We want to keep the toe doc, and get rid of the Croup!

4/8/09

Gracie Dear,

You are 7 months old today my love. Gosh you are so sweet! You woke up at about 5:30am and I fed you and put you back in your crib. I wanted to keep you in bed with me and cuddle up with you, but there are so many warnings about SIDS, that I wouldn’t want to put you in any danger . . . So back in your own crib you went. You woke up to Clayton and I peering in your crib at 8am. You were all big eyes and smiles.

You were a real trooper in your car seat as we went to Big brother’s Gym class. I got you out and held you in the baby Bjorn carrier for a while - but you are just getting so heavy, so I had to set you back in your car seat. Everyone, both the little children and the adults thought you were so sweet the way you gave them all a big huge smile when they talked to you.

We came back and you ate your sweet potatoes and granola/blueberry baby food so quickly! You are such a big eater! You have such a tiny nose it is hard to get all the food out of your teeny tiny nostrils. You rolled around on the floor and played with toys as I read books to put Clayton down for a nap. Then, I breast fed you and you fell sweetly to sleep in your pretty little purple Easter Bunny outfit. I bought some new bows to put in your fine little hair today. You are just so cute sweetie!

I was thinking of your little toe injury. Mommy substitute taught one day and you went to the church daycare at the church I was teaching in. When I picked you up at the end of the day one of the daycare provider’s children, Madeline, informed me that she took your sock off to look at your cute baby feet and noticed that your toe looked funny. I took you home, somewhat worried, but thinking it was fine. Well, the indention on your little toe got a lot darker and started to bleed. When Daddy got home we took you to Children’s Clinic, and the doctor had to dig into your toe with a scalpel to remove the white thread that had wrapped itself around your little toe. You screamed so loudly and blood splurted out. It was so hard for me to see you so upset. The doctor said that sometimes babies can lose their toes, so we were so thankful that yours healed up just a few days later. You sure did give us a good scare!

Another scare you gave us was when you had trouble breathing. We took you to the doctor and they thought that you had Croup. We went home and became very alarmed during the night when you were struggling and laboring to breathe. We turned on the shower for the hot steam, but that was not bringing much life back into your limp and exhausted little body. You were fully conscious the entire time, but we were so worried. It was the first and last time I can remember that we couldn’t get you to smile when we tried to. We went to Children’s Hospital Emergency room and they gave you a breathing treatment and sent us home with a nebuelizer which we used every four hours on you for the next several days. The breathing mask was made to look like a little dinosaur, which was cute. Usually you cried and struggled to get out from under the mask, once in a while you finally fell asleep.

Up and Down and Up Again

4/8/09
Clayton - Hi buddy! We woke up at 8am today. You were crying in your bed “mommy, mommy . . . I want out!” I went to get you and you told me that you wanted to watch Thomas the Tan Engine on T.V. I told you that we needed to get dressed and eat breakfast.

You weren’t happy about not getting to watch Thomas, so you kicked and struggled with me as I dressed you. As I changed your diaper you kicked your feet at me. I told you to stop kicking twice, and the third time I told you “Stop kicking Mommy, or I’ll have to spank you”. That bought me just enough time to get your diaper fastened. We finally did get you dressed.

Together we went in and woke up your sister, she looked up at us smiling. You wanted to lay inside her crib with her, so I picked you up and put you in her crib with her. You gave her a great big hug and kiss, and pushed the button that played her mobile. I am so proud of what a sweet big brother you are!

You started demanding Thomas again, and I did not give in. I so want to let you do whatever you want so that you are happy, but I don’t want to let you zone out on TV, I think it is bad for your health. So, instead we came downstairs and made a foam caterpillar craft. You were very mad and became hysterical that the little circles were glued together and wanted them apart again. I did not let you tear up your craft, as you often do. Instead I put it up on the table and gave you a time out to calm down and talk nicely. When I let you out of time out, you went back for the caterpillar to tear it up. I then put you in your room where you finished your tantrum and then started reading your books and playing with your toys.

When I came up to get you so that we could go bye bye to your MY GYM class, you wanted me to read to you a book - The Little Engine that Could. It was my favorite book when I was little too, so I was glad to read it to you. Then, I carried you downstairs. You did not want to put on your shoes or your coat, so I wrestled them onto you. . . As we were out of time for time outs and they don’t seem to be working effectively. As I picked you up to carry you out to the car you screamed for Herkie, your toy helicopter. I gave him to you and buckled you into your carseat. Once I got your sister in the car, we were off to MY GYM - your play class.


We got there and you sat with me for a second in the circle of Moms, Dads, Teachers, and other kids your age. You did not want to sit in my lap, or participate in the activities. You jumped out of my lap and ran away the first chance you had. One of the teachers scooped you up and brought you back to me. I continued to do the actions to the songs, and you started again to struggle to get away. You finally did get away and I got up to go and get you. You sure ran fast bud! You enjoyed the independent play time. When it was time to pick up, you did not want to join in with the other kids in helping pick up. You wanted to run around. When it was time to go, we had to put your shoes and socks back on. You screamed about it, saying you wanted to play with the trucks. I wasn’t sure which trucks you were screaming about. You had two time outs for screaming and then we did get your shoes on you. You walked nicely out to the car and I put you in your car seat. You started arching your back and screaming you didn’t want it, referring to your car seat. I did get you buckled in and we ran a quick errand at Target.


When we got home you ate bread and butter for lunch - you were also served chicken nuggets, peas, and carrots, but didn’t want them. You were so cute in your high chair driving your Car around and making up a story out loud as you slowly picked at your bread. You screamed and demanded a second piece of bread and butter, which I got for you - as it seems you don’t eat much and I’m happy to feed you anything nutritious you will eat. We went upstairs and you started screaming “McQueen” then name of your race car that you were playing with while you ate. We had to come back downstairs to look for him, as you were very upset, but we couldn’t find him anywhere.

I carried you back upstairs and changed your diaper. The kicking pattern returned during your diaper change. I got you diapered and we read two books as I rocked you. Reading books to you and rocking you is my favorite time with you. You are so sweet the way you gather 2 or 3 of your favorite toys and we get your blanket and you snuggle in. After we read your books, we sang Lullabye and Goodnight together, and I put you in your crib and told you night night. I could hear you playing with your toys for a few minutes and then you fell asleep.