10 Days of Sickness...

Wow...it's finally over!!!

So as I said in my last post...Ella came down with a cold...I told you about Monday/Tuesday...well Wednesday rolled around and Josh and I were both off...we kept our day pretty low -key as Ella was still under the weather. In the afternoon we decided to take a little trip to Sweet Frog (frozen yogurt place). So we get in the car and head over there...and Ella cried almost the whole way there :( She's not one for crying in the car...she loves to ride and almost always falls asleep. So we get there...and we don't want to take her in as she is coughing away, etc. So Josh goes in first and gets his...he sits in the back seat with Ella while I run in and get mine. Poor little thing was just so unhappy...her day did brighten up when Josh begged me to let her have the last little bite of his ice cream...I caved and said she could have the last little drop. So he gave that to her...and she got all happy...of course she wanted more (which didn't happen!) So then we were on our way home...we got stuck in traffic as there was a car accident and they completely shut down the road...as we tried to get out to find another way home...Ella was just wailing the entire time...so I said to Josh...do you think I should call the Doctor? I was a little concerned and Josh was going to be watching her all day on Thursday by himself...and I knew he would feel better knowing she had been. So it was 3pm....and I called to see if they had any openings (4:10) - we'll take it! So we both went and she got checked out by her pediatrician...and everything was ok...she did have a mild fever....and just a nasty cold! Since Ella was 2 days away from being 9 months...they also did her 9 month well visit appointment at the same time. Ella is still a little peanut! 15lbs and 13oz and 26 1/4 inches long. Her weight is in the 25th percentile (has been since birth), head circumference was in the 50th percentile...and her length only in the 5th percentile...so hopefully she will hit a little growth spurt before her 12 month check-up! So that was our Wednesday...we just have an unhappy baby who has a nasty cold!

I did notify our sitter that Ella would not be coming on Thursday...Josh was going to be home with her. So he watched her all day...said she did ok...pretty much was just kind of cranky...and had all the usual cold symptoms.

Friday I was home with Ella...Josh was working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all day each day...so my mom offered to come stay with Ella so I could run some errands without having to take Ella with me...which was great...I did my errands and came back to the house...Ella had slept the whole time I was gone. She did ok Friday...I felt like her cough was getting a little worse...but I really wasn't sure...Josh ended up coming home just as I was putting her to bed so he did get to say goodnight to her. Friday night was not a fun night...Ella woke up around 2am just coughing and coughing and coughing....so I was up with her...and then around 4:30am...she started spitting up and it was just gross (I'll spare you the details!)....and I yelled for Josh as I needed help...and he came running up the stairs...and as I sat on the floor holding Ella who was crying...he looked at me and said...I think I'm going to take some sick time today and go with you to take her back to the Doctor. I said...well why don't you go in for a few hours (he had a lot of reports to finish up...he was due at 6am...and the Doctors office didn't even open until 9am)...so he said that was what he would do...so I called at 9....and they were able to get her in at 9:50. So I called Josh and I told him we would meet him at the Police Station (I was going to pick him up) and we would go to the Doctor's office. So he rolls out in full uniform (he didn't have time to change!) So we walk into the Doctors office and got a lot of looks (well he did!) We saw a different Doctor this time (we have seen him before at her 6 month check-up)...and I had thought maybe she was coming down with croup (an upper respiratory infection)....and sure enough...that is what he diagnosed her with....he wrote her an RX for a steroid (syrup) to take for 3 days. After the Doctor's office I dropped Josh back off at work...he had about 30 more minutes of stuff to do...and then he was going to come home. So our afternoon was a low-key afternoon...Ella was still a little miserable...I talked to her sitter and said she won't be there Monday as I wanted her to have all 3 days of taking the medicine in her before she went back around other kids.

Saturday night was still a rough night...as the coughing mainly hits at night time...so I was up with her off and on from about 11:30-3:00ish. Sunday came...and Josh went to work...I couldn't bring Ella to church...so again we watched church on the laptop at home! She was definitely starting to feel a little better...was a little perkier, etc. Sunday night...she still woke up and coughed some at night...I was actually up with her again at 2am and we were hanging out on our front porch (the cold air helps them be able to breathe a little better)... Oh..and in the midst of all this...I came down with another cold (imagine that!!)

