Ethan has blessedly inherited his father's immune system. In his 3 years and few months he's been alive, Ethan has had one ear infection and it was so mild I don't even recall if he had antibiotics for it. He's had a few colds, and is constantly bruised and banged up from the usual little boy trips and spills, but no major illnesses.
Apparently he decided we were getting off easy on this whole parenting thing. When he gets sick, Ethan does it with style. Last Wednesday night he suddenly had a fever of 102.5 degrees. I took him to the doctor the next day. At that time the only symptom of illness was the high fever. The doctor, helpfully, told me to keep him on Tylenol for the fever and call if he got worse. Worse is a mild understatement. By the time we made it back to the doctor on Monday he'd had the high fever for days, had a nasty runny nose, a cough and gunky clogged eyes.
Official diagnosis is an ear infection, a sinus infection, and the beginnings of bronchitis. He's on some lovely bubble-gum flavored antibiotics, nasty Robitussin which he spits back at me and … Tylenol for the fever. He's also being dosed with heavy amounts of Dora and "dragon movies" that his Daddy helpfully downloaded for him- on my computer.
Yesterday I managed to take a shower long enough to condition my hair. That resulted in soft, silky, static charged hair sticking out all over my head. As we were getting ready to go out the door to the doctor's office, Ethan suddenly grinned and reached over to pat my hair.
"You have hair like lion, Mommy."
I'm taking it as a compliment because it made him giggle for the first time in a week.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Andy
I believe in Angels. My angel's name is Andy.
Andy was a fighter with a smile that his mother says lit up the world. He fought off cancer and brought hope to his family. He was the best big brother in the world. In an inexplicable twist of fate and pain, he was taken from his mother's arms by the remnants of the disease he had beaten so long ago.
Andy's mother is my friend on the internet. I've never met her in person but her strength and bravery are a daily inspiration. She is a true lady.
Not long after Andy left us to be with Jesus, I lost my unborn child. I was devastated and scared and withdrew into a haze of self-pity and grief. One afternoon I had a dream that a beautiful red headed little boy stood beside my bed. He stroked my cheek and smiled. I knew in the way that you know things in dreams that this little boy was Andy. He smiled and said, "Don't cry. I'll watch over your baby. He's safe with me now."
Bless you Andy, for all your were on Earth, and all you are in Heaven.
Andy was a fighter with a smile that his mother says lit up the world. He fought off cancer and brought hope to his family. He was the best big brother in the world. In an inexplicable twist of fate and pain, he was taken from his mother's arms by the remnants of the disease he had beaten so long ago.
Andy's mother is my friend on the internet. I've never met her in person but her strength and bravery are a daily inspiration. She is a true lady.
Not long after Andy left us to be with Jesus, I lost my unborn child. I was devastated and scared and withdrew into a haze of self-pity and grief. One afternoon I had a dream that a beautiful red headed little boy stood beside my bed. He stroked my cheek and smiled. I knew in the way that you know things in dreams that this little boy was Andy. He smiled and said, "Don't cry. I'll watch over your baby. He's safe with me now."
Bless you Andy, for all your were on Earth, and all you are in Heaven.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Ack
Apparently when you are pregnant doctors are supposed to take this measurement called a "fundal height measurement" and it gives the doctor an idea of the baby's growth. I say apparently because the much-lamented boneheads of the previous pregnancy never bothered to do this. I rather wish they had so I could have a comparison now.
My blood pressure is much better today. Actually, given how the appointment ended, I should say my blood pressure was better. I gained 6lbs this month for a total of 18lbs this pregnancy. I'm determined to not worry about 18lbs over a 24 weeks span since I'm not entirely sure I have any control over the matter.
Baby's heartbeat is wonderful and he's a bouncy little fellow. No, I did not need a doctor to tell me that. He uses my internal organs for sparring partners at every available opportunity. I cannot begin to imagine where he gets this aggressive streak.
The scary news alluded to early in this post came at the end of the appointment. I'm measuring at 27.5 weeks when I'm actually only 24.5 weeks pregnant. Measuring 3 weeks bigger than expected is enough to send any woman into Lamaze like breathing patterns. Given that I escaped giving birth to a 9lb baby last time by having him 3 weeks early, I'm truly in a panic now.
After calling anyone who would answer the phone and "totally flipping out, dude" I have calmed down enough to remember a few key facts. 1.) I'm retaining fluid because of the asthma medications. 2.) I'm carrying a pumpkin straight out front. That has to affect measurements when the entire mass of baby and womb are forming a salient of my anatomy. 3.) It's a measuring tape. How freaking accurate could it possibly be? (Ok this isn't a fact but an emotional grasping at straws. Humour me.)
My very kind and annoyingly unconcerned doctor said "If you're still measuring big next time we'll do an ultrasound- I don't want this baby getting too big."
That makes two of us, doc.
