healthy?

Jack is just about 19.5 months now and I hate to say that so far this fall/winter he has been sick constantly! He is still having the respiratory issues and for some reason his doctor(s) haven't been able to kick it! He gets really congested and then the couging starts, then the gagging and throwing up from the coughing starts, and then we go to the doctor and he gets an antibiotic and within days he is BETTER - but it never lasts long.

Jack will be healthy as long as he is on his antibiotic and then for the first 2-3 weeks after he finishes his antibiotic and then the entire cycle starts over again!? Ugh, frustrating! We still do his breathing treatment(s) daily and he still takes his Singulair every night - I'm almost at a loss.

I have been told that it could be allergies (duh, the Singulair), but that it could maybe be a food allergy too. A few friends of mine have taken their toddlers to an allergist here in town that works with children/toddlers - so this week I'll be discussing that with Jack's doctor because you guessed it - it's time to go see her again!

Other than the sick issue, Jack is right on track developmentally! He is running, climbing and jumping! He has a new found love of books and wants to read at least 5-10 every evening! He also loves to color - on everything!?!? He is talking more and more and has started putting a few 2-3 word phrases together! Here are a few of the words/phrases I hear over and over - everyday, but I still find it just too cute!

• Where's Chahi? or Where'd Chahi go? (Where's Charlie? Where'd Charlie go?)
• Where's Daddy?
• Where'd (insert he/she/they/dog/kitty) go?
• Peedaboo (peek-a-boo)!
• Moooore!
• Chahi! Chahi! Chahi!
• Dawg! Dawg! Dawg! Arf, Arf, Arf!
• Kitty-Kitty! Moow! Here kitty kitty! (the cat call goes for an animal, not just cats)
• Birrrrr (Bird)
• Big Boy!
• Big Dawg!
• Baaal! (Ball)
• Nine! Nine! Nine! (this was the first button he found on his number book)
• Baaabeee! (Baby)
• Caaaaar. (Car)
• Deeeeer. (Deer)
• Baaath (Bath)

He says more words, but these are the most commonly heard and as you can see he LOVES to carry his "a's" out! Haha! It's cute! He also understands everything you ask him. He has started taking directions and following through. Ex: he puts his shoes away, he throws things in the trash, he helps put the laundry away, he knows his bedroom versus Momma and Dada's bedroom, he knows what all of his toys are and will bring you back the correct one when you ask, he knows when he is in trouble and needs to go sit down and chill out - things like this!

I couldn't be more proud of how he is growing and learning, although I could do without some of the "boy" characteristics - kicking and wrestling and climping/jumping up/off things! Yikes! He is going to make me have a heart attack!

At his 18 month appointment he weighed 24 pounds and was 31.5 inches tall (I think). He has about 11-12 teeth now too! And he is no longer my perfect little sleeper and is sleeping in our bed at least half the night, but I figure until I have a reason to kick him out...I'd rather sleep!

likes to bite!

Jack has a new found passion for biting! It started awhile back, but in the past couple weeks it has increased in frequency. At first every once in awhile he would kind on nibble your mouth if he was giving a kiss, but I never thought much of it and actually thought it was kind of cute! Then he started biting down on our fingers while we brushed his teeth (with the little finger brush - needless to say we use a regular tooth brush now).

But now he is getting more aggressive AND his favorite thing to bite you ask? TOES! Yes, toes - it's so gross, but he seems like he just can't resist! Bare foot, socked foot, shoed foot - Jack doesn't discriminate! He loves them all equally!

Almost every night now he will sneak up on our feet and dive right in (usually going for the big toe) without warning. Sometimes he will grab ahold of your foot first, which gives you time to pull back - other times we are just out of luck! OUCH!

Jack thinks it is down right hilarious! And I'm not sure he is doing it to inflict pain - I think he likes the reaction of us jumping, jerking, and screaming - its funny to him! He also now likes to fake us out and act like he is giving a kiss on the cheek, all the while fully intending to bite your face off!

I started to wonder if he was biting at daycare? I hadn't been told he was, but I couldn't see how he wouldn't be there if he was doing it at home so reguarly? I talked to Tonya today and she said he hasn't bitten anyone other than her and that was only one time. She said they were snuggling and he was burying his face into her and bite her right between the boobs! Oops! Ha, but at least he isn't biting the other children - yet anyway!

Here's to hoping its a phase that he QUICKLY grows out of!

sicky sickerton

Over the weekend I noticed Jack felt a little warmer than usual, but chopped it up to teething because he wasn't acting any different. Well yesterday morning I took him to daycare and told Tonya he felt a little warm that morning so I gave him Tylenol, but that I thought it was just teething and told her to call me if he got any worse...9:15am I get a text from Tonya saying his temp shot up to 102 - 103 degrees! Needless to say I HAD to go get him.

