Our first bloody nose!

Emmy woke up the other morning and we discovered that she had a bloody nose during the night. I'm assuming it's from the dry air in the house due to running the heater and sucking the moisture out of the house. I try to run the vaporizer lots especially at night, but it wasn't on that night.

She seemed very amused by it and keep saying "It's Emmy's blug!" haha In the picture I was telling her to smile and she was giving me a crazy face, lol!

Pick Your Battles

Here's a little something to gross you all out! Yesterday I was barefoot out on the front deck and there was a nail that had worked it's way up and I didn't see it but I sure did feel it. At first I thought that I just hurt my foot but I didn't expect to see what I saw when I looked. EEWWWW and boy did it hurt!!
I soaked it in some salt water, patted it dry, shoved the meat back in and stuck a band aid over it. It hurt alot less this morning when I got up and I could walk (hobble) a little better so I was quite happy with about it.


My grandparents and in laws both thought I should get a tetanus shot but I didn't really think I needed one and couldn't remember when I last had one but I could have had one before moving out here. I did have a prescription for the antibiotic Keflex and was prepared to have that filled if I thought it was getting infected. I talked to my mom about the shot and I looked up what Tetanus is..............it is something you definitely DO NOT want to have and it took me about 5 seconds to decide to call the doctor hahaa.
So I soaked it again and got it all cleaned up and put a new bandage on it and off we went. He took one look at it and said "You need antibiotic, Keflex 4 times a day for 5 days to keep infection away and also a tetanus shot."
I got my shot but I haven't filled the antibiotic yet. I think I'm going to wait and see if I need it. Lilah has been having urinary tract infections and we're trying to build up good bacterias in her body and I started taking probiotics so she'll get them through the breast milk and if I were to take an antibiotic that will undo everything we've been trying to do. So that will be a last resort.

As a side note. I'm reading a book called Healthy Mother...Better Breastfeeding right now and they talk about how important it is to take probiotics after a round of antibiotics because the baby get's all their good bacteria supply through your milk. At day four of Lilah's life we had to go back into the hospital because of mastitis and I was put onto 4 different types of antibiotics and didn't know at the time that afterwords I should take probiotics to make sure to restore all the bacteria that we destroyed in her little system. Long story short... I think this is the reason Lilah might have been more sickly and got colds in her first year of life. Compared to other breast babies it seemed like she was getting alot more colds and runny noses than they were and even though I knew I was doing the best for my baby by breastfeeding her I kind of felt like I was being cheated out of one of the biggest benefits and I didn't know why. I wish I would have found this out sooner, but you can only do better when you know better and that's why it's always important to learn as much as you can! I won't be making this mistake with our next baby *wink wink* take your probiotics girls!!

Pathology

Yesterday we took Lilah to pathology to have her blood taken. My sister stayed home with Emmy and my mother in law, Jan, came up to help with Lilah at the hospital. I was nervous about them sticking her with a needle over and over trying to find a vein big enough, but I didn't need to worry at all because the nurse pricked her finger and milked it into the vile. It took a good solid 5 min's and three grown women to get it done. I had her on my lap holding her head to my chest and also her legs. Jan helped to hold her arm still while the nurse struggled to keep hold of her little bloody thumb. She screamed the whole time, and I felt bad for her, but I knew that she wasn't being stuck over and over by a needle and she wasn't in terrible pain. I was so glad when it was over and I know she was too. She passed out in the car about a minute after we left the parking lot and we only live down the road 2-3 minutes. Once I got her into her bed she slept for a solid 2 - 2 1/2 hours. I really took alot out of her. We have an appointment for Jan 19th to receive the results. From there we will discuss any other allergies and epi pens. Cross your fingers that we won't need to!

ER Trip #2

Today I had to run Lilah up to the ER. She was cranky all morning because of her teething, so her crying wasn't unusual. I scooped her up and went to go change her diaper and clothes and saw a few hive welts on her tummy and that her ears were very red on the inside. I went to go show Kim and thought we should take her up right away and I agreed. In the time it took me to change my clothes super fast, grab my purse and get her a water bottle she had double the amount of redness and welts. By the time we got to the ER which is just a 2 min drive from here it had doubled again. Her poor little ears where completely red and double their size; also her face was swelling and she stopped looking like herself. This is when I started to get scared and freaked out. I couldn't believe how fast it was happening. They took us back straight away and started asking questions. She had breast milk, banana, teething gel and pain medicine that morning. They figured something must have bitten her. I gave Kim a call to update him and he mentioned that he had given her a bite of Emmy's egg. I had forgotten all about it. She had a bite of Emmy's egg before that as well. Egg is a known allergen and is not recommend to children under 1. The doctor told us that the next time she has a reaction it will more than likely be worse and happen faster since this reaction was so bad. We'll have to carry some allergy medicine with us at all times in case she has an reaction. He also stressed that we should stay away from nuts with her until at least age two. In the reading I've done today I have not come across any correlation between egg and nut allergy, but I don't want to see her have a reaction like this again so we'll be staying away from them! They gave her an oral steroid which started to work pretty soon after and I was so happy to see the welts starting to go away. Next they gave her some non-drowsy antihistamene and two hours after we had got to the hospital they let us go home to monitor her there. By the 4 hour mark most of her swelling was gone and once she woke up from her nap another 2 hours later she looked 100% normal. Poor little girl! Can you believe it. No Milk. No Egg. I sure hope we don't find out No Nuts!

