One of these days, and my money is on sooner rather than later.
Natalie has discovered the joys of (playfully) tormenting Oliver. Last night, just before I took him to bed, she was chasing him around the house, trying to put a piece of fabric on his head. All the while singing "Oliver's a bride! You're a girl! Put your veil on! Here comes the bride". He was laughing, but trying like hell to outrun her.
Then this morning, she put a headband with sheep's ears on him. More chasing and "Mary had a little lamb". Over and over and over.
I tell him he gets one free shot. :-P
Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Random kid stuff
Jon got home from LA tonight, and I let Natalie stay up so he could put her to bed. He told me that she had him read "Going on a Bear Hunt" (I hate that book, BTW). She told him "We can get a bear! And put a cave in the backyard! But I don't think Mommy will like that". She has me pegged!
Also, she can write her name! Has some trouble spelling it, but if she sees it written, she can write it too - so cool! She wrote "Oliver" and "Jenn" last night too - the "m"s in Mommy were a little too hard for her. I've been singing a song, to the tune of the alphabet song to help her learn her name. It works well for Natalie, and well enough for Zakaras. "N A T A L I E, that's how I spell Natalie", sub Z A K A R A S if we're working on our last name.
And I think Oliver got a healthy dose of my Latin blood! I mentioned before that he loves Mariachi music. Well, I've been letting Natalie watch DVRed episodes of "Dancing With The Stars" (she loves the fast Latin dances, but will tell you she hates the Quickstep - which I love - and can recognize when it is being danced). Yesterday afternoon, I had it on for her. First dance was the Lindy Hop - she loved it - Oliver paid no attention. However, the next dance was an Argentine Tango, and the couple performed to traditional music - they didn't try to bitch up the dance to a popular song as some do. The minute the music started, he stopped what he was doing, stared at the TV, started smiling, laughing, and moving his feet back and forth very precisely! He did that every time a Tango was performed to a traditional piece, and again ignored the Lindy Hops! I thought that was kind of neat!
Also, she can write her name! Has some trouble spelling it, but if she sees it written, she can write it too - so cool! She wrote "Oliver" and "Jenn" last night too - the "m"s in Mommy were a little too hard for her. I've been singing a song, to the tune of the alphabet song to help her learn her name. It works well for Natalie, and well enough for Zakaras. "N A T A L I E, that's how I spell Natalie", sub Z A K A R A S if we're working on our last name.
And I think Oliver got a healthy dose of my Latin blood! I mentioned before that he loves Mariachi music. Well, I've been letting Natalie watch DVRed episodes of "Dancing With The Stars" (she loves the fast Latin dances, but will tell you she hates the Quickstep - which I love - and can recognize when it is being danced). Yesterday afternoon, I had it on for her. First dance was the Lindy Hop - she loved it - Oliver paid no attention. However, the next dance was an Argentine Tango, and the couple performed to traditional music - they didn't try to bitch up the dance to a popular song as some do. The minute the music started, he stopped what he was doing, stared at the TV, started smiling, laughing, and moving his feet back and forth very precisely! He did that every time a Tango was performed to a traditional piece, and again ignored the Lindy Hops! I thought that was kind of neat!
Happy Birthday, Maggie!
Kyle and Sara had their baby this morning, about a month early! Margaret Kayleigh, 6 pounds, 19.5 inches (Jon relayed stats and the phone connection was bad, so they may not be 100% accurate!).
Welcome to the world, sweet girl! We love you and can't wait to meet you!
Kyle posted a picture already, and she is just the sweetest, most precious, peaceful looking baby!
Congrats Mommy and Daddy!
Welcome to the world, sweet girl! We love you and can't wait to meet you!
Kyle posted a picture already, and she is just the sweetest, most precious, peaceful looking baby!
Congrats Mommy and Daddy!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sweet girl
I'll get to the reason for the title in a moment.
Backtracking a bit... Natalie had an allergist appointment today. We did a follow-up skin test to see if she still reacts to peanuts. She does, and this time she started reacting to various tree nuts as well. Most mild, although walnuts were significant. We avoid tree nuts anyway because of cross-processing issues, but this was notable because her previous skin and RAST (blood) tests were negative for tree nuts. We'll test again in a year or two. Her allergist did tell me that there are some treatments in trial now, that will hopefully be available in 1-3 years. It involves challenging the body with peanuts - you start at the doctors office, get to the level just before the child reacts, then continue at home with a slighter lower level for a period of time. The process repeats, increasing the amount of peanuts, until the body builds a better tolerance. If she doesn't outgrow the allergies, this won't cure it, but it will make it so that we shouldn't have to panic if she's accidentally exposed.
