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As you know, David, Audrey, and I have taken turns being sick since the first week of November. Last week, Audrey's illness took on a serious tone, to say the least. I'll go ahead and say that she's perfectly fine (except for a vicious cold), but we didn't know that then.
Audrey and I have been fighting a bacterial/viral infection for several weeks now. It's cost us several hundred dollars in homeopathic remedies. Why not take Audrey to the doctor? Because I don't want her taking antibiotics that are unnecessary. That's why I have to take such strong meds when I get sick, because I took too many antibiotics as a child.
I decided last Thursday that Audrey needed to go to the doctor. She'd had a fever since the first day of February (at least), and I was getting concerned. David took her, since I was sick in bed. I was awakened by a call from David, saying they were on their way home from the doctor's office. I asked what was wrong with Audrey, and he said, "We'll talk about it when we get home."
Yeah, I don't think so. Then he said, "Well, they've definitely ruled out cancer; the doctor wanted you to know that." Excuse me? CANCER? He then told me that we needed to take Audrey to the Children's Hospital the next day for blood work. Our doctor wanted to see if she had a long-running virus or an autoimmune disorder. Again, what the...?
To make a long story short, I completely freaked out. I called my mother in tears to explain what was going on, hoping to pull myself together by the time David and Audrey got home.
Dr. W asked if our thermometer could be the problem. We have one that measures temporally (one that you swipe across the child's forehead). We had wondered that before, when she had an ear infection recently, so we took the thermometer to the doctor. We tested it against theirs, and ours was spot on.
I can't write anymore right now because I am truly exhausted and very angry, but at least you know she's okay. More on this the next post.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Valentines
We had fun making valentines for the grandparents this year. We decided to keep it simple, just to cut out hearts and put stickers all over them. David cut out the hearts, and we just peeled the backs off the stickers and let Audrey place them wherever she wanted.
Yeah, I definitely live in my robe. Whatever. I'm been sick forever now.
Anyway, we also made one for David on the sly while he was at work. It was so much fun and so simple. Audrey loved it, and so did the grandparents, needless to say.
David and I agreed that we'd keep Valentine's Day simple this year, no gifts, just cards. And that we'd go see a movie soon or go out to eat. Well, David didn't abide by that rule, as you can see.
He had already given me a single rose on Sunday, which I was perfectly happy with (you can see it to the left of the other flowers in the last pic). He also sent me dark chocolates, which is basically the only sugar I can have, one piece a day (or sometimes two:) So basically, I feel guilty about not getting him anything, but I'm not going to let that keep me from enjoying my gifts!
We bought Audrey three books, and I've read them about a million times since we gave them to her on Sunday. She particularly likes Itsy Bitsy Spider, which contains not only the song, but also an explanation of why Itsy Bitsy is trying to climb the water spout in the first place. It's a great book.
Happy belated Valentine's Day!
Yeah, I definitely live in my robe. Whatever. I'm been sick forever now.
Anyway, we also made one for David on the sly while he was at work. It was so much fun and so simple. Audrey loved it, and so did the grandparents, needless to say.
David and I agreed that we'd keep Valentine's Day simple this year, no gifts, just cards. And that we'd go see a movie soon or go out to eat. Well, David didn't abide by that rule, as you can see.
He had already given me a single rose on Sunday, which I was perfectly happy with (you can see it to the left of the other flowers in the last pic). He also sent me dark chocolates, which is basically the only sugar I can have, one piece a day (or sometimes two:) So basically, I feel guilty about not getting him anything, but I'm not going to let that keep me from enjoying my gifts!
We bought Audrey three books, and I've read them about a million times since we gave them to her on Sunday. She particularly likes Itsy Bitsy Spider, which contains not only the song, but also an explanation of why Itsy Bitsy is trying to climb the water spout in the first place. It's a great book.
Happy belated Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Build-a-Bear
Mom wanted to get my nieces and Audrey an animal from Build-a-Bear for Valentine's Day. We did this last year, too, the weekend before Valentine's. We decided to go this past weekend so it wouldn't be too crowded. Puh-lease. That place was packed full of people.
And so many rude kids! Three little girls, who were in line behind Owen, actually pushed him out of the way so they could see the selection of animals. Unbelievable. Somebody asked where their parents were, but I didn't see them anywhere (big surprise).