So now it's Monday...Josh stayed home with her as he was off...I was working 8:30-7...with about 4 hours of sleep :( Josh reported that Ella was even a little happier than the day before. Really it was morning time that was the worst...the first 45 minutes after she got up...she would cough and cough. Then Monday night happened...she actually did well with not coughing...but at 11:30 she woke up screaming crying...and wouldn't stop! Josh stayed up with her and fed her a bottle, took her outside, ran a hot shower so they could sit in the steam...she just cried and cried...he told me to go back to bed as I had been up with her for 3 nights and was only getting about 4 hours of sleep each night, and I had a cold...and was just miserable....so I did go back downstairs....she stopped around 1am and finally fell asleep....I still stayed awake until about 3am as I was worried about Ella and really the only way I could sleep was if I was practically sitting up as I was so stuffy!

So needless to say...it's been a loooong 10 days!! I am happy to say that Ella went to the sitters yesterday and did great. She was very happy when we went there and was all smiles at seeing the other kids.

So that brings us to today...Ella is back to her old self...smiles and chatty and so much fun! Ella and I had a great day today...and actually Josh was home most of the day with us. I introduced Ella to some real bananas this morning as the Doctor suggested she start eating some "real food" now....well Ella was NOT all about that...

Her first experience at touching the bananas...

This was as far as she made it...she hated the texture and refused to eat any of it!

At lunch I tried again...this time with "puffs" (baby crackers that melt in their mouth)...this was as far as it got...She wouldn't put it in her mouth and kept spitting until it fell off! :)

And it's cold number....??

Well it's not me this time...it's Ella :( I would rather be sick than see her sick...it's miserable!

On Friday - Josh and I were both off...so we just had a family day at home hanging out!

Saturday we went out and ran a bunch of errands...including the grocery store (one of my least favorite places to go!) - and I decided to try something new for Ella's meals...some yogurt! As soon as we got home it was lunch time for her....so I gave her the regular lunch she eats...and she ate it all up...so then I introduced her to her first bite of Yo Baby Organic yogurt (Blueberry) - the first bite was awful (so said the look on her face) - the second bite not so bad, and by the third bite...this stuff is A-Ok! She only got a few bites as I wanted to see how this did with her stomach...but she did well with it. At dinner, once she finished eating her dinner...I thought well I will give her a few more bites of yogurt...so I brought it out of the fridge - and gave her a bite - she looked at me and spit it out...I thought hmmm that's weird...so I tried it again....still didn't like it. I couldn't figure out what it was...then I thought...I bet because it's cold! She doesn't eat anything cold - it all is always heated up...now yogurt wouldn't taste good warm....but when she ate it at lunch it was probably pretty close to room temperature as we had been out...so I stuck a little bit in the microwave for 5 seconds...tried it again....and no problems - ate it right up!

Sunday I woke up at 6:30am to Ella coughing....hmmmm...and it just went downhill from there....slight fever, runny nose, and a nasty cough! So we stayed home and went to church from our living room...we actually tuned in to Josh's dads church in Vermont...we could Live Stream it online...so that was pretty cool. So our Sunday we laid low...Ella was sick...and oh yeah...it was snowing like crazy! We ended up with 7 inches or so! Here is Ella "watching" Veggie Tales with her dad....

As you can see....she was not happy (notice Bella in the corner hiding under the toys!)

So as Sunday night progresses and little Ella starts sounding worse...I notify my managers at work and tell them that I am not going to be able to come in on Monday as Ella is sick and is unable to go to the sitters. Poor little thing is so miserable!! All day Monday I only got a handful of smiles...one time she looked at me...the lower lip came out and she just burst into tears...so sad! I tried really hard to get some "mama's" out of her...and you know what...she didn't say it once...only "dada"....I couldn't believe it...she would look right at me and say, "dada"....I think she was doing it on purpose! :)

Here are a few of Ella's eBay purchases (well mom's purchases for Ella)...

She's going to be a styling little girl in Ladybugs this summer!

Today - Grandma came over to watch Ella so Josh and I could both go to work...Ella did OK...still had a pretty rough day...just so stuffy, etc. I gave her a bath tonight...she kicked and kicked her legs...I'm pretty sure I had more water on me than what was in her tub!! She became a little happier after her bath - chatting away....still only saying "dada" might I add!

Josh came home all happy tonight....he came home with a "written commendation" from his Supervisor, which will go into his file...not too bad for still being in training!!

