Rolling, Part Two

After Kellen's initial rolls months ago, he stayed firmly on his front or back for quite some time. It was clear he could roll, and he did it once every week or so just to let us know he hadn't forgotten this skill, but a roller he was not. Until this past week. Our little guy is still not what I would call a rolling fool. He has no desire to move from here to there using that technique (he'd much rather throw all of his weight in to inching forward on his tummy - slow down bud, no crawling necessary anytime soon!) But our little guy has discovered the joy of sleeping on his stomach. So when we put him down in his crib on his back like we are supposed to, he rolls himself on to his tummy to sleep. We actually stopped swaddling Kel about two weeks ago since he wasn't sleeping well anyways and wasn't napping in his crib at all. We also have had to remove the sleep sacks from his nighttime wardrobe. The smalls are just not long enough for him to manuever himself around, making him angry as he wants to roll, and the mediums are just huge since they are for 18plus pounds and our little one is only 15 pounds but really long. Since Kellen starting sleeping on his tummy the past few days, his sleeping has improved. He is averaging about 4-5 hour stretches, and I actually had to wake him up Sunday morning after 7 hours for church. I wish he was going all night - but 4-5 hour stretches is certainly better than the 2-3 he had been doing, or the 1-2 that has accompanied most of his sicknesses this winter!

In other news, the Saxton's have all been healthy for almost a full week. Crazy! Additionally, I have a new "niece"! Aunt Catherine's baby girl, Avery Elizabeth enterred the world last Thursday and is absolutely adorable. We have also added a few solids to Kellen's life. He has had oatmeal and avocado and loved both. We are slowly starting solids since he is so interested in food and has been sitting with us at the kitchen table at dinner time. We'll still wait until 6 months for most things but giving him a taste most nights has been a good warm up for my little man. Finally, tomorrow I am away from my little man for the first time. I will be at a science conference for about 36 hours in balmy Indianapolis. I am a little nervous since Kellen only has breastmilk and not formula, and Bryan doesn't hear him at night unless he is absolutely wailing, but fingers crossed this helps his long term sleeping! And I am beyond excited for an entire night of uninterrupted sleep!

We'll download pictures this weekend and post again soon!

The Spotted Leopard

I'd post pictures, but I look too absurd. Guess who had an allergic reaction to penicillin? Yup, that would be me. On day 7 of 10, I had a little rash on my arms, neck, and chest. By that night, it was all over - from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head. It was pretty amazing. Another trip to Patient First ensued, and the allergy was confirmed. You may be asking yourself, how did this happen? Isn't she in her 30's? Hasn't she had penicillin before? Why on day 7? Apparently you can develop these kind of allergies at any time and I was just one of the lucky ones. So I am on a new, non-penicillin antibiotic to make sure the strep is gone for good, and lots of benadryll. I kind of thought it would make my little guy more sleepy but no such luck! He has been pretty good lately though - with quick feedings at 10:30 and 2:30. After 2 days of benadryll my red leopard spots are fading and the itching is becoming more bearable. Here's hoping I look normal again soon! And I am grateful I didn't have something contagious instead!

If you are really curious about penicillin allergies, just google it. The pictures that come up give you a pretty darn good idea of my spots!

Nightswimming

This was always one of my favorite REM songs. Whatever happened to them? The past few nights though I feel like I have been literally swimming in my bed. Each morning I have no fever. By 2 pm or so a low grade fever has popped up, and by dinnertime I start to feel pretty yucky. By bedtime it has been between 101.5 and 103.6, depending on the day. So I spend the night alternately sweating as my temperature slowly returns to normal and shivering from my sweaty sheets. Super fun!

