Easter 2010

Filed Under Church, Easter, Family, Holidays, One Month- Taylor, Sick, Two and a half years old | Leave a Comment

I will admit that going into Easter this year, it was hard for me to stay focused on the real reason we celebrate Easter. It’s so easy to get excited about the egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, kids dressing up for church, opening their baskets, etc. I didn’t have this problem before I had children. But sometimes, I get more excited about my kids than about God. I admitted it. I was hoping for a touching, joyful Easter service at church to help me keep my heart in the right place. But we arrived about ten minutes late, and then got paged to pick Bailey up from the nursery after about 20 minutes.

She felt warm and just kept asking me to hold her. She looked miserable, and fell asleep in the car on the way home. We carried her to bed and she slept for about an hour, My parents insisted that they still wanted to come over so once she woke up, the whole family came over. Which was especially awesome when she ended up puking after lunch. They made a quick exit. We got a few pictures before church though:

Here are a few after the family came over…

And here you can tell she’s really starting to not feel good-

My parents let me bring Taylor over to their house and hang out the rest of the day/evening so that hopefully he wouldn’t get sick. It worked! Plus the coolest thing- my parents have a big jacuzzi tub and my mom was like “bring your bath stuff and I’ll watch Taylor while you relax” so I got to read for an hour in the bath. I haven’t relaxed like that since before he was born. Just a few shots of my mom with him

Swine Flu- no, we don’t have it!

Filed Under Asthma, Church, Second Pregnancy, Sick | 3 Comments

I have to admit that I am keeping Bailey home a lot more in hopes of not getting the swine flu. Normally I am NOT one of “those” paranoid moms who doesn’t go to public places for fear of germs. But I feel like we have two strikes against us already with Bailey having asthma and me being pregnant. I am still not sure whether we will get the vaccination if/when it becomes available. I am leaning toward NO but I am not 100% decided. Please don’t turn this into a vaccine debate, thanks. But so far we have kept her out of church nursery and just stayed home the past two Sundays, and we plan to stay home again this week. Also my mom has been watching her on Tuesday mornings so that she doesn’t have to go to church childcare. I love our nursery and I can’t say enough about how clean and well-run it is, but two year olds are just so stinkin germy. I am hoping that if we can avoid this for another week or two it will have run its course in our area and our church. Please pray for us that we stay well!

So this week has been fun…

Filed Under Allergies, Are you kidding me?, Asthma, Difficult Stuff, Doctor Stuff, Firsts, Sick, Two Years Old | 8 Comments

We started out with a visit to the pediatrician on Monday because Bailey had trouble breathing during the night. Once again, her lungs were fine, ears were fine, nose was fine, etc and no explanation for the breathing or chronic coughing. They assume it’s her allergies again. Meanwhile I am getting much less sleep than I need to be.

Tuesday her coughing seemed to be getting worse. Then Tuesday night she fell and busted her head open… resulting in an ambulance ride and a night at the hospital. The reason we called the ambulance- other than the massive bleeding- was because she started falling asleep right away. I actually sat on my front porch to make sure the ambulance could find us. It’s funny the things you do when you panic. I had the sense to change my shirt and grab my phone and charger on the way out the door too. The police and firetruck showed up first because the ambulance came from another district. She started calming down right away because she was excited about all the sirens and lights. Silly girl. We rode with the lights on but not the siren because they didn’t want to scare her. She had to sit on my lap on the stretcher- the other option was them strapping her down alone which was just not going to happen.

They were able to use glue instead of stitches or staples on her injury. I was glad because it is supposed to scar less. The worst part was holding her down to get it washed out- it took the doctor, two nurses, and Jonathon and me to do it. Then after we were released she started throwing up so we had to spend the night at the hospital. Several drugs, an IV, and a ct-scan later, we were released. Her results were all normal and we were told to keep her head dry for a few days, limit her activity, and don’t let her bump anything. That was Wednesday morning so my mom picked her up and let Jonathon and I sleep and get stuff done around the house.

By the way if anyone knows how to get blood out of your carpet, please let me know. Of course it’s right at the top of our stairs near the entryway. I have gotten it to fade but not a whole lot. I have been looking for something also to pad our doorway with. She needs some kind of fall protection or corner guards. The spot where she hit her head was in the doorway to our kitchen. It’s one of those cut out doorways that doesn’t have a door frame in it- basically drywall with metal in the corners or something. Probably the hardest place she could possibly have hit her head of course. So we need to fix that. The things that you don’t think of babyproofing until your child gets hurt…

Wednesday she seemed to be recovering from the head injury but she started coughing until she threw up. Back to the pediatrician on Thursday morning about the coughing (again) and to get her head checked. Her ped ran a test and had us do a chest x ray. The conclusion is that she most likely has cough-variant asthma which would explain why she coughs all night long for weeks at a time. We are borrowing a nebulizer for two weeks and if that stops the coughing then we will talk about a preventative treatment plan and visit a specialist. They think it is allergy-induced because it’s much much worse in spring and fall, and seems to come along with a runny nose. Yesterday we did her breathing treatments every four hours, once during the night, and today we have spaced them back to every six hours. She has only coughed a handful of times (even in the night) since starting them. So I think this is working!

