12.06.2009

A Tough Two Weeks

Dear Grace,

It has been a miserable two weeks for you and I. You have had an ear infection in both ears. This is the first time that you have truly been sick in your young life. I have wished every moment that I could take away everything that hurts you and bothers you. You are restless and you cannot get comfortable. You do not want your milk or your toys. You especially do not want to lie down and rest.

The doctor prescribed Amoxicillin and breathing treatments. You like the medicine (we have convinced you that it tastes wonderful), but you hate the breathing treatments. You squirm and start SCREAMING when we bring the mask near your face. I really cannot say that I blame you, but it is pitiful to watch. Your Dad is usually the brave one that does the treatments, because I cannot bear to cause you such agony - even though it is only to make you feel better in the end.

You are at a fun stage right now in your mobility development. You can sit up now, which has opened a whole new world for you. Before, when you ended up on your belly, you would lay there and cry - thrashing your arms for added dramatic effect. Now, you can simply sit up. Each time you sit up, you look around to make sure someone is watching you. You love applause, and you get a lot of it!

The down-side to your movement is that I can no longer trust you to your handy gym. Before, you could lay there for a long amount of time, kicking and swatting at the various toys dangling before you. Now, you roll. Somehow you never end up where I put you down!

You no longer allow us to change your diaper. As soon as the old diaper comes off, you start rolling. This has caused quite a few disasters. Your favorite thing to do while having your diaper changed is to reach into the supply basket above your head. You seem to do this at the most inconvenient, messiest times. Your dad and I have to tell you "No". You stop what you are doing, look at us and then resume rolling up to get into the basket. We have not figured out a good solution for this one yet.

You love the Christmas tree. We have lots of ornaments that *do* stuff and you are amazed. Your favorite seems to be one that plays "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". (BTW - If you really do want one, just tell Nana and Papa. I'm sure that they would go buy one for you.) You like shiny, sparkly things (just like me!).

The worst part about your being sick, is that I have been sick too. Really, really sick. It is so hard to care for you when I can barely stand up myself. You don't understand why Mommy takes so long to get your bottle. My coughing scares you sometimes and that breaks my heart! Your Dad tries to step up sometimes with your regular care, but somehow you end up with me again. Thank goodness I am getting better too.

We are working on our Christmas shopping. I love to take you shopping. You love to look at all the stuff. You are the star everywhere that we go. People stop us all the time and try to touch you. (Don't worry - I keep lots of hand sanitizer around for us.)

You Christmas pictures came back and our Christmas cards are printed and in the mail. Of course, you are the cutest, most beautiful baby EVER.

Love forever,
Mama

17 comments:

Jamie said...

:-( I'm so sorry she is sick. And you, too. I hope you both are feeling better soon!

Anonymous said...

Awe, I'm sick too, but thankfully baby is okay. (She had pneumonia a couple months ago and she loved her Amoxicillin too!) We are going through all the same things. She's rolling right into her poop, she loves when we clap for her and say "Yay", she's always rolling or turning a different way when we put her on her playmat. But she's not sitting up on her own yet. She has to hold her arms down beside her to do it. And when she falls, wow, I know exactly what you mean about the crying and thrashing of arms. Haha.

And, congratulations on getting Christmas pics and cards done. We -still- haven't and I am none too happy about that.

Angelia said...

Hope you BOTH get to feeling better soon. Wishing you lots of peace and many shiny things.

I remember the days of discovered mobility. Oh boy!

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

Somehow I can see her at college reading this at Christmas time. It's a tradition she wouldn't change, though she knows it by heart. It still brings tears to her eyes.

Unknown said...

Isn't it the worse when they are sick? Oh, I remember that with such sadness. Your tree sounds pretty. I love your blog title! It is so creative and pretty : )

becca said...

There is nothing worse than seeing your child sick. It's heart wrenching. I had (and still do) to go through the nebulizer treatments with my daughter. It was near impossible when she was an infant. Did the doctor say you have to use the mask? My ped said it was ok to just put the thing with the medicine in it right under her mouth/nose if she stays still enough. Hannah didn't scream quite as much that way.

Notes like this you'll be so happy you wrote when she's older. What a great way to remember the tough days (and good ones too!)

Hope Grace feels better soon and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Rocio @ Casa Haus said...

Hi there! How is Grace doing? I hope she recovers soon. Having a sick child is the worst feeling. On the other hand, she is at such a fun stage right now; I'm glad you're enjoying everything. Please keep up like that, for time flies away so fast.
Thanks for visiting Casa Haus!

Unknown said...

Marlie and Me are recovering from bad head colds (she had ear infections in both ears with hers). It sucks when you're baby is sick...sucks worse when you're sick too and are helpless. I hope you are both feeling better!

Unknown said...

it's the absolute worst - when they're sick and you feel so helpless. My prayers are with you.

thatgirlblogs said...

girl, get better by christmas! rest, rest, rest every chance you get!

~ Noelle said...

how sweet...
i know what you mean about the ear infections...
my son had them (in both ears as well) last month...
it was so pitiful

Shell said...

Breathing treatments are rough! It took both my husband and I to hold down our son, who was 17 months old at the time, to get them done.

Hope everyone is feeling better soon.

Anonymous said...

Oh ear infections in babies are NOT good.

Claudya Martinez said...

Ear infection in both ears! Poor thing. I hope you both feel better ASAP!

Jenn Erickson said...

Oh my goodness ~ I hope you two are feeling better. I remember how hard it was to be sick and have sick little ones. Thank heavens she's taking the medicine! I'm asthmatic and do periodic breathing treatments ~ I can't even imagine what this must be like for a child. You have my sympathies and well wishes!

Blia said...

I know how hard it is when you are sick and also have a little one sick. Hopefully, things get better soon. Hope you also have a Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest

Emily said...

My six-month-old has started squirming lots at diaper change time too. It is really tricky changing her.