I have high hopes that today will be my last day home from work. It is a tough time to be out of the office in terms of work load, and honestly, it is hard to spend most of the day trapped inside my house since it is absolutely gorgeous out! I am hoping to have a bit more energy today for a longer walk with Maddie. Yesterday I received a diagnosis for my illness. Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis. Basically my throat and tonsils are swollen. I went to Patient First yesterday morning since my fever had been quite high Monday night and my throat was still really hurting in the morning. I was a bit nervous to go there, but like many responsible parents, I spend all my health thoughts on my children, born and unborn, so have not seen a doctor for myself other than my midwife in years. My experience at Patient First was wonderful though! It was super clean, I waited less than 5 minutes when I got there, everyone was nice and professional, and things were super organized. When I got there, they immediately assumed I had strep (as did I) and ordered a strep test. Ten minutes later it came back. Negative. The doctor looked at my ears and throat and back to the test results. We were all having a hard time believing I didn't have strep. He felt my swollen lymph nodes and ordered a mono test and some blood work just to make sure something crazy wasn't going on. Ten more minutes and we'd wiped out mono and thankfully my blood tests all looked fine. The doctor told me I basically had strep but with a different bacteria. So now I am on antibiotics. Since Kellen finished his last dose yesterday morning, we are hoping that 1. my antibiotics don't affect him like his did, and 2. that if he had something different (which I now think is likely) that the fact that he just finished with antibiotics will keep him healthy. We'll see!

So I disinfected the house as much as possible again yesterday. I got new toothpaste and toothbrushes out for Ellie and Bryan, cleaned all the sinks, and have all my stuff at a sink they aren't using, and am being sure to wash my hands before I pick up either of my cuties or anything they or Bryan might touch. Not sure this plan will work but I'm hoping. I have to assume that my kids were at least carriers of this germ so maybe they gave it to me and just didn't have the same symptoms.

The good news at our house has been Kellen. Now that he is finally almost better for the first time in months, he is sleeping much better. The past two nights he has gone done awake and unswaddled without making a peep. Monday he slept til 12:55 (5.5 hours) and then from 1:10-5:30. This made me happier than I can even explain! Then last night he got up for the first time at 2:45! He made a little fuss around 3:45 for a minute or two and then I had to actually wake him up at 7 to eat and get ready for daycare. Since we were still up about 6 times on Sunday night, beginning around 10, this has been like heaven. I am just praying it lasts! I think my little guy is definitely growing right now as he is eating more often during the day so I won't stop feeding him during the night if he wakes up until we start solids.

So that's the update here. Please pray that these germs are not shared with the rest of the Saxton clan. I'd like a week or two when no one is sick please!

Mom Down

I have had a few little colds here or there this winter. But nothing like the rest of my broad. Until Sunday night. Actually by Saturday night my throat and left ear were hurting pretty bad, but by Sunday night I was freezing, could hardly stand up I was feeling so weak, and had a fever of 101.6. Kellen's latest illness has hit mom. And it is no good. Bryan is a rockstar during the day, but he honestly doesn't hear the little one cry at night and Kellen is in this weird phase where he no longer wants to be swaddled but he also wakes himself up with his hands all the time. So unless I want to listen to him shriek all night long (which doesn't hurt my aching ear or head at all!) I am up a good bit of the night.

So our house is sort of a disaster. I keep disinfecting it only for another person to get sick. Noelle has been pretty good with her underwear (only one accident every few days) but we are still doing a ton of laundry because when she does have an accident it is on the bathroom mat (at least she is super close to making it!). And she seems to constantly get her sleeves soaked with each hand washing (just push them up sweetheart!) requiring outfit changes in her world all the time!

So I'm at home, attempting to rest. Except I suck at that. And I have 5 interviews a day right now and simply can't reschedule them all. So I sit at home on the phone, shivering, taking Motrin the second I finish pumping so it doesn't get in to Kellen's milk supply, and try to figure out what to eat since I have to maintain calories to make milk for my little guy. Being sick sucks. And it makes me feel even worse for Kellen that he felt like this and couldn't even blow his nose occasionally.

