Monday, December 29, 2008

Quote of the Day

It's been a while since I've posted one of these (or anything for that matter). I really like this one.


"Experience is what you get...when you don't get what you want."

-- Dan Stanford

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Update - Sick baby

Good news and bad news, Tripp.

Good news - No ear infection for you. Yay!
Bad news - You have RSV. Boo!

Good news - At least you are not a preemie or a newborn with RSV. It's much more dangerous at those ages. Dr. Hardin also tested you for a pnemounia, and you don't have that. Phew!
Bad news - You still have a fever of 104, got a breathing treament that you hated at the dr., have a low red and white blood count, and need to have the inhaler 4 times a day (4 puffs) for the next few days.

Good news - You should be happy and healthy by Christmas!

Hopefully this will be my last post about you and Sophie being sick. I'd like to get on with updates about what we've been doing when you haven't been sick - like our trip to Florida and Disney, our trip to the mountains in October, your first Halloween, and your first visit with Santa. I'd like to get caught up in the blog soon. Love you baby boy!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Sick baby X 2

My poor little babies, you are so sick! Let me start with you Sophie. I thought we made it through Tripp's croup and ear infection without you catching anything from him, and maybe we did, but boy did you get sick last week, terribly sick.

I had to pick you up from school early on Tuesday. Mindy and Brandy asked Roxanna to take your temperature because you were warm and you weren't yourself. They said you were acting very tired and "out of it", not your usual playful self. Roxanna told me that the first time she took your temperature it was only 99 degrees, but when they brought you back for a recheck it was already up to 102. They called me and I was at school in about 30 minutes. I picked you up and you were on fire. I asked Roxanna to take your temp again and this time it was 104. I couldn't believe it got so high so quickly. Your fever hung around from Tuesday to Sunday. It go so high on Thursday that we had to take you to the urgent care. Of course, it reached 105.1 after the drs. closed. 105.1 just seems scary. We gave you some tylenol, took you to the urgent care, and by the time we arrived your fever had broken. Dr. said you just had a bad cold. Ears looked great, no strep, just an extremely bad viral type infection. You just had to let it run its course. And it did, you were finally better this past Monday - nearly a full week of sickness.

During the week you were sick, you were so clingy, so lovey, so sweet. You are so active these days that there really isn't much cuddle time with you. Of course I would never wish you to be sick and I felt terrible that you were feeling so poorly, but I cherished the moments that you laid on me, hugged me, and just loved on me. It's sweet when a baby needs her mommy. Truth be told, you loved on daddy more, as I would expect you to, but I enjoyed the time I got as well. And you even laid on the couch and watched t.v. That's a first! You are finally feeling better and I am so glad!

Now on to Tripp ... poor sweet baby, you are sick again. I'm going to take you to the drs. tomorrow to make sure you don't have a lingering ear infection. I suspect you might. You may just have what Sophie had, but I'd like to rule out an ongoing ear infection. Your fever has been 104 for the past 2 days. Seems to get that high at night. You have a hard time staying asleep once I put you down, but once I give you Tylenol, whether you have a fever or not, you sleep very peacefully. I just feel like you must be in pain for that to happen. I hate to give you medicine if you don't need it, so I'm trying not to, but it seems you do need it. Hopefully you do not have an ear infection, or anything else serious for that matter. You are just such a little baby and so sweet and fun and playful, you just shouldn't get sick! I'm getting mad about it, too. You are still nursing and that is supposed to be the best medicine for you ... your not supposed to get ear infections and colds when you are nursing. I'm trying to do my best to keep you healthy, little dude. You stayed home with me today. You were very fiesty when it was time for a nap. You needed it, but you fought it. Other than that, you were really tired and also out of it for the most part.

I love you kiddies both and I just want you to be happy and healthy. Hopefully the sickies will be gone before Christmas.

Tripp at 9 months

This post is a little late, but I wrote the majority of it just after his 9 month WBV so it's pretty accurate in terms of his development at 9 months.

