Friday, January 18, 2008
The Tubes are Working
That was the pediatrician's assessment yesterday afternoon after seeing the "gunk" in Maren's left ear. She said what we were seeing was outside of the ear canal. Without the tubes, it all would have backed up into Maren's ear and been another infection, YUCK. Now, we have to figure out how to hold 31 pounds of constant motion still while we put in ear drops twice a day (just to get rid of the gunk)...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Like a Greased Pig
A snapshot of our house last night...
After dinner, I hustled to get Maren's bath ready, as I had book club. She was happy playing with John while the tub filled, and happy to put almost all of her bath toys into the tub. I did rush the bath a bit, and while washing her hair noticed that her left ear was overflowing with ear wax (this will get graphic and a bit gross). Not only was it overflowing, it had hardened. I tried to get it out with a wet wash cloth (side note - her ear had been excessively waxy and leaky since Sunday, but I hadn't been concerned. Duh.) and she would have none of that, and started screaming as if I was beating her. Fine, I stopped. I called to John to tell him after the bath he'd have to hold her so I could clean out her ear.
I gave her a two minute warning, then a one minute warning, then I drained the tub. Maren laid down and clung to the bumpy mat in the bottom of the tub so that I couldn't pick her up, and screamed. I tried to appease her by saying "you'll get to rub lotion, you like that." After another minute, I scooped her up and forced her into her towel. She is crying and screaming with anger. John comes in to hold her so that I can perform the ear wax-ectomy. It was painful for all three of us. She is twisting, John is holding her, trying not to break her neck, and I'm trying to use my finger nail to pick ear wax out of a small, moving target. Finally, a sort of success. Two green chunks come out. That's not right. I plan to call the pediatrician in the morning.
She finally stops crying and we tell her that she can put lotion on herself. I give her the tube of baby oil gel, trying to hold it to control the flow of the lotion. Too late. She squeezes with all her might and a look of glee on her face, 1/4 cup of baby oil gel is now on her stomach. We stand her up and try to rub it all over her body. She is slippery and gets away from us and is now jumping on the bed. John leaves to get another towel to wipe her down a bit. She is jumping and looking at herself in the mirror and STARTS PEEING ON THE BED. She wants to jump into my arms. I have to go to book club and don't have time to change. I grab the wet bath towel and try to wrap it around her legs.
Finally, she stops peeing. She gets wiped down, again (urine is sterile, right? No need for another bath.) and a new diaper and pajamas are now sticking to her, thanks to the baby oil. She looks up at me, with the face of an angel and says "More teddies, please." Translation - Teddy Grahams. I don't want to give her any since she didn't eat much dinner. But, John is nicer than I am and says "She just had a traumatic ear incident. A few teddies won't hurt."
The guest room looked like a cyclone hit it. The bathroom looked like the Titanic has just gone down. I am more disheveled than usual. Maren is laughing and dancing and eating Teddy Grahams. All is well.
After dinner, I hustled to get Maren's bath ready, as I had book club. She was happy playing with John while the tub filled, and happy to put almost all of her bath toys into the tub. I did rush the bath a bit, and while washing her hair noticed that her left ear was overflowing with ear wax (this will get graphic and a bit gross). Not only was it overflowing, it had hardened. I tried to get it out with a wet wash cloth (side note - her ear had been excessively waxy and leaky since Sunday, but I hadn't been concerned. Duh.) and she would have none of that, and started screaming as if I was beating her. Fine, I stopped. I called to John to tell him after the bath he'd have to hold her so I could clean out her ear.
I gave her a two minute warning, then a one minute warning, then I drained the tub. Maren laid down and clung to the bumpy mat in the bottom of the tub so that I couldn't pick her up, and screamed. I tried to appease her by saying "you'll get to rub lotion, you like that." After another minute, I scooped her up and forced her into her towel. She is crying and screaming with anger. John comes in to hold her so that I can perform the ear wax-ectomy. It was painful for all three of us. She is twisting, John is holding her, trying not to break her neck, and I'm trying to use my finger nail to pick ear wax out of a small, moving target. Finally, a sort of success. Two green chunks come out. That's not right. I plan to call the pediatrician in the morning.
She finally stops crying and we tell her that she can put lotion on herself. I give her the tube of baby oil gel, trying to hold it to control the flow of the lotion. Too late. She squeezes with all her might and a look of glee on her face, 1/4 cup of baby oil gel is now on her stomach. We stand her up and try to rub it all over her body. She is slippery and gets away from us and is now jumping on the bed. John leaves to get another towel to wipe her down a bit. She is jumping and looking at herself in the mirror and STARTS PEEING ON THE BED. She wants to jump into my arms. I have to go to book club and don't have time to change. I grab the wet bath towel and try to wrap it around her legs.