Well it is 10:00 and I am exhausted...Ella was up about every 1.5 hours last night coughing...which woke me up and then I had to check on her...so I am ready for some good sleep...she's been sleeping for 3 hours and hasn't woken up yet!

Valentine's Day!

Since Ella didn't get to wear a pretty dress on Sunday...she got to dress up instead for Valentine's Day in a pretty TuTu!!

 So she wasn't really sure what to think of it!

Josh picked her up around 2:00 on Valentine's Day (he has shifted over to day's for a week and a half - so he ran some errands in the morning and picked her up early). After he picked her up he brought her to see "Mama" at work! And she even cracked a few smiles while there! We can get her to be all smiles at home...she is still a little stingy with them in public! :)

Today I popped into work in the morning with Ella...and then we met my Mom and Dad for lunch...and they came back to the house to play for a bit...they got Ella a special toy...(I'll have to take a picture of it) - but it's a quiet toy to play with - good for playing when Ella's Daddy is sleeping during the day! 

Since Josh is now on days...(for a few more days) - his alarm is set for 5am...so that means I too get up at 5am :( Everyday this week has been an early day for me...

Time to go fold laundry while Ella is still napping!

Fun Pictures...

It was realllllly cold here today....cold and windy...I had a really cute outfit picked out for Ella to wear to church...but it was a dress...I felt bad putting her in that since it was so cold...so we had to pick out something different....here she is getting bundled up before braving the wind...

Then we added a thick fleece blanket!!


Ella had her bath tonight...check out this hair....

I don't know what I like better...her hair or that facial expression - silly girl!!! Everywhere we go - someone makes a comment about her hair...what can I say - it just goes straight up!! Once it gets a little longer I'm sure it will lay flat :)

Apparently I wasn't making dinner fast enough! :) The bib was the closest thing to get into her mouth!

Just wanted to share a few pictures...I think soon I am going to go dive under the covers...get warm and read! :)

New Picture...

She smiled for me today!!

 

She was such a sleepy goose today! Maybe due to the shot yesterday? Or maybe a growth spurt? She was up at 6:15 when Josh came home...he got her up and fed her while I stumbled up the stairs (it should really be illegal to be up before the sun is up!) Normally she goes down for a nap between 9:30-10:00 - but she was such a grouch around 8:30...I thought hmmm I'm just going to try a nap...and sure enough that was what she wanted...never even made a peep when I laid her down. She slept for 1 1/2 hours...and yes...I also went back to sleep! I felt like it was 2am - I had zero energy...I slept for about 45 minutes...just the power nap I needed! So once she was up...she had a bottle and we both got ready and went grocery shopping! I really don't like running errands with Ella...well I don't mind if Josh is with me...then he can lug around that car seat - it's so heavy! I even had a man comment on that as I was struggling to lift the car seat up to put it into the cart...he asked how old she was...I told him...and he said that he had a 3 month old little girl at home...and he said I bet that car seat just keeps getting heavier and heavier...Ha - that was obvious! But I did it...and around the grocery store we went...and then we headed home. I brought Ella in first...and then went out and got all the groceries...I let the dogs out...and I opened the door to let them back in and it was snowing like crazy...came out of nowhere! It's reallllly cold and windy here today....yuck! 

It was lunch time by this point...so Ella got to have "Thanksgiving" - it was Turkey/Apples/Cranberries....she loved it! We played some more...she had her bottle and 2nd nap time...this time she slept for 2 hours and I went and woke her up finally at 4....she would have kept on sleeping! She got up and Josh was up by now...so she went right to him and they played for a while. She was being quite talkative...and even threw in a few "dada's." Josh left for work and Ella and I continued playtime, then bath time, then dinner time, then play time, then bottle time, then bedtime! Whew - I'm tired out! Since it's just me tonight...I'm watching a chick flick!! I never get to watch a chick flick since Josh does not like them (I shouldn't say never - every once in a great while he watches one with me!) but not often! One of my friends at work lent me one...so the "girls" (Bella and Brinly) and I are going to snuggle up on the couch and watch our movie!

A week of blur...

I don't even remember what happened this week!

I last wrote on Monday...Tuesday - I worked all day...picked Ella up and we came home and did our usual night routine. Josh worked Tuesday night.