- Personality: observant, athletic (already, I promise!), smart, sweet, rough, cuddler, dominant.
- Weight: 21.5 lbs (50% - 75%)
- Height: 29.25 lbs (75% - 90%)
- Head circumference: 44 cm (10% - 25%)
- Wears 12 - 18 month clothing and some 18 month clothing, size 3 shoes, and size 4 diapers.
- Crawls, pulls up, stands up using things and has started to stand for a few second at a time without holding on to anything.
- Tripp still really loves his mommy! :-) He’s a momma’s boy and I absolutely love it! Just today when we were out to dinner he was fussy so I went to the car to get his paci and he started crying immediately when I left the table. When I came back he was fine. Oh the joy of being loved!
- Eats breastmilk (3 bottles and a sippy or 3 to 4 nursing sessions per day). I am extremely proud of this accomplishment! Tripp is such a good nurser and I love our silent moments together! I know we’ll make it 3 more months and I’m sure I’ll be terribly sad when it’s time to wean him.
- With that said, he is learning how to drink from a sippy. We should have started giving him a sippy earlier, but to be honest we just started about a week ago. Today was the first day he really drank from a sippy while holding the cup. He has caught on really quickly!
- Eats solids - breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack. The only baby food (jarred food) he gets is prunes and oatmeal every few days to help keep him regular.
- Tripp absolutely LOVES solid foods. He eats everything. Just today he ate grilled cheese, pickles, tomatoes, and pears. Sounds weird, I know, but that was a sampling from mine, John, and Sophie’s dinner. Seems he may not like mashed potatoes. Who doesn’t like mashed potatoes?
- Still uses pincer grasp. It has become somewhat of a weapon. He likes to use it to pinch, pull, and scrape anything and everything.
- Seems to favor using his right hand.
- Sleeping well, but less well than last month. He was sleeping 12 hours but that has decreased to 10 – 12 hours. I think it has a lot to do with teething.
- Has 6 teeth. 4 on top, 2 on bottom. There is one bottom left tooth that is going to poke through any day.
- Napping is pretty hit and miss. At home he always takes a morning nap, anywhere from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Sometimes he takes an afternoon nap around 2. At school, however, he’s been fighting naps. He naps later there and usually only once. Maybe he’s consolidating naps already!
- Takes all of his baths with Sophie. Still sitting in his bath seat, still crazy when he’s not in it. Loves showers with daddy! Daddy says he likes to try and grab the razors that are hanging on the wall. Sounds really safe.
- Loves to scream. Well, I’m not sure scream is the correct word. Screech maybe? It’s an ear piercing scream and it makes us crazy when he does it!!
- Although he yells and makes noises, he talks a little less than he was originally talking. Hasn’t officially said a word yet. Syllables include “d”, "a", "g.”
- Hates to get dressed or get a diaper change. It’s pretty much a nightmare trying to do either. I just can’t believe he has such an opinion about either thing at such a young age. He is so strong that it’s actually difficult trying to put his arms in his shirt. He fights tooth and nail to avoid getting dressed. I actually had to start putting him back on his changing table to change him and dress him. It sort of contains him – sort of!
- Tripp has actually started to play peek-a-boo on his own. He pulls the napkin up, puts it down, pulls it back up again. Pretty cool! Laughs hysterically when you play with him.
- Still doesn’t like books at bedtime, although he’s starting to show a little interest in them by grabbing them and turning the pages. We’ll get there!
- Likes to be chased around the kitchen island. He, of course, crawls, we crawl, too, and Sophie runs.
- Like to hang upside down. He throws himself backwards when you are holding him. Also likes to do the downward dog yoga pose. He’s silly!
- Finally likes the pacifier. Oh great. I knew if it was given to him enough times he’d start to like it – just like his sister did. I’m not sure if he just likes it now because he’s teething and when he chews on it it feels good on his gums or if he just likes it. I don’t give it to him except at night and in the car if he’s crying. Daddy, on the other hand, always gives it to him.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Sick baby

Hi baby!

I didn't get a chance to post this earlier so I'm posting now. I wrote it a few weeks ago, the day after you 9 mo WBV. You are feeling better, thank goodness!
______________

Yesterday I took you to the doctor for your 9 month WBV. You haven't been feeling well the past few weeks, so I called the dr. at the end of the week last week to see if I should bring you in. They basically told me not to bring you in because they figured you had a cold on top of a cold on top of the croup you had on top of the original cold. A lot of sickness, but rational thinking. However, it was odd for them to say not to bring you in because they generally want to be on the safe side. That's why I love your doctor - they are pretty cautious. I actually would have suggested I bring you in, but I called on Thursday and I knew you had an appointment on Tuesday so I let it slide.

Well, they were wrong. I should have brought you in. Guess why? You have an ear infection. Poor baby! This is your first ear infection and really the first ear infection for either you or your sister. You've been a trooper and I hope now that you are on you antibiotics (Amoxycyillin) you are feeling even better. Daddy and I just hate to see you sick.

Here are a few pictures of you sick. We took them Monday night just after you got home from school. Your appointment was the next day. I'm sure you can see how we knew there was something wrong! You never sit still and you never zone out like this. You don't fall asleep in our arms at 5 pm. You are much to active for that! I'm sorry baby for not taking you to the doctor when I felt I should have.



Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy 9 month birthday, baby!

Hi Tripp! Happy 9 month birthday, baby! I can't believe that you have only 3 months to go before you reach the "big" birthday. What am I going to do? You are growing up so fast!

