Still Alive...

Yes, I'm still alive.

All is well.

Ethan's getting over his RSV, Austin, Michael and I are healthy.....just busy! Spring fever has kicked in...we welcomed some nice, warm days....but Mother Nature snatched them from our hands and we're left with temps in the low 40's. It may snow Tuesday/Wednesday, but we'll see. It should have snowed last night - I awoke to brown grass outside. Thank goodness it wasn't white! I still have Christmas lights up; I'm thinking of going out there and yanking them from the trees yet tonight.

I started a grad class....for a few reasons. Number one, license renewal. My license expires June 30, and of the 6 credits required for renewal, I have three credits done. Second, lane change! I already have my Master's Degree, and to advance horizontally on the pay scale, I need 6 credits per lane. So, with this class I'm taking, I'll get both renewal and pay increase! Yay!

I've also joined Facebook...it's addicting, but I'm reconnecting with friends I haven't talked with in years!!

On the Mend

I am happy to report Ethan is doing better. Other than a little scare Friday night he's on the mend. The wheezing has subsided....he has minor coughing spells but they are few and far between.

Thanks for thinking of him everyone!!

Our Happy Wheezer

Ugh.

I got a call from Michael in the middle of teaching my first hour class this morning....Ethan had "thrown up" all over himself and his caretaker this morning. Whether he actually threw up or spit up, I don't know. I, using the motherly wisdom instilled upon me, think it was spit up, but there just was a lot of it. I called Peds right away and got a 3:45 appointment with a doctor (not his primary care provider), and called daycare two times after that to check up on my little boy. He was doing fine; that meant he was still happy to be there - smiling, cooing, all the wonderful things 2 1/2 month babies do, except he rattled when he inhaled and exhaled...wheezing on the exhale.

I drove up to Tiny Tigers and saw all three of my 'boys' waiting for me. Michael clicked Ethan in his base while I got Austin in his car seat....and we were off. Twenty minutes of waiting in the waiting room and we were in. I stripped the poor boy down to his diaper and the nurse was in to take his temp and weigh him. An even-steven 12 pounds, that boy now weighs. Temp was fine; no fever. The doctor was in, did her look over, and then said she is convinced he has RSV. I knew it. I kind of figured that was what he had when we took him in on Monday....BUT that doctor was, well...how do I put it nicely....not a people person?! The doctor tried a nebulizer treatment on him (Albuterol in a mist that he inhales, trying to get his pipes to be less constricted, to alleviate the rapid/forced breathing he has)...but to no shock to the doctor, it didn't work. She was not surprised as most babies don't respond but she figured some do, and if we had him admitted to the hospital they'd try it there anyway. She was not convinced he needed to be admitted, seeing that he still takes bottles, wets diapers, poops, does not have a fever, still coos and smiles. So, he's a happy wheezer, meaning it's not making life totally miserable or uncomfortable. If we notice his breathing getting more laborious, or if he seems 'out of it', or stops drinking, then we are to call immediately and take him in. She also checked his oxygen levels by strapping this little sticky strip that reminded me of a band-aid with two little white squares to his big left toe. His level bounced between 89 and 94...normal is 90+...so he is borderline. Michael is staying home with the boys tomorrow, so Ethan can be watched better. He'll be the one taking poor mom's calls during the day to see how he is. The doctor mentioned that usually day 4 or day 5 are the 'worst' or climactic days...I pray this is true as today is day 5 for Ethan.

Little Ethan, I'm praying you get better soon! Love you!

He Lasted One Week...

So, as most of you know...I went back to work on Feb 18th. I had it all worked out that Michael and my mom would coordinate schedules so they could take turns taking care of the boys through the last stretch of February. Ethan started daycare on Monday, March 2nd.

He lasted one week.

Then he got sick.

I took him into the clinic yesterday after I picked the boys up (Michael was in the Dells for a tech conference....I had to fly solo for two days; it was actually quite fun!) and the doctor listened....looked....poked....and said 'It's just viral.' Duh. I could have told him that. BUT, I wanted to get the professional opinion, not self-diagnose, since he is raspy, hoarse, has a loose cough...his cry is so gentle because he has pretty much lost his voice. He still smiles a lot, coos, melts our hearts....but I feel just awful that he is sick. Poor little guy...I just want to stay home and love him up. Let him lay (or is it lie?) on my chest and snuggle in for a good nap. Be home with his mama.

The weekend can't come soon enough.

He's Got It All Figured Out

Austin had something on his mind tonight at dinner....

"Grandma Julie's and Grandma Cheryl's house should get by mine. We should move the garage over by the shed, so Grandma Julie can live there (pointing to where the garage is now), and Grandma Cheryl she can live over there (pointing to the space where Michael and I want to add on a living room to our existing house). Their house will be by mine. Yeah."

He has it all figured out....

...except where will Grandpa Bob and Granddad Ron live??!! (Sorry, guys...I guess he has to modify his plan a bit, huh?)