Snow Day

I wish for it every year, and then when it finally comes, I wish it would go away.  The only reason its stressful is because of work.  They don't ever close the hospital, so you never know if you really need to come in or not.  Living out in the sticks, its always a gamble on if you can get it and how long it might take you.

It snowed yesterday.  They closed schools and daycare at noon.  It started snowing around 2.  I left work at 4:30.  There was already good acculumation on the ground when I got home.  I was eager to get home to have fun with the family.  We all bundled up as soon as I got there and headed outside.

Abby seemed interested at first, and then she changed her mind.  She as a little top heavy from all the hats and coats.  I don't think she liked that.  Every time she tried to take a step, she would lose her balance and fall.  Snow got into her sleeves and her pant legs and that upset her.  That really upset her.  She didn't like the cold one bit. 

I did get the chance to take several pictures.  She was non compliant with smiling, but that just adds to the memory.  I was most proud of getting a new family photo.  I now have one of us in the snow to replace the one of us at the beach this summer. 

Its amazing that that was just 6 months ago.  And in 6 months, it will be just as hot again.  Right now, I'm over winter.  I've seen the snow, so I'm good.  I like the way it looks, and I like being outside in it (for a while), but I don't like the stress is causes on me.  Someday maybe I won't have that problem and I can enjoy the snow.

4+2=6

Last week daycare told me Abby was extra fussy.  They were concerned her ears weren't clearing up.  I hadn't seen any behaviors at home that would give me that impression.  She'd been sleeping and eating well.  She seemed to want her pappy more, but I think that was because we weren't letting her have it.

This weekend I noticed something though.  I noticed she had two new top teeth!  That may explain the fussiness last week.  The teeth were clearly through, so I know they had been there for a few days, which would correlate to the days of fussiness.

She finished the antibiotic on Saturday and I haven't seen any signs of her ears bothering her.  She still has some drainage from her nose and the occasional cough, but everything is so much better than it was.

I can't believe she got more teeth that quick.  I suspect that others may come in rapidly too.  I wasn't looking for top teeth, I thought bottom teeth were next! 

Big Girl

Yesterday when I picked Abby up at daycare, she was a little squirmy, so I set her down while I talked to her teacher.  We were already in the hallway so when we were done talking, I just turned and started to walk away and Abby followed. 

She walked out with me last night.  She WALKED out with me.  I did pick her up when we got to the door.  But she seemed so big walking beside me.

She's becoming so independent.  And she's so stubborn about it.  (That's thanks to both parents!)

It does go by so fast.

As a first time mom, I'm a winner

Abby's been sick.  I thought it was little cold.  She had a runny nose, a cough, a low fever (99ish).  I thought it was viral and it would pass.  Just like all the other colds she had. 

I sent her to daycare because it didn't seem like to was too bad.  She seemed a little crabby, but a cold will do that to anyone.

When I picked her up Tuesday, Kelly told me she seemed very upset and wouldn't stop crying.  The only thing that worked to quiet her was the pacifier.  And she knew I didn't want her using it except for naps (although we've gotten really lax on that at home), so she didn't want me to be upset. I didn't have a problem with it.  I just thought her behavior was due to not sleeping good and being congested.

Wednesday I took her to daycare.  She still seemed off, but mostly it seemed to be from poor sleeping.  Around 10:30 I got a text from Tonya asking if I had noticed something different about her.  I didn't really know what to say.  Yes I have, but if I admit that I do, do they then think I'm a bad parent for still sending my child to daycare.  I send her to daycare for a reason, because I have to work, and Gene has to work (and right now the Cracker Barrel order has to be ready on Monday and its not near done).   I was vague with my response.  I asked if she needed to be picked up, again worrying that I'm looking like a bad parent.  And she replies "Well, she's miserable!" 

Arghh..

Yep, bad parent right there.

So I call and make an appointment with the doctor.  Really just to appease them, thinking all along its just a cold and I've just through $20 out the window.  Gene stops what he's doing to get her.  I can't leave for another hour so he stays home with her till we can meet at the doctor.  He leaves her with me at the doctor so he can go back to work to get things going.   She seems lethargic, but not totally out.  She still wants to walk about and look at things.  She's eating all the snacks out of the bag.  She cuddles a little bit longer than usual in my lap.

Dr. Hart takes a good look at her.  He spends a long time listening to her chest.  But I thought it might be because she won't stop wiggling.  We have to lay her on the table to look in her ears.

Then he says... Yep, its her ears.  Son of A...

Argh...

bad parent award again

I feel so awful.  I know that hurts.  I've have recently experienced that.  She didn't seem to be tugging on her ears.  But it explains the over all grumpiness. 

He also said she has RSV.  But, she's probably mostly over that because it peaks between 4-5 days and if she started having symptoms on Saturday then she is at or past peak.   But he could notice a little wheeze in her breathing.  He said it should resolve itself in a few days, the cough would slowly get better.

He prescribed antibiotics and off we went.  I picked up my Mother of the Year Award on the way out.

