Last day to be One!

Today is B-Boy's last day as a one year old. It is really hard to believe that the time has gone by this quickly, but it has!!!

I discovered that B-Boy could still fit into his shirt that I made him for his first birthday. So, we decided to let him wear it today, since it is the last official day being one. It was a lot more snug than it was last year, but it still fit.

I made a mental note to take a photo for you when we got home... but you will need to wait to see that.

B-Boy went to daycare, and actuallly get to go to visit with his new class for a while today. (He moves up officially on Monday the 10th.) His day was a pretty good one until the end of the day... when I picked him up, his teacher came out and told me he had (ten minutes before) sat in the middle of the toddler gym and cried uncontrollably. He didn't have a fever, but he hadn't been very peppy today. When they asked him if anything hurt, he pointed to his ear and said "Ear hurt". This was the first time he had articulated something like that!

But there was one large problem. It was after 5:15pm, and the doctor's office usually closes at 5!

I took a chance (and since we have onsite healthcare), and headed two buildings over to see if they could see him. B-Boy looked quite the pitiful part, and when the receptionist heard he was turning 2 tomorrow, she picked up the phone and pulled some strings to get him seen.

Poor kid. He was not feeling well, and was being poked and examined by a stranger. I should have known better to have him wear a shirt with a number one on it, because B-Boy is the proud owner of his FIRST ear infection. Sigh, no wonder he was so irritatble this morning!

After we left the doctor, we stopped for his medicine, popped into the grocery store to pick up apples for tomorrow, and then headed home. While we waited for Neb, I started to get dinner ready. B-Boy has discovered where we keep all his snacks- and opened the door to the pantry. He can't reach them (gee, I wonder why we put them there? hee hee) so he asked me for what he wanted.

The problem was I had no idea what he was asking for! It took awhile to go through the all the possibilities, but eventually I narrowed down that he wanted a cookie.

Fig Newton? No.
Gerber teething cookie? No!
Puffs? NO!

And then it hit me. He was pointing to the Oreos... Daddy's stash of cookies.

"These?" I asked.
"Yeah-yeah!", he said.

I tried to pick another one, but it didn't work. And then it clicked. "Oh, you want Daddy's cookie!"

I handed him the Oreo, and he replied "Thank you. Daddy Cookie!".

He then proceded to munch on his cookie happily.His first oreo.
And so, my friends, here is your photo... B-Boy in his 1 shirt, having his first ear infection, covered in Oreo cookie, sporting his sticker from the doctor's office. Enjoy! Next time you see him, he will be TWO!!!!

What?

That was GOOD!!!

Let's go!

Yesterday, B-Boy was home sick. It was his second time being out of daycare, which is great considering he is almost 17 months old. His teacher called me Monday at the end of the day, saying his cough had gotten worse, and that his breathing was really labored and raspy.

I was able to get him in to see his doctor right away (the best part of having both on-site daycare AND on-site healthcare!). She was concerned with his breathing, so she started him on breathing treatments. B-Boy did not like it at first, but eventually realized it helped him breathe better and calmed down. As a matter of fact, the next day, he actually fell asleep during his breathing treatment after lunch. It was pretty funny, but kinda sad because he was just that tired. Poor guy!

He was really upset that he wasn't going to daycare. I don't know how he knew he was supposed to go, but he did. We fed him like we normally do, but after he ate, instead of going to the garage to leave, we went to the living room to play.

B-Boy ran to the door of the garage and kept hitting it to emphasize we should leave. When that didn't work, he started waving. Hello parents... don't you see I want to go to daycare????  He has started waving as a way to tell us "Let's go!" or "Please leave, I want to be alone" and "I am tired of doing this, let's do something else!". For example, when I picked him up from daycare to go to the doctor, he was READY to leave... but I needed to talk to the teacher to find out some information to tell the doctor (how he ate, his temperature, his disposition, etc.) He stood at the door, and when I didn't open it right away, he started waving. The longer we stood there, the harder he waved. "Let's go. I am ready to do something else Mom."

