long week....

Seems like I have neglected my blog again....whoops. I am going to try and do better - I love looking back and pictures and stories on my blog and having those memories written down somewhere, but last week was pretty busy. Every time I would sit down to blog, something would happen or I was just simply too tired. Logan started with a stomach bug last Tuesday - it landed us at the pediatrician last Thursday and Friday, and in the ER Friday night. Sparing the details, she was feeling a bit better today and tonight seemed a little more like herself. She (so far...) has kept down a biscuit, and a pack of banana/rice today. This is great since nothing has been on her stomach since last Tuesday....thank you, Zofran. I am looking for a better day tomorrow - I hate seeing her sick.

Saturday we had company come into town, they are dear relatives who I love to pieces and wish we could spend more time with each other. Between trying to keep Logan well and having company, we were busy.

I cannot wait for cooler weather here - it has been sooooo hot. It has been too hot to spend much time outside. I am looking forward to Fall and being able to spend more time with Logan outside. I see many park trips in our future!

I have missed blogging, and keeping up with my bloggy friends - I am off to play catch-up!

little darlin'

My poor little darlin' doesn't feel good today. She didn't sleep much last night and was crying most of the night. I took her in to the doctor this morning - her ears look perfect, her throat was great, and we left the doctor with the, "it's a cold," answer. Which I am glad it is nothing worse, but at the same time, if it had been something we could treat, things would be a bit easier. She didn't nap much this afternoon because she gets all stuffed up when she is flat. Elevating her bed does no good because she is a fish, and ends up the wrong way - so we basically are hurting her by doing that. So we loaded her up with Tylenol/Motrin during the day (she has fever) and before bed. I pray she sleeps good tonight, she is so exhausted.

feel better my baby - I want to see this happy face tomorrow!

Introduction

Have I ever mentioned that Logan is a thumb sucker?

There is someone in our family who has become very important recently. He is always around and doesn't make much noise. He has been around quite some time actually. He has been deemed a "he," for no good reason, and really doesn't have a great original name. Wait no longer....

Mr. Thumbkins....

He has been wonderful over the last few weeks....we are o so grateful for him.

He even helps Logan sleep through the night, and calms her when she is upset.

At first, I really didn't want Logan to suck her thumb, because you can't take it away like you can a paci. I have sinced learned, I cannot make her prefer a paci over her thumb. And plus, it's seriously cute.

Would you check out the poof she has going on with her hair?!!? No, I didn't fix it that way!! I didn't even try to get it down :-)

She has felt pretty crummy today, seems worse than yesterday. She has periods, (brief periods),of happiness, but mostly fussed and cried all day. She threw up this morning, which actually seemed to help her a bit at first. Hoping tomorrow she turns a corner. She still is not digging the breathing treatments, but they are helping. Poor little darling, poor Mr. Thumbkins...he hasn't caught a break.

little piglets

I could look at these feet all day -

This virus stinks. Her cough makes you look twice to make sure a cough like that is coming out of someone so small. Her lack of energy is depressing. Her throwing up because she is so filled with snot makes me want to scream. 

But she still has the best little piglets I've ever seen :-)

Here is a link with information about RSV, and here is another one about RSV in premature babies.

again

Sorry for the lack of post - Logan is sick once again. A day after she stopped throwing up, she developed a nasty cough. We waited all weekend to see if it would clear, you know, "let it run its course..." it didn't. Last night she developed a fever and I took her to the immediate care. She received a breathing treatment, and they also said she had an ear infection. So, they gave me a prescription for an antiobiotic, and an inhaler. Guess how many 24hr pharmacy's we have? Ummm......2. I stopped at one that was on the way home, it was an hour wait. Smart me, thought surely the other one wouldn't be as long. Wrong, 2 hour wait. I took Logan and my mom home, and made an attempt at putting her to bed, but she had no part of it - overtired, hurting, etc...I was so glad she was still awake when I came back so she could have her first round of antiobiotic. She coughed all night.

We followed up with the pediatrician this morning, come to find out, she does not have an ear infection. What? I mean, either she does or she doesn't. She said she didn't. She has fluid behind her ears, but it's not infected. Great - I rushed around last night, waited 2 hours for a perscription she didn't even need. AND...she has RSV. Holy Cow - yes, the dreaded respiratory virus. This is especially dreaded in a preemie. I am assuming she picked it up at the hospital last weekend when we were there, it's the only thing I can think of. I am hoping and praying for a quick recovery for Logan. She is so miserable. Not eating much, not sleeping much, and HATES (yes, it deserves to be in capital letters) the breathing treatments. It is not fun.

We cancelled physical therapy this morning, this is the second session we have missed. She is not up to being tugged on and having her body manipulated in different ways, not this morning. We are supposed to have speech Wednesday, we will see how she feels.

Here is a picture from this weekend - she's such a doll, even when she doesn't feel well.

just when...

Just when I thought we were done with throw up, I was wrong. I went to get Logan up this morning from her crib, surprised with a rather large mess. Apparently, she had thrown up (looks like twice) in her crib during the night. It concerns me that, 1- she didn't wake up, 2-she threw up in her sleep. Took her back to the doctor (upon their request) and they said suggested again, that is was still her little body trying to fight this virus. She has lost a little over a pound in a week, and she really doesn't have the weight to lose. They told me to continue feeding her, and hopefully some would stay down. She puked again tonight. I am over this. Every way I turn, it seems wrong. If I feed her, she pukes. If I don't, she's starving, and still pukes. Also told me to srart feeding her higher calorie foods, to help her maintain/gain weight. She will think she is in Hog Heaven - poor thing is used to organic, whole wheat, unflavored, all natural, no sugar added, etc...food (it's really not that bad!). I even bought her some sugar cookies today - ha - I felt like I was doing something so wrong! Maybe tomorrow will be less throw up.

Just when I would be ready to give up, and want to kick and scream from laying on hospital bedrest, looking at the same four walls, not knowing my baby's future condition...something would always come along to inspire. A year ago today, I was laying in the hospital, happy to still be pregnant with Logan. It snowed last year in Atlanta. I love snow. I have never really seen a lot of snow - so anything here is beautiful to me! This was the view from my room. You can hardly see the King & Queen Towers.

Looking at pictures from this time last year - I also have ONE picture of me pregnant while in the hospital, I was about 30 weeks - whew - I'd rather look at pictures of the snow! :-)

Just when you want to give up, don't.

on the road again...

eh....the blogging road that is! I am happy to finally say that we are feeling much better around here. A day of no throw up - whoot whoot!! It has been a lazy day, trying to catch up on some much needed sleep.

For now - I'll leave you with my little ducky, playing with her little fishy...

 

She got a ticket...

She got herself a ticket to the hospital! We went this morning to see the pediatrician - he took a look at