As much as I hate for my child to have asthma- it could be SO much worse. I know someone whose three year old just got diagnosed with CF, and I kept thinking of all the crazy things that could be causing the coughing. I am thankful to have an answer and that it is getting better now.

The first few treatments, she hated it. Now she will hold the mask herself if I let her sit in front of the tv while we do it. That’s a small price to pay to avoid two of us holding her down for the entire treatment!

I hate snow, I really do

Filed Under Play, Sick, Sleep, Twenty-One Months | 1 Comment

Seriously, I hate being stuck at home because of snow. But I also hate driving in snow/ice. I don’t know which is worse. So I am sitting here being grouchy about it. Jonathon is going to be home from work tomorrow so at least I will have company. I need to sit and list some things on eBay too so hopefully he will give me some free time.

In the meantime, I will share some pictures of my child. She’s currently obsessed with playing in the bathroom. I wish she would use that obsession to learn how to go potty, but that’s not the case. Just playing, playing, playing.

Oh and a little follow up on B’s cough- it got really bad on Saturday night and I brought her in to sleep with us. She was coughing in her sleep but it was keeping me awake, so I thought it might help if she could sleep with her head propped up against me. She did much better and it was kind of nice and snuggly to have her in bed with us. She even put her arm around my neck for a while. Apparently she also kicked Jonathon a lot because somehow she ended up with her feet by his face. I asked if we could have her sleep with us again the next night. He said that she could sleep in bed with me but that he would sleep downstairs. So, she is back in her own bed. We didn’t go to church on Sunday morning. I was so worn out from a long day Saturday and then being up off and on with her during the night.

My friend Jen (who is a chiropractor) adjusted us both on Sunday night. Bailey has coughed ONCE since then. Could it be possible that getting adjusted is like the new miracle drug? We have been Benadryl free, coughing free since then.

Update on my mom

Filed Under Family, Sick | 4 Comments

She is staying today/tonight again. They are wanting to run more tests today. She is having a CT scan in a little while but I’m not sure what else. They are concerned because she passed out yesterday- which she and I both think was because of lack of food/water but I guess they have to check into it anyway. So pray that nothing else is going on. She said she is feeling much better this morning.

We are still not going to visit, she has asked that we don’t come. She is really worried about Bailey being exposed to all the sick germs where she is, and she just wants to sleep anyway. So my dad is going to go by and see her after work today.

It’s pneumonia

Filed Under Family, Prayers, Sick | 4 Comments

They admitted her and she’s staying overnight tonight. And I guess it is considered “higher risk” because she has asthma…

Free Stroller Sign

Filed Under Baby Gear, Freebies, Sick | 6 Comments

You know how when you have your really cute baby out and about in the stroller (okay, so maybe if your baby isn’t cute you don’t have this problem, but I have this problem, lol) everyone wants to TOUCH THEM? Especially when they are small, and especially their hands? It’s so gross. I used to carry Bailey in the sling a lot and I noticed that she got touched less.

Now that she is bigger, we use hand sanitizer a lot. She learned this “Squishy squishy squashy, give your hands a washy” song from Barney. If I give her a squirt of soap or sanitizer she will scrub while I sing that. (Yes, I am quite aware of the evils of hand sanitizer. I’d rather have her sniff a little alcohol here and there, than end up getting pneumonia. Sue me.)

However, someone on a board that I belong to shared this link. If you visit that site* and click on “Get a helping hand” over on the right, you can sign up for a free stroller tag. It looks like a stop sign and says “Please wash your hands before touching me.” Some people think I am a little too bold with stuff like that, but I think it will make people who aren’t thinking (yes, YOU old ladies with the snotty kleenex in your hand) think before they touch a baby. I might use it now, but I will definitely keep it to use for any future children we might have. No, I am NOT pregnant.

*For some reason the direct link to the sign up form doesn’t work, so you’ll have to go through the main page first.

And the baby picture? Just an excuse to post an old picture of Bailey that I love.