And then there was last night, when I was putting him to bed. I think he was REALLY tired, and ready to go to sleep because after I changed him, he started waving at me. "Please leave Mom! I am ready to go to sleep!" It's kind of funny, in a I-am-trying-not-to-be-offended sort of way.

But I am getting sidetracked... B-Boy must have stood at the door to the garage for at least 20 minutes waving so we would leave. And when Neb left to go to work, B-Boy had a meltdown. He wanted to go too.

Fast forward to the late afternoon. B-Boy was just up from his nap, and found a lime green gift bag. B-Boy thought the handles were really cool to hold, and he started carrying it around. At first, it was in his hand, dragging along the floor. Then he moved it up his arm, carrying it like a purse.

He then walked over to the door and started waving. Yep, he wanted to go outside. I debated for a few minutes. On the one hand, it was a bit chilly and he IS sick... but on the other hand, the fresh air might do him some good. I finally decided that I would bundle him up in his favorite warm hoodie, and let him go out for just a few minutes.

I opened the garage door, and B-Boy walked to the car. I explained we weren't going anywhere, and then opened the big garage door. B-Boy took one step out (still clutching his green bag) and felt the cold air. At that point, he decided that the garage was a fun place to play, even if the door was open.

I snapped a few photos, but he changed how he was holding the bag.

 Whew, I am tired. I gotta sit down!

 Let's go SHOPPING!

He played for a few minutes with his shopping cart toy, and then wanted to come back inside.

 Don't judge me people! The bag is a cool color!

The good news: B-Boy is starting to sound better. and I was able to snap a photo of him with his lime green "purse" today. Hee-hee.

Bye-Bye! Let's GO!

B-Boy goes home sick... for the first time

This week started with four kids in B-Boy's class going home with a bad cough and a fever. A fifth child had the cough without fever, and that child was B-Boy.

He has felt lousy. Coughing himself awake at night, bad sniffles, and general uncomfortableness has been the norm for him this week. Each day, we would check his temperature, which was normal. So, he would go to daycare where he can run around and play knowing he would be happier there than at home.

Today, he did not eat much for breakfast. (Not a good sign for a kid who eats so well.) When I dropped him off, I told his teacher to call me if he seemed miserable, and I would take him home. At 11am, I got the call. He was running a fever of 100.2 under his arm. At 100 degrees, kids have to go home.

And, since he has to be fever free for 24 hours, he will stay home tomorrow too. I was thinking about this yesterday, and realized he has NEVER been sent home for being sick. He has been sent to the doctor to be checked, but was always cleared to go back. This is a first. I just hope he feels better soon. Poor boy!

When we got home, B-Boy ate a decent lunch of comfort foods (yes, Teriyaki Tofu was on the menu!) and then I put him to sleep. He has been sleeping since one... I have baked chicken in the oven, and am going to go saute some eggplant for him after I post this. A boy should have his favorites when he doesn't feel well, don't you think?

Poor B-Boy, he's still sick.. but improving!

Last week, I just couldn't sit by any longer. B-Boy was not getting better. In fact, he sounded worse.

If you remember, a few weeks ago, B-Boy was diagnosed with a mild Croup. Well, either he got something in addition to that, or the Croup is worse. On Monday, one of his teachers called me saying his cough sounded really bad, and she was concerned.

So back to the doctor we went. Only I couldn't see our regular one, so we saw another in the practice. I was told his ears were clear, and that his chest sounded clear too. His chest didn't sound that good to me, but OK... at least I knew it was not an ear infection.

Fast forward to Tuesday evening. I returned from Williamsburg, snuggled up to B-Boy, and his breathing sounded really bad. His cough was wetter sounding and he just looked miserable. He wasn't eating like normal, after about 4 ounces, he would stop. (He normally eats 7 ounces at a time.) He would cough himself awake several times at night, so in the morning he would be exhausted.

