Happy Sick Thanksgiving 2010

Another great year with so much to be thankful for!  Unfortunately for me, Addy & baby Isa, we are all sick!  I think it started with Addy.  She showed signs of a cold last weekend & Alyssa started Tuesday.  I worry so much when Alyssa gets sick because she's so tiny & Addison was never ever sick as an infant.  Our regular pediatrician is on vacation this week, of course.  Luckily, we were able to get in & see the on-call pediatrician Wednesday.  Alyssa has the beginning of her very first ear infection.  She's now on an antibiotic, breathing treatments & a decongestant.  Addison is taking some leftover medicine from her last sickly time.

Update:  Thursday I was so congested in my chest that I was having trouble breathing.  It was a lousy way to spend the holiday.  My dr office was closed Friday, so I went to the CVS Minute Clinic first thing that morning.  I had a hunch there wouldn't be anything they could do for me & I was right.  He took a listen to my chest & told me to head on over to the hospital.  Blake & Alyssa were with me, so we all went to the ER.  I was hooked up to some monitors EEG/EKG?  I dunno & really didn't care.  I just wanted relief & be able to breathe.  My chest x-ray didn't show any pneumonia, so the diagnosis was a wicked case of bronchitis.  I had 2 double dose breathing treatments then 2 shots (Rocephin & Solu-Medrol).  After the 2nd treatment I still didn't sound good enough for them to let me leave, so we did one more single treatment.  Finally things started clearing up.

I tried to keep on a happy face!

Someone else had on a happy face too (Hint: It wasn't Blake)!

Now the bad news... The ER dr prescribed breathing treatments, 3-day Zithromax & Medrol Dosepak.  The Medrol is a steroid & he advised against taking it while breastfeeding, but told me to check with the pediatrician for more information.  He was adamant that the Medrol was necessary to get me well & there weren't any other options.  MY BABY DOESN'T TAKE A BOTTLE!!!!  Once we left the hospital I called the on-call pedi, since my pedi was still on vacation.  The on-call pedi said not to breastfeed because the baby should only have a steroid if he/she is sick & needs them.  Hmmmm...  Aunt Katie to the rescue.  She's the smartest pharmacist I know PLUS she loves her nieces & would never jeopardize their health.  She suggested to try the bottle for 24 hours & if Alyssa refused, then nurse.  I have to say from the last nursing session at 11am Friday until 11am Saturday WAS PURE HELL & MISERY FOR US ALL!  Alyssa cried, I cried, Alyssa cried, I cried, Alyssa cried, I cried.  It was a never-ending cycle.  Alyssa would sleep for an hour or 2 at a time.  We all tried to give her a bottle (Blake, mom-in-law), but she wasn't having any part of it. After 6 different bottles/nipples it was clear she's one stubborn little girl.  I tried mixing a little oatmeal in with some milk & spoon feeding her.  She was okay with that, but it took about 30 minutes to get not even an ounce in her.  I also forced milk in her mouth using a medicine dropper & medicine spoon.  I tried all of the tricks that I've  ever read about.  Different rooms, different milk temperature, distraction, walking, singing, different positions, adding a little juice.  Something kept eating at me that the ER dr & on-call pedi just didn't want to take time to really research the risks of this medication to infants while breastfeeding.  I read over my resources - kellymom.com, lactmed, Dr. Sears, AAP and NOTHING stated NOT TO BREASTFEED WHILE TAKING MEDROL.  I found data that it was only a small amount passed through the milk to baby.  If it was truly a serious health risk to Alyssa, I think that would have been clear on each website.  After 24 hours of HELL & really no wet diapers I knew it was time to trust my gut & Aunt Katie - I nursed.  Sweet Baby Isa was the happiest baby on our block & I was the happiest momma.  I still plan to call our pedi on Monday & let her know everything that's happened.  I also plan to continue trying to give Alyssa a bottle until she accepts it!  I've learned my lesson the hard way about thinking I would never be in this situation where I couldn't nurse my baby.

I finally got the jumperoo out of storage last week for Alyssa & she loves it!

Bye Bye diapers, Hello BIG GIRL Addy!

Addison wore her last diaper a week ago!  She's been wearing a diaper at night for the last few months, but I've finally accepted that she's a big girl now & it's time to stop.  I'm so proud of her.  

Her MDO teacher has been bragging on her too.  She's very impressed with how well she counts & says her ABC's!  Ms C even told her husband she was going to ask me what type of toys Addy has and/or how do I teach her.  HA!  Thank goodness for Nick JR!  LOL!  Okay, I'll take credit for teaching her a few things, but she's like a sponge & has her daddy's smarts :)   

Alyssa 4 month well-visit

We just got home from Alyssa's 4 month well-visit.  She had a great check-up & got 2 mean shots along with the oral Rotovirus.  My little angel weighs 14.11 pounds & is 23 1/4 inches!  At 4 months, Addy weighed 14 pounds & 24 1/2 inches.  I don't look too close at the length.  Those babies squirm so much it's really hard to get an exact measurement.  The nurse thought Alyssa was 20 inches at first & then had to remeasure her after looking at her length last visit.