On my way I scheduled him an appointment to see the doctor (or nurse practitioner since our doctor works at a satelite clinic on Mondays and the other doctor at the clinic was booked FULL). In the mean time Jack is fussy and just wanted to sleep and sleep! We got to the clinic and didn't wait long before we were seen by the doctor (he was loopy and I was not impressed), but he said it looks like he has some type of bacterial infection mixed with a sinus infection - say what? Anyway, he said his lymph nodes in his neck were swollen and there was lots of redness and swelling in his nose. We got an antibiotic and he sent us on our way...

I thought - easy enough... until I checked my voicemail last night only to hear Tonya saying, "I won't be open tomorrow. After you picked Jack up this morning Piper (her 3 year old) spiked a 104 degree temp and they took her to the doctor (after her husband got home from work at 2pm) and they think she either has 1) Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease or 2) Fifth's Disease"...GREAT! I'm familiar with HFandM as it has already made it's rounds through daycare since Jack started, but I still need to look into what 5th's is? Needless to say now I'm FREAKING out b/c I'm hoping Jack doesn't have one of these common/fairly common childhood illnesses that our doctor, I mean nurse practitioner who obviously didn't specialize or even see babies that often, wouldn't be familiar with...I guess I'll just have to see how today goes.

Jack is home with Chris today since I was out of the office yesterday...I'm taking bets on what time everyone thinks it will be before Chris calls me and says, "What is his problem? He has been crying and screaming ever since you left!" Haha!

t.e.e.t.h.

Jack now has 3 teeth! His bottom middle 2 popped through last night! Whoop! Whoop!

His mouth is still really swollen in multiple spots so I'm thinking we are no way done, but hopefully we will get a break in another week or so!

we got a canine...

Nope, not a dog - Jack managed to pop through his VERY FIRST TOOTH this past weekend! And in typical Jack-Style it wasn't your "run of the mill" bottom middle tooth or even an upper middle tooth...it was his upper left-side canine!?

Weird I know, maybe even a bit concerning, but hey at least he has teeth, or a tooth! I guess we don't exactly know yet if he has the rest of his teeth!

Jack has also started being a dare devil and letting go of the furniure and standing solo for a few seconds (big achievement in Jack's world)! He is also getting better at walking while holding his hands and is cruising all along the furniture! I think we may actually have a walker - before his 2nd birthday! :-)

12 month "kan be healthy"

Jack had his 12 month check up yesterday with Dr. Mijares. All is well in Jack's world, well minus the whole delay on gross motor, but that's nothing new. He weighed 21 pounds 6.5 ounces and was 28 inches long (I think).

The bad news was Jack had to have his finger pricked and then FIVE shots! Poor baby, but he is such a stud! He barely cried and stopped not 30 seconds after his last shot! He even flashed his nurse (the one who stuck him) a flirty smile on the way out!

Dr. Mijares does want me to take Jack to a dentist to get x-rays to make sure he actually has teeth since we still have ZERO and none in sight! Ugh, I'm thinking I'll do that when I get around to it - nothing to rush, if he doesn't have teeth he doesn't have teeth, right? Nothing I can do about that!

xoxo

11 Month Birthday!

Today Jack turned 11 months old! I can't believe we will be celebrating his 1 year birthday in just another 4 short weeks! Time has flown by...I remember like it was yesterday sitting at the house on maternity leave thinking, "OMG - what have I done?" Haha. It definitely took some time for me to adjust to being a mom, but now I wouldn't change a thing!

Here's an update of some of Jack's developments:

• Jack is pointing.
• Jack is clapping.
• Jack is waving.
• Jack gives kisses when asked and sometimes when he isn't asked.
• Jack says Mama, Dada, No, and Huh-uh reguarly and I'm convinced he knows who Mama and Dada are when he says them...well Mama for sure.
• Jack doesn't like when he see Mom walk by and not come to see him - he screams until I come back to get him!
• Jack still loves daycare.
• Jack loves to give you a pat on the back for picking him up!
• Jack is starting to observe the world around him more and more everyday.
• Jack has mastered his "split scoot" and I'm not sure he will ever crawl.
• Jack is starting to try and discover how to pull up to things and if I give him my hands to hold he will stand up by himself, but I haven't found him standing next to any furniture yet.
• Jack drinks 3-4 bottles a day and is now back to eating his baby food as well as table food!
• Jack has ZERO teeth.
• Jack loves to flirt.
• Jack has a mean bone in his little monster body.
• Jack is starting to use toys in the manner they are meant (drives trucks around on the floor, etc.)
• Jack throws fits.
• Jack is starting to semi-sleep better (I'll regret that).
• Jack loves to throw things.
• Jack goes from sitting to knees and back to sitting.
• Jack will stand when placed as long as there is someone to entertain him.
• Jack can sometimes sit up on his own, but this isn't consistent and mainly only happens in his crib or pack n play.
• Jack weighs just under 21 pounds - I'm not sure on his length as Chris didn't pay attention at the dr. this week.

This is all I can really think of. All in all Jack is doing great (minus the whole pneumonia thing)!

xoxo

10 and a Half Month Update

I know, I know - I've been a bad blogger lately! I have some time so I wanted to update (document) some of Jack's favorite activities! This will be in bullet point form!

• Jack is a clapping fool! He loves to clap - he claps when he is happy, he claps when he is mad, he claps to himself in the back seat, he claps when I sing, he claps when he screams! He is all around just a CLAPPER!
• Not only is Jack a clapping fool, but he is a dancing fool as well! He loves music (which became apparent to me around 4 months of age)! He loves his nursery rhymes, sung by myself or his singing book, he loves the radio, he loves phones that play music, he loves commercials with music (especially that new "I can't believe it's not butter" commercial with the lady from Will and Grace - anyone know it?), but the best part about his love of music is his DANCING! He will bounce up and down and shrug up his little shoulders and can that boy keep a beat! He has good rhythm! He bounces in perfect beat with the music and when he gets really excited he will also throw in a little swaying front and back! When standing up he will bend his knees and bounce his whole body up and down! It's so CUTE!
• Last week Jack starting pointing - doesn't sound like a big milestone, but it's so cute! I have to admit the first few times he raised his arm up and pointed; Chris and I thought he was doing the "gay" hey wave! But after watching him a few times I realized he was pointing at me, then I noticed him pointing at lots of things! So that's a new favorite of his!
• Jack also will give kisses when asked probably 40-50% of the time and then randomly he does it without being asked! I love it!
• Jack also has become more and more in love with the fact that he can shake his head "no"! He now knows what it means as well - see he is starting to reject his baby food (that's a whole 'nother story) and if he even sees me pick up the container or the spoon he screams and shakes his head no! It's cute, but FRUSTRATING!
• Jack also loves balls - play balls/toys that is! He loves to throw them and then scream til you throw it back! He pretty much is throwing or pushing anything off of anything! And he thinks it's funny - Momma on the other hand does not!
• Jack still has ZERO teeth, although he has been working on them pretty hard lately!

That's pretty much it for his new tricks. A quick update on the physical therapy and leg situation: We have been working with him a ton and he has been spending tons of time in his Jumperoo and Walker and he is now standing (no PT needed) so we have decided to forego the physical therapy for now. I talked with a PT I know and he said that until Jack is at least 12 months old we would probably be wasting lots of time and money. He still isn't crawling, but army crawling (backwards only) all over the place, he is still getting up on all fours and bouncing and every once in awhile lunging forward. Yesterday he was on the bed while Chris was packing his suitcase and Jack went from sitting up onto his knees to look over the edge of the suitcase! He has also been working on sitting up by himself - that's still a work in progress though for sure!

We took Jack to the doctor last week (he has had really bad allergies which lead to double ear infections) and he was still only 27 inches - maybe 27.5 inches long and weighed 20 pounds 2.5 ounces!

Well this turned out much longer then I had anticipated! Thanks for sticking through it! :-)

xoxo

Teeth

Nope, we still don't have any, but I've concluded that the Devil is behind the entire teething process. Jack is heading into week 3 of his on and off, sleeping and not sleeping, screaming and not screaming teething escapade.

I have decided that he MUST be teething b/c he has been back on his reflux meds for well over a week and the hiccups have disappeared (thanks Prevacid), but the pain and sleep disruptions remain! I didn't think he would teeth for this long at once? Is this normal?

I've ruled any other illness out because the pain seem sporadic and not consistent. He will be fine and sleep and eat great, then the next day and night he is a mad man!?

I just wish his teeth would either come in or just go away! :-) So he can feel better and I can get back to sleeping through the night without disruption!

xoxo

Great Debate Update

I thought an update or more info was necessary after some of the comments I have received on the whole teething debate. Everyone thinks it sounds like teething to them, which is good and bad in my case.

I have tried Tylenol alternating with Motrin - doesn't seem to help much. We've tried the Teething Tablets - didn't see anything come of that at all. I haven't tried Baby Orajel, but I'm going to get some (hence we I haven't tried it), but I looked last night and I seriously DO NOT SEE ANYTHING in his mouth! No swollen gums, no white spots, no nada!?

I mean I totally wish/hope that he is teething because I'm dying to let him try more table food and I'm starting to wonder if he even has teeth anywhere under those gums - I mean he is 9.5 months old for goodness sake!

But I did start him back on his reflux meds this morning because the more I watched him the more I thought he was showing some signs of reflux - rearing his head back, not wanting to lay down on his back, the non-stop hiccups, it's always worse at night after he has ate all day long (Tonya says he is fine all day at daycare, but around 5:30 or so he gets super duper cranky!), wanting bottles over food - this soothes the pain in his throat, the wet burps have begun again as well and waking at 2am screaming.

Either way - his reflux meds won't hurt him and we can try weaning again in another few months and if it's teeth then teething TOTALLY sucks! We'll see hopefully here in the next week or so if we pop a tooth through or if his meds take his symptoms away (it takes about 5-7 days for the medicine to start working again - grr...).

xoxo