Big Day

Today was Bug's surgery day. He had ear tubes inserted and a frenectomy (his tongue tie was clipped). The surgery itself didn't last very long. Daddy arrived with Bug, I dropped Roo off and then arrived. We played with Bug as much as we could before his surgery but he was a bit grumpy because he had a very empty tummy. The nurses were wonderful and made him comfortable enough that when they took him back, he didn't cry. I think handing him over and them carrying him back was the hardest part for me. When he got back he was even more grumpy and wanted nothing to do with the bottle full of water I had prepared for him. This is what I figured would happen so I was prepared with milk to pour into his baba. The nurse got some hot water, we warmed the baba, finished all the discharge paperwork and wa la, we were outta there.

Bug cried the entire way home. I was hoping he'd fall asleep in the car but no such luck. We got home and he was in bed for a nap by 9am. He woke up after just about an hour and I went and napped with him in his chair until a little before noon. He was still pretty grouchy when he got up so I gave him some lunch and had him back down for a nap at 1. He got up around 2 and was in much better spirits. He had a blast playing with Baxter for the rest of the day until we picked up Roo.

We're glad the surgery went smoothly and hopefully he'll be ear infection free!

He's Making Daddy Question All His Medical Training

On Sunday, which was a beautiful day, we were outside playing in the afternoon and I noticed that Bug wasn't acting very chipper. As I was swinging him, he was sort of laying his head on the swing like he could take a nap, but he had just gotten up from a nap. So we decided to take his temp because we knew he was going to get his tubes on Wednesday and wanted to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. Sure enough, he had a temp.

When he woke up on Monday I had to decide whether or not he was having ear infection behavior or if it was different. If it was ear infection behavior with the fever it would have been ok to drop him off at Kristin's. Ear infections aren't contagious, despite our previous pediatrician's claim that they were. But his behavior reminded us a bit more like when he had the swine flu. So I dropped Roo off at Kristin's and then went home with Bug and called the pediatrician when the office opened. Bug didn't nap very well and ran a temp throughout the day.

When we got to the office, she did a very thorough inspection and did a nose swab to test for RSV. It's the end of RSV season but a lot of cases came into her office last week, plus his breathing was a little off. He tested positive and our instructions were to keep an eye on him and watch his breathing.

Since then his behavior has come close to normal but he keeps spiking really high fevers. Yesterday afternoon after his temp was 98.6, it shot back up to 103.7. Daddy was worried so he called the ped back and they stayed open late to see him. She checked his ears and checked him for strep and both were fine. She said it's a pretty nasty virus and some kids are coming in with fever as high as 105. That would definitely freak me out! So we were told to continue with the Tylenol and Motrin around the clock.

This morning I thought for sure he would have finally had a normal temp. Nope, not even close, 103.3. Insane! So I continued with the Tylenol and Motrin. Traded off with Daddy at work again and again his temp went down to 98.6. But then at bedtime, it shot back up to 102.3. Seriously!

Dr. Bradshaw just called and said that she was hoping he'd be back to normal today and that if he wakes up with a fever over 101 tomorrow morning to give her a call and she'll do some blood work in the morning just to make sure it's not some other infection. Having done the blood work drill with Bug once before I can say this is really stressful.

Again, I'm so glad we switched doctors. She really cares about him and does not at all poo poo our worry, and it takes a lot for Daddy to worry. What was most surprising to me was last night when Daddy told me that Bug is making him question all of his medical training. Wow, at least I'm not the only one perplexed by this little guy!

The best part of all of this is that the one thing that really makes Bug happy is Roo! I've kept Roo home in the mornings this week before I've gone to work and traded off with daddy. So I might be missing a lot of work but we're having some good quality time at home and enjoying our waffle breakfasts. Roo was so excited to deliver Gatorade to Bug on Monday night, it was adorable. He was even more excited when Bug gave him a cookie to say thanks for being a great brother. This is the first time in a while that Roo hasn't been totally jealous of Bug when he's sick. Yay Roo!

Bug's First Haircut

It makes me sort of sad that Bug had his first haircut today. It looks amazing and he cried the entire time but it means he's not a baby anymore. We went to Jenny's Barber Shop, the same place we go for Roo and Jenny cut his hair so quickly and perfectly and he just cried and cried. He took a break now and then from the crying to watch Roo get his haircut. His hair looks wonderful and he got a certificate and she put his first clippings in a little bag for us.

Roo was great getting his haircut. He wasn't thrilled at first but he knows that they give him candy and a juice box afterwards.

