "I want to go home" over and over and over!. At that point I should have just left, but decided that we would stay and just try it. The picture belows says it all...it was NOT a good experience.


She was much happier when we got in the car and she knew we had left there for good. She then started saying, "I like the dentist, I got a pink toothbrush Mommy".

She got over it pretty quickly and they are expecting us back in 6 months for her 1st cleaning...uh, I am not sure we will make it back.

Tonight as we were getting her ready for bed I asked her to show her Daddy what the dentist told her today. She had me open my mouth and she began counting my teeth all the way up to 12 and then in a very high pitched voice as she got super close to my mouth she said, "your teeth look good, your teeth look pretty". This kid is so FUNNY and does not miss a beat, remembers everything she hears and can hardly wait to repeat it.

I was so proud of you today Emma, you were certainly the loudest patient in the office and also the CUTEST!

4 Months already?

You might be looking at a future linebacker right here friends. This boy is solid as can be and growing more and more everyday. I am not kidding you one bit at all when I tell you I could just stare at him all day. Have yet to put my finger on it, but there is something super special about little boys.

He is one of the sweetest little things I have ever laid my hands on in my entire life. Always smiling, always laughing, always happy and always looking for his MOMMY. Yep, I think I got me a Mama's boy and I am just fine with that...can you blame me?

Where has the time gone? It does not feel like we should be singing Happy Birthday to this little guy again. Yes, we sing Happy Birthday to our sweet babies on their monthly Birthdays too ~ big fun, big fun! So, what is Mr. Gavin doing?

• Wearing size 4 diapers (your sister is in a size 5)
• Weighed 19 lbs 11oz last week, but we will have an accurate weight on Thursday at your check up
• You are still just nursing exclusively, no formula for you big boy
• Constantly have a smile on your face
• Daddy can make you belly laugh
• You love to listen and watch your sister
• Taking baths in the big tub, you have outgrown your baby tub
• No longer wear footed pajamas, you are wearing big boy ones and you look so cute
• Wore shoes for the first time yesterday 0-6 month Pedi Peds
• Wear size 6-12 month clothes, but only 2 lbs from being in 12-18 month
• Enjoy listening to Mommy sing
• We have been in the pool all summer and you love it
• Roll from your stomach to back
• Sit up in your bumbo seat
• Your little neck is getting stronger everyday
• Love to be held and cuddled
• Babble and coo all the time
• Enjoy rides in the double stroller with your Big Sister
• Try to suck your thumb daily, but we take it out
• Eat about 5 ounces at each feeding
• Never take your eyes off your Big Sister
• Enjoy the swing for short lengths of time
• You are sleeping all night and have been since you were 2 months old (at least 11 hours)
• Have started drooling in the last 2 weeks

It is time for you to be moved from your cradle on your Daddy's side of the bed to your crib, but I continue to put it off. There is something about knowing you are our last baby that has kept me from moving you in your own bed. I would keep you in here forever, but I know in my heart it is not what is best for you. I know that you will be so much more comfortable on a mattress that is thicker than 2 inches and probably sleep so much better.

Gavin, you are such a blessing and we love you so much. Thanks for being such a sweet sweet baby that just goes with the flow. You have given us so many reasons to smile in the last 4 months and there is nothing more enjoyable than that big ole grin of yours "little man".