Yay for Strength and Spring!

We were discharged from the hospital Monday morning and LB has been gaining strength and getting better each day:]  He hasn't had milk in almost a week but we're going to slowly add that back into his diet since he has a really sensitive tummy with all of the antibiotics.  We're all trying to get caught up on sleep so I haven't even fought the nightly crib battle... we all pile into the bed and LB wakes up about once for his paci... good enough.  

We can speed up recovery around here with dog therapy!  Nothing makes this boy happier than getting the dogs to come up on the back porch and they talk about whatever dogs and little boys talk about!

I am so ready for warmer weather and today could not have come any sooner.  I am a summer-loving girl and Spring is just one step closer, yay!  We also have some special things coming up- our anniversary, camping, Spring Break, a one time house cleaning to name a few- yay!   Busy but Blessed times! 

In the hospital

We were oh so close to making it through winter with no sickness but when LB gets it, he goes all out:( Sinus, ear, 8 days of fever, virus, weight loss and dehydration has landed us a hospital stay for at least two nights.  No mama wants to see her baby get an IV but I must say I felt relief once that was done and I knew we were going to get around the clock care. I had entered panic mode. PC and grandmas and I did everything we knew to do the past week to help him and he just got worse.  So last night I slept in a hospital crib but I was beside one love of my life while the other camped out in a recliner beside us and I knew everything was going to be okay.  It has to be, this is my miracle baby.

Sick Baby & Spots on Ears... Freaking Out!

 A week ago, LB ran his first fever of 100-103 during the night and we took him to the pedi the next morning (Friday).  He said it was an ear infection in his right ear and gave us amoxicillin and told us to do ibuprofen for the fever. Over the weekend, we saw improvement but Monday afternoon and through the night the high fever was back despite the ibuprofen.  We went back to the pedi on Tuesday morning and they tested for flu.  Thankfully that was negative but they changed the antibiotic to a stronger one.  Tuesday night his nose became really runny to the point of having to sleep (as much as he could anyway) sitting up to manage it.  I called the dr again on Wednesday and they called in claritin for that.  Today, he did not run a fever until after lunch and he was a little more active but we still have a nasty runny nose (not clear today either).  His pee diapers are a little less in amount but still changing about the same number (drinking lots of water/juice but not as much milk) and his poops are watery but the dr told us that would probably happen because of the antibiotics. So, he made some improvements today, but then I saw a dark purple spot in his right ear and a lighter one in his left ear.  I am freaking out!  Has anyone experienced anything like this?  PC told me not to G.oogle it and of course I did and I'm really freaking out.  Could it be something like a busted blood vessel from all the snot-sucking?  Poor little guy... PC and I are so ready for this to be gone and for him to get relief.  Breaking our hearts!    
 

Cheap Entertainment

A 15 month old is what I call "cheap entertainment" these days!  This show includes but is not limited to:   

• Chasing dogs (need to post about LB and his obsession with dogs) while I say a million times "gentle, love him/her, be sweet" as he goes for the tail

• Words!  LB chooses a "word of the week" and then puts it in his little word bank.  In his bank are mama, dada, hey, bye (but the "b" is a hit or miss so sometimes it's just eye that means bye), oh wow (this is one of my favorites), bur (bird) and the word of the week right now is "Look!"  When a light comes on... "Look!"  When the dogs come up to the window... "Look!" It comes with the finger pointing. 
• Dancing is a little bounce with a head shake... so cute but so hard to capture on video because he knows what we're doing!  
• Your "projects" and problem-solving are so much fun to watch these days.  One example... can't find a paci?  Use a lego instead.

Walking and words are changing everything... let the toddler adventures begin!

Twenty Questions

Linking up with PAIL twenty questions because I need a lighthearted distraction and have enjoyed reading and learning more about you all!  Sorry for the lack of comments, had a lot going on with work in February and a little boy not sleeping with a stuffy nose= tired:[  Here goes...

1.  What was the last thing you threw in the garbage/recycling? 
--Puffs container :] 
2.  What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?
--It's PC's iPod and most likely Pork & Beans by Weezer.
3.  What is your favorite quote? 
--"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."  Gandhi
4.  What chore do you absolutely hate doing? 
--Floors!
5.  What is your favorite form of exercise? 
--Right now it's keeping up with a 14 month old!
6.  What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?
--4:30- Home sweet home, Friday, and July- sunshine, sweet tea & flip flops! 
7.  What is on your bedside table? 
--It's on PC's side (I really need my own) but since we share- flashlight, alarm, diapers and a paci. 
8.  What is your favorite body part?
--Do dimples count for this?  And I don't have them:[  But my boys do and I think they are precious:]
9.  Would you use the power of invisibility for good or evil? Elaborate. 
--I'm pretty sure spying falls into the evil category but sorry to say that was my first thought!
10.  If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 
--30's minus infertility.  Life is Good.  Crazy, but Good!
11.  What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? 
--Sounds nerdy but get an financial consultant/attorney and make a plan, but that plan would definitely include an extended vacation!
12.  What is your biggest pet peeve? 
--People who think rules don't apply to them and they are better than others- grrrr.   
13.  If you could know the answer to any question, what would it be?
--Will I ever learn to drive a stick shift?  I have tried and tried and tried.  
14.  At what age did you become an adult? 
--I was on my own pretty much from after I got a job at age 16... I wouldn't take it back because it shaped my work ethic and determination... but it was tough. 
15.  Recommend a book, movie, or television show in three sentences or less. 
--Really not up to date on much but look forward to Duck Dynasty every week!   
16.  What did you do growing up that got you into trouble? 
--Made too many hasty decisions... like buying a car that was too expensive at the time and getting a perm that I brushed out the next day!
17.  What was the first album you bought with your own money? 
--I honestly cannot remember!
18.  If someone wrote a book about you, what would be the title?
--Pass. 
19.  What story do you wish your family would stop telling about you? 
--The time that I ran from "wolves" in the woods.  Wild pack of dogs, coyotes... what difference does it make,  it was a terrifying experience that I still can't find the humor in!
20.  True or false: The unicorn is the greatest mythical creature. State your case.
--Yes, since I can't think of one any better and I used to collect them when I was younger.  PC would totally say sasquatch.  