So this was a big month for you! You mastered crawling, learned to stand in your crib, sat from a laying position, sat down from a standing position, and learned to crawl up a few sets of stairs. You did most of that about 1 week right after I typed the "happy 8 month birthday" post. Now you are on the move, there is nothing stopping you! Not even a really tall ottoman that we put in your way to keep you contained in the family room! HA! You are busy, busy! You are a pretty amazing little dude and a fast learner!

You visited North Carolina for the first time, went on your very first hike in a National Forest, saw your first snow, celebrated your first Halloween as a Monkey, had your first fall down stairs, caught you first real cold that turned into croup, decided to start boycotting afternoon naps and you are learning to drink out of a sippy. Oh, one more thing! You stood up in place without holding on to anything. You've only done that twice, so hopefully it was a fluke and it doesn't mean you are going to try and walk soon.

The picture below is from school today. I took it when I picked you up to go the doctors. You were having a fun time in the exercauser, which is surprising because generally you will not sit in it. Look at all your fuzzy hair! Love you baby boy ... and Happy 9 month birthday!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Quote of the Day

If you can't say something nice, say it anyway. Brutal honesty is more supportive than disingenuous praise.

- Alan Weiss

Interesting quote! Never hear a quote that tells you to say something even if it's not nice. LOL

Friday, November 21, 2008

Quote of the Day

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

-- Beverly Sills (1929-) American Opera Singer

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Quote of the Day

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Terrible Twos

Sophie girl, you are one sweet and spirited little girl! On most days you are happy, spunky, talkative, and big on the hugs and kisses. On other days, however, not so much. That is why I think we've finally hit the terrible twos.

I've read that the terrible twos actually happen before a toddler is 2. Since you are past 2 I thought for sure we were skating right past the terrible twos, that we were going to be those lucky parents that didn't have to deal with a tantrum. Hahahaha ... what was I thinking? LOL I also read the other day that tantrums are a sign that the baby loves the parents so much. If you didn't love us that much, you wouldn't have these strong emotions that cause tantrums. Aw, that makes us feel better about your tantrums :-)

These days, like I said above, you are generally the sweetest little girl ever. You make me smile every day and you are so fun. I laugh at least 20 times a day at something you say or do. I love the morning when I put you in the car to go to school, because you and I play the kiss game. I buckle you in your seat, kiss you, go to Tripp's side of the car and give him kisses, and then you say "mommy, more kisses" and I run back to your side of the car and give you more kisses. We do that at least two more times, you giggle the entire time, and I just love it! Tripp even gets in on the giggling. That's because your laugh is infectious, I promise you that! You really are a silly girl. But boy oh boy, you can throw a tantrum with the best of them.

I hate to say it, but me and daddy are kinda getting used to them so we've started ignoring you, which you hate. Your tantrums usually just consist of crying for a short period of time. Occasionally you throw yourself on the kitchen floor in the midst of crying, but usually you just stand in place and cry. It's actually quite funny, but I try not to laugh because it makes your more mad and it gives you that attention you are trying to get. So I guess all-in-all your tantrums aren't terribly bad, they just involve a lot of crying.

So why the tantrums? We don't know! We wish you'd tell us :-) Generally you have your meltdowns (I like to call them this over tantrums) when you get home from school. You are tired, hungry, and thirsty and you just want to eat and be held. We can't always hold you and you definitely do not like that. You run after us crying and yelling "daaa-ddyyy" or "moommmyyy" ... poor baby! You just want to sit on our hip, but we can't always pick you up. You are 2 for pete's sake. You can sit and stand and run, play with your toys or your brother, but you just want us. You've been like that since you were just a baby and Tripp is pretty much the same way (God help us if he stays this way! I only have 2 hands ... I can't hold everyone and cook!). I think it's adorable that you want us to hold you, but I seriously can't do it all day long. I wish you could understand that. Instead, you just cry.

I know it's just a phase so I try to enjoy all this cuddly, holding time, because I know there will be a day when I want to hold you and you won't let me. But my goodness, I hope the accompanying crying goes away ... and soon! I will say that you haven't had a meltdown in public yet. You've been on the verge and you've done your share of yelling and crying, but you haven't actually had a meltdown. You don't want to ride in carts any more and the stroller is ok until you kick your brother in the head from the back seat of the double stroller, but you definitely just want to be carried by daddy in public places. That too shall pass, I'm sure.

Even with these little tantrums, you are still the sweetest little blonde-headed brown-eyed girl out there, if I do say so myself. I love you pumpkin. Here's a sweet picture of you. We took it at Justin's birthday party a few weeks ago. You are so happy just playing. I can't believe such a little angel can sometimes cry so much! :-)