So, on Wednesday, I called back to Healthcare and asked for an appointment with our regular doctor. At 1:30, B-Boy and I went to see her. We basically heard the same thing... ears clear, chest ok. She was hesitant to put him on an antibotic, but if he didn't get better, she would. She suggested he not go back to daycare. Sigh.

So off I went to notify his daycare that he was going home, what the diagnosis (or lack thereof) was, and to tell my boss that I needed to go home. One of his teachers was really upset that they did nothing, since his chest and cough sounded just like another boy in the room, who is on an antibiotic and breathing treatment. To hear her so upset, broke my heart, and also made the little voice in the back of my head say "see, you aren't crazy... do something!"

So I did. My OB's wife is a pediatrician. I had researched her when trying to decide on B-Boy's care. I looked up her number and called, thinking that if they had availability, we would go. They did, and we did a half an hour later.

The pediatrician, Dr. Z, was wonderful. She tested his oxygen levels by clipping something to his big toe, and took blood.She heard a rasp in his chest, and said his white blood count was elevated, indicating he is fighting off some kind of infection. She perscribed some antibiotics, and suggested he do a breathing treatment. Afterward, they tested his oxygen again. Since it was improved, and he sounded better, she sent us home with a loaner machine and told us to come back on Friday.

He has improved greatly since then. His breathing is better, his cough reduced, and he is back to eating normally. YAY! Baby boy is smiling again, and seems more his old self.

Now if there was just something we could do for this teething thing... Dr. Z showed me he has 2 teeth coming up on the bottom!

Nose Suckers

Warning: This posting is not for the squeamish...

It is unfortunate that babies can't clean their own noses...

When you are in the hospital, they give you a rubber suction tool to remove mucus and boogers from your baby's nose. It's big, kinda hard, and B-Boy hated it.

Neb found a better one made by Little Noses... it's small, soft, and the tip is angled. It works better, but not great. B-Boy likes it better, but not by a lot. He really hates having his nose suctioned. I usually end up wiping his nose to get out most of it anyway, which defeats the point. Who wants to wait for your kid's nose to run?

Which brings me to the NoseFrida.. and the gross part. Neb still hasn't recovered. My friend Cat gave it to me, and swears by it for her kids. I must admit that I was a bit scared and grossed out at the thought of using it, and that is why it took me so long to pull it out. When I tell you how it works, you will know why.

Imagine a turkey baster... now make it small, about 6 inches long and about a half to three quarters an inch round. Take the ball off the end and imagine a long straw in it's place. In between the straw and the end of the tube is a small sponge to keep anything from entering the straw.

You put the end of the straw in your MOUTH, and the baster part in your babies nose.... and then you suck the goop out of the nose. Yep, I said it. You suck boogers. The sponge filter keeps you from eating them... at least I hope so.

Say it together, EEEEEeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww......

Neb is still disturbed by it. In fact, we were going to have pizza for dinner afterward (yum, cheese!), but Neb wanted something that was the opposite of what I sucked, so he cut up an apple and served some fruit with it. He eventually got over the heebie jeebies, and said I had to post about this... which I initially swore I would never do. But, it works, and if it can help someone else, so be it.

I found this drawing on the NoseFrida website, and thought you would find it funny, and much less gross than an actual photo of me in the act. Enjoy.

Wait til his teachers hear that I finally got brave and tried this... hee hee. They have been waiting to see if it works!

Who are you? Who, who... Who who?

Rock week continues in the B-Boy shirt department. In honor of the great halftime show at the Superbowl, B-Boy sported a cute The Who shirt yesterday. Neb couldn't resist playing with him, and B-Boy ended up in a fit of giggles. We videoed some of it, and I'll be sure to share it soon.

Look, I'm FLYING Daddy!

Yeah, you should hide your daughters...

