Sick...again!

You had a very rough week with being sick and teething. Started with a temp of 103 on the night of Thursday, August 9, so I took you in to the doctor first thing Friday morning. You had a barely red throat and it hadn't gotten to your ears yet...so, I thought I did a good thing by bringing you in early. Not so much. The doctor gave you Zithromax and it did nothing for you. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. You were miserable for the next few days. Totally not yourself and it was so hard to see (and a bit hard to deal with you!). I felt awful and got teary quite a few times because I didn't know what to do for you (as did your grandmas and maybe even Ray!). There were a few half hour or more screaming sessions that usually included a few instances of banging your head against the hardwood or actually anything hard. I got a little worried about your noggin after awhile and you began to look like a very clumsy or (gasp) an abused child. After a few times, we were all able to pick up the signs and intervene before your head would hit something. However, the 5 goose eggs on your forehead and cheek were awesome evidence that we did not learn those signs quickly enough!

By Wednesday of the following week, I knew I wasn't going to waste anymore time with hoping or thinking the medicine was going to start helping. I didn't care if you had just finished your antibiotic - it CLEARLY was not working. So, Gma Kim came over while I ran to work for my meeting and then afterwards, I took you to the doctor with Gma Debbie.  Turns out, you had a nasty double ear infection, sore throat and 4 of the most painful teeth coming in! OMG, you poor baby. Doc prescribed Cefdnir as usual and I swear by the afternoon, you were already starting to get back to yourself. Gma Debbie and Ray said you were great on Thursday and by Friday, Gma Kim said you were definitely back to yourself.  The weekend was even more proof that we were getting our happy little man back - we went to Ayla's birthday party on Saturday, Madison's baptism and party on Sunday and then Emmy and Nancy came to visit Sunday evening. You were showing off and being a ham per your normal self at every step! It made my heart soar! We are all super relieved to have you back - broke all of our hearts to see you in so much pain.

It honestly seems that you can pick up a harmless germ and it morphs into something awful for you. You were around a few kids with coughs and colds not too long before you got sick, so I am guessing you just got it a lot worse than they did. I pray that this is it for awhile...I know we are on the road to tubes if your poor ears don't make a turn for the better. I am just going to have faith that, like me, when you hit two, your ear infections decrease substantially. At least, I have learned the tell tale signs now - the second I think you could even possibly have an ear infection, I am at the doctor's doorstep. Call me crazy, but I would much rather know than just assume it's just teeth/runny nose/cough and let it runs its course. Especially, since you are around other kids. Hate to tell you this, but I will probably be like that your whole life - you are my world and I will always put you and your health first. Always!

Poor sweet pea. The only way he would nap on Sunday 8/12.

Waiting outside the doctor's office at 8:00 AM on the dot!
Enjoying some animal crackers!




What? Is this not a toy for me?
 

 

Not the best picture, but you can kind of see all of the goose eggs on his forehead
and the one on his right cheek!

And, the one in the middle of his forehead!!

Another one of these pictures! Let the little monkey lay in bed with me while we
watched some cartoons before bed one night - that's what you do when
you're sick, right?! Love those little hands.

17 Months!!

Well, I wasn't with J Man on his 17 month bday, but I made sure my parents and Kim took lots of pictures over the weekend! It was definitely tough being away from him for 2 days/nights. That is the longest I have been away from him - and will probably be for a long time! I am just not quite ready to be gone for longer than a night!

The theme of my monthly updates has pretty much been CHANGE. Jameson changes, grows and learns at such a fast pace and I feel like I say that every single time. But, it's true, so I need to memorialize it in writing!