BEFORE MEAN SHOTS!

AFTER MEAN SHOTS!!! 

(Well, after the crying was over)

This morning Addy was sitting on the potty & I was brushing my hair.  She had baby Elmo with her & kept saying 'baby Elmo needs to eat, baby Elmo is hungry'.  I didn't turn to look at her & just said 'well, feed him then'.  I thought she was just going to put the paci in his mouth.  A few seconds later she said 'I'm feeding baby Elmo' & I turn to find her............WITH ELMO UNDER HER SHIRT 'NURSING'!  HOLY MOLY!  WHAT THE???  I didn't say anything to her about it & just told her it was time to go to MDO.  Her MDO teacher has 2 daughters, so I thought I would mention what I saw to her.  She made me feel better after saying that her older daughter did the same thing!  Whew!  Oh, Addy wanted to go see Dr. N this morning instead of going to MDO!  I told Dr. N about Addy nursing Elmo & she also told me that her older son tried to nurse her younger son.  Okay, so this isn't a big deal!  It's pretty funny though :)

Trip Home

Last week we went home to Louisiana for a visit.  I finally got to see my precious great niece, Arabella.  Such a tiny little peanut!  Hard to believe my little angel was that itty bitty not long ago.  By the way, Alyssa celebrated her 4 month birthday yesterday!  That will be a separate post!

Logan, Arabella, Alyssa, Addison

Addison, Alyssa, Drew

While we were away our neighbors got robbed.  Yikes!  The crooks waited for my neighbors to leave for work & school.  I just keep saying if I would have been at home my nose would have been all up in the window seeing what was going on over there.  I don't miss much on our street!  Yes, I'm THAT neighbor! Buddy probably gave them a good scare.  He doesn't miss much either!  The crooks were caught the next day, so that helps me feel a little better.  You just never know....  It may be time to review our security.

Well, my little pooper decided to mix things up on my & poop out of her schedule!  I WASN'T PREPARED!  It was Poop Day 6 (I wasn't expecting poop until 7 to 10 days) and we took a trip to the mall.  I only packed the little box of wipes for the diaper bag & no extra clothes.  On our way back home we had to stop by Sam's.  Mom ran in while the girls & I waited in the car.  Well, as soon as mom got out of the car I heard Alyssa making some noise in her diaper.  Addison even said 'Baby Isa has a tummy ache mommy".  I was praying that wasn't the case.  A few minutes later I pulled the blanket off of Alyssa & saw a MESS in the making!

I called mom right away & asked her to pick up some wipes while she was in the store because we were going to need them!  I went ahead & got her out of the carseat to begin the clean-up.  I don't even know if I can type this story exactly how it happened.  It was a disaster.  Seriously.  So, Addy is still in her seat watching Dora & I'm standing out side the car using the 10 wipes I brought.  Those didn't help much.  Then I remembered I saw a roll of paper towels & had a bottle of water.  Yes, I made my own wipes.  Alyssa was screaming the entire time then Addy says she needs to potty!  Really?  I told her to hold it for a second & was working as fast as possible to get to a stopping point with Alyssa.  A minute later Addy says she wet her panties!  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I leave Alyssa laying on the seat naked & run to the other side of the car to get Addy then on my way back around to Alyssa I got the potty chair out of the back.  I put the potty on the ground & Addy on it in THE PARKING LOT OF SAM'S! While she pottied I finished up the best I could with Alyssa.  I just wanted to cry.  Is this really happening to me?  Oh dear!  Mom came back with the wipes & I used a few more.  Luckily, mom had bought Alyssa an outfit at the mall & she was able to wear that home instead of going naked.  I wonder if this was all caught on the parking lot cameras??

We had a great visit with Erin & Parker at the Children's Museum then afterwards lunch with more friends.  Time just goes by so fast when we are all together catching up.

       

This is a picture BEFORE Blake handed Parker the oar & he hit Addy in the head with it!

Just a few pics

Waiting for Alyssa's eye appointment!

 Looking Good is better than Being Good!

This was a rare occasion that Addison 

actually wanted to hold Alyssa!

It may be getting cold, but that doesn't 

stop us from going out to play!

Alyssa's Eye Appointment

Today we visited Texas Children's Hospital for Alyssa's appointment with the pediatric eye specialist.  The diagnosis is still iris coloboma.  At her 3 week appointment the dr was concerned that one eye was near-sighted & the other far-sighted which would require glasses to correct, so that one eye wasn't working harder than the other.  This time she didn't see that - only both eyes slightly far-sighted which may cause near-sightedness later in life.  The dr kind of sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher when she was explaining everything & it didn't help that Alyssa was having a total meltdown from the dr & nurse prying her eyes open & shining a light in them!  We spent 2 hours waiting for less than 5 minutes with the dr.  That's about right!

