My Oh My....

My oh my, how times have changed. Addison is now a big sister! Kaden Alan was born on Friday, March 26th @ 2:23 p.m. He was 8lbs, 3oz and 21 inches long. I had a c-section this time, and I have to admit, it was the way to go! Recoop time was a just a tad more complicated with the scar and not being able to pick Addison up, but we're (Addison) is adjusting to that. She has officially become "Daddy's Girl" and Brian is eating it up. As much as I hate missing my cuddle time with Addison, it is the most heartwarming thing to see her cuddle up with Daddy. She's quite a proud big sister, too. She loves giving Kaden hugs and kisses. She has her tantrum moments which I'm not too fond of, but I'm hoping those with pass.

Kaden is doing great. He's gaining weight and eating a ton. :) Only thing is, the poor boy has his days and nights mixed up quite a bit! He sleeps most of the day and is up every 2 hours at night. Mommy and Daddy are working on this, but it hasn't really changed just yet!

Christmas Time

I'm back!!!

After many months and many apologies from me, I'm finally updating! Addison has grown and changed so much since my last post. She's talking up a storm, repeating everything said. Her favorite show is "Prep and Landing" and she asks for it multiple times a day, saying "ep an aning, ep an aning." She's so serious when she asks for it that Brian and I make her ask more then once. :) She also loves playing with stickies and when she does something "good" or "nice" she quotes "Now I get a sticky.... now I get a sticky." She's just growing up so fast and becoming more of a child and less of a baby. :( We're also having to do time-out with Bug, which is another hilarious adventure. I wish I could capture the look on her face when she has to go sit in time out until she's ready to say sorry or "shwarry" in Bug talk.

Watching Prep and Landing

Christmas was a good time this year with Addison. She still doesn't get that there's usually a toy wrapped inside and she seems more concerned with throwing the "tash" (trash) away after each little piece is ripped off. She got lots of goodies from everyone and we're still trying to find places for all of it! She likes Mommy's new pots and pans!

On another note, Brian and I still haven't decided on Addison's baby brother's name. We just can't seem to agree on one, but we're working on it. I am 26 weeks and having a pretty smooth pregnancy. Addison doesn't understand why she can't bounce on mommy's belly anymore, so poor daddy gets bounced on a lot.

An Early Birthday Present

Even though there are still a few days until Addie-bug's birthday, Nana and Pop went ahead and ordered her present. They had decided to get her a plastic outdoor house since she loves the one at Becky's and I had one when I was small and I LOVED it! So, on Sunday, Addison and Daddy put together her house while Mommy tried to keep her away from the drill. Here are some pics of Addison and Daddy working on the house together.

Working together to get the house done.

The finished product.

Calling my Nana and Pop to tell them thanks....

Can't you see I'm on the phone right now?

Needless to say, it's been hard to keep Addison inside when she knows her house is out there! She's loving it and it finally gives Mommy and Daddy a reason to sit outside! Thank goodness the weather has been so gorgeous!

On the Mend...

Well, Addison slept fitfully last night, but I really think it was due to two things.
1. She slept A LOT yesterday throughout the day.
2. I think she's gotten a tad bit spoiled by sleeping on daddy's chest for the past 5 days. (which daddy doesn't mind at all).
Oh, I forgot to mention we went to the doc yesterday and they prescriped what is called "Mary's Magic Mouthwash." This is not a treatment for the mouth/tongue sores, but it does help numb them temporarily. Grandma brought some mouth swambs from Riley, so we could administer the mouthwash easier.
So, 7 am rolls around and Addie-bug wakes up. She woke up semi-fussy, but not screaming like before. We did our usual morning routine of feeding Bella, letting her out, etc... Addison got her antibiotic for the ear infection, Motrin for the pain, and then we swabbed her mouth. She then preceeded to eat 2 yogurts AND 1/4 cup of rice cereal. She drank milk and juice inbetween too, without complaint, cries, or even a painful look! She even returned to her old ways of playing at the front window and just jabbering the entire time. Things are beginning to look up!
Now, we're just waiting on Nana to get here safely with all the storms going on in Southern Indiana....
Thank you to all who have had us in your thoughts and prayers. We realize this isn't a "serious" thing, but it upsetting and painful to see your little one so distraught and in pain. It means a lot to us to know so many people care! :)

A Rough Go....