My blood pressure is much better today. Actually, given how the appointment ended, I should say my blood pressure was better. I gained 6lbs this month for a total of 18lbs this pregnancy. I'm determined to not worry about 18lbs over a 24 weeks span since I'm not entirely sure I have any control over the matter.
Baby's heartbeat is wonderful and he's a bouncy little fellow. No, I did not need a doctor to tell me that. He uses my internal organs for sparring partners at every available opportunity. I cannot begin to imagine where he gets this aggressive streak.
The scary news alluded to early in this post came at the end of the appointment. I'm measuring at 27.5 weeks when I'm actually only 24.5 weeks pregnant. Measuring 3 weeks bigger than expected is enough to send any woman into Lamaze like breathing patterns. Given that I escaped giving birth to a 9lb baby last time by having him 3 weeks early, I'm truly in a panic now.
After calling anyone who would answer the phone and "totally flipping out, dude" I have calmed down enough to remember a few key facts. 1.) I'm retaining fluid because of the asthma medications. 2.) I'm carrying a pumpkin straight out front. That has to affect measurements when the entire mass of baby and womb are forming a salient of my anatomy. 3.) It's a measuring tape. How freaking accurate could it possibly be? (Ok this isn't a fact but an emotional grasping at straws. Humour me.)
My very kind and annoyingly unconcerned doctor said "If you're still measuring big next time we'll do an ultrasound- I don't want this baby getting too big."
That makes two of us, doc.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Snowy fun
We received 10 inches of snow (by my measurements in the backyard) from the snowstorm.
Ethan couldn't wait to get out and play in all the snowy goodness. We took him and the crazy dog Katya out for a walk while Mark shoveled the walkways. Then there was sledding and the construction of our very own Frosty.
Click on the pictures for more snow day shots.
Ethan couldn't wait to get out and play in all the snowy goodness. We took him and the crazy dog Katya out for a walk while Mark shoveled the walkways. Then there was sledding and the construction of our very own Frosty.
Click on the pictures for more snow day shots.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Ethan's new bed
Well the bunk beds were a huge success. Mark and Ethan put them together while I was sleeping on Saturday morning. Ethan practically dragged me out of bed to go see them.
Then Ethan and I went to Target to buy "big boy sheets". He wanted Dora but we settled on Spiderman. I put the sheets on his bed and made up the top bunk with a plain sheet. As soon as Ethan walked in for his nap his little eyes just lit up.
"Oh wow look at these spidermans. Oh look. Oh these are nice!" He jabbered like that for a good 5 minutes before snuggling under the sheets and the big blanket my Mamma made him for Christmas.
We've had no problems with him sleeping in the bed, either (though we weren't expecting any since his crib hasn't had a rail on it for almost a year now). I tell you it's almost heartbreaking how cute he looks with his tiny little body snuggled into that great big bed.
As always, click on the picture to see more.
Friday, February 03, 2006
I carried a pumpkin
Ok the next person who says "Wow you really are growing a belly" gets a foot IN THE EYE.
First: I'm growing a Davis baby- which means despite my messed up body's every attempt to stunt the child and deliver it early, it will still be the approximate size of a pee-wee football player when born. Ethan was 3 weeks early folks- after 8 weeks of pre-term labor. Babies gain about a pound a week at the end of pregnancy. Had he been "on-time" he would have been... do the math quickly now... almost TEN POUNDS.
Second: I'm on albuterol 4-6 times per day to make the lungs work. While it very much helps with the wheezing, albuterol also makes me swell up like the Stay Puff Marshmallow man. And, just like Ghostbusters, I'm the mean twisted version of the "most harmless thing I could think of".
Third: I'm one of those "lucky" women who carries a baby straight out front. I'd say "It looks like I stuffed a basketball under my shirt", but that would be lying. I carry straight out front and low. I stuffed a basketball in my panties. (Don't try it at home, trust me.) Any of you remember the infamous pumpkin belly shot? Yeah well "I carried a pumpkin" is my motto.
First: I'm growing a Davis baby- which means despite my messed up body's every attempt to stunt the child and deliver it early, it will still be the approximate size of a pee-wee football player when born. Ethan was 3 weeks early folks- after 8 weeks of pre-term labor. Babies gain about a pound a week at the end of pregnancy. Had he been "on-time" he would have been... do the math quickly now... almost TEN POUNDS.
Second: I'm on albuterol 4-6 times per day to make the lungs work. While it very much helps with the wheezing, albuterol also makes me swell up like the Stay Puff Marshmallow man. And, just like Ghostbusters, I'm the mean twisted version of the "most harmless thing I could think of".
Third: I'm one of those "lucky" women who carries a baby straight out front. I'd say "It looks like I stuffed a basketball under my shirt", but that would be lying. I carry straight out front and low. I stuffed a basketball in my panties. (Don't try it at home, trust me.) Any of you remember the infamous pumpkin belly shot? Yeah well "I carried a pumpkin" is my motto.
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