She had no idea what was about to happen to her little eyes :(

Addison went with us & was pretty good.  She watched Dora all the way there & back!  I couldn't believe she didn't sleep any even though we got her up at 6:30!  Today was the first time she wore the headphones that go with the DVD player in the van.  I've tried before, but she refused.  As we are driving along the highway her headphones slip off of her ears & she said to me 'turn it up, mama!  turn it up, mama!'!!!  It was just another great funny things she has said lately.

Yesterday we were outside playing & Blake was about to mow the lawn.  He got out the gas can & started pouring it in the mower.    Addison asked him if he was going to make bubbles!  HAHAHAHA She has a little lawn mower that you pour bubble stuff in & when you push it across the grass....bubbles blow out!

Alyssa's 'Welcome' Letter from White House

Alyssa got her letter from the First Family welcoming her to this world!  Addison has one from George & Laura, now Alyssa has one from Barack & Michelle.  I heard the letter from the Vice President is more personal, but I haven't requested one from Joe yet.

The Nose

Addison has been complaining all week about her nose hurting.  Each day I would inspect it & saw bats in her cave along with a bump/blister.  I've started using the humidifier in her room again thinking that would 'soften' those bats & get them out easier.  Last night she awoke & kept saying her nose hurt.  I got the flashlight & saw the same bats/bump.  I tried to clean it as much as I could, but you try sticking something up a 2 year olds nose (of course, it's okay for her to always have her finger up there)!  This morning I decided to take her to the dr instead of MDO.  We are planning a trip home next week & the last thing I want is her to be sick away from home.  Addison weighs 31lbs & is 36 inches tall!  The dr checked everything & all is fine except for the nose.  She cleaned it out really good with a q-tip & peroxide while Addy screamed her head off & I was pinning her down.  It was an awful experience.  However, afterwards I asked Addy if her nose still hurt & she said 'NO'.  There was lots of dried up dead bats in the cave.  She also found the source of the pain Addy's been complaining about - a pimple!  HAHAHA!  A pimple in my little angel's nose!  So, we have some ointment to apply 3 times a day & must run the humidifier for naps & bedtime until it's gone.  Bless her heart.

Luckily, we got moved from the sick-room to the well-room after a few minutes, since Addy was only having weird issues with her nose & all the other patients had complaints of sore throats, etc.  I was very happy because Alyssa was there too & we don't want her exposed to any germs (other than what Addy brings home)!  Before we moved, Addy was talking non-stop to anyone that would listen.  A lady came out with a baby in an infant carseat & Addy pointed out that there was a baby in the carseat like Alyssa. Then she said 'My carseat is in the vehicle'.  A couple of moms were very impressed & commented on how well Addison spoke & the big words she uses.  She was wearing her Dora shirt today & a lady asked her if she liked Dora.  Addison told her that she watches Dora on tv & that dada watches Jimmy Kimmel all the time!  LOL!  I couldn't stop laughing - neither could the lady that Addy told this to!  The Jimmy Kimmel thing just started this week.  Blake always DVR's it & then watches it when he gets in from work.  The other day he picked up the remote & Addison said 'Dada, you gonna watch Jimmy Kimmel?'  hahahaha  Is that good or bad??

Alyssa LOVES to sit up!  I can't wait to get the Bumbo from the lake in a couple of weeks.  I should have brought it home when we were there over summer, but thought we would be back to winterize before we needed it.  That didn't happen.  She rolls over now as soon as I put her down on her tummy & I've caught her watching cartoons with Addy a few times too!

Maybe I should start a new blog & only write about POOP & BOOGERS!

Poopalooza DAY 10

Well, on Day 8 Alyssa gave me a little present and then an even smaller present on Day 9.  I could tell last night she was cranky & figured I would be in for a nasty treat today.  This morning she let me have it!  She was in the carseat & I went to pick her up.  As I put my hands around her waist/back to lift her I felt something wet.  I pulled my hand back to investigate thinking maybe she had spit up A LOT.  Nope, my hand was a lovely shade of mustard yellow & smelled delicious.  

 I was tempted to throw the onesie away instead of cleaning it, but it goes perfect with a little pant/jacket set for cold weather.

I wonder what Alyssa will think when she's older & reads about how mommy chronicled her bowel movements :)  She's an anomaly!  LOL

Happy Halloween - Part 2

 CHUCK E. CHEESE'S

This was only the 2nd time we've been to CEC & Addison enjoyed it much more this time.

I think there was something in the pizza!

FINALLY!  My child will ride a carousel!  I know, I know, this is a tiny, mini version of a real carousel, but we are taking baby steps!

Alyssa was excited - NOT!  She actually fell asleep in my arms while I was playing Skee Ball!

Happy Halloween - Part 1

We had a great Halloween weekend with Aunt Katie & Uncle Jimmy!  They flew in for a quick visit to meet Alyssa & see Addison.

Friday was party day at MDO with costumes & pizza.  Addison was a unicorn this year & I must say, she was the cutest unicorn I've ever seen!

Ready to Trick or Treat at MDO!

Alyssa got to wear Addison's Raggedy Ann costume!

Addison as Raggedy Ann in 2008 at 6 months old

Yummy!  My Pumpkin Cheese Ball!

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2010