Sickness Central

Our home has been hit hard with sickness!  Annelise came down with her first stomach bug last Wednesday.  We were getting up and going to get ready for gymnastics class.  I asked her to go out to the kitchen to throw Harrison's diaper away and I hear her cough and small splash.  I figured that wasn't good, so I went to go see what happened.  She had thrown up.  I immediately grabbed a bowl to finish catching it.  I cleaned her up, and took her to the couch to lay down.  Shortly after that, she threw up again.  At first, I thought that her getting sick might have just been a one time thing, but after the second time, I knew that she was sick!  Poor girl was miserable!  She spent the morning throwing up and resting on the couch, nodding in and out of sleep.

She fell asleep for her "nap" and slept for 2-3 hours on the couch.  She woke up right as Drew was getting home from class.  She immediately asked for something to eat, ate a banana, drank some water, and started to run and bounce around like she had never even been sick at all.  I couldn't believe it!

Then, Friday came, and the flu bug hit me!  I woke up nauseous and fought for a while to work my way through it.  I had signed Annelise up for a Kindermusik class and was really excited to take her.  I knew I wasn't going to make it, so I asked Rachel to take her.  I started throwing up shortly after they left.  Thankfully, Harrison napped for majority of the time they were gone.  Once Rachel and Annelise got home, Rachel took care of the kids until Drew got home a little after noon.  I was a mess until about 4.  I was so cold!  I don't think that I have ever been so chilled when I've been sick.  My nose was like ice.  It was so weird.  Once I was able to stop throwing up, I felt much better.  I was so upset that I got sick when I did because I had made plans to go out with a friend.  Inevitably, that's when sickness always hits, right?

Yesterday, Annelise came down with a nasty cold.  She started showing some signs of it Sunday night, and come yesterday morning, it was full blown and awful.  But, a cold doesn't stop her from running around and being rambunctious.  She's feeling a little better today, but still not 100%.

Drew is dealing with the sickness today!  Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?!?!  Is it summer yet?

Four Months - Harrison

Dear Harrison,

I feel like this past month has been forever.  For some odd reason, it feels like time has slowed down.  Maybe it's listening to me?  This month has seen a huge leap in your awareness and social responsiveness.  I adore watching you watch things.  I can just see your little brain working to process it all.

This month has been the suck for sleep!  Buddy, what happened to my good little sleeper??  You went from sleeping so well at night to waking two and three times.  I'm exhausted!  This sleep regression has been rough.  Naps are still pretty much the same, but there's been a decline in the quality of those too.  I know that we'll get back on track, I'm just anxious for it to happen.  I also need to start working on getting you into your crib to sleep.  Naps are still in your swing, and nights are in the RNP in Mom and Dad's room.  You had your first crib nap this month, and did fairly well.  It lasted about 35-40 minutes. Not too shabby.  I just need to get better at working on it with you.

Your hands are ALWAYS in your mouth.  I keep telling you that I'm going to have to watch you because one day I'll look down and see that you've chomped off a finger.  You are also a horrible drooler.  I've had an amber necklace on you for weeks now, but I haven't seen any improvement in the drooling.  I keep checking your gums, but I don't feel any teeth.  If you teeth like your sister, it'll be a while!

My favorite thing that has happened this month is that you've started giggling!  It's so soft and quiet, but it absolutely melts my heart.  Of course, I make a fool out of myself trying to get you to giggle.  You usually oblige!  I got you to crack up in the bathtub one night.  I was so sad because I wasn't able to get it on video.

I've noticed that your spitting up and colic have gotten a little better.  You still do spit up, but it's not as severe as it used to be.  You also seem to be the most cranky when you're tired, instead of just all the time.  I try to watch for clues that you give when you're tired, but it's hard.

This month brought a bunch of fall firsts for you.  We took you to the pumpkin patch, the apple orchard, and Halloween.  You really didn't care, but I loved being able to take you.  As I watched your sister run around, I kept thinking about what you'll be like next year when you're running around with her.

I can already see such a deep love between you and her.  You both are infatuated with each other. As your mom, I hope that that love continues to grow and strengthen.  I hope that you both are each other's biggest fans.  Annelise always asks to hold you and wants to play with you and love on you.  You watch her with such intense interest.  When you light up and smile as you watch her, my heart skips a beat and I know that having the two of you so close together was worth it.

I transitioned you into 9 month clothing this month.  Yes, you are a big boy!  Everybody always comments about how big you are.  I feel like I got jipped out of my tiny, squishy baby because you seemed to grow up overnight.

My boy, I never once doubted that my heart would expand to love you.  I look forward to each day and watching you grow and learn.

Love always,
Mommy