Tool Time

Jay did some picture-hanging for me this weekend - I finally got Will's birth announcement cross stitch done and framed, so we hung it in his room, along with an older project I'd had in my office previously (puppies). Will was very excited about the tools, especially the tape measure and the pliers.

Still Getting Better

Quick update on this Friday morning: I think we are finally all feeling much better after our illness last week. We took Will back to the pediatrician on Wednesday when he seemed to be having a hard time breathing (kind of holding his breath, then grunting). His lungs were clear and his oxygen saturation was good...ears still inflamed, so he got a prescription for a different antibiotic (Omnicef this time). He came home and slept (on me) all afternoon, and was MUCH better yesterday.

The PA that saw us on Wednesday said we most likely had H1N1 2009, given the level of fever Jay and I had and the fact that they're not seeing seasonal flu right now, just swine flu. They still recommend getting vaccinated (when we can find it!) because they don't know how long natural immunity from infection lasts. I still need to get a seasonal flu shot...they are hard to come by around here.

Other health-related thing on my mind: health insurance. My employer is looking for a new group plan since the rates are increasing so much on the plan we have now. I switched Will to an individual policy (with the same coverage) to save some $$...Blue Cross increased his rate by $100 a month starting in Jan, but we're still saving by having him on his own policy (saving about $40 a month). As a small business, we don't qualify for some of the great plans bigger companies can get....and we have only a handful of people enrolled because most use their spouse's employer's plans. So it will come down to choosing between (A) plan with 100% coverage after a $5000 per individual deductible, no copays or (B) a tiered coverage policy with $3500 deductible with copays, 80% coverage after deductible (not clear on all the specifics on this one). A rep is coming next week to talk to us about our options...hopefully we can keep our enrollment up so we qualify for SOME type of group policy, and we're not left on our own to find our own coverage. Frustrating! But you HAVE to have health insurance...

Breakfast Buddies

Here is a little video of Will and Bobby at breakfast this morning. Bob has really been buddying up to Will lately. Um, think food has anything to do with it?

On the Rebound

Will slept in this morning (until 7) and was running a high fever when I got him out of his crib...103.7, though the screaming because of getting his rectal temperature taken could have driven it up that extra 0.7 degrees. Anyway, too high for my comfort level. He was flushed and out of it, too. As he chugged his water bottle, I called the nurse and she recommended he come in to the clinic.

I had to work, so Jay was on his own with a feverish, pitiful, cranky Will for the appointment (not to mention the rest of the day). They diagnosed him with an ear infection (both ears...ouch!). His fever was down to 99 by then, thanks to infant motrin. He was prescribed Amoxicillin (pink and looks like it should be tasty, but is apparently disgusting) and Jay was advised to continue alternating Motrin and Tylenol throughout the day. He seemed much more alert and happy by the time I got home, and had his bedtime medication, a bath, eucalyptus baby chest creme, warm jammies, a cuddle/nursing and went right to sleep.

It's so unusual for him to be sick...it's been pretty worrisome to me, but I'm glad to see a turnaround. I'm thinking that whatever virus we have both been dealing with made him more susceptible to developing the ear infections. I hesitate to say that we had H1N1 flu, but I'm thinking that may have been it....Will has been vaccinated for seasonal flu (though I haven't - no one has it here!), and this illness was more intense for him than previous sniffles/rhinoviruses he's dealt with. I'll ask his regular doctor what she thinks when we recheck his ears in a couple of weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was quiet and subdued...Will and I are sick with some sort of virus (fever, stuffy nose and chest, cough), so we cuddled on the couch for much of the day while Jay whipped up a yummy Thanksgiving dinner for us. Will took a good nap, then was all tuckered out by about 5:30, so he had another dose of infant Motrin, a steamy shower with Mama and fell asleep quickly.

Since Jay cooked, I cleaned up, and we're about to have milk and pie...then it's tea with honey for me and off to bed. Here are some pictures of Will this morning at breakfast....Bobby gets REAL friendly with him when there is food involved :)

Two Word Sentences!

Will is saying new words every day right now. New ones this week: diaper (he rolls the 'r'), new, maybe, bubble, apple, peanut butter. Granted, these are all subject to interpretation.

First two-word phrases:
(at Target): "Need yogurt"
Me: Isn't Mayzie a good dog? Will: Bad Zee

He really does love Mayzie, though. He is careful (mostly) about patting her and the cats gently, but occasionally I catch him grabbing and twisting Mayzie's hair. She gives me a 'save me' look, and has never offered to bite. Good dog.

Will did not enjoy his swimming lesson as much this week. I tried to just forge ahead...Wheels on the Bus can be very soothing for some reason...he actually did better with floating on his back this week and trying to blow bubbles, but was quite upset about the slide and kicking in the water. He took a 2.5 hour nap that day, so he may have been feeling out of sorts to begin with.

Jay is going to enjoy some alone time for hunting this weekend, while Will and I meet my mama and aunt in Commerce, GA (north of Atlanta) for some Christmas shopping. Three redheaded women and a redhaired little boy - look out!

Here he is playing broom hockey with the peanut butter this morning :)

Change in Settings

Hi everyone! I'm changing the security settings on the blog to make sure its ONLY people we know that are viewing the blog. If I know you and you'd like to be added to the list, please email me at katie_smithson@yahoo.com. I will be making the change later this week - thanks!