• You are definitely growing - I swear you change every few days and you are really starting to look like a little boy! You weigh not quite 26 pounds and are roughly 33.5 inches long. You are in mostly 18 month stuff and you are still in size 4 diapers, but size 5 overnight diapers.
• I absolutely LOVE how excited you get about things. I wish I could bottle that up and keep it that way forever!!
• Scrapes and bruises are common accessories for you now.
• I swear you learn at least one new word a day and actually probably more than that. You really try to repeat EVERYTHING we say...like when I said, "oh crap" the other day, you smiled and said, "oh bap". Oops, going to have to REALLY monitor my words now!
• You are also putting stuff together. Like you will say Mama AND Dada. Ray and Mamaw. Mamaw and Pawpaw. Bubble bath. Go upstairs. Etc. Fragment sentences, but sentences nonetheless!
• Here is a list of a few of the additions in the last month:
• Heeeeyyyyy. This is Hoyt. It is absolutely adorable to hear you call Hoyt. You have been calling him Hiiii for a long time, but it has morphed into Heeeeyyyy! You have also started actually saying Height - which is soooo close! And, you just love kisses from Hey.
• MaDa = apparently this is when you want both my and your Dad's attention. Funny as heck.
• You went to watch Daddy play softball with Gma Debbie, Ray and me and you were yelling, "Go Dada!".
• Oh no - this is not new, but you say it ALL of the time! And, you say it quite funny - Dad says you say it like Phoebe from friends...I know you don't get that, but we will show you!
• You say "Oh dear" a lot too thanks to Ray and Tom and Jerry!
• You try to say "stinky bottom". It's comical!
• When someone asks, "where'd something/someone go?", you will put your hands up like I don't know and say "where'd go?".
• OK = say this one clear as a bell!
• How about? - This one is pretty cute too!
• Buh = Bug. Almost every little black spec you see, you point and say "buh". You usually giggle too.
• Tank ooh = Thank you. I swear sometimes you say it clear as day! You also sign it and I love that! You have really started saying it more without us even prompting you.
• Peeeez! = please
• Dakey = Drakey. You have been saying this for awhile I guess, but it's really cute!
• Uh-uh = no! It cracks me up that you say this now and shake your head no when we ask you something! I try not to laugh, but it makes me smile when I ask you something and you just  immediately say uh-uh. We are really trying to teach you to say "yes"!
• Blech - you say this when we talk about something icky (i.e., garbage). It is hilarious.  You also say PU and hold your nose (thanks to me teaching you that!). So adorable.
• Tick tock. You sing this when our grandfather clock chimes and dance all the while!
• You sing EIEIO - priceless!  And, Row Row Row Your Boat - but just that part! You also love when I sing Barbara Ann and you try to sing along!
• You actually can sing the Hot Diggity Dog part of the hot dog song. But, Mickey's name is still hot dog in your world! Gma Kim said that Rowan thought you saying hot dog was hilarious, so you kept doing it to make her laugh!
• You sing Rah Rah Rah for Rocket at the end of the Little Einsteins shows.
• Moohs = moose. You point to the moose in the Pajama Time book and smile and say it!
• Ahh-bive = olive. We are working on this one, but it's a hard one!
• Pee-sa = you LOVE your pizza!
• Nake = snake
• Bape = grape
• Peacock. Yep, you say peacock and it is awesome. Cracks me up!
• You say bock bock when we eat chicken!
• You say milk and apple clear as day now.
• Bible = oddly, this sounded a lot like bubble :).
• Neck. You really have the "k" sound down!
• Foods:
• You LOVE the veggie and/or fruit pouches.
• I finally gave in and gave you a hotdog...kind of. It was a nitrate free turkey dog, but you loved it, so I now have a new lunch item, thank God!
• We tried lasagna - didn't seem too fond of it.
• Tried chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce and ketchup - didn't seem too interested!
• You love your popcorn. Actually, you just love snacks in general! I think you get too many snacks and that's why you've become a pickier eater!
• You love to sleep with a blanket now and call it your "bankie". It's one of the thin, breathable Aden and Anais ones because I am still paranoid for you to have one at night! But, you love it and usually ask for it now. And, get VERY giddy when we give it to you! 
• You know how to work the remote, kind of. You pick it up and point to the TV and can turn the volume up. When you change the channel, you always say, "uh oh" and then try to figure out how to change it back. It's funny, but I wonder if we let you watch too much TV!
• Along with singing a lot, you try to snap too.
• You will just give random hugs and kisses and it absolutely melts my heart!!
• You started a class at the Jump Spot with Miss Laura and your buddies Jeron and Jackson. The 3 of you do so well together and are just too cute. You seem to really enjoy it, so we will continue through the Fall!
• You also made a new friend, Rachel, who comes and watches you every other Wednesday morning while I go into work for my meeting. I was worried how you would react and you instantly loved her and actually wave me out of the door when she is over!
• You purse your lips every now and then and it cracks me up.
• You are connected to me when I try to cook dinner. It makes it tough to do anything with the stove or oven!
• You have figured out how to go up on your tippy toes to be able to reach things on the counter that you are not supposed to be able to reach! You actually started doing this at about 15 months, but I forgot to document it and you have been doing it a lot more lately. You also sometimes just walk on your tippy toes for fun.
• You think it's hilarious to tickle Daddy - you just giggle away!
• Your top canines (fangs) are coming in - have broken through finally. Your bottom two are swollen and I can see a little white on both sides. Hope those bad boys come through soon you poor thing! You have been a champ though - just drooling and chewing on your fingers a lot more! We have had a few screaming fests, but overall, you are a trooper.
• I know I already talked about the Baby Einsteins Da Vinci video. But, sometimes when we get to Gma Debbie and Ray's, you will run over to the stairs and start singing and motioning Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to let them know that you want to watch it. Between you and Braden, my poor parents have seen that video 5000 times!
• You will pant like Hoyt. Daddy taught you that one!