Also, B-Boy went back to the chiropracter yesterday. She was amazed at how BIG he was (she hadn't seen him for two weeks). She showed me how he is losing some of the baby reflexes now that he is growing up. Babies have several reflexes that they are born with, like flailing arms, a fencing position refex, keeping thier hands in fists, and a few more. She showed me how he does not have the first two... he still does the fists, but it won't be long before that reflex is gone. This is a nice milestone to celebrate, especially the flailing arms... because that can keep him up at night. We currently swaddle him to prevent that, but he is a wiggle worm, and doesn't stay in it long. Since this reflex is waning, we might survive removing the swaddling soon, when we have no choice.

She did some pressure work on his sinuses on his face, and B-Boy would not stop smiling... almost as if saying "Ahhhh, FINALLY someone is giving me some relief!" He looked so content and funny that I HAD to take a photo. He looked like he was wearing a mask made of fingers... of course, he stopped smiling as soon as I whipped out the camera. :) Typical B-Boy, who started smiling as soon as the camera was put away.

And then he once again burst into giggles with the doctor! Me, I get nothing. She and Neb, giggle heaven.

Oh well, at least I get the BEST baby snuggles EVER. He loves his Mama holding him.

More milestones!

So Neb's Mom, aka eGran, called last night for an update on B-Boy. I had so much to tell, and appreciated that she called to find out what he was up to!

You might be wondering why I haven't been posting this past week... well, I was sick, and B-Boy was FUSSY and I am not completely convinced he didn't have a small bug too. And before you ask, he had a fever several times this week, and just as many trips to the doctor, with a clean bill of health each time. No red throat, ears ok, and temp ok to stay in daycare.  But he did have two more shots this week, which does explain a lot of this.

So let's get  to the fun part...

B-Boy is growing so fast. He is firmly in the 9 month and 12 month old clothes AT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS!!!  His arms are long enough for him to grasp the lambs and stars that hang down from the mobile on his swing. He bats at them quite a bit now, and the swing is swaying much slower now with his increased weight. I am just hoping we can keep him in it for another month- or until I can find something else as affective at calming him. As the magic 8 ball says "outlook not good." Sigh.

Another issue... B-Boy is almost too big for his carseat! Yikes!!!! This upcoming weekend. we will go to purchase his next carseat. I am going to miss this one as I can lift it out of the car with him in it... which is great when he is sleeping as I don't have to disturb him. The car seat is good up to 35 pounds, but he is just almost too long for it now. Plus my elbows can't take the weight pulling him in and out in that seat much longer... it's heavy!!!

Another problem?  Since he is outgrowing his carseat, he is outgrowing his stroller! We have a nifty system that the carseat clicks into a stroller frame... so nice! Neb is going to love going shopping next weekend, wink wink.

We decided to try out the jogging stroller without the carseat this weekend. The weather was wonderful, sunny and 67 after cold temperatures all week. We strapped him in and hit the road. B-Boy seemed to enjoy the new perspective. He had been facing us as we walked, but now that the car seat is out, he faces front! He chewed on his toys, hugged his lovey, and sucked on his hand happily. I snapped a few pictures to capture this happy first.

When Neb and I put him in, he was on a bit of an incline... but after a bit of walking, we figured out that we could change it so he would sit more upright... MUCH BETTER!!!

Ah... this is comfy.. and FUN!!!

What are you looking at, Mommy?

And since I am talking about milestones, another big one is coming! B-Boy is SOOOO close to rolling over to his belly. He continues to master rolling on his side... and when he does, Neb just gives him a little nudge and over he goes! He holds his head so high and smiles as if to say, "See I am a big boy! Look what I just did!" Each time, it takes less nudging from Neb. We give it a week, two maximum before he does it on his own. I'll keep you posted.

Well, I need to run to work... in case you are wondering, I am typing this one handed while I pump- it's the only time I get nowadays!