Here is my little guy a week and a half ago when he had this bug:


If only B would let me sleep cuddled up like that! On second thought I am sending him to the guest room. He can not get this one!

Dinner

Dinner is one of my favorite times of the day. We get to eat as a family most nights and talk about the day, and pretty much since she was cleared to eat solids, Noelle has been eating the same food we eat. Freezer cooking once or twice a month helps me stay organized so when we get home it is usually just turn on the oven, throw our main course in, and fix our veggies. Bryan and I have been counting calories so have really reduced our carbs, especially at dinner time. Thankfully this is working and 5 months in I am about my pre-pregnancy weight! (Why was this so much harder with baby number 2? I gained the exact same amount and have been at least as active!) Noelle sets the table, and then we have been enjoying a little time outside while dinner cooks playing out front.


Our flowers that have been out for weeks!

Since Kellen was sick on my birthday and we had to reschedule our dinner out, I requested tomato and mozzarella paninis that evening. Noelle enjoyed her half a sandwich!



My happy baby's one fussy time during the day has always been dinner. He wants to be at the table with us, making eating difficult. This week we decided he is ready for the high chair seat! It's a bit big but we have him tightly strapped in there!



K is leaning in that picture not because he is falling out of the chair but because he has decided he is ready for real food. And if mommy won't give it to him yet, he'll settle for any remnants of flavor he can find on the chair from the days of Ellie!



We see two teeth on the bottom close to poking through so when he gets those we may start a few fruits and veggies with my big boy! Worst case Kellen, you have 5 more weeks!

Kellen's Continuing Saga

So obviously things could be worse with my baby boy. I totally recognize that and am glad we don't have any chronic conditions at this point to deal with or hospital stays in his short life. And thank goodness we haven't gotten the stomach flu that has been going around. I really can't handle both my little ones puking. But he has now been uncomfortable for most of his life with one sickness or another and I feel bad for the little guy. Thankfully his fever disappeared by Monday morning and on Monday despite still being pretty gunky and raspy he was pretty happy most of the day that we spent together. Since he had been fever free for over 24 hours, Kel went to daycare Tuesday and again did decently well, clearly uncomfortable laying down but otherwise pretty good. And he started eating regular amounts again which was a relief as he had been struggling to eat and had already not gained any weight in over a week.

Despite the fever going away and his respiratory issues starting to clear up, Kel is still miserable. This time, it is his bum. The antibiotics don't really agree with my little man, making him go poo more frequently. His entire butt is bright red (won't he be so glad to read this when he is 20?). The nurses think he has a yeast infection from the antibiotics since diaper cream isn't doing anything so we have to use washcloths and water, and no wipes or soap on the little guy. I'll go get a new treatment cream on the way home from work tonight and give him the recommended baking soda bath. I am hoping it all works quickly because Kellen has been miserable, especially during and afterh diaper changes (including at night again while he is on the antibiotics) and can't get back to sleep after the night time change even with feeding, rocking, and reswaddling. Mommy and daddy need more than 4 hours of sleep a night buddy! But we know he just hurts so you can't blame our little cutie for keeping us up. So here's hoping everything clears up (literally) soon and that K has a few weeks of good health in a row! We all could use the sleep!