I am not sure what I did to deserve you as my child. But, I will thank God every day of my life that I was blessed with such an amazing, wonderful little boy!!!!!!!!!!

17 Month Photo shoot!

Oh Em Gee, that lip kills me!!!

Way. Too. Cute!!!!

More of that lip!

Peek-a-boo!

This kid is way too tall already!

Mom, put the camera down!!

My sunshine!




Lol, that face kills me!! His sticker ripped and he was MOST unhappy!
Resulted in a kicking fest on the stairs.

 
Pictures from the last month!

 

Signing "more" or as we like to say "little more" since it's just his two pointer fingers!
 Love it!



Just eating a snack in my swim diaper, on a pillow. No big deal.

What?! You mean I am not supposed to go into a corner and dump
my crayons everywhere?!


 

Adventures with coloring! Love his little face.

 

That's one way to do it!

 


Trying chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce for the first time. Hmm...



Reading with Daddy!





Water thief!!



Snack time with Jonah!




Impromptu pool party...in our clothes!





Jump Spot! He was obsessed with his owl stamp!



Cutie in bibs.



Grandma and Pawpaw at CJs with their "babies".



This child LOVES to brush his teeth!



Playing before we watched Darin play softball! J made some friends!



Little cutie!

Ha!! He got a new shopping cart and wanted to push Cookie around.
And, apparently yell at him (happily of course)!



Little angel turned devil in a matter of an hour! Toddler tantrums are no joke!



There is my sweet pea!

  

Crash: Jameson's New Nickname

I know I have said it before, but I feel like I get a reminder daily of just how much Jameson means to me and just how full of love my heart is for him. And, consequently, just how much my heart hurts when he is sick or in pain. In a matter of 24 hours, we had a sprain and pulled muscle and near heart failure for me! Sunday morning, Jameson was going up the stairs and landed on his ankle wrong and rolled it. He was unable to put pressure on it right after and kept falling down and crying. Darin and I figured we needed to head to the ER in case it was broken since he couldn't stand on it. However, in the time it took for us to pack up some snacks, water and entertainment, Jameson stopped crying and seemed better. We headed back inside and decided we would hang out for a bit to see if we actually did need to go to the ER. He yelped a few times when he walked, but for the most part, looked like it was probably just a sprain or twist. Darin called the nurse line and the nurse basically said to keep an eye on it and give him some Advil and try to ice it if possible (ha, good luck doing that with a very mobile 17 month old!). We decided to head to the grocery store since that would keep him off his feet for awhile. By the time we got home, he was basically ready for a little snack, some Little Einsteins and a nap!