I think Audrey enjoyed it, although she was overwhelmed. That place is so hot, it's ridiculous. I'm the most cold-natured person I know, but I knew from last year that I was going to be miserable. Even with a short-sleeved shirt, though, I was roasting. I could never work there; what a nightmare. The lights are so bright, it's so loud, and I feel like I'm teaching again when I'm in there. ::shudder::
Audrey got a really cute dog, though, and he has a magnet in his mouth and one paw so he can "blow kisses". Here he is.
Adorable. So I guess it was worth it.
And so many rude kids! Three little girls, who were in line behind Owen, actually pushed him out of the way so they could see the selection of animals. Unbelievable. Somebody asked where their parents were, but I didn't see them anywhere (big surprise).
I think Audrey enjoyed it, although she was overwhelmed. That place is so hot, it's ridiculous. I'm the most cold-natured person I know, but I knew from last year that I was going to be miserable. Even with a short-sleeved shirt, though, I was roasting. I could never work there; what a nightmare. The lights are so bright, it's so loud, and I feel like I'm teaching again when I'm in there. ::shudder::
Audrey got a really cute dog, though, and he has a magnet in his mouth and one paw so he can "blow kisses". Here he is.
Adorable. So I guess it was worth it.
Friday, February 3, 2012
We're sick again (don't read if you just ate or have a weak stomach)
This is so ridiculous. I mean, really. Can't we catch a break? Around 11:00 on Tuesday night, I was reading in bed and heard Audrey coughing (or what I thought was coughing). Then I heard a lot of moving around, so I decided to run in there. I didn't turn on the light, hoping I could soothe her back to sleep.
I was immediately hit by this sickly sweet smell. I actually thought for a second, Did she sneak something to eat in her room? Which totally didn't make sense, I realize. I turned on the light, and there was vomit EVERYWHERE. Literally. It was all over her, her "babies", the sheets, the crib, and the WALL. Talk about projectile vomiting.
She was on her knees in the crib, staring at her hands, which were covered with...well, you know. She was just totally confused by what had happened, since she hasn't ever really thrown up. Besides the spit up she had as a baby, of course.
Oh my gosh, it was terrible. I immediately scooped her up, and she was so hot. She kept saying "Mess, mess" and I was trying to reassure her that everything was okay. She's become kind of obsessed about messes lately.
I don't want to get into too much detail, but there was some undigested food that was definitely recognizable, and she kept talking about that, too. Okay, maybe that was too much detail.
I started making my way to the bedroom to get David, and he met us at the door. He had to wash everything in the crib, including the babies. Thank goodness we have a duplicate of her lovey she's had since she was a baby. She needed a bath for obvious reasons, and it was around midnight when we got back to bed.
David decided to stay home right then and there, and he started working on sub plans. We didn't know how the night was going to go. Thankfully, that was the only time she threw up.
On Wednesday, I already had an appt with my homeopathic doctor, since I've been feeling so weak and fatigued. Audrey went with us, and Jeanne decided to test her, too. We both have something called rickettsia, which is a virus and bacterial infection all rolled up in one. Double the fun. She also tested David, who didn't have it, thank goodness.
So now I'm giving her drops in water and spraying an immune-enhancing homeopathic into her mouth twice a day. David had the idea to get her to open her mouth to sing, and then I spray it in there. It doesn't have any taste, which is wonderful.
So we go back to Jeanne on Monday to see if it's gone. I pray that it is. Here she is after our wonderful night. Looking a little paler than usual, no?
I was immediately hit by this sickly sweet smell. I actually thought for a second, Did she sneak something to eat in her room? Which totally didn't make sense, I realize. I turned on the light, and there was vomit EVERYWHERE. Literally. It was all over her, her "babies", the sheets, the crib, and the WALL. Talk about projectile vomiting.
She was on her knees in the crib, staring at her hands, which were covered with...well, you know. She was just totally confused by what had happened, since she hasn't ever really thrown up. Besides the spit up she had as a baby, of course.
Oh my gosh, it was terrible. I immediately scooped her up, and she was so hot. She kept saying "Mess, mess" and I was trying to reassure her that everything was okay. She's become kind of obsessed about messes lately.
I don't want to get into too much detail, but there was some undigested food that was definitely recognizable, and she kept talking about that, too. Okay, maybe that was too much detail.