Will The Colds Ever End!?

The girls and I are sick again. I'm ssoooo tired of this and can't wait for it to end. Terrible sore throats, bad runny noses, and ear infections. After a week of symptom treating we were just as sick as ever so we went to the doctor yesterday. Now I have the joy of poking 3 doses per day per child of antibiotic for 10 days. YUCK! It's a good thing they don't mind it too much.

I thought I'd share some sicky photo's with you all. My poor babies!

Tonsillitis - Guilt - Happy Ending

I took Lilah to the doctor on Tuesday for some discoloration on her foot which will be a whole separate post later. So she and Emmy had caught a runny nose and sinus headache two weeks ago today but it was on the mend (at this point it had been just over a week and I am always told that viruses take 14 days to run their course). I told the doctor that she had been crying and crying the day before and my husband thought her ears were bothering her. He looked her over really well and came back with Tonsillitis! Man do I feel like the worst mom in the world!! I was able to hold back the tears until I got home and then I totally lost it. I felt SO SO guilty!! I didn't know why she was waking up lots during the night and crying tons and the whole time her poor little throat must have hurt so bad!! We had given her some pain medicine, but I didn't think it was helping so I didn't give it to her every four hours. At one point on Monday I had tried everything and she wouldn't settle so I laid her down for about 15 min and let her cry which was terrible in itself but to now know what was really going on just breaks my heart!

My poor little sick girl.

I had no idea that you could have tonsillitis and not run a fever. I also expected Lilah's symptoms to be less since she's a breast baby and since Emmy was doing really well I didn't put too much to the sickness. I'm very thankful I took her to the doctor for the unrelated problem. If I hadn't then she might still be suffering or her condition getting worse.

As soon as I got home I gave her medicine, fed her well and then gave her some of another kind of medicine so she got a good amount of pain relief. I could immediately tell when the medicines kicked in and she was feeling better. She also slept that night with only getting up once for a feed and a dose of meds.

I'm happy to report that she is feeling good now and is 99% better. Here's a little video I took the other night at bedtime. Emmy is mothering her like a little hen *smiles*

and the sickness continues...

It seems like I haven't had time to post lately and every time I do Emmy is sick again. Today our furnace decided to not work and Emmy began running a temperature with a new runny nose. We had a visit with our nieces who were also getting over colds but I fear we may have caught their bug since we didn't have a runny nose or temp with this last bout of illness. She's completely gone off milk again but is eating foods this time around and of course she still loves her water. I put the electric blanket on the couch on low to sit on when I get too cold to make it more comfortable for nursing Lilah and Emmy enjoyed it's warmth as well on and off today. Hopefully Kim will know what to do to fix it tonight, if not then we'll be receiving a house call from the heating man! I wish I had more to tell but it's just been one cold after another. I did get the wonderful blessing of Lilah blowing out her diaper TWICE today!! I'm talking a total strip down and washing of her and her clothes. She didn't seem in any discomfort leading up to it but surely she feels better lol

Some things we have to look forward to is Disney Princesses On Ice in 2 weeks and Baby Boogie Dance Class in a month. It runs for 10 weeks every Monday morning. I think it will be super fun for Emmy and hopefully Lilah will enjoy watching it going on. I'll wear her in the wrap or sit her in the bumbo ... which ever she enjoy's more. It will be nice to get out of the house and do something together that is out of routine like just going to the supermarket, plus the physical activity she's really needing right now will be good!

Cross your fingers that we get well soon and stay that way!!

one day at a time

Wearing her winter vest Grandma Betsy got her!

Making her Daddy proud! Thanks Grandpa Pete for the cool Colts outfit!

She fell asleep playing with her bowl of lids in the kitchen while I was doing the dishes.... precious! You can tell her father changed her diaper last. (her pants never seem to make it back on but don't worry....... it had warmed up by then)

AGAIN! fallen asleep while eating....... strange little girl!

We talk to Grandma Betsy lots via gmail video chat and the webcam loves to freeze up on us.... I had to snap a picture of this hahahhaha You look great mom! (If you look in the little box you can see Emmy sitting in the computer chair talking and watching)

It was a hot day... don't you like my little dress?

Awww please don't cry baby!

Feeding in her sling.

uummm yummy

I bet you couldn't tell I'm having lunch!

Our daily routine is starting to come together.....FINALLY! Little things like preparing Emmy's breakfast and lunch the night before makes meal times quicker for a hungry tummy. I haven't figured out a feeding routine for Lilah yet. I allow her to feed on demand but she doesn't seem to have a pattern that I have caught onto yet.

Doing the bulk of the laundry over the weekend makes the washing through out the week lighter. Mainly just the diaper washing plus one dark & light load.