And my sweet girl... Today was a rough day in a week full of them. I was in tears most of the afternoon, just worn out. Tonight, when I put Natalie to bed, we read stories, then I turned out the light to cuddle her for a few minutes. She got up, covered me with her special monkey blanket, then pulled my head onto her belly. Wrapped her arm around my head, and stroked my face for a while. Then when I asked her if she wanted me to draw on her back (she likes that before we leave her room), she told me she was going to draw on mine. So she made me turn over, and rubbed my back. I told her I loved her, and she said "I know". I hope she always knows that.
Backtracking a bit... Natalie had an allergist appointment today. We did a follow-up skin test to see if she still reacts to peanuts. She does, and this time she started reacting to various tree nuts as well. Most mild, although walnuts were significant. We avoid tree nuts anyway because of cross-processing issues, but this was notable because her previous skin and RAST (blood) tests were negative for tree nuts. We'll test again in a year or two. Her allergist did tell me that there are some treatments in trial now, that will hopefully be available in 1-3 years. It involves challenging the body with peanuts - you start at the doctors office, get to the level just before the child reacts, then continue at home with a slighter lower level for a period of time. The process repeats, increasing the amount of peanuts, until the body builds a better tolerance. If she doesn't outgrow the allergies, this won't cure it, but it will make it so that we shouldn't have to panic if she's accidentally exposed.
And my sweet girl... Today was a rough day in a week full of them. I was in tears most of the afternoon, just worn out. Tonight, when I put Natalie to bed, we read stories, then I turned out the light to cuddle her for a few minutes. She got up, covered me with her special monkey blanket, then pulled my head onto her belly. Wrapped her arm around my head, and stroked my face for a while. Then when I asked her if she wanted me to draw on her back (she likes that before we leave her room), she told me she was going to draw on mine. So she made me turn over, and rubbed my back. I told her I loved her, and she said "I know". I hope she always knows that.
Monday, March 30, 2009
On the mend?
I put a question mark because as most of you probably know, I am ridiculously superstitious.
Natalie's stomach flu lasted about 24 hours. Fever, vomiting on Thursday, then Friday she was fine. Kept her on a bland diet until Sunday, and so far she's holding her own. Of course she tried to get out of eating her dinner Sunday "my tummy hurts too much", but when offered junk as a test, she was all for it. Yeah.... She needs to realize I was a kid once too, and I know ALL the tricks. Ask Mitz. :-)
Oliver is finally doing better. He seemed to be getting better Thursday evening into Friday, but then relapsed hard on Friday. By Saturday morning, he was lethargic, fussing constantly, skin flaking, and a dry diaper for about three hours. I tried calling his doctor's office, didn't think they had Saturday hours, but thought I could get the answering service to get his pediatrician to call back. Held for 7 minutes, then figured if they are that backed up, it might be a while for a call back, and they'd probably send us to the ER, so off Oliver and I went. We were there for about 4 hours. They were wonderful - took us back right away and checked constantly. He had IV fluids (amazing how quickly he perked up a bit), some blood tests (looking for infection, found none), Zofran for nausea, then they finally let him have some Pedialyte. The poor kid was so desperate for something at that point, that in the few seconds it took for our nurse to tell me "Only give him half, then pause and see if he keeps it down" (they have pre-filled nursettes, 2 oz.), I looked down to see how much he drank, and it was drained. I had to pry it out of his mouth. They gave him two more after waiting a bit after each, and I guess he figured out that he wasn't going to get more quickly, so by the time he downed the third, he clutched that empty nursette and wouldn't let it go until he got a fourth. That's my boy!