And we even took Baxter to get washed today. He has a nice shiny coat and nicely trimmed nails.

Now mommy needs a haircut!

Down Goes the Spider

There was a little spider running through the hall at bedtime. Daddy was doing something else so the boys and I took care of the spider. I found a toilet paper roll for assistance since we were all barefoot. I collected the spider with the toilet paper roll and Roo suggested that we should put the spider in the toilet. We all went over to the bathroom, put the spider in the toilet and Roo flushed. We all watched the spider go bye bye. Once again, a preview of our future with two active little boys.

New Habits

Tonight was a first, it was the first night where the television wasn't on at all the entire time the kids were awake. Awesome! And they didn't really care because they were occupied doing other things. We got home, played outside, made dinner, ate dinner and went for a walk and then had a quick snack before bed.

Yesterday, Roo and I got in a argument because he wanted an apple. I had him begging for an apple! He had an apple earlier in the night when Daddy was cooking dinner and I told him he needed to have a few bites of his dinner before he could have another. I was just so excited that I had him fussing with me about fruit, not candy, not peeps but fruit.

The day before, both boys were at the fridge, with the door wide open, rummaging through the fruit bin trying to get something out before we stopped them. Score more points for mommy and daddy!

We've really been changing our eating habits and it looks like they're starting to pay off. The kids are really healthy to begin with but we want to give them good eating and exercise habits (something we know we need to work on for ourselves). With spring around the corner and the warm weather peeking through, we're starting to make some progress and the kids are loving it. This doesn't mean they won't get ice cream, but it means that in general, the only treats in the house will be Teddy Grahams or Newman's treats or cereal other than the fruits veggies we have for them to snack on.

Mommy and daddy are going to attempt P90X, thanks to Amy and Joe for getting us started! We'll let you know how it goes once we jump into it.

Good Times

This afternoon/evening we had a lot of fun just playing at home. Bug decided to hit all of us on the head with an empty soda bottle. When we asked him to stop hitting Roo, he wouldn't, so I asked him to sit in time out. His response? He dropped the bottle, walked over to time out and sat quietly until I told him he could get up...less than a minute later. I wish the 3 year old would listen so well! We just think it's adorable that Bug understands what time out is, and I knew he'd walk over because I've seen him do it when I've told Roo to sit in timeout. He's really picking things up quickly and we continue to be amazed with his vocabulary.

And Roo continues to be adorable in his big boy bed. Tonight we turned the volume on his video monitor on and we learned that he likes to sing to himself before he goes to sleep.

The best part of it all is that they're playing together more and more. Bug likes to give Roo big hugs and kisses in Roo's bed before they go to sleep. And Roo loves to go upstairs and be the first to see and talk to Bug after his nap. Soon they'll be plotting against mommy and daddy....

Big Boy Roo

We're so proud of Roo. He's doing such an great job potty training. He pooped in the potty again today and was so excited to show me how big his poop was tonight. He wore big boy underwear, real underwear, all day today and didn't get them wet at all! I even sent him with two changes of clothes! And while Mommy and Daddy were out today, we got him a mattress and box spring and put together his big boy bed...his crib converts to a full size bed. And we put his cool new sheets with cars and trucks and comforter on it and had it all ready for him when he got home.

He was a little hesitant at first but he loves it. And he went to bed like such a good boy. And so far he hasn't tried to get out.

Roo's sleeping in a big boy bed and wearing big boy underwear!

Wow, it's amazing how fast they grow up. And props again to Kristin for figuring out when and how to potty train him. Because honestly, I was not at all interested!

By the way, shopping for little boy underwear is very exciting, finally a boy accessory I can shop for :)

Allergies Suck!

Tonight Love Bug had his first acute allergic reaction. As we were getting dinner ready, I noticed a sippy on the counter and joked with Daddy that he had just made the sippy but forgot to give it to Bug. Daddy said that it was the one that come home with the boys from Kristin. So I gave it to Bug. He took a few drinks and a minute or so late we put him in his chair for dinner. But he was acting really weird. And his voice was really hoarse. And then his bottom lip started swelling. As soon as he was acting different and I heard his voice I figured he was having an allergic reaction, but from what? So we kept an eye on him and tried to figure out what he ate and then realized the only thing we didn't have control over was the sippy. So we opened it up and tasted it and it was that evil cows milk stuff.

We then ran around the house like idiot chickens with our heads cut off. I mean seriously, we both know that if we are even considering calling 911 that we need to use the epi pen. I mean duh, we KNOW that. But we had never seen him react to anything before other than throwing up from egg and we dairy reactions are not typically anaphylactic.