Ok, so my last week before school starts up again is not going to be the peaceful, relaxing one I was hoping for. Thursday, after a great day of working in my classroom and getting a lot of stuff done, I picked up Addison at Becky's. She just wasn't herself and Becky commented on it too. She felt really warm to me, so when we got home, we took her temp. It was 103.8! I about died. We immediately started motrin and tylenol to break the fever and took a lukewarm bath. She was extremely fussy and inconsolable, so I called the doc around 10:00. We couldn't get her fever to break and the lowest we ever got it was 101. She ate a bottle right after I talked to the doctor. If I had known this would be her last meal until sometime on Saturday, I might have tried to make a 10 once bottle!

Against everything you read, Addison slept with us Thursday night. I woke up around 1:30 and could feel more heat radiating from her than a furnace. I took her temp again and it was 106! I have never moved so fast in my life. She was in the car and on the way to the ER in rapid time. The docs there did a chest x-ray and took a urine sample. Having to give a 10 month old a catheder broke my heart. The urine test came back with white blood cells in it, which means an infection of some kind, so they were sending that off to get a complete culture on it. They sent us home, telling it was something viral and to keep up the tylenol/motrin combo to try to help with the fever.

Friday morning we headed to the doc for a follow up. Dr. Gill checked her out, did a throat swab to check for strep just in case, and noticed a small white spot forming on Addie's tongue. The day didn't get any better from there. It was truely awful. I cannot express in words the emotions I have been through, or what it feels like to watch your child want to eat and not be able to; to want to take a drink and scream in pain afterwards. By the end of Friday night, Addison's tongue was covered in a white film and she was again, inconsolable. I called the doc on call and when I told him the symptoms-white coating on tongue, can't eat or drink without screaming-he asked if she was drooling, which she was doing uncontrolably. When I told him this, he said "Get her back to the ER immediately." Scary!

So, after many hours WAITING in the ER, she was finally diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. After talking with some people who have either had this, or have dealt with a child having it, it is one of the most painful things someone can go through. Now, having a small child have it who doesn't understand why she can't eat or drink without extreme pain is even worse.

To make matters a tad better, Nana and Pop came up to help with Bug and Grandma and Grandpa came over. I know it's hard for them to see their happy little girl in such pain, but they struggled through and made her smile a few times. :o)

Everything I've read online says you basically have to just wait for the virus to run it's course. Now, that is MUCH easier said than done! The mouth sores and the severe fussiness are the worse part. The only thing that seems to keep her from fussing is by being outside. Thank God we have had such beautiful weather. As I sit and type this, she is outside, on daddy's chest, under the tree. I'm not sure if it's the birds chirping, or the breeze blowing, but it's the one and only thing that calms her down. She will immediately stop fussing as soon as you step out the door. I'm sure our neighbors are wondering what we are doing. We've never been out front so much in the 2 years we've lived in this neighborhood.

We are now on day 5 of being sick and day 4 of having the sores. Hopefully we will turn the corner to Mending street soon. I'm not sure how much more of this we can all take...

One Foot In Front of the Other

Well, it has finally happened. Addison is truly walking at 10 1/2 months. It all started with a couple steps toward a stroller she wanted to play with and it just seemed that each day she would add a few more steps. As of tonight, if she would lose her balance and fall down, she made sure to push herself back up and take off walking again. Before, she would just stay down and crawl wherever she was headed, but that is no more! She is so funny to watch that I now see why they are called "toddlers." She hasn't really grasped changing direction too well, but I'm sure it won't take her long! I know every mother and father think their child picks things up quickly, but I really had no idea she would be walking so soon! She honestly seemed to really get the hang of it overnight! Watch out world, we have a walker! :)

Pure Talent

She's a natural. Her daddy's so proud!!