Oh yes it is coming back to me now...Wednesday morning Josh comes home and says - we need to bring the Jetta to the shop at 8...ugh....why?? Apparently some light keeps coming on - looks like a temperature light (fyi - we just replaced the water pump in it a few months ago...that was a pretty penny) - I wasn't thrilled that it needed to go in again! So off we went. We dropped the Jetta off and then stopped at CVS on the way home to get cold medicine...as now Josh has a cold...at least Ella keeps escaping all these colds...Josh and I just keep passing them back and forth :( We get home and Josh goes to bed....and I keep Ella entertained for the day! We left around 5:30 as Josh got the call the car was ready...went and picked it up...and yay...only needed an oil change and the coolant was low. A bill for $26 is waaaay better than the last $400 one!! Our friends had invited us over for dinner...so life was good...I didn't even have to cook!

Thursday morning was a whirlwind as always...I really do pack everything the night before and leave just the minimum for the next morning...but it always turns into a whirlwind...I guess that is because it is just unpredictable with a baby! I was all ready to go...all I had left to do was wake Ella up and feed her a bottle and get her dressed. Well, I got her up, changed her and got her dressed...then it was bottle time....I think a snail would have passed her...she was taking so long to eat her bottle...I was watching the time tick by...I was running out of minutes! So I took her and put her in  her car seat - took a blanket and propped her bottle up so she could drink it while I finished a few last minute things. I scooped her out so I could burp her...then back in she went and out the door we went! I was running 8 minutes behind schedule...and of course...I hit EVERY red light (except 1 - I was keeping track) on the way to the sitters!!! But in the end....I only ended up being 3 minutes late...I am supposed to be at work for 7:40am...and I clocked in at 7:43am...oh yeah...and that is after I tripped in the parking lot...and actually came out of my shoes....what a morning and all before 8am! That pretty much sums up my Thursday!

Which brings us to today...Friday! I decided today that I would take Ella to get a few more of her immunizations. We're still playing catch up from her 6 month shots as I spread them out. On the list was the flu shot - which we denied...so she only had to get 1 shot and 1 oral one. She only had 2 big tears - and 1 loud cry/wail. Then it was over and she got a pretty yellow crayon band-aid :) I was anxious to get out of there...there were kids coughing all over the place...I didn't let Ella touch anything! :) So after the Doctor's...we went to Toy's R' Us. Now if she was older...she would probably be really excited! Her baby food that I use is still on sale there...and it's a pretty good deal...so I wanted to stock up on it! I know...so much for me making my own :( I bought the machine to do it...and haven't done it...the few things I did make she didn't like and wouldn't eat! I am going to try a few things again...of course the meats I am not attempting - but a few of the fruits and veggies I am going to try again. She took a really good nap this afternoon - I got some reading time in! She got up and played this afternoon. She's still doing good at saying "Mama" - she's kind of slowed down on the "Dada" - she makes more MMM and NNN sounds. And often just babbles away! She was pretty whipped this evening...I made her a bedtime bottle...and she barely drank any of it...I tried and tried and she just kept pushing it away...after 20 minutes she finally drank about 3 ounces...and then I gave up...she was done!

I tried to get a few pictures in today...but I just got the stare down....wouldn't even crack half a smile! I'll have to try again tomorrow. Oh she does have a new obsession....feet! Well of course her own feet she is always grabbing...but this afternoon she kept trying to get my foot (which I was wearing socks!)...so I would wiggle it and she thought that was sooooo funny...laughed and laughed and snorted :) She did the same exact thing with Josh. Now it's fine when we are sitting and playing...but at dinner time I put her in her high chair and tried to feed her and she was doing everything she could to look over the side trying to find my feet...which resulted in getting food all over the place...and as you know...I don't like things to get dirty...we went through a lot of paper towels!

Tomorrow our big adventure will be the grocery store! :) And maybe a few loads of laundry!

Looks Like....

More and more comments lately about how Ella is looking more like her Mama! :) A few people we bumped into this weekend each said a few things...."wow - Ella is really beginning to look like Ashley!" I still can't tell one way or the other...she's just a good combination of the two of us! The other thing we heard multiple times...."look how much hair she's gotten!" There are a few families that we see every Sunday at church. As Josh held Ella in his lap on Sunday morning, one of the ladies came up to us and said, "I think her hair grew over an inch since last week!" It really didn't...but it is getting long! I tried putting a headband on her to match her outfit before church....she kept pulling it off...I tried about 5 times, each time it got yanked off! That went hand and hand with her hat this morning...it was 21 degrees at 7:30 this morning as we were leaving...so I wanted to put a hat on her...well I got quite the grouchy face from her as I pulled the hat on...she tried to pull it off - but was unsuccessful!

