Notable quote by Ben last weekend: "Oh, I like bacon and more bacon and more bacon. When I'm done with bacon, I'll have more bacon."
Monday, January 31, 2011
He's back!!
After a rough few days of croup and steroids, we finally have our happy, smiley, baby Eli back. There were a few rough nights with very little sleep, but we appear to be back on track (well, the 'still waking to eat - even in the middle of the night, but going back down to sleep right away' track). I'll take a few night time feedings over inconsolable crying that would only be relieved by heading outside in my PJ's to breath in the humid cool night air at 2AM and hoping not to wake the whole neighborhood up. Daycare was very excited to have him 'back', too. His lack of smiles was bringing everyone down... Poor buddy was not himself at all.
Notable quote by Ben last weekend: "Oh, I like bacon and more bacon and more bacon. When I'm done with bacon, I'll have more bacon."
Notable quote by Ben last weekend: "Oh, I like bacon and more bacon and more bacon. When I'm done with bacon, I'll have more bacon."
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Croup and Poop
On Monday night Eli came down with what I was calling "infant laryngitis". He had no fever, no snot beyond everyday snot, not much coughing, but just seemed hoarse. Like, really hoarse. I ended up taking him to daycare the next morning, but was a bit concerned. He had no voice left at all. His cute little baby sounds were so sad - just little hoarse squeaks. That morning, I got a call from our daycare provider who was getting concerned about Eli's breathing. They kept a very close eye on him, and I headed over to get him as soon as I could. His breathing was starting to get quite labored (he was retracting or what they call 'strider' where the area just below his lungs sucks in with every breath and his stomach bulges out as he was struggling to catch his breath), and I got him in to my doctor's office as quickly as I could. Initially, we tried a nebulizer treatment of albuteral that didn't work. That was one of those good news/ bad news deals. Good news: since it didn't work, Eli probably doesn't have asthma. Bad news: his breathing is not getting any better. Other options to consider were croup or a foreign object in his windpipe. So, they gave him some steroid and while we were waiting to see if it would help, we got a chest x-ray to see it there may have been a Cheerio or Matchbox car wheel lodged in his windpipe. Thankfully, no foreign objects. The steroid took quite a while to take effect - but after about 3 hours Eli started to breath easier. So, diagnosis: (after 5 hours at the doctor's office) croup - which is essentially an inflammation of the larynx or voice box. In infants it can be pretty tough on the poor kiddos - especially with their tiny little airway.
Andy stayed home with poor little Eli today. He was pretty miserable, but his breathing is much better today than yesterday. I think the steroid is helping, but making him crabby. We have a Rx for more steroid, but the best things we've found are cool, moist air (which, here in Oregon, is easy to come by), or steamy bathrooms. We've spent a lot of time outside today in the foggy air, and are hoping he is feeling better tomorrow.
Oh, and Ben is getting better and better at using the potty!! Only one accident all weekend, even with traveling a bit! He even did 2 #2's on the potty chair tonight! What a big boy!
Andy stayed home with poor little Eli today. He was pretty miserable, but his breathing is much better today than yesterday. I think the steroid is helping, but making him crabby. We have a Rx for more steroid, but the best things we've found are cool, moist air (which, here in Oregon, is easy to come by), or steamy bathrooms. We've spent a lot of time outside today in the foggy air, and are hoping he is feeling better tomorrow.
Oh, and Ben is getting better and better at using the potty!! Only one accident all weekend, even with traveling a bit! He even did 2 #2's on the potty chair tonight! What a big boy!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Big week!
This attempt at the 3 grandkid shot (including Grant this time!) was a bit more successful than the Christmas one with Nick... This one is from the January birthday celebration (for me, Rhonda, and Papa Doug).
We finally had a sunny day and got to get out the Christmas present from grandma!! Ben loved it. Thanks grandma!
We finally had a sunny day and got to get out the Christmas present from grandma!! Ben loved it. Thanks grandma!
Here are a few backyard pics of Ben and Eli...
First shot at rice cereal for Eli last weekend. I've tried a bit each night since then and he seems to be slowly getting better at the swallowing thing... The best part is - He's really been going longer stretches between nursings (from 4 hours between feedings to up to 6-7 hours this week) . Maybe coincidence or maybe the cereal plays a role in this???
And another of Eli giggling up a storm on the changing pad.
The biggest news this week is that we went cold turkey with diapers for Ben starting last Saturday!!!!! To say that potty training is a test of patience is an understatement. We had some successes and some accidents (of course), but I think we are on a good path at this point.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Here's what to do when...
1. You run your cell phone through the wash...
Don't try to turn it on. Google "cell phone washing machine". Laugh at the miriad (of) ways that people solve this problem. Take out the battery, and place it in a bowl of rice for several days. Don't freak out when it won't turn on - the battery is probably dead - charge it back up and hope for the best. Keep putting it back in the rice if buttons won't work and your screen looks funny. You might just get all of the functions back. Eventually. Be thankful that this is the SECOND time that you have run your cell phone through the wash, because now you already know what to do.
2. You run half of a crayon through the dryer...
Google "crayon in the dryer" and read the tales of many other moms and their horror stories about their brand new clothes and the dollar value of each of the ruined items and laugh because you have never bought any clothes with a price tag that high anyway, so you really don't feel too bad about your situation. You'll get about a billion recipes for re-washing your load and settle on one. I used the Oxy-Clean/ vinegar/ borax tri-fecta (about 1 cup each) along with regular detergent. This sounds like it could start a small scale nuclear reaction in your washer, but believe me, it totally worked, and I only had to spot clean 1 thing and chose to throw out of pair of Andy's socks that weren't worth the effort of cleaning due to their condition.