On the Mend

Filed Under Clothes, Complaining, Nineteen Months, Sick | 6 Comments

This weekend after we got back from the wedding, Bailey kept getting sicker. She has just been coughing and coughing. I keep hearing about how pertussis (whooping cough) is going around again. It makes me really thankful that I got her vaccinated for it. Especially since she is around other kids ALL THE TIME and lots of those kids have preschool or school age siblings. Not to mention that I work in my church nursery every week, and Jonathon works at a school. So there is no telling what we come into contact with. I also can’t help but think that maybe if everyone got their kids vaccinated, we wouldn’t be having this outbreak again. I am on the fence about delaying vaccinations for our next child but I can’t imagine just skipping them altogether.

On Sunday we stayed home from church since she couldn’t go to the nursery, and we all needed some rest! It was nice to have a morning at home all together, since we were so busy with the wedding on Saturday. You can especially tell in this first picture that Bailey wasn’t feeling well.

And I just had to share this one because I thought this was weird. Bailey really needed some new undershirts (a.k.a. onesies) to wear under her sweaters and shirts that don’t tuck in. I figured onesies are the best because they stay down and she isn’t really pottying anyway. It is SO stinking hard to find onesies in her size. Gerber makes them in 18 and 24 months but they look like they might fit a Cabbage Patch doll. I don’t know why their stuff has to run so small. I finally found some Carter’s ones that looked like they might fit all the way around her middle. I should also add that it was $24 for a 5-pack, so I WISH the Gerber ones fit!!! They are sooo much cheaper. Anyway, tonight after her bath, I put on one of the new shirts for under her jammies. Why is it so long? What 24 month old is an entire foot longer in the torso than Bailey?

By the way, the greasy look is Aquaphor lotion on her face. She gets completely covered in it at night so her cheeks don’t get chapped!

When we were passing the Walmart in Rolla by the way, we stopped to get Benadryl for B. There was a display of their alli diet pill thing. I have actually heard some decent reviews about that stuff but of course from companies or “sources” and not real people. Have you heard anything?

Sunday Night

Filed Under Friends, Nineteen Months, Sick | 4 Comments

We have had such a long weekend. I am just worn out. Tonight we went out to dinner with my friend Jen and her hubby. It was so nice to get together with them- we used to hang out a lot more and it’s been a while. Bailey was okay at dinner, but not wonderful. Partly because she wasn’t feeling well, I think. Also, I forgot to bring her crayons for her and the guy at the restaurant tried to give her some dry erase markers. Um, that was nice but really? She’s one, dude. We don’t do markers. She colored her lips blue within ten seconds of getting the markers. She also busted open her styrofoam straw cup (I HATE STYROFOAM CUPS, I will really have to tell the gas station story one day) and ice water went all over her.

When we got home, she got a bath and for once didn’t scream when I rinsed her hair. She decided she was a rock star and needed to dance and jump up and down on her changing table while getting her pajamas on. I swear she is going to break her neck someday. Such a little busybody daredevil.

We put her to bed without Benadryl. I think she is getting a little better. I am hoping that today was the worst day of her cold or whatever she has, and that she is on the mend. Tomorrow we need to go grocery shopping and try to clean the house a little. We were supposed to have a playdate but I canceled since she is germy. Then Jonathon and I relaxed together and watched Amazing Race and Cold Case. I have been doing well with my diet still, with just a few “slip ups.” I am worried that might change with the holidays coming. By the time Christmas is over I will probably be seriously considering taking something like Fentraphen!

Anyway, I know I said I would post pictures, so here they are. They are from a few days ago. She sometimes gets a lollipop in the bathtub. One of us can hold it up at an angle and she tilts her head up to lick it while the other rinses her hair quickly. If she cooperates then she gets to hold it after that.

MIA, I know

Filed Under Sick | Leave a Comment

We were out of town for a wedding yesterday, and now Bailey is sick. I am busy trying to chase her but I have to go somewhere in a little bit. Tonight I might try to post some cute pictures to make up for my lack of chattiness.

I’m probably paranoid

Filed Under Church, Sick | 5 Comments

We all know I’m a little bit of a germophobe- but today someone came to the church nursery to drop their kid off (in Bailey’s class) for second hour. Kelli was making conversation and asked the older sister if she was going to her class downstairs. The grandma said no, that the sister had been up throwing up all night. Um, that means the other kid could have germs too. I took Bailey out of her class and my mom and I ended up playing with her during the service while we listened (kind of) to the sermon on the intercom. Bailey also found a fabulous set of pretend keys in the nursery that we are borrowing for the week. (Thanks Kelli!)

