A fiasco wrapped in a huge blessing

Seems like a long time since I have posted here! I started a Facebook and I spend all of my time there reconnecting with old friends...but, this is the "online diary" that I will send to print someday, so I need to update our situation.
YAY!! Tanner is now 6 months old!!! That picture cracks me up since he looks chubbier than usual and also seems to be flashing a gang sign on purpose!
Well, Tanner will be starting at a new babysitter/daycare location beginning Monday (tomorrow). There is so much to say and so little that I should place on a public form of media such as this (not knowing who reads this and who would go as far as to print it out and show someone), but let's suffice it to say that this is definitely a blessing in disguise. Either Tobin or myself still bring up this situation and daycare switch almost every waking hour with much emotion, but time will heal all wounds. It is sudden and shocking to us as well (only happened last Friday), but as my sister, Melody, said last week, "You should be thankful that God forced your hand on this issue." That is soooo true, but it sure didn't seem like it at the time. I have zero appreciation and very little respect for the way it was handled, but God had a different plan for our family evidentally. We are switching to an "in-home" type setting with a woman that I really don't know, but I feel a peace about her and the whole situation. She will be watching her own 10.5 mo. old, another 14 month old, and 6 month old Tanner Jay! The logistics have not completely been worked out, but she will pick him up at my school/work in the morning and bring him back to me in the afternoon when she picks up her own children from middle school. This is a pet-free, smoke-free home and I really like the lady that has been willing to help us out in this situation. Her middle school-age kids are wonderful, smart, respectful kids, so that tells me a lot! We are going to their house today to meet the whole family and see where she lives. I have prayed and prayed about this and I really feel that this needed to happen, for my sake and Tanner's. He will be in a much safer environment in regards to bad weather (the other daycare was in a trailer) and also microbes. With Tanner being 7 weeks premature, he is more susceptible to RSV, the flu, and any other contact viral/bacterial illness. Not that I felt like he didn't receive great care while at the daycare, but it is bound to be a positive to have less babies, less stress/tension, more one-on-one, and less germs. All for the same price!
WHOOT!

Tanner also had his 6 month shots, a blood draw, and a flu shot this past week. I did much research and prayer over the flu shot in particular, but ended up allowing him to get one. Being in a new daycare situation with only three babies was a big factor in making me doubt the need for the flu shot. There is so much research and talk out there about the dangers of giving a baby his age this shot. After asking a few key questions, I had a better feeling about allowing him to receive the shot. I wanted to know if it had mercury, aluminum, or formaldehyde in it--all linked to horrible things. End result: this injection had NO mercury, no aluminum, and only trace amounts of formaldehyde, which is in all vaccinations and cannot be avoided. All three can be found in the adult version of the flu shot! SCARY!! The blood draw confirmed that Tanner has a a normal hemoglobin count and can be taken off the Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins with iron. He does have to begin vitamins with flouride now since he is 6 months old and teething. The poor lil' guy received 4 shots, a poke in the heel, and one oral vaccine all in one day! YUCKY! This made for one sleeeeepy boy at the end of the day!

Our Thanksgiving was busy, but wonderful, and I have a lot to soon post about that! My youngest sister, Tricia, had her baby on Friday --another sweet lil' boy to add to our family. Everyone is safe and well and they should all be going home today. Tobin and I put up a tree for the first time in this house. That was a magical time and it is all in Tanner's honor. He loves the lights! We have so very much to be thankful for and I thank the Lord everyday for our blessings. I hope everyone has a great upcoming week!