3. You discover the other half of the crayon was used to color all over your laptop...
Vow to never leave a single crayon accessible to your unsupervised toddler again. Use a dried up (unused, obviously) baby wipe to rub the crayon off of most of the laptop. It may leave some marks behind, but now, every time you use your laptop, you'll remember to NEVER LEAVE ANY CRAYONS OUT!!!
4. You discover ball point pen drawings on your micro-suede chair...
Vow to never leave a ball point pen accessible to your unsupervised toddler. Google "micro suede and ball point pen" and then choose something to try. I tried some hand sanitizer first. It got some of it off, then used straight rubbing alcohol which got the rest. I'd recommend starting with the strong stuff first. Maybe vodka. Ha-ha.
5. Your 4 month old has (audibly) filled his pants on your birthday...
Try to play the "it's my birthday card" and wait until your husband comes home from work. Continue holding out as long as you can. Finally break down and decide to change him yourself. Regret this decision the second you pick him up and discover poop all over your hand. Really regret this decision when you realize that this is the worst blowout you have ever seen in your 2 3/4 years of parenting. Start laughing so you don't cry. Laugh even harder when your husband walks in in the middle of this fiasco, and offers his assistance. Tell him to "hold the baby up by the armpits - you should be safe - and I'll wipe him down with a whole pack of baby wipes". Laugh even harder when your husband sticks his thumb in poop that was in the armpit safe zone. Vow to wait until my husband comes next time I hear my baby fill his pants on my birthday.
Don't try to turn it on. Google "cell phone washing machine". Laugh at the miriad (of) ways that people solve this problem. Take out the battery, and place it in a bowl of rice for several days. Don't freak out when it won't turn on - the battery is probably dead - charge it back up and hope for the best. Keep putting it back in the rice if buttons won't work and your screen looks funny. You might just get all of the functions back. Eventually. Be thankful that this is the SECOND time that you have run your cell phone through the wash, because now you already know what to do.
2. You run half of a crayon through the dryer...
Google "crayon in the dryer" and read the tales of many other moms and their horror stories about their brand new clothes and the dollar value of each of the ruined items and laugh because you have never bought any clothes with a price tag that high anyway, so you really don't feel too bad about your situation. You'll get about a billion recipes for re-washing your load and settle on one. I used the Oxy-Clean/ vinegar/ borax tri-fecta (about 1 cup each) along with regular detergent. This sounds like it could start a small scale nuclear reaction in your washer, but believe me, it totally worked, and I only had to spot clean 1 thing and chose to throw out of pair of Andy's socks that weren't worth the effort of cleaning due to their condition.
3. You discover the other half of the crayon was used to color all over your laptop...
Vow to never leave a single crayon accessible to your unsupervised toddler again. Use a dried up (unused, obviously) baby wipe to rub the crayon off of most of the laptop. It may leave some marks behind, but now, every time you use your laptop, you'll remember to NEVER LEAVE ANY CRAYONS OUT!!!
4. You discover ball point pen drawings on your micro-suede chair...
Vow to never leave a ball point pen accessible to your unsupervised toddler. Google "micro suede and ball point pen" and then choose something to try. I tried some hand sanitizer first. It got some of it off, then used straight rubbing alcohol which got the rest. I'd recommend starting with the strong stuff first. Maybe vodka. Ha-ha.
5. Your 4 month old has (audibly) filled his pants on your birthday...
Try to play the "it's my birthday card" and wait until your husband comes home from work. Continue holding out as long as you can. Finally break down and decide to change him yourself. Regret this decision the second you pick him up and discover poop all over your hand. Really regret this decision when you realize that this is the worst blowout you have ever seen in your 2 3/4 years of parenting. Start laughing so you don't cry. Laugh even harder when your husband walks in in the middle of this fiasco, and offers his assistance. Tell him to "hold the baby up by the armpits - you should be safe - and I'll wipe him down with a whole pack of baby wipes". Laugh even harder when your husband sticks his thumb in poop that was in the armpit safe zone. Vow to wait until my husband comes next time I hear my baby fill his pants on my birthday.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Technicolor Park Pictures
Today all of the planets must have lined up perfectly--- the light was just right for taking pictures and I had a 2.5 year old that was in a great mood.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
More Christmases
We got to celebrate Christmas with Grandma Jeanne and Papa Doug and Andy's brothers. Fun times! 
The boys with their Pillow Pets!
Ben putting on his "earrings"
We also got to celebrate Christmas (again!!) with Grandpa Tom and Barbara!
Here are a few clips of the boys. This first one I took kind of on the sly of Ben playing music for Eli. So sweet. Good thing I captured this on tape, so I can remember how nice Ben *can* be with Eli. He has defininely hit a rough spot in the behavior area as of late...
The boys with their Pillow Pets!Ben putting on his "earrings"We also got to celebrate Christmas (again!!) with Grandpa Tom and Barbara!Here are a few clips of the boys. This first one I took kind of on the sly of Ben playing music for Eli. So sweet. Good thing I captured this on tape, so I can remember how nice Ben *can* be with Eli. He has defininely hit a rough spot in the behavior area as of late...I had to edit my "stern talking" to Ben out of this one... But here is Eli in the Jumeroo - He is loving it lately!
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