I know people probably thought “Oh there goes another crazy overprotective first-time mom…” But if anyone knows me with Bailey, I am really not overprotective at all. I think I am pretty laid back about most things. Floor dirt? Won’t kill her. Fell down? She’ll be fine. But throwing up? That’s one thing I really can’t handle. And I guess I felt like if I left her there and she ended up getting sick, it would have been something I could have prevented. It’s my job to keep her safe and to look out for her. At this age, the kids put toys in their mouths and grab each others sippy cups. The teachers do a great job looking out and santizing and everything, but it’s impossible to keep it 100% germ free when there are 10 or so toddlers in one room!

In defense of our nursery- we have a really good Well Child Policy. However, this does not extend to family members, etc being sick. I told Kelli and Heather that we need to add a little thing at the bottom saying something like, “If someone else in your house is sick or has had these symptoms within the last 48 hours, please keep in mind that your child could spread germs/infection to other children. Be respectful of other families and their health!” And the person who dropped the sick kid’s sibling off? Totally should have known better. That is all I’m saying.

In regards to my post about the pop up trailer: Canape- OMG I did not even think about it being parked in our driveway! I was thinking they would have to pay money to park it somewhere. I would not let them put it in the driveway. Gah. I bet that’s what they were thinking. Jonathon told me they would be allowed to park in our driveway if they bought us an XBox 360 but I’m not convinced. Besides then they would think they could always park there.

Forgot to mention

Filed Under Complaining, Eleven Months, Sick | 1 Comment

Bailey has a yeast infection on her legs. How the heck does that happen. I thought it was heat rash behind her knees. I didn’t even think about it being yeast because it’s not on her… um… girl parts. There is a tiny bit way over on the side of her bottom, though, so now we are busy bleaching diapers and doing laundry and smearing her with Lotrimin.

Also it is supposed to rain on the day of her birthday party, and the day before, and the day after. Isn’t that awesome? Gah.

Snot Update

Filed Under Sick, TMI, Ten Months | 1 Comment

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…

Bailey’s snot/coughing/sickness seemed worse this morning. She was having spells where she would cough until she started gagging, and I was about to call the pediatrician. Then, miraculously, the coughing decreased. This is her third day on her antibiotic but it’s for her ears, since supposedly the respiratory stuff is viral, so I guess we just have to wait it out.

She has eaten/nursed really well up until today but it’s kind of been a battle finding foods she likes today. She has eaten about ten thousand puffs and some Dutch Apple Dessert. Oh and a little yogurt this morning. Tonight I am working childcare at church but she will be staying home with Daddy. I’m not sure whether she’s contagious anymore but she definitely needs to rest and not be exposed to anything else right now. If she goes with me she is up at least an hour past her bedtime, and she has been going to bed early for the past few nights, so I don’t think that would go over too well.

Also when she coughs something up, she chews on it and swallows it. Yum.

The Terrible Horrible Awful Day

Filed Under Difficult Stuff, Pediatrician, Sick, Ten Months | 4 Comments

Today we took Bailey to the ped for a cough- she has another ear infection. They are guessing that since there was still fluid at her re-check from her first one, it got infected more easily again. So then we waited AN HOUR at the grocery store for her prescriptions- antibiotic and the damn prescription cold meds that you can’t buy OTC anymore. That’s a rant for another day.

So we get home and Jonathon decides he’s going to go to work for a few hours. I gave B a bath and then sat her down outside the bathroom so that she could go in the living room and play while I went in our bathroom to poop. THUD. Jonathon didn’t close the baby gate when he left. She rolled down like six stairs and hit the front door at the bottom. Went to pick her up and she was crying so hard she wasn’t making any noise- that’s the worst kind of cry After nursing her for a minute or two I got her settle down and she already had a huge lump on the side of her head. I called Jonathon hysterical and he turned around and came home and proceeded to yell at me for not checking if the gate was closed.

We called the ped (now for the 3rd time today cuz we also had to call from the grocery store) and she had us check pupils, swelling, movement, etc and asked about whether she cried right away and stuff. Bailey seems to be totally fine other than a bump but it was seriously the scaries thing I have ever had happen. I know that was so stupid on our part and it just happened so fast. Please make a habit of closing your baby gates even if the baby is in bed or not in that room. Jonathon thought she was going straight to nap so didn’t close it

Puke Watch

Filed Under Eight Months, Sick | 3 Comments

So it had been since Saturday night that Bailey last threw up. Then today at lunch she tried some vegetables, chugged some water and threw it all right back up.

Back to the diet of breast milk, soy formula, and oatmeal with applesauce or bananas.

She is currently in her crib throwing a fit because she doesn’t want to nap. She’s not even crying, she’s standing there screaming. My nerves need a break.

I have started writing her nine month post for tomorrow but I think I need to wait so that I can have lots of nice (and not frustrated) things to say about her.

I am looking forward to watching American Idol tonight. To see my boyfriend Simon Also tonight I am turning in my Avon order and so far things are going well.