Cold turkey...

Yesterday was day one of no bottle for Alex. We felt that she was starting to get a little too attached to it, and it is better for her teeth and development (supposedly) if she gets away from it. She definitely had less milk yesterday than normal... but we are hoping that she will get the hang of it sooner than later.

We thought about transitioning slowly (eliminating one bottle at a time or leaving only the bedtime bottle), but decided that we didn't want to empower the bottle and/or assign any additional emotions to it... so cold turkey it is.

Walker, Texas Ranger...

Alex has finally started to let go and walk on her own, as opposed to having to be stood up and pointed in a direction. She is walking all over the place starting and stopping and even turning in mid-flight every now and again. She has also, at least twice that I know of, gone from sitting in the middle of the room to standing without the aid of something to pull up on. Since that little trick is still difficult to catch on tape, here she is walking of her own free will (and some smiles and coaxing).

Genetic testing...

There are genes that have been linked to breast cancer. Basically, if you have mutations in these genes, you are genetically predisposed to having breast cancer... and cervical cancer... and ovarian cancer... and cancer, cancer, cancer. It also means that your sisters, mothers, and daughters are possibly in the same boat.

Michele wondered if she should have the test that tells you if you have the mutation or not. She asked her doctor, who basically said "do you really want to know?". If the test came back the wrong way the doctor would recommend, after any child baring was finished, to just take out all the high risk bits. Ugh.

For the sake of her peace of mind, and for the sake of Robin, Carmen, and Alex, Michele had the tests. She had the test way back in October or November and has been waiting for the results... of course the doctor forgot to call her. Ugh.

Last week she finally heard. No genetic mutations. No genetic markers. No more surgery. No more immediate worries. Our girls are no more likely to get breast cancer than anyone else. Yeah.

Hopefully now Michele can sleep just a little bit easier.

Seriously...

... it's enough already. Alex has double ear infections and a recurrence of her RSV that has moved more in to her chest and may or may not be Bronchitis. The poor little thing is miserable. She has to have breathing treatments every four hours, which at least helps calm down the terrible wheezing she has been dealing with. She had to get more shots... antibiotics to handle the ear infections. Today is the first day in a week that she hasn't had a fever, so hopefully things are turning around. Oh yeah, and as a bonus some of her molars are starting to poke through to compound the agony.

The worst part is that she is uncomfortable and miserable and clingy... and Michele and I are tired and short tempered and feeling like the worst parental units in the history of reproduction (rational or not). If this baby doesn't start to be more healthy we are taking her out of daycare, quitting our jobs, and reinstating all of the chemo/newborn rules (few visitors, surgical masks, wash your hands!!) that effectively forced us to all live in a bubble.

Insult to injury...

As if it isn't bad enough that Alex is home sick today, this is how I dressed her:


I guess compared to 0-16 a runny nose, cough, and fever aren't really that bad.

One year check up...

Alex had her one year check up a bit late... she was still sick when the original date came up, so we moved it back to make sure that she could get all of her shots. When we finally did go everything went spectacularly!

The doctor was very pleased with her overall health and development. She was impressed with some of the things that Alex can do (eating, signing, etc.). We offered to let her see Alex walk. "No babies perform for me on demand." she said. And then Alex, swathed in only a diaper, scampered back and forth across the room about a dozen times. "What a big girl."

All of Alex's measurements were well within the healthy ranges. 95th percentile for height (31") again. 90th percentile for head circumference (46cm) again. Both tracking right on the scale they have been. Her weight (22lb 4oz)however was a bit off track at around the 75th percentile. The doc wasn't worried though, and said that since she has been sick so often lately she is a bit down but will bounce back.

She took the shots very well this time. She screamed like a banshee, of course, when they were administered... but the nurses offer of animal crackers snapped her out of it pretty quick. I'll have to remember that trick.

All in all, healthy happy baby!

She a maniac...

Between Christmas and her birthday Alex receive about eleventy billion toys, almost all of which play music on some level. It turns out to be fortuitous as she has taken to dancing. She sits in front of one of these toys, pushes the music playing button (usually buttons), and either bounces up and down or sways back and forth. This is always accompanied by a look at the nearest adult that says, "Are you seeing this? Do you see me?"




It is a bit odd that there doesn't seem to be any joy in this. No smiles. No giggles. Just a look of determination and a serious dedication to her craft. Her teachers tell us that she occasionally skips class activities to sit in front of the mirror and dance alone.

She's dancing like she's never danced before!