Abby's at home today.  Playing with Daddy and MaeMae.  She will stay home tomorrow too.  I don't know what to say to daycare.  I'm sure I'm not the first, first time parent to not know something was wrong.  But I feel like and ass to begin with for sending my kid when they are sick.  They need sick baby daycare.

Oh well, I guess you just live and learn.  Hopefully I'll do better the next time she's sick.  At least now I know what to look for.

First Slumber Party

This past Friday was our annual, Burning of the Greens Party.   A time to unwind from all the holiday stress, stand around drinking cold beer, and watch your crispy Christmas tree go up in flames.

The weather hasn't really been cooperating the past several years, and this year is decided it was going to rain on our parade, again.  But that didn't stop us from having a good time, and burning trees.

But the best part for Abby, her friend Caroline got to come to her house and play.  The two of them had a great time playing with Abby's toys.  They also enjoyed sharing hugs from all our friends. 

I knew before the party started that Abby wouldn't want to go to bed.  She loves people and parties, so if something is happening, she wants to be a part of it.  She eventually settled down for the night (about an hour after her usual bedtime).  Around that time Caroline settled down too.  We didn't have the pack and play at our house, so I told Noel to just put her in the crib with Abby.

The two slept peacefully for 2 hours before Noel took Caroline home.  I don't think either one knew the other was there, but it was so sweet to look at.

More

Abby has never been a great eater, but she eats.  She hasn't become too picky.  Although I'm discovering there are foods she doesn't like to eat (strawberries, grapes).   She's usually up to whatever is on her tray. 

Its hard to come up with ideas on what she should eat.  Mostly because she only has a few teeth, so she can't chew a lot.  Breakfast is also hard because I like it to be something she can feed herself.  I'm busy getting my breakfast and getting things ready for the day.  I don't have time to sit and spoon feed her. 

This morning I tried some pancakes.  I found mini pancakes in the freezer section of the store and thought they would be good for her.  (And JJ too, he loves them).  I heated up two for her this morning, drizzled them with a bit of syrup and then cut them in to pieces for her.

I went on about my morning business. Then I heard her little voice.  "Ma"  "Ma"  uhh uhh "Ma".  I look over and she's signing "More" to me.  She wanted more pancakes!  Of course you can have more! I was so excited to see her communicate with me.  On her own terms.  She can often mimic responses, but I've never seen her initiate communication.

I took two more out and heated them up.  She gobbled those up almost instantly.  She shoveled so many pieces in her mouth she could hardly chew.

I guess I have another item I can add to the breakfast (or dinner!) menu!

Happy New Year!!!!

We started the New Years Eve Festivities with a trip to the doctors office.  Abby's has a weird rash on her arms and legs.  It hasn't bothered her one bit, but it did bother me.  It felt like sandpaper.  It was strange brown bumps, almost scabby.  But they didn't start that way.  They were red when they started.   Being the holidays, it was hard to get in touch with anyone.  The first nurse I talked to suggested hyrdocortisone creme.  We did that for four days, but saw no change.  Then I played phone tag for two days.  Finally they allowed me to come in and be seen.

First of all, JJ went with us.  I don't personally care for the entourage to go along, but I figured this one time wouldn't hurt.  Dr. Hart was initially confused because he recognized JJ, but didn't know how we was related to us.  Once he got the story, it all made sense to him. 

Dr. Hart looked at Abby's rash.  He inspected it with his special medical flashlight.  She wormed and skwormed all over the table.  He did some hmmm... and awwws...., till he came up with nothing.  Yes, nothing.  He doesn't know what it is, but he suspects that it will go away in a few weeks.  It may have been a contact reaction to something.  But it wasn't anything serious. 

We also asked about the rash on her face.  He didn't think the two were related.  He suggested Aquaphor for the face.  She's really loving having it smeared all over her face.  She hates having her face touched!!!

We continued on with the festivities, gathering with friends at Sullivan's for dinner.  Its become a small tradition.  Its nice to have something to do to kill some time.  We were there for several hours, before heading back to the Dorns to ring in the new year.

I suspected Abby would be tired, so I brought her PJ's and her nap mat.  But, she didn't want anything to do with that.  She did let me put her jammies on, but she wasn't having any part of sleeping!  If there is a party, she wants to be a part of it.  That girl lasted still midnight!  I was struggling, but she was wide open.  Until, we got in the car, and then she was asleep before we got to the end of the street. 

I was very concerned that she would wake up at her usual 7:00.  But she slept until 8:30.  She did take two longer naps on New Years Day to help make up for it. 

2014 may be an interesting year for us.  I don't know what's in store.  The business is doing fantastic and continuing to grow.  We've promised JJ a trip to Washington DC this summer.  We hope to see all the museums as well as get a little R&R in there.  Gene and I are headed to the Dominican Republic in February.  I didn't think it would be hard leaving Abby for a week, but as its getting closer, I'm really starting to dread it.  Even though I'm looking forward to the trip, I just don't want her to miss us while we are away. 

I can only hope that our health continues into 2014.  I seem to be the only one last year with troubles, but that has resolved itself.  And, since the tube is still in and doing well, I don't foresee anything problems coming around. 

I guess we've got health, wealth, and happiness and I can't ask for anything more!