Finally, she stops peeing. She gets wiped down, again (urine is sterile, right? No need for another bath.) and a new diaper and pajamas are now sticking to her, thanks to the baby oil. She looks up at me, with the face of an angel and says "More teddies, please." Translation - Teddy Grahams. I don't want to give her any since she didn't eat much dinner. But, John is nicer than I am and says "She just had a traumatic ear incident. A few teddies won't hurt."
The guest room looked like a cyclone hit it. The bathroom looked like the Titanic has just gone down. I am more disheveled than usual. Maren is laughing and dancing and eating Teddy Grahams. All is well.
The Happiest People on Earth
My Dad's people - the Danes! A nice story from 2o/20 about the people of Denmark. Not sure I'd want the high taxes, but the social gatherings sure sound like fun.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=4086092&page=1
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=4086092&page=1
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Michigan Presidential Primary
John doesn't like to politicize the blog, but tis the season for at least a few political comments...
My friend Erinn did this short piece for Glamour Magazine and asked me for a quote. She changed my name to Allison and made me younger, so that I don't get any heat on behalf of my boss.
http://www.glamour.com/news/blogs/glamocracy
So, I've sort of been in Glamour now, right? It was only a matter of time before I stormed the national media. Haha!
My friend Erinn did this short piece for Glamour Magazine and asked me for a quote. She changed my name to Allison and made me younger, so that I don't get any heat on behalf of my boss.
http://www.glamour.com/news/blogs/glamocracy
So, I've sort of been in Glamour now, right? It was only a matter of time before I stormed the national media. Haha!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
A few birthday pics
As always...we are on a time delay, and slowly we are adding pics. These are both from Maren's birthday. The Pooh Bear phone is from Nana and Ampa (she loves that it plays B-I-N-G-O when you push the number 4). The kitchen is from us and she is very busy with cooking and shopping on a daily basis.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Oh, Crap
Text message that I received from John while I was at a baby shower on Saturday:
FWD:Maren is saying 'oh crap' and then says mommy says that
Hmmmm...guess it's not just Daddy who needs to watch what he says.
FWD:Maren is saying 'oh crap' and then says mommy says that
Hmmmm...guess it's not just Daddy who needs to watch what he says.
My Two Sickos
John took this on his camera phone this weekend. Here are my two sickos, looking cute, considering how bad this cold is hitting us. I am not including my picture, as I look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, thanks to the cold we all now share.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Another year, another trip to the pediatrician...
We start 2008 as we spent much of 2007, at the pediatrician's office. Officially, we were there for Maren's two-year old "well child" check-up. But, of course, she is sick again. Poor baby. Just a bad cold, but the cough that sounds like a barking seal is a killer to Mom and Dad's ears. The doctor said her lungs were clear and the worst should be over in three days.
Other than that, Maren is thriving. 36.5 inches tall (off the charts for her age) and 31 pounds (90th percentile for her age). Her head is only 85th percentile and proportionate, so she may yet escape having the van Blaricom jumbo noggin. The doctor said her sentence structure is closer to that of a three-year old than a two-year old.
During the exam, the doctor turned on her lighted scope to show it to Maren before examing her ears (still clear - yeah!) and nose. She asked Maren what was in the palm of her hand. Maren looked at it and said "Circle!" The doctor said "Wow, I was expecting light, but you are right, it's a circle." That's our smart little Punkin Pie :).
Other than that, Maren is thriving. 36.5 inches tall (off the charts for her age) and 31 pounds (90th percentile for her age). Her head is only 85th percentile and proportionate, so she may yet escape having the van Blaricom jumbo noggin. The doctor said her sentence structure is closer to that of a three-year old than a two-year old.
During the exam, the doctor turned on her lighted scope to show it to Maren before examing her ears (still clear - yeah!) and nose. She asked Maren what was in the palm of her hand. Maren looked at it and said "Circle!" The doctor said "Wow, I was expecting light, but you are right, it's a circle." That's our smart little Punkin Pie :).
Whatta bummer!
Well, it was over by half-time. We have decided that we don't want the Bucks to be in any more national title games - too stressful! Any more votes out there for a play-off system? We agree, but John says the college presidents will never authorize that.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Game Prep
Maren is helping John get the new Block O flag ready to fly...in her own special way. It has many uses, even a zoo. Who knew?
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