Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Jack's first haircut and some new shoes

Jack's hair has been getting a little out of hand over the past little while. He had developed a set of "horns" growing out of the sides of his head that didn't lay down with any amount of combing.

I couldn't stand it anymore so I took him to get a haircut today. He loved it! He smiled at the lady and giggled when she used the clippers. As she mowed the "horns" down, he almost seemed soothed by the sound and the vibration. This was and is a totally different experience than what happens with Ryan. Ryan is SO ticklish that he can't stand the clippers. He squirms and giggles, then gets frustrated. He used to cry and at least he doesn't do that anymore. Jack, like with many other things, just took everything else in stride.

I think he looks so cute and grown up with his new haircut.

When we got home from the hair cutting extravaganza, I decided I would try my hand at a new pair of shoes for Jack. He has worn huge holes in the pair of booties that he has been wearing and his toes are at the end. I decided because of the warm weather, that he should have sandals. Here is a picture of what I came up with. He definitely has some growing room, but I'm pleased with them and expect them to last (size wise) through the summer.

Monday, February 15, 2010

8 months

Jack is 8 months old today! He is a big, happy, boy.
  • He is around 21 lbs. and 30 inches long.
  • When he eats, he gets really excited and rotates his feet in circles.
  • He much prefers food to bottles. This has been a struggle for the last several weeks.
  • When I hold him, his legs and arms continually move.
  • He still only has two teeth, despite weeks of teething.
  • He is trying to figure out how to crawl. He can scoot forward when he really wants something, but he is much better at backward. He gets super frustrated because that is not the way he wants to go.
  • He is constantly trying to get into Ryan's things and desires to do everything Ryan does. This does not make Ryan a happy camper. Jack can't figure out why not.
  • He still loves to suck his two middle fingers, although sometimes he includes a 3rd finger.
  • He gets better everyday at making his hands grab what he wants.
  • He has been a little momma's boy ever since we were sick. He is having a slight bout of separation anxiety.
  • He is the happiest little guy and always has a smile.
  • I love my little BIG guy!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Feb. 7th

Today is my sister Julie's birthday. She and I defined ourselves as allies and friends growing up and I think that definition still stands now. I really wanted to do something special for her this year. As I was perusing fabrics online, I came across some that just looked like my sister. I toyed around with several quilt patterns before I settled on one inspired from Anthropologie. I didn't think that I would be able to sew her quilt because of all the illness our family has experienced over the last two weeks, but it worked out. I am delighted with the finished product and I really think she was too. Happy Birthday Julie!


Friday, February 5, 2010

House Arrest

I guess being under house arrest with two sick boys has its advantages. Even though we've been up a lot at night because of fevers and illness, the boys have been sleeping a good chunk of the afternoons affording me some time in my sewing room. Boden's appliqued t-shirts have always been inspirational to me so today while the boys slept, I created a few new shirts. I found some old plain onesies/ t-shirts and designed away. What a great release for me. I love the results and can't wait for the boys to wear them.

vroom!


blast off!


triceratops close-up



triceratops

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

...It pours

And now Ryan has the stomach flu. Please tell me there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Monday, February 1, 2010

When it rains...

Last Sunday was the beginning of it all. Ryan woke up with a fever and a cough. Jack had been sniffling and raspy sounding for a week. I sent Phil off to church while I stayed home to care for the boys. By 10 o'clock, Ryan was quiet and still snuggling with me on the couch and his cough was getting worse. Fearing a trip to the ER like last year, as soon as Jack woke up from his nap, I took the boys to the pedi-center. I gave my $10 co-pay for each and had the doctor check them both out. Jack was given a clean bill of health because he was teething, but Ryan was diagnosed with croup and an ear infection. He was given meds for his cough and infection. I texted Phil to let him know what was going on. He asked me to pick up some Airborne when I picked up Ryan's meds. I scoffed at him and retorted that croup was a childhood illness and that we wouldn't need it.

Ryan's fever was gone through the next day and Jack seemed no worse for the wear and I was feeling better about things. Tuesday, Ryan's fever came back and I started to worry. Phil and my dad took turns caring for Ryan on Wednesday while I went to work. My voice seemed a little raspy that day, but I thought it was a change in the weather, allergies, or whatever else living in Bakersfield can throw at you. Thursday, the raspy-ness turned into a cough and by Thursday afternoon, I was feverish and exhausted and wondered if I would get my boys home from their respective daycares without falling asleep in the car. I got home and flopped on the couch while Ryan tried to convince me to get up and play. Jack was still wheezy and snotty, but happy. Ryan was doing better and had been fever free that day, although the cough was still nagging. After being at home alone with the boys for about 20 minutes and feeling totally vulnerable and unable to do anything, I pathetically called Phil and asked him to come home and help with the boys. I had thrown in the towel. In my groggy state, Phil asked me to go to the doctor the next day. I told him it was viral and tried to ignore him since I hate going to the doctor.

Friday, I barely left the couch and I don't really remember anything except feeling awful. I still refused to go to the doctor because it was "just viral." What could the doctors do anyway? Phil had taken the boys to daycare so I could get some rest and he could go to work. About 1pm, Jack's daycare provider called to tell us he had pink eye. What did we do to deserve that little plague? I thought to myself. I told Phil that I would go get Jack. He looked at me and said, "no." He would be getting Jack and taking him to the doctor. Phil came home with eye drops and a nebulizer for Jack and Jack's bronchiolitis. Ummm, so that explains Jack's ever diminishing appetite. Doctor did say that he was a "happy little wheezer" and I would have to agree with that statement. My mom called later to check on us and volunteered to get Ryan and keep him for the night which I happily and deliriously agreed to.

Saturday morning, I woke up, trying to hack up a lung and headed straight to urgent care. I knew it was bad when the receptionist and nurses looked pitifully upon me while squirting hand sanitizer on their hands as I passed by. A chest x-ray, an antibiotic shot, and a breathing treatment later, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and sent home with antibiotics and some prednisone. I was told to return on Monday and the doctor would then discuss with me when I could return to normalcy.

Jack's condition has been steadily improving and he seems great today. Ryan however, started his fever last night. again. Phil took him back to the pedi-center and he was given a stronger antibiotic as he has not kicked the croup or ear infection. He slept til 9:15 this morning and spent his waking hours snuggled with me on the couch all day. My mom and Phil took turns caring for us today. I went back to urgent care, per doctors orders, and was told, although I am improving, I was not to go back to work and should come back Wednesday to be checked out again. I was also warned I may have to stay home all week. At lunch Phil came home and wasn't feeling up to par. I sent him to urgent care after he was told he couldn't get in with our doctor til tomorrow. He came home with a diagnosis of the earliest stages of pneumonia and a z-pack. He was not told to return later and chances are he will be on the up and up in days.

Meanwhile there is a stack of gorgeous fabric waiting in my lovely new/old sewing room and a project that I have designed, yet all I can do without hacking up my lungs, is sit on the couch and watch mindless TV shows. And worry about Ryan. And hope that Jack stays well. And pray that Phil really does get better as quickly as the doctor seemed to think that he would. I want this plague to pass our house already. Say a pray for our sad little pathetic bunch.