I started making my way to the bedroom to get David, and he met us at the door. He had to wash everything in the crib, including the babies. Thank goodness we have a duplicate of her lovey she's had since she was a baby. She needed a bath for obvious reasons, and it was around midnight when we got back to bed.
David decided to stay home right then and there, and he started working on sub plans. We didn't know how the night was going to go. Thankfully, that was the only time she threw up.
On Wednesday, I already had an appt with my homeopathic doctor, since I've been feeling so weak and fatigued. Audrey went with us, and Jeanne decided to test her, too. We both have something called rickettsia, which is a virus and bacterial infection all rolled up in one. Double the fun. She also tested David, who didn't have it, thank goodness.
So now I'm giving her drops in water and spraying an immune-enhancing homeopathic into her mouth twice a day. David had the idea to get her to open her mouth to sing, and then I spray it in there. It doesn't have any taste, which is wonderful.
So we go back to Jeanne on Monday to see if it's gone. I pray that it is. Here she is after our wonderful night. Looking a little paler than usual, no?
Monday, January 23, 2012
Nook
I'm addicted to my Nook. Seriously. Just a few months ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of having one. I have an English degree, I used to teach English, and I love the feel of a book in my hands. I thought that snuggling up with a Nook just wouldn't be the same.
And it's not. It's so much better! I do the majority of my reading in bed while lying down, and I prop my books up on a pillow. This was getting increasingly hard for me, because with the fibro, my hands get tired, especially with hardbacks.
But with the Nook? No problem. I also don't have to angle a book so I can get the best lighting, since it has its own light. It's easier for me to prop up on a pillow. And you can change the text size if you need to.
I have the Nook Color, and I asked for that one with the idea that DD would enjoy some of the children's books. I've been a little disappointed with that, though, since hardly any of them are free. In fact, most of the books aren't. I had thought that some of the classics would be cheap, maybe 99 cents, but most are not.
The good thing is that I have a few gift cards from Christmas, so I can read to my heart's content for now. When those run out...well, I'm not looking forward to going back to "real" books.
If you don't plan on using the Nook for children's books, you really don't need the Nook Color. But if you do, it's pretty cool. I've downloaded a couple of free ones for Audrey, and she really likes them. I think there's also an app that allows some books to be read by the Nook. I have to investigate that, especially for when I'm my voice is getting hoarse from reading! I also downloaded a book about sea creatures (above Audrey's level), but she enjoyed looking at the pictures. The colors look good and sharp.
Just hoping my gift cards last as long as possible, so I don't have to go "old school" again:) And I'm so glad my baby loves books as much as I do.
And it's not. It's so much better! I do the majority of my reading in bed while lying down, and I prop my books up on a pillow. This was getting increasingly hard for me, because with the fibro, my hands get tired, especially with hardbacks.
But with the Nook? No problem. I also don't have to angle a book so I can get the best lighting, since it has its own light. It's easier for me to prop up on a pillow. And you can change the text size if you need to.
I have the Nook Color, and I asked for that one with the idea that DD would enjoy some of the children's books. I've been a little disappointed with that, though, since hardly any of them are free. In fact, most of the books aren't. I had thought that some of the classics would be cheap, maybe 99 cents, but most are not.
The good thing is that I have a few gift cards from Christmas, so I can read to my heart's content for now. When those run out...well, I'm not looking forward to going back to "real" books.
If you don't plan on using the Nook for children's books, you really don't need the Nook Color. But if you do, it's pretty cool. I've downloaded a couple of free ones for Audrey, and she really likes them. I think there's also an app that allows some books to be read by the Nook. I have to investigate that, especially for when I'm my voice is getting hoarse from reading! I also downloaded a book about sea creatures (above Audrey's level), but she enjoyed looking at the pictures. The colors look good and sharp.
Just hoping my gift cards last as long as possible, so I don't have to go "old school" again:) And I'm so glad my baby loves books as much as I do.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Funny things Audrey's been doing lately
1. She calls hiccups "pickups".
2. "Magazine" is "mazagine". We don't correct her because it's so darn cute.
3. She lines things up. She has this tiny set of Mickey Mouse books, and she will line them up in a row on the kitchen floor. She has the Leapfrog phonics fridge magnets, which are rounded at the top so they can fit in Scout's doghouse. The other night, Mom put the magnets in alphabetical order. After she was done, Audrey turned around the Z and the N, which Mom had misplaced because she didn't know about the round part.
