Lately: Sunshine, Rain, Sickies, & Milestones

So.much.catching.up to do!

I have been so busy at work and I've had school projects AND Ben has been sick...ugh.  It's been a crazy couple of weeks.

I'll start last week.  It was rainy (April showers and all that...all I'm saying is that the May flowers better be awesome from all this rain).  Anyway, this is really only noteworthy because Avery looked so cute in her raincoat.

We discovered that Ben thinks funny faces are hilarious.  This was Wednesday evening and he was pretty cranky that close to bedtime but laughing in between fussing.

The week was progressing as normal when I got a call on Thursday that Ben had a fever, was sweating, and was pretty lethargic.  I took him to the doctor after picking him up and he had an ear infection.  Ear infections can cause fevers (although they never really did with Avery), so we got some antibiotics for the infection.

Picking up a Rx

Friday morning he still had a fever, so I stayed home with him.  You could tell he didn't feel well at all.  The fever would go down with Tylenol but would come right back once that wore off.  We battled that all weekend.  He would seem to feel good for a little bit then go back to feeling bad and feverish.

The weather was beautiful so we tried to get outside a bit.

Feeling better

Ben is judging you

Picking out her own outfit

Watching sister fly her kite

Sunday he seemed to feel better so the kids and I headed to lunch and the park with Mimi while Rob unexpectedly had to go to work.

Monday morning Ben finally seemed 100%.

Crazy bed head

Oh, huge milestone this week!  Ben pulled up in his crib.  He is trying to pull up on things but can't get a good grip on much of anything (the ottoman, the bathtub) except the crib.

He is really trying to move around.  He leans out from a sitting position so his hands are on the ground, but his legs are folded under him.  He's trying to crawl but going about it a different way!  He gets frustrated but he'll figure it out eventually.

Everything has been fine and then this morning I received a call from the daycare saying that Ben was inconsolably crying and not drinking his bottle (both unusual).  The eventually got him to sleep but he refused to take a bottle and he started running a temperature of 101.

Sigh.

So Rob went to pick him up.  We'll see how he does tonight but we might have to take him back to the doctor tomorrow.  Maybe the antibiotics didn't clear up the ear infection?  I don't know.  He was perfectly fine yesterday.  I hate that he feels bad.  And I really don't like when he has a fever.

So we'll see.  Sounds like we might be going to the doctor yet again!

Ben's Skin

Haha

Where to start?

Well, the rash first started back in December when he was about 6 months.  At 8 months we switched to soy formula and it cleared up right away.  Then it came back.  Over the last three months we've tried a variety of creams and diet and formula changes as well as allergy testing.  At 9 months he was tested for food allergies.  The test checks for allergies to 20 foods (I assume typically allergenic foods) and he is not allergic to any of those foods.  I can't remember them all off the top  of my head but among them are:

milk
eggs
wheat
corn
fish
shrimp
scallops
oranges
soy beans
chicken
peanuts
walnuts


Yesterday we went to the dermatologist at the recommendation of our pediatrician and she believes it is eczema.  The treatment is simply CeraVe cream twice daily and a strong hydrocortisone cream for his head (he scratches it until it bleeds).

With that news, we are proceeding with giving him whatever foods we want (we had been sticking to the above diet for the last week) since we don't have any reason to believe his rash is related to an allergy.

Hopefully his skin clears up soon.  He goes back for a follow-up visit in a month.

Easter 2013

Ben's 1st Easter.

Festivities kicked off on Thursday.  Avery had an egg hunt at school.

Then we dyed eggs on Saturday.  On Sunday, the kiddos awoke and Avery discovered the baskets right away.  They were excited.  Well, Avery was excited.  Just another morning for Benjamin:)

The Bunny brought books, a few snacks, paints and paper for Avery, 1 chocolate bunny, and Peeps (and those only because they came in the basket Gigi ordered for Ben).  The Bunny is sympathetic to my cause.  Even still, there was no shortage of candy.

We had a great day visiting family, finding treats the Easter Bunny left around the tri-county area, and of course eating.


What can I say?  These kids are cute.

We had a wonderful day and were so glad we were able to spend it with loves ones.

Ben 9 Months

According to weeks, Ben is 9 months today. I normally count by the date (29th), but in this case weeks makes me not late! So he's 9 months today!

I seriously feel like I just wrote his 8 month post a week ago.

Here's what Ben is up to at 9 months:
-scooting and rocking on his bottom (no crawling).

-picking up finger foods, starting to refuse purees.

-drinking about 30 oz of formula a day.

-sleeping pretty well at night. Some night wakings here and there. Good and bad weeks.

-babbles (mama, baba), laughs, squeals, blows raspberries.

-thinking about and trying to pull up.

-shakes his head and pushes your hand away when he doesn't want something.

-stands with assistance.

-generally very happy and likes people (no apparent stranger danger yet, as long as he's not tired).

-loves to be held and talked to.

-smiles all the time.

-thinks Avery is hilarious.

-has 4 teeth

-wears 9 month clothes.

-loves to jump.

-cuddly and loving.

Stats (from memory)

Weight: 18lbs 9oz (19th %)

Height: 28 in (50-something %)

Head: 69th %

He is still having some skin issues. He had blood taken last Friday for allergy testing. We should know the results in a couple weeks.

He is our lovable little guy and he makes us so, so happy.

Oh yes, and he's absolutely adorable.

Around Here

Ben had to get a sink bath after pooping in the bath tub yet again:)

We had some nice weather.

We went to a candy store and Avery was in heaven.

Ben has been scooting around.

We had dinner at Gigi and Pepaw's new house.

St. Patrick's Day was Sunday.  We had brunch downtown.

Little man in a new hat.

Avery being a little teacher.

Ben is holding his bottle pretty well.

He is also picking up finger foods.  We've been giving him part of what we're having for dinner when possible.  Here, he's having peas, chicken, and noodles from chicken noodle soup.

Rob and I have had colds this week but the kids seem ok, fortunately.