The cloth diapers are going great! She does need a booster to make them more absorbent so I got a package of 12 cotton standard diapers and cut them into 10x10 squares. I fold them over once and use this and it's working pretty good. Once I get my new overlocker that is on order I'll surge the edges and may enclose a hidden layer of super absorbent cleaning rag material. She's not overly happy with the new bulky diaper that requires more changes but that is exactly what I'm after! ha ha She has no sign of diaper rash and shes in disposable over night. I do this not because she's a big wetter at night because she's not... it just makes mornings easier on me... its not the first thing that I need to do and allows me to change Lilah and get Emmy's breakfast served up and then I can sit down and feed Lilah first. It's nice to know that we are saving money and the environment at the same time while aiding in our potty trianing.

Emmy is 99% well and Lilah's cough is turning back into a dry cough and her nose is still runny but it's not as bad. I look forward to everyone being happy and healthy for as long as we can maintain it! haha Emmy is adjusting better to Lilah being around and understands what I mean when I say " let me lay the baby down and it will be your turn" She is big on wondering off to her bedroom and playing by herself. Any chance I get to go back there and play with her I do and of course she totally loves it!

She's starting to get into little power struggles with Kim and I to test her limits. I usually maintain my stance and be consistant with the rules but try to use humor to redirect her attention or get my point across so it doens't end in tears, but sometimes this is not possible and she acts like I've broken her heart.

I'm starving..................and while they are both sleeping I'm gonna go grab a bit to eat!
xo

cephalexin rash drama

Emmy seems to be allergic to the antibiotic Cephalexin (so I'd better memorize it because I'll have to be writing it on doctor forms for years to come!) Last night she had a few bumps on the back of her neck but by this morning it really has spread. It starts on her forehead and hairline that goes back behind her ears and down her neck to her bottom and it has now spread to her belly and diaper area. It doesn't seem to itch her, but she may be a little sensitive to touch. Kim and I were paranoid this morning and thought it may be Chicken Pox but our doctor put our worries to ease and said it was just an allergic reaction and to stop her medication.

In general she seems to be on the upswing of getting well. She's past the fever part and has started eating a bit more today. She gobbled down a handful of veggies, fruit, and half a piece of whole wheat bread... which seems like TONS of food compared to her diet the past 5 days!

poor little girl

Emmy's been running a temp on and off since Sunday and I thought we were in the clear yesterday morning when she did fine with no temp all night or morning, but by the afternoon she had a temp of 103 F. After another long night of waking up every hour we headed to the doctor today and I'm very happy we did (even though it took my right arm and a few fingers from my left hand). She's got strep throat! How on earth she has something like that but is still her smiley self for the most part just boggles my mind. She's more clingy to me and is not her totally normal bubbly self, but she's not crying ever and will always smile when you try to make her laugh. I didn't want to chance her having an allergic reaction to penicillin like I do so we asked for something other than a penicillin. She's had her first dose of medicine, a baby Tylenol top up, and a bottle.... so she's feeling pretty decent right now. I'm still well at the moment so hopefully I'll stay that way.

she's back!

This morning my little Emmy is back. All smiles and happy and obviously feeling much better! I snapped a few cute photo's of her this morning while she was playing on her mat.

She's hiding under her taggie!

She's soooooo cute, but I'm pretty bias I guess!

on the upswing

Emmy's fever is gone and she's feeling much better but I have sore throat and she was a bit fussy in the night so I'm assuming she does too, but hard to tell since they can't really tell you what's wrong. We've got some running around to do today so I'll be able to ask a pharmacist if there's anything I can do other than give her pain medicine (which I'm sure is all there is) or maybe some teething gel... when swallowed I bet it numbs the throat as well... so we'll see. I didn't post on Friday because she and I were both laid out but she's now 15 weeks! This Friday she'll be a whole 4 months old! I can't believe how fast the time is flying by. I can kinda see how parents say to their 21 years old "oh it was just yesterday that you were a baby" but not really because that seems light years away!

poor baby

We've had our first fever today. She peaked at 102.3 but has come down since then and depending on her temp in the morning we might have to take her to the doctor. We've called the nurse and she said that we're doing everything that we can for her as far as giving her plenty of fluids, formula, and keeping her in cooler clothing. She's not showing any other signs of illness such as cough or runny nose, but she did vomit this morning directly after a dose of Baby Panadol (like baby Tylenol) right into my mouth and all over my face. There's nothing like cherry flavored vomit to get you going in the morning. Later in the day when the temp went up to the 102.3 I felt like I had no choice, and my mother in law reassured me that we should give her some more pain medicine, but this time we gave her tiny bits and drinks of water in between and that seemed to work and I think we pushed our luck in letting her have all the water she wanted because about 30 min & 120 mls of water later (and she previously had 120 mls of water and 30 mls of formula) she did the largest 4 heaves of vomit and covered me from head to toe and the entire kitchen rug, and I'm not exaggerating...head to toe! Poor little baby girl! She's been handling it very well. She's not cried but a few broken heart whimpers but she's getting lots of love and cuddles and I think Kim is really enjoying her dependentness. He's been able to give her a bottle and do lots of rocking in the glider and usually at night she won't have it and fusses until she's with me. So the positive out of this is some good father daughter bonding!

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