This morning on our way to the sitters I pulled over to check on Ella. As you know - car seats are rear-facing...so in each of our cars we have mirror's set up so we can see her....well Ella fell asleep on the drive (usually happens!) but her head went forward in her car seat and the combination of her hat on her head and the blanket on her lap...I couldn't see her face and it was bothering me. So I pulled off into a restaurant parking lot and as I get ready to stop the car she pulls her head back to lean against the car seat....that made me happy...I didn't even have to get out in the cold!

We have quite a routine every morning....the very last thing to happen is I bring everything out to the car and start it up (to warm it up) and run inside to put my work clothes on (those go on last as too many accidents have happened when I try to put my work clothes on early in the morning!) So while I run downstairs I always put Ella on the living room floor on her back on her little activity mat - which has toys, etc on it. This morning I run downstairs, get my work clothes on, run back upstairs and Ella is in the middle of the hallway on the hardwood floor on her back looking up at me...I just looked and her and laughed...so apparently she is quite the little mover...how she got where she did - I have no idea....she was quick! I don't know if she rolled or just scooted her way over...but from now on she will go in her carseat - then I will run downstairs and get dressed and out the door we will go!

Ella was in such a great mood tonight...I picked her up at 5. I walked in to the sitters and she was sitting on the floor playing with toys...the second she saw me she dropped her toys and stuck her arms out for me to pick her up (with a big smile on her face!) She was talkative tonight as well...I heard lots of "mama's!" She got a bath...bath time means she gets to play with a pink rubber duckie...she loves that thing! Then she gets to get all warm and toasty in her PJ's....and then we had picture time...

What did I hear??

It's been game on since Ella said, "dada," I've been working hard to hear "mama!" Monday I didn't get much of a chance to work on it as I worked 8:30-7...she was already in bed by the time I got home....so Tuesday...we tried it out....in the morning as I was getting her ready...I kept saying, "say mama." She just kept making noises...which did include "mama"...but it wasn't like that was what she was trying to say....so Tuesday night I get home...and I take her from Josh and she gets all excited....and I said, "say mama!" To which she looked at me and said, "mama!" And she was all excited, smiling, and bouncing. I looked at Josh and he just laughed! That's right...we're even now...she's said both! :)

Well we have a new laptop. Word of advice...don't drink coffee near a laptop!! Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church....I just made a cup of coffee and I put it in a mug with a lid...and I didn't realize it wasn't on tight...and I was walking in the living room, and I paused to take a sip (Standing right next to the lap top)...I tipped the cup...and nothing went into my mouth (??) I then heard the splattering as the coffee hit the laptop keyboard....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I ran to get a towel and tried to mop it up...but there was no use...it was all in the keyboard. I of course am freaking out...and don't really want to tell Josh! He had just gone to bed as he worked Saturday night...I debated....do I tell him now or wait until he gets up....I couldn't take it...I had to tell him...so I go wake him up :) Which I'm sure he loved (it was a crazy Saturday night!) and I whispered that I spilled coffee all over the laptop....I was expecting a little bit of a reaction...instead it was more of a, "oh well - the damage is done now." (in a very calm tone by the way)....I definitely was the one freaking out....so he did try to fix it....took it all apart, I cleaned it very thoroughly....but it was done...it just wasn't going to work again :( So Monday morning....Josh was at Best Buy picking out a new computer :)

Today was beautiful down here!!! About 70 degrees. Josh didn't have to leave until 5 to go in....so we took a nice walk downtown on a walking path. Josh, Ella, and I....we would love to take the dogs...Brinly would do great...but poor little Bella can only handle mini-walks with her leg that she is always holding up! Ella loved it...the fresh air....it put her right to sleep! :)

We pulled out the "Valentine's Day" PJ's tonight....

 

This was another one of the great deals from my eBay lot (a little room to still grow into them!).

 

She likes to roll right over when you put her on her back...still no crawling yet. She pushes herself up on her arms...but hasn't gotten up on her knees yet. She can move around...but it's backwards :)