This Boy is Busy!

Walking has opened a whole new world for LB... and has us on our toes more than ever!  He is one busy boy and he is into everything and everywhere.  We seriously have to make sure gates are closed and doors are shut or he is out of our sight within seconds and (usually) doing something that makes us nervous!  Below are some snapshots of life lately!

He finds "hiding" places for blocks, toys, cups etc.  The favorite spot is behind the playyard.  I never know what's going to turn up here!

I was just a few feet away and looked up to see this.  Instead of running to grab him, I went for the camera of course!  Needless to say, the step stool is folded away and has a new home for awhile.

He took this basket from one end of the house to the other.  He was on a serious mission! 

See the white baby-proof hook?  It's there to prevent this kind of project but I left the door open and LB  promptly rearranged every pot, pan and lid (and had lots of fun in the process!)

My sweet busy boy! :]

Holding on to Baby Stuff

I am struggling with what to do with baby stuff that we no longer need or use.  The dilemma is that I don't have a good reason to hold on to anything except for the sentimental value.  I have passed along some clothing and toys to co-workers and friends but there are some other-bigger or newer- things that I could sell and be using that extra money towards things we need now.  I can put everything in storage... but why?  One of my best friends gave us a pack-n-play that she had stored in her attic.  I was excited to use it because I had great memories of her kids using it.  But when we went to put it together, squirrels had gotten into the netting and ruined it:[  It sounds like I know what I want to do but when it comes to actually doing it, that's a different story.  I have totes full of LB's clothes from this first year because I just can't get rid of them... yet.  I have one small tote of maternity clothing because I can't do that either... just yet.  But, take the walker for example.  LB loved it and so did we.  But we haven't used it in weeks and I look at it taking up space and think about how another little one could be enjoying it.  That is when my "can't let go" struggle sets in!  We have such great memories of him cruising around in this walker.

If we were not done with ART and TTC then I would hang on to everything and hope that it would be used by a sibling.  But that chapter is closed so I need to separate my emotions and let go of some baby stuff.  I'm predicting that's easier said than done...     

SOS- Survival Week

Not going to post a "Simplifying on Sunday" goal list this week because, in addition to a 50 hour work week ahead, we have three evenings with stuff going on:[  Instead, it will just be a survival week as we end the month of January.  Is that crazy... seems like a month that usually goes by slowly just flew!  This time last year I was half-way into my maternity leave and spending my days snuggling up with a newborn.  Time I will forever cherish that went by way too fast.  Oh how I wish we had the Canada one year maternity leave plan!   

In other news...
This weekend LB officially started walking.  Yay.... I think:]  He had started taking steps around 11 months but then something happened and the kid went on a walking strike.  Anytime we would let go of his hands, he would sit.  If we tried to get him to stand back up and he was on to our game, he would buckle his legs.  I don't know what was up with that... maybe because he had a few hard tumbles... anyway, this weekend he decided it was time.  It is quite a sight to behold because 1- that's my baby walking and 2- he holds both hands out in front of him like a mummy.  Eh, we'll work on that later! 

Off to get some things done for this crazy busy week... hope it's a great one for all of you!!!

Total Random-ness

• An IRL friend told me about the i.Period app that keeps record of anything and everything related to AF.  For anyone TTC, it has a fertility component that's really good.   

• It's a sleet/ice day here in the Southeast and that means everyone loaded up on bread & milk yesterday and schools were closed today in order to survive the winter storm.  Let me brace myself to step out on the front porch to show you a winter storm in the southeast.  Cracks me up...

 

• I'm not complaining about the winter storm because my view right now is my sweet boys enjoying an afternoon nap while I'm cozy on the couch getting to blog about random-ness.  Nice.  (PC is somewhere under that blanket.)

• We made the move to the Stage 2 car seat this week and went with the Brita.x Marathon.  LB likes it but I need to read a little more about it because it just doesn't feel as secure as I think it should feel or maybe it's because he looks smaller in the bigger seat.  We're going to keep him rear facing for a few more months or as long as we can height-wise.   

• This 20 seconds caught on video keeps making me laugh.  We'll call it Operation Paci Rescue!