So, Pedialyte and bland diet through this morning. I followed up with his pediatrician today. I was told to start half formula/half water, bland foods, nothing chunky, and if he tolerates that, to move to full formula tomorrow. If he holds all that tomorrow, then we can start working back to his regular diet. They weighed him, and based on his weight a month ago, I think he lost about a pound, pound and a half. :-(
After his afternoon nap today, he was visibly better. Still clingy and fussy at times, but getting into things, wreaking havoc, which was most welcome! At bedtime, he caught a second wind, and has figured out a new way to torment me. He started grinding his teeth together, hard, and it is the worst sound. I usually tell him "no no", and kind of put my finger in between his teeth (risky business with our little vampire). So tonight, he started grinding while giving me the most devilish grin, and laughing his fool head off. I gave up on the "no nos" and just stopped looking at him. So he laid there in my arms, grinding, laughing, grinding, laughing, grinding laughing. Realized I wasn't going to cave, then he started tapping my shoulder. I finally looked at him. Grin. Grind. Laugh. He's a handful! :-)
Oh, one other funny from when Natalie was sick. I set her up on the sofa in the family room, and when Oliver woke up from his nap on Thursday, she asked me to block off the sides near the table so he couldn't harass her. He tried moving the barricades, gave up. Less than ten minutes later, he figured out he could just crawl through the center of the table. Made a beeline for her stuffed animals, tapped her leg, just generally being a pesky little brother!
Natalie's stomach flu lasted about 24 hours. Fever, vomiting on Thursday, then Friday she was fine. Kept her on a bland diet until Sunday, and so far she's holding her own. Of course she tried to get out of eating her dinner Sunday "my tummy hurts too much", but when offered junk as a test, she was all for it. Yeah.... She needs to realize I was a kid once too, and I know ALL the tricks. Ask Mitz. :-)
Oliver is finally doing better. He seemed to be getting better Thursday evening into Friday, but then relapsed hard on Friday. By Saturday morning, he was lethargic, fussing constantly, skin flaking, and a dry diaper for about three hours. I tried calling his doctor's office, didn't think they had Saturday hours, but thought I could get the answering service to get his pediatrician to call back. Held for 7 minutes, then figured if they are that backed up, it might be a while for a call back, and they'd probably send us to the ER, so off Oliver and I went. We were there for about 4 hours. They were wonderful - took us back right away and checked constantly. He had IV fluids (amazing how quickly he perked up a bit), some blood tests (looking for infection, found none), Zofran for nausea, then they finally let him have some Pedialyte. The poor kid was so desperate for something at that point, that in the few seconds it took for our nurse to tell me "Only give him half, then pause and see if he keeps it down" (they have pre-filled nursettes, 2 oz.), I looked down to see how much he drank, and it was drained. I had to pry it out of his mouth. They gave him two more after waiting a bit after each, and I guess he figured out that he wasn't going to get more quickly, so by the time he downed the third, he clutched that empty nursette and wouldn't let it go until he got a fourth. That's my boy!
So, Pedialyte and bland diet through this morning. I followed up with his pediatrician today. I was told to start half formula/half water, bland foods, nothing chunky, and if he tolerates that, to move to full formula tomorrow. If he holds all that tomorrow, then we can start working back to his regular diet. They weighed him, and based on his weight a month ago, I think he lost about a pound, pound and a half. :-(
After his afternoon nap today, he was visibly better. Still clingy and fussy at times, but getting into things, wreaking havoc, which was most welcome! At bedtime, he caught a second wind, and has figured out a new way to torment me. He started grinding his teeth together, hard, and it is the worst sound. I usually tell him "no no", and kind of put my finger in between his teeth (risky business with our little vampire). So tonight, he started grinding while giving me the most devilish grin, and laughing his fool head off. I gave up on the "no nos" and just stopped looking at him. So he laid there in my arms, grinding, laughing, grinding, laughing, grinding laughing. Realized I wasn't going to cave, then he started tapping my shoulder. I finally looked at him. Grin. Grind. Laugh. He's a handful! :-)
Oh, one other funny from when Natalie was sick. I set her up on the sofa in the family room, and when Oliver woke up from his nap on Thursday, she asked me to block off the sides near the table so he couldn't harass her. He tried moving the barricades, gave up. Less than ten minutes later, he figured out he could just crawl through the center of the table. Made a beeline for her stuffed animals, tapped her leg, just generally being a pesky little brother!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
So far this week...
We had a nice surprise on Monday! Elizabeth's father called the night before to tell us he was in town. Monday evening he came over for a couple of hours, and we had a nice visit! He is one of the nicest men I've ever met, one of those people who just immediately puts you at ease.