So I got the number to the allergist and called and as soon as Bug's lip started swelling Daddy took him to the emergency clinic down the road, less than 3 minutes away. And then the nurses line called back and said we should have given him the epi. So I call Daddy and tell him to speed and to make sure he runs in the door and that he gets seen immediately.

And then I talked to the nurse more and she calmed me down a little and took all of Bug's information and gave me some advice on what to do in the future.

Daddy called to let me know that Bug was being seen and was doing ok. And then when I talked to him later he told me that Bug was lucky enough to see the quack doctor, that he had been given prednisone and to call the nurses line because he wasn't happy with quack doctor. Quack doctor is in the same group as old pediatrician.

So I spoke with the nurses line and asked what we should do the rest of the night and after she got in touch with the allergist she called back with guidance. Double his normal dose of Zyrtec and prednisone at midnight and see the allergist first thing in the morning. She said it's possible to have a secondary reaction which is why we need to give him more medicine during the night. And I'll be sleeping in his room later in the evening once Daddy gets home. I thanked her for all her help the whole night and am grateful the nurses line is competent enough to have let us speak with the same nurse all night.

Bug was going to have some allergy blood work done tomorrow but we'll postpone it...and his allergist appointment will actually be a lot more fun for him anyway, they have a play room!

Daddy went and filled the prescription and Target filled it as he stood there! Target rocks!

I spoke with Kristin and we've figured out how he got the cup of evil milk and have made plans for preventative measures since the boys like to share cups and we've been ok with Roo having whole milk at daycare. All soy all the time for our boys. And I can't wait to find some outrageous sippy's for Bug.

I can't imagine how much worse this would be at a big daycare or even in elementary school. And some of my hopes of this going away in the next few years are gone because we didn't expect this severe of a reaction. Bummer.

But on the bright side, because there always is...as I consider how we learned about his allergies while I was nursing him and today how we learned how severe they can be...I figure better to learn this now while either we or Kristin are watching him and know how to handle it (note idiot chicken comment above) than if he were in a different environment.

So, lesson learned: do what you know, give the epi if you're considering calling 911, then call 911.

We have a ton of questions for Dr. Craig for tomorrow. Should be an exciting appointment!

Potty Training

And today Roo pooped on the potty! Once at Kristin's and once at home. Hooray! Tomorrow we're going to try real underwear during the day instead of pull-ups. We'll see how it goes, but he's doing great, we're so proud!

Kristin called it right on with the timing. Two of the kids are in pre-school and Roo has been pretty jealous about this so Kristin suggested we bring some pull-ups and that she would see if Roo would try. Sure enough, he used the potty a lot for peeing last week and this week and today we achieved poop! And he's staying dry most of the time, which is great. He's just a little more stubborn about going on the potty at home compared to Kristin's, but we're working on that!

Like Elmo always said, "everybody does it, Roo will use the potty, yeah!"

Watch Out for the Little One

So Bug has a budding little personality. Last night he noticed Roo's sippy sitting on the entertainment center, looked over at me, looked back at the sippy, looked over at me again with a little smirk and took it.

Later during bathtime, Roo was saying no, no, no to something (not in a bad way, in a funny way) and there goes the little Bug joining in saying no, no, no with a smile and shaking his head.

I may have said this before, but I was a really well behaved kid, so if what goes around comes around, my kids should be really good, except for the fact that their Daddy...well...he was far from a perfect angel...that's why Grammy got gray hair...and why the boys are not likely to be perfect angels! Can't wait to watch how they conspire together in the years to come.

Tubular Dude

We took Bug to the ENT today to learn more about tubes since he's had recurrent ear infections. Aside from flirting with every lady in the waiting room (one even wanted to take him home) he did great at the appointment. Dr. Franz recommended that he get tubes and we've scheduled the procedure for later this month. Though he had an ear infection 2 weeks ago and was on antibiotics, he still had fluid in both ears. We're also going to have his tongue clipped since he's slightly tongue tied. I'm going to miss his cute little tongue. Hopefully the tubes will provide him with relief. At least this is one thing we can blame on Daddy's side of the family instead of mine. He's got the allergies from my side but the ear infections are from his Daddy.

We were also going to do some allergy bloodwork (RAST) after the appoitment but decided once we got there that there was no way he'd sit still. So we'll save that for another day.

On Grapes

And Roo runs up to Daddy and says, "I found a baby one," "And it's SMALL!"

And Love Bug discovers he really likes grapes too.

Next up, apricots.