Alex loves the phone

I knew that the phone would be an object of fascination for Alex because Max was all about the phone. Lately, Alex has been putting shoes, remotes, and phones up to her ear as if she is actually on the phone. It is really cute because she also mumbles, like she is talking.

Well today, she moved the phone use up a notch....she called Robin. Apparently, Robin had called at some point (note she was not the last person to call) and showed up in the caller id. Alex scrolled through some numbers and all of a sudden we hear Robin say hello on speakerphone. So Alex managed to push the previous calls button, scroll to find Robin's number, and push the speaker phone button. Initially, I interrogated Robin if she called, etc. Nope, Alex just wanted to see what was up with Aunt Ro.

Housekeeping...

For those who are interested (and those who have been badgering me), the six month plus photo album (left) is up to date through Alex's first birthday.

Coming soon: One year plus album!

Stop me if you have heard this before...

Wes, Bob, Robin and I are on a diet. Sure we were also on one last year but we lost that diet somewhere along the way. Well here it is, 2009 and we have found it again.

Wes and I were always tired and stressed. So we decided we need to do something about it. The truth is, we were less than cute. We snookered Bob and Robin into this deal and we are hoping that the group effort will make us successful.

We are already showing marked improvement already and it has only been a week. The real trick if finding time to work out. I know, very cliche but it is truth. The exercise part of the equation has been missing during the past attempts and so now, success is sure to come. Wes and I did this once with success and were able to maintain the weight loss prior to the cancer thing. That gives me confidence that we can do and show Bobin the way!!!

But I will say right here that unless we are achieving success, you won't hear another word about the diet!!!

I't a bear...

Okay, so we just went out to dinner and the little girl sitting at the next table (she was like six and wearing what appeared to be a wedding dress over her jeans and sweater) came over and gave this picture to Alex:

Michele overheard her talking to her mother about how she was learning contractions, so the grammar is a bit off... but how cute is that?

Dada...

Finally Alex seems to be feeling a little better. No fever Monday or Tuesday, and she went to daycare yesterday and today. Still has a cough and runny nose, but she is acting more like herself everyday.

That said, she has been more clingy and whiny the last few days. Bedtime usually isn't a problem but has been more of a fight for a couple nights. Last night we were going through the normal routine and she seemed to be asleep. Then she was crying. Michele reset her and she feigned sleep again. Then she was crying. We decide to just let her cry it out for a few minutes.

The next thing I know, she is standing in her crib sobbing and screaming, "Dada...dada...dada..." over and over again. For the record, I'm a sucker. I went back in and she finally went to sleep for good (and slept through the night for the first time in a week).

I think I'm in trouble... she already knows how to manipulate me...

Hey, guess what...

Still with the fever. Apparently we are just going to ride it out. The good news is that she may have turned a corner after sleeping most of the day today. Hopefully Michele and I can turn the corner before we have to work tomorrow. But, if you need to find me, I'll be home with Alex. She has to be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to daycare.

Buenas noches.

Buy stock in Kleenex...

Tuesday afternoon daycare called to implore us to pick up our child... she had a fever, 103. We rushed over to get her and she was hot, but in good spirits. Lots of fluids, lots of sleep... I'm sure she'll be OK tomorrow.

Wednesday... fever. Canceled our New Year's Eve plans and hunkered down. By mid-afternoon, instead of better, she was worse. Still high fever (between doses of Tylenol and Motrin) and miserable. Took her to the after hours clinic (they know us by name) just to make sure that it wasn't her ears again. Ears look fine. Just a cold. Lots of fluids, lots of sleep... I'm sure she'll be OK tomorrow.

New Year's day... cancel those plans too. Still with the fever, still with the miserable. Runniest nose ever... cough, cough, cough. Lots of fluids, lots of sleep... I'm sure she'll be OK tomorrow.

Yesterday she woke up and continued the streak... fever, 102. Make an appointment to see her pediatrician. First thing open is 3:50pm. Ugh. She was happy and playing while dosed on droppers full of heaven, and miserable in between. Inconsolable. Poor little face chapped from snot, spit, and tears. Her doctor tells us she most likely has RSV. Nasty virus that causes a fever for a few days, and a cough and runny nose for up to two weeks. Great. And, as a special bonus, it is highly contagious and presents in adults as a very bad cold... which both of us are now experiencing. Lots of fluids, lots of sleep... if the fever is still there tomorrow, she may have to have a chest X-ray or be admitted, but I'm sure she'll be OK tomorrow.

This morning dawns after a long night of Michele gets up with her, I get up with her, Michele gets up with her... etc. Fever, 102. The office opens at 9:00... man I hope she'll be OK tomorrow.