Awkward Shopping

Last Friday, I received a text from Laura saying that she hadn't made it to H&M. This meant that in the middle of a torrential downpour, I had the pleasure after work of pulling out an umbrella and heading to the one across the street from my office. My mission? Buy underwear for a two year old. As you all know, we are potty training Ellie. Even though she doesn't have a lot of accidents, we were getting a little tired of doing laundry every evening. Laura had intended to go to H&M because they apparently have the best girls underwear. I really could not comment on that. Since she couldn't make it though, it was up to me to set out and brave the store. Walking in the door, I knew I was out of place. The only person dressed anywhere close to the suit I was wearing was the security guard at the front door of H&M that eyed me wearily as I walked in the door. Other than a nod of the head, though, he let me go on my way, which is pretty surprising since I clearly looked lost. It took several minutes of wandering around the store, primarily in the women's section, to realize that there was a second level. Once up there, it took even more time scouring the girls section for the item. The mothers with their small children shot glances at me when they thought I wasn't looking. I cannot imagine what they were thinking of seeing me in there. The second security guard passed me several times, but like the first, must have assumed I was harmless. When I finally found the little girls section, I was fortunate to find an employee folding clothes. Within earshot of two of those aforementioned mothers with their children, I asked if she could direct me to the underwear. She pointed to another portion of the store with yet more mothers shopping with their small children. At this point, already feeling more awkward than I have in a long time, I politely asked if she would escort me over there and help me out. Thankfully, after a little laugh at my expense she agreed to help me on my quest. Once to the right area where "all of the girls underwear had been moved," we started rifling through hanging racks and bins full of girls underwear. Initially, we couldn't find the right size, so we started looking through more bins for something that would work. After a little more digging, success! We found the right size. However, it wasn't the plain underwear I was expecting. The front of each pair had "Hello Kitty" emblazoned on each one. Instead of searching further, I decided that I had spent enough time girls underwear shopping and asked to be pointed to the cash register. Paying was less dramatic as I only got a slight eyebrow raise from the cashier. Now knowing the store pretty well having spent way to much time searching, I took the shortest route I could to the front door. However, much to my chargrin, my friend security guard number one stopped me on my way out the door. "Find who you were looking for?" he said. I told him I had not been looking for anyone, but must have said something about finding what I was looking for because he next asked me what that was. At this point, I figured, I am halfway out the door, I might as well tell him, so I did, and he started laughing so hard that it drew the attention of several passers by who again gave me weird looks for being in H&M in a suit. The security guard proceeded to give me a high five for making it through the shopping experience with as much decorum as I had. According to him, walking into H&M into H&M with a suit on is not a normal experience, so he was looking out for me. If only I could have sent him on my errand while I hid in a corner somewhere, I think everyone's shopping experience that day would have been a little better. So, there you go. It is no shopping for femine hygiene products, which I maintain is less awkward that shopping for girls underwear, but it was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. And hey, I made a new security guard friend out of it, so it was a win-win. The moral of the story, though? Gentlemen, the next time you have to go shopping for girls underwear, definitely wear a suit. It just makes the story better when the security guard stops you.

My Baby the Sicky

Kellen's had a rough first few months. He has had a cold pretty much since he's been 2 weeks old, RSV, and still has his goopy blocked tear duct eye which will likely need surgery before he turns 1. On Friday around 5 I noticed Kel's head felt warm. I took his temperature and it was about 100.5. Forgetting that the 100.4 benchmark for worrying only was for 0-3 months not 0-6 months I started freaking out. It was slightly lower when Bryan got home shortly after and I did my quick Internet research confirming 101 was the number for Kel's age so after a hit of Tylenol we put Kel to bed. Except he wouldn't sleep unless Bryan cradled him so it was a long night for those two (and for me with my alarm set for medicine and feedings.) His fever was 101.6 at midnight but lower in the morning after a cool bath. After waiting for almost an hour at the doctor we got in and while his fever was down to 99, my little guy had some wetness sounds in his lower left lung. Based on his age, his string of sickness, and the fact that it was a Saturday, the doctor prescribed Kellen an antibiotic in the hopes that it would help. Without a chest x-ray he couldn't really know for sure what was wrong but the medicine was worth a try. Since yesterday morning Kellen's fever has been up and down between about 99.5 and 102.6. He is super congested again and is having a hard time eating and keeping his food down. And his reflux had been so much better! Based on his temperature at bedtime tonight, and the fact that my happy little guy has spent the majority of the day screaming, I'm pretty sure we'll be back to our favorite place tomorrow. We'll keep you updated! Keep my little guy in your prayers!