When he woke up, he yelped a little when he walked, but quickly got over that. After lunch, he was running and walking around like nothing had happened. We even went to the pool that night with my parents and the Hahns! He was a bit clingy with my Mom when we first got there, but ended up running around and having a blast. He was a rockstar, even with an injured ankle! Darin gave him a bath, we read a few books and then he went to bed with no issues.

Until...4AM when we were awoken with a terrifying scream. I looked at the monitor and he was sitting up and crying. I figured maybe it was because he lost his plug. Darin went it and quickly realized that it was something else because he wouldn't stop crying. Darin picked him up and I could hear Jameson slowly start to calm down and then I heard the familiar creak of the recliner and then silence. I think I got a few more minutes of sleep, but was awoken again by painful screaming, followed by the most pitiful cries for his "mamamamamamama". I ran in there and he was just hysterical. I am sure an x-ray would have shown my heart breaking just a little! I rocked with him and he was just squeezing me. I examined his ankle and pushed on it, but that didn't seem to be the source of the pain. After a bit, I brought him into our bed and turned on some Sesame Street and Little Einsteins. He seemed a little better, even laughing and talking a little. But, every time he moved, he would scream and then after awhile, he was back to screaming non-stop.

While Darin called the nurse line again, I brought him downstairs to get some milk and possibly some breakfast, as we figured he was probably starving at this time. He really didn't want much to do with it, but managed to get in a few sips. And, then we were back to the non-stop crying. He couldn't even open his poor little eyes because he was so tired, but I was worried he wasn't getting enough air with as heavy as he was crying. I was about 2 seconds away from jumping in a cold shower with him when he stopped and hugged me tightly and laid his head on my shoulder. At that point, I walked upstairs, rocked him a bit and then laid him down. He fussed a little, but feel asleep.

About 2 1/2 hours later, I got a call from Kim, who was in tears, and I could hear him screaming in the background. I called the nurse and she said to take him to Prompt Care because they can do some x-rays and we won't have to wait as long as the ER. I flew out of work faster than I could blink and rushed home. When I got home, we watched him a little more, and realized that it was not his ankle, but looked like it could be his hip or something. After a little bit more observation, we realized that he could not turn his neck to the left. At all. Ugh. He was screaming at the doc's office and Kim and I were in tears a few different times. They were able to do a full check on him and pretty much diagnosed him with a pulled muscle/pinched nerve. Nothing we can do but give him Advil. Awesome. My poor child is screaming and wincing in pain every time he moves and we can't do anything for him. And, I have had pinched nerves in my neck and I would rank that up there with some of the worst pain.

By the time we got home, the Advil from earlier must have kicked in because he was MUCH happier. He even started climbing on stuff and ate some snacks. He could still not really turn his neck, but he seemed slightly more comfortable. I stayed and played for 45 minutes or so and then headed off to work. He saw me off with a wave and a kiss and I felt better. Kim texted me at lunch saying that he ate a good lunch, but then texted me a little later that he was super uncomfortable and wouldn't nap. We thought maybe we would see what a chiropractor has to say, so I called Dr. Griesbaum, but by the time I got off the phone, Darin had called letting me know that Kim was able to get him to nap. That night when I got home from work, you would never know that he was in pain. Granted, he couldn't turn his head to the left and had figured out how to maneuver without moving it too much. But, he was running all over the place, giggling, chasing Hoyt and just all around his normal self. (I didn't catch the good part of him chasing Hoyt, but this gives you an idea! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvkZBZA6yYU).
I figured that night/morning would be a bit rough, but he slept for 12 straight hours with no issues!

As of today, his range of motion is still not 100%. Sometimes, he still turns his whole body when looking to the left instead of his neck or he will look out of the corner of his eyes. But, he doesn't seem to be in any pain at all. We even went to gymnastics last night and he did great. I would say in a few days, he will be completely back to normal. And, I will just hold my breath for the next accident since clearly I am going to go through a lot of these moments in my lifetime!!

Can't really tell it's swollen because he has such wide feet!

Big and little Cookie Monster comforting baby J!

Hoyt likes them too!!

Calling Grandma on the phone to tell her about his ankle!

Feeling good enough to act silly!

On our way to the pool! Hanging onto that sunscreen for dear life!

Braden and Jameson with their cute towels!