The rest of the week... Puke city. Oliver came down with a stomach flu the other day. Natalie got it today. I'm going to have to burn the hall carpet. O seems to be on the mend. Natalie is perking up a bit, but still running a 101 degree fever, and hasn't been vomit free very long, so I'm trying to get her to take it easy, both physically and as far as eating goes.
The rest of the week... Puke city. Oliver came down with a stomach flu the other day. Natalie got it today. I'm going to have to burn the hall carpet. O seems to be on the mend. Natalie is perking up a bit, but still running a 101 degree fever, and hasn't been vomit free very long, so I'm trying to get her to take it easy, both physically and as far as eating goes.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Full Friday
I'm still wiped out!
Aunt Jamie was in town for Spring Break, so yesterday we loaded up the kids and headed to the zoo. Overall we had a nice time, but not without some hiccups. When we got to the zoo, all the parking was full, so we had to go back a block or so and park. They had a free shuttle, but the line was insane, plus we had a stroller for each of the kids, and decided to hoof it as opposed to hassling with the strollers and kids on the stroller. That was a workout! It was pretty hot - about 93 and somewhat humid, so that put a damper on things. Poor Oliver gets so overheated, even in light clothes. Not sure what to do about that. I was also amazed at how much Natalie remembered from our last visit to the zoo in January, as far as which animals were where. She also spent a lot of time chasing pigeons. We got home around 2:45, and Aunt Jamie and Natalie hit the pool. It's still too cold for my liking, so I sat that out. Oliver took a much needed nap (he slept for a bit at the zoo, but not long).
Had pizza for dinner, then Natalie, Jamie and I decided to meet Mitz at Superstition Springs Mall - Butler Amusements had a parking lot carnival going on. They have some nice rides - we went to the same carnival last year, and they were at the Ostrich Festival last weekend (I took Natalie and forgot to recap. We mainly rode rides and ate junk). Natalie had a blast on the kiddie rides and two obstacle course type things - she got on those too many times to count. She was blowing past much older kids on the rope ladders - pretty amazing! We didn't get home until 9:45, but Natalie hung in until the very end. She fell asleep seconds before we pulled into the garage. I carried her in, handed her off to Jon and that was the last we heard from her until this morning. She slept until 7:15 - Jon told her "I thought you'd sleep in later". Natalie said "I DID sleep in". Haha!
She's still the litter police too. When Jamie threw away her Coke can yesterday, Natalie said "Thank you for not being a pig".
Aunt Jamie was in town for Spring Break, so yesterday we loaded up the kids and headed to the zoo. Overall we had a nice time, but not without some hiccups. When we got to the zoo, all the parking was full, so we had to go back a block or so and park. They had a free shuttle, but the line was insane, plus we had a stroller for each of the kids, and decided to hoof it as opposed to hassling with the strollers and kids on the stroller. That was a workout! It was pretty hot - about 93 and somewhat humid, so that put a damper on things. Poor Oliver gets so overheated, even in light clothes. Not sure what to do about that. I was also amazed at how much Natalie remembered from our last visit to the zoo in January, as far as which animals were where. She also spent a lot of time chasing pigeons. We got home around 2:45, and Aunt Jamie and Natalie hit the pool. It's still too cold for my liking, so I sat that out. Oliver took a much needed nap (he slept for a bit at the zoo, but not long).
Had pizza for dinner, then Natalie, Jamie and I decided to meet Mitz at Superstition Springs Mall - Butler Amusements had a parking lot carnival going on. They have some nice rides - we went to the same carnival last year, and they were at the Ostrich Festival last weekend (I took Natalie and forgot to recap. We mainly rode rides and ate junk). Natalie had a blast on the kiddie rides and two obstacle course type things - she got on those too many times to count. She was blowing past much older kids on the rope ladders - pretty amazing! We didn't get home until 9:45, but Natalie hung in until the very end. She fell asleep seconds before we pulled into the garage. I carried her in, handed her off to Jon and that was the last we heard from her until this morning. She slept until 7:15 - Jon told her "I thought you'd sleep in later". Natalie said "I DID sleep in". Haha!
She's still the litter police too. When Jamie threw away her Coke can yesterday, Natalie said "Thank you for not being a pig".
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