4. She likes to call airplanes and helicopters "airplane-copters".
5. She's come to know my doctor/health care people's names. When I leave, she'll say the name of the person she thinks I'm going to see. Kind of cute, kind of sad.
6. She likes to poop in private, which is pretty common. But one night, she disappeared into the kitchen, and Mom went to check on her. She had gone in there to poop, and when she saw Mom, she said,"Go back in there!" (talking about the den). Hey, a girl needs her privacy.
2. "Magazine" is "mazagine". We don't correct her because it's so darn cute.
3. She lines things up. She has this tiny set of Mickey Mouse books, and she will line them up in a row on the kitchen floor. She has the Leapfrog phonics fridge magnets, which are rounded at the top so they can fit in Scout's doghouse. The other night, Mom put the magnets in alphabetical order. After she was done, Audrey turned around the Z and the N, which Mom had misplaced because she didn't know about the round part.
4. She likes to call airplanes and helicopters "airplane-copters".
5. She's come to know my doctor/health care people's names. When I leave, she'll say the name of the person she thinks I'm going to see. Kind of cute, kind of sad.
6. She likes to poop in private, which is pretty common. But one night, she disappeared into the kitchen, and Mom went to check on her. She had gone in there to poop, and when she saw Mom, she said,"Go back in there!" (talking about the den). Hey, a girl needs her privacy.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Two-year letter (a bit late)
Dear Audrey,
I know I'm late on this one, but I know you'll forgive me. I don't think I was ready to accept that I have a two-year-old. Plus, one or the other of us has been sick since the first of November. It's been a trying time.
You have changed into a different person in the last year, although many things have stayed the same. You're still a wonderful, sweet, caring little girl. You just aren't as little now. Sometimes I wish I could reverse time and experience your babyhood again, but I know I'd miss the person you are now.
Your personality is so wonderful. You're easy-going, just like your daddy. You're cheerful and playful. You're funny. You're loving. You're everything I could ever hope for in a daughter.
And you're tall! I didn't realize that for a while, since you're not often around kids your own age. But I've been noticing it lately, and my thoughts were confirmed when we took you in for your 2-year checkup. You are in the 93rd percentile for height. Say what? To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. I mean, I'm 5'2" on a good day!
Once thing that hasn't changed too much is your eating habits. You started refusing meat about a year ago, and you're continuing that trend. In fact, you're very picky about food now, much to our frustration. I guess it's just a toddler thing.
You know so many words now, and you've been using complete sentences for a while. Your intelligence and skills of observation constantly amaze me. Your favorite activity is still reading books, which is great. I guess you take after me that way:)
You love your daddy to pieces, and he's often the only one who can soothe you when you're upset. In fact, I can hear you in your bedroom right now chattering happily about Daddy. He loves you so much.
And so do I, little angel. You're my miracle.
Love,
Mommy
I know I'm late on this one, but I know you'll forgive me. I don't think I was ready to accept that I have a two-year-old. Plus, one or the other of us has been sick since the first of November. It's been a trying time.
You have changed into a different person in the last year, although many things have stayed the same. You're still a wonderful, sweet, caring little girl. You just aren't as little now. Sometimes I wish I could reverse time and experience your babyhood again, but I know I'd miss the person you are now.
Your personality is so wonderful. You're easy-going, just like your daddy. You're cheerful and playful. You're funny. You're loving. You're everything I could ever hope for in a daughter.
And you're tall! I didn't realize that for a while, since you're not often around kids your own age. But I've been noticing it lately, and my thoughts were confirmed when we took you in for your 2-year checkup. You are in the 93rd percentile for height. Say what? To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. I mean, I'm 5'2" on a good day!
Once thing that hasn't changed too much is your eating habits. You started refusing meat about a year ago, and you're continuing that trend. In fact, you're very picky about food now, much to our frustration. I guess it's just a toddler thing.
You know so many words now, and you've been using complete sentences for a while. Your intelligence and skills of observation constantly amaze me. Your favorite activity is still reading books, which is great. I guess you take after me that way:)
You love your daddy to pieces, and he's often the only one who can soothe you when you're upset. In fact, I can hear you in your bedroom right now chattering happily about Daddy. He loves you so much.
And so do I, little angel. You're my miracle.
Love,
Mommy
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