JourneyLeaf: Life a Page at a Time

Better?

Eli woke in the middle of the night, yet he didn't seem upset.  With teamwork, Brian and I got more medicine and some formula in him.  And then after seven this morning I heard the most wonderful sound...Eli happily babbling and playing in his crib.  I want to be careful about antibiotics because I know if used carelessly they can lose their effectiveness, but I am so grateful for them!

Ear Infection

A couple of weeks ago, I thought middle-of-the-night baby vomiting was the worst.  Now?  Well, it sure ain't fun, but once your baby is cleaned up, they can usually rest peacefully for a while.  This week Eli most likely has a cold (paired with three top teeth coming in at once) and it slowly developed into an ear infection.  Every night has been difficult with Eli stirring and crying out periodically.  There's no real rest.  A couple of nights he went through long periods of restlessness and twitching.  Sometimes he is downright inconsolable, crying and thrashing.  He didn't want to be in the crib, in my bed, in the rocking chair, or even in my arms, yet he didn't want to be put down either.  With a cold and ear infection, it is easier to keep Eli hydrated than with the vomiting, thank goodness, but the nights have been pure misery.  We're crossing our fingers that tonight there are already enough antibiotics in Eli's body to make a difference.

I'm so thankful that when Eli had a fever for the first time, he was over a year old.  I can't imagine going through this when your baby is tiny.

And I'm thankful for still more.  
--My pediatrician's office (Dr. Gerwein at Bayside Medical for you local folks) has been fabulous.  Eli hasn't been terribly sick in the grand scheme of things, but when I explained that we were new at all this illness stuff, everybody was especially helpful and understanding.  
--I'm grateful to Eli's grandparents who came two days in a row to help out, keep me company, and let me catch afternoon naps.  
--I'm grateful, too, to my mama friends who kept in contact so I didn't feel so isolated.  Thanks, Emily, Anjahni, and Diana!  
--And thanks very much to Tracy who didn't laugh when I told her my morning sob story of going out to get the last can of precious Diet Dr. Pepper from the garage only to have Eli pull it out of my hand where it painfully bounced on my toe before rolling away.  (Brian later ran it over with the car, properly punishing it for its cheeky behavior.)  Instead, Tracy later brought over a case of soda, a lunch salad, some dark chocolate, and a very cheery bouquet of flowers.  

 

Thank you all.  I consider myself in your debt and will repay by "paying it forward" and doing what I can for the next mama friends who walk the floors all night with sick wee ones.

 

After a very long nap today, Eli woke up with sheet prints on his cheeks.  Please get well soon, Sweet Baby.

Art Time

On Monday, Eli and I made a trip to the crafts store and came home with some toddler-friendly art supplies.  Mama has two art education degrees, so it makes sense to start early, right?

 

Eli's new crayons are designed to be easy for a small hand to hold.  They stack for storage...or, apparently, to allow you to wear them on your thumb.
 

 

We have very lofty goals for Eli's early art endeavors.  Namely that Eli learns not to eat the art supplies.

Eli Illness Update

Thank goodness, our little guy seems better today!  And once Brian got through his heavy teaching day, he is taking some comp time today to be with us.  He did night duty last night so I could get some rest.  Feeling thankful indeed today!

Illness

It seems like we just got through Eli's first real bout with illness.  Now he's sick again.  In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, he had a fever for the first time and it still threatens to zoom back to 102 whenever he's due for another dose of infant ibuprofen.  I took Eli to the doctor first thing in the morning.  His ears, nose, and chest are fine, although his throat is a little red and his glands swollen.  It may simply be a cold.  Whatever it is, it arrived during some intense teething, so that makes it all worse. 

Eli cried out several times in the night.  It really is an awful feeling to reach down into the crib and find your baby sweaty and feverish.  Eli even smelled hot.  I would hold him for a long time until he was ready to go back into the crib.  When I'd crawl back into my own bed, it felt like my arms and chest were still radiating damp heat from that small child up against me.  Each time, it was a relief to be able to get Eli back into his crib because I knew he would rest better there.  Yet as tired as I was, part of me wanted to hold him until morning.  There's this crazy middle-of-the-night feeling that if you can just keep your little one in your arms, your love will start putting things to right inside that small body.

The last time Eli woke before dawn, his fever was down but he was wild-eyed.  He has a distinctive cry when he is in physical pain -- a vaccination shot or a pinched finger -- and this was that cry doubled.  He cried and cried and cried, his body stiff and his little fists jerking.  I'd never seen him this distraught for this long.  So scary when it comes in the middle of the night!  Help feels far away when it is dark outside, all the world seems asleep, and your collection of mama tricks comes to naught.  Finally, a warm bath and warm bottle slowed down the cries.  He became quiet, limp, and sleep-heavy against me.  Relief.

Before I became a mother, I assumed worry and sleeplessness were the hardest parts of a sick baby.  That's true.  But the isolation is bad too.  When you are sleep-deprived and must hole up with a cranky toddler, the days can seem very long.  Dreary winter just amplifies it.  Thankfully, Eli's grandparents are staying at nearby Travis Air Force Base in their RV for the winter and came to our rescue.  Eli had a restful nap in Grandma's arms and played happily with Granddad while Mama got a much-needed nap.  And the best part?  They are coming again tomorrow.

   

 

Bedtime baths are cheerful, splashy affairs.  When a sick Eli needs cooling down and soothing in the middle of the night, I bathe him in just the soft glow of a night light.  The warm water, the smell of lavender, and the dim reflections comfort us both.

Banana, Banana!

Tuesday was another drippy, dreary day outside.  Here's something sunny:

Mid-June (Eli at six months):

Mid-December (Eli at a year):

Seeking Peace

We had four back-to-back storms last week and our living room flooded.  Thankfully, this wasn't a major flood like the pipe that burst this past summer.  We've only lost the use of the living room for a week.  The landlord pulled up the carpet, taking the pads out to dry and putting spacers underneath.  We keep a box fan running and the gas fireplace lit.

 

Brian was out of town for work when most of this happened.  He came home to a damp house that smelled strongly like wet wool.  His bookcases are drying out in the garage, books are piled behind the baby gates, and Eli's toys are stowed anywhere and everywhere.  I built the best barricade that I could, but I have to constantly stay next to Eli for fear he'll get through.  The edges of the living room are lined with rusty carpet tack strips and our little guy is entranced by the glowing fireplace.  Yikes!

I'm such a nesting person that I find it a challenge to be cheerful when home is in an uproar.  I'm behind on sleep from solo parenting for a few days too.  But Brian is home safe and sound.  I'm keeping my mind on the beautiful, peaceful parts of our days that continue even in the midst of a little chaos....

Bathtime

 

 
 

 

Table Autonomy (Go Get a Washcloth!)

"Can you name the one trait all toddlers share at the table?"

   

"We're messy!  See all these pieces?  That used to be my grilled cheese sandwich cut into quarters.  When I shred it, then it is like a picture puzzle and I give Mama the fun of trying to guess how much I've actually eaten."

   

"Mama has a few tricks up her sleeve, though.  This is my Boon dish with the drip-catcher.  It attaches to the table by suction cup so I don't have to chase it across the table as I spoon up food.  I actually get some in my mouth!  And whatever I spill either oozes back into the bowl or gets caught in my handy dandy Baby Bjorn bib.  One of my favorite things to do at the table is graze out of my bib for finger foods I dropped.  Mmmm." 
 

  

"Another favorite is to eat fruit and veggies by slurping them up.  Several companies sell purees in pouches with a built-in straw.  Mama thought they were a gimmick, but then she realized I eat more healthy stuff when I can feed myself."  (Brands of pouch foods -- Plum Baby, Buddy Fruits, Happy Tot, and Ella's Kitchen.  Please note that some brands have had recalls in the past for faulty pouches.  Inspect all pouches for leaks or puffing to make sure they have not been damaged.)
 

"Mmmm!"
 

Rain and Rain and Rain

It's been raining for days and I have to admit that at times our household's commitment to coziness has wavered.  We've decided, however, that it is time to rededicate ourselves to...

Wearing pajamas all day

Taking naps

Sipping hot chocolate (mamas) or warmed cow's milk (babies)

And enjoying a good book.

(Talk about simple pleasures...I don't know why, but I love watching Eli's toes in the above video.)

Happy Spoons

In yesterday's blog, you may have noticed Eli's buddy -- the large pink spoon with the smiley face.  There are actually a crowd of Happy Spoons that live at our house.  My friend Heidi discovered Happy Spoons one day as we rambled about in T.J. Maxx.  "Look at this," she said, waving the spoon about like a puppet.  We were both instantly smitten.  At first we both bought spoons that matched our respective kitchens.  Then new colors started creeping into our utensil drawers.  Before long, we were trading spoons like baseball cards, phoning each other from kitchen displays mid-store if we found a new color.

 

I have a thing about nice kitchen utensils and the minute you pick up a Happy Spoon, you notice how pleasing it is -- substantial and nicely balanced in the hand.  You suddenly feel quite capable about whipping up any type of batter.  The colors are cheery too.  I always reach for the orange or red one in autumn when I'm making gingerbread squirrels.  When I make meringue snowmen, I want my white one.  Spring bird nest cookies require the pale green spoon.  You get the idea.  I know somebody out there reading this might be rolling their eyes, but a Happy Spoon to match your baking mood is one of those goofy and simple pleasures that makes me whistle while I work.

For a few years now, I've been pouncing on Happy Spoons whenever I find them in discount stores (T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, Homegoods, Ross).  They make great hostess gifts or birthday presents for cooks with a sense of humor.  I haven't found any lately, so several times I've had to break down and pay full price.  But Happy Spoons are worth it and quite a few online retailers sell them (such as La Prima Kitchen).  Just search for the Pop! Collection by Zak Designs.  There are also Surprise Spoons (mouth open) and Cheeky Spoons (winking) as well as matching mixing bowls.  

Eli and Happy Spoon...Both with Cherry-Stained Cheeks