5 Months!

Ashton is 5 months old and we can't believe how fast time flies! It seems like we were just in the hospital welcoming him into the world and now he is alert and active and so much fun! It is amazing how much he changes each month. I still get excited with every new milestone we hit! We have definitely had our challenges with Ashton and the poor little man has not had an easy 5 months but we are loving life despite the trials. In 5 months we have learned that Ashton has dysphagia, reflux, left torticollis, is lactose intolerant, and allergic to eggs and peanuts. We have seen our pediatrician enough that they know us very well. We have seen a GI doctor, allergist, physical therapist, occupation therapist, speech language pathologist, and an anesthesiologist. We have stayed overnight at Primary Children's Center and watched Ashton undergo many tests and procedures. In 5 months we have also seen him smile, giggle, play, and enjoy life.

At five months Ashton:
- Is obsessed with his tongue. He sucks on it, sticks it out, smiles with it, and even immitates you when you stick yours out!
- Has quite the temper! He squeals and quacks until he gets what he wants!
- Loves balloons and giggles when they hit his face.
- Loves swimming and being in any water.

- Can sit up more but still falls forward
- Loves sitting on the washer when it is running.

- Loves to be outside

- Seems to hate going to church. He is fussy all morning and cries through all 3 meetings and then is fine when we get home.
- Grabs everything he can get his hands on.
- Loves listening to Leona Lewis with my dad. 

-Sucks his thumb and his toes all the time!

- Loves to swing

- Loves his dad!

                                                      We just love his big beautiful eyes!

First Camping Trip!!

We took Ashton on his first camping trip to Lava Hot Springs and we had an amazing trip. Derek's family all met up at the KOA campground and we had fun swimming, relaxing, and eating! The first night we got there pretty late so we stayed in John and Judy's trailer. Ashton did great- didn't even wake anyone up! The next day we got up and made breakfast and Derek and I took Ashton to the pool. We weren't sure how he would do but he LOVES baths so we figured he wouldn't mind the water too much. He did amazing in the pool- he smashed with his arms and kicked his legs. He is very content in the water and he absolutely loves to be outside! The second night we pitched our tent and spend a somewhat long night there! He woke up a few more times but not too bad. Overall we had an amazing time with Derek's family and Ashton survived and really enjoyed his first camping trip.

With everything that has happened with Ashton I sometimes feel that I have lost my life. My days now consist of feeding him, pumping so I can feed him later, washing all the bottles, changing diapers, and battling him to take naps. Then we start all over :) Because he is a little fussy we have a hard time going to church or to a restaurant and I really didn't even want to go camping because I didn't know if he would do alright but I am realizing more and more that we have to continue to live our lives and he will be ok. If he's not then we pack up and go home but I don't want to live my life worrying about how Ashton will react. I just want to do things and find out. He is getting bigger and handling things a lot better. He loves to be outside so luckily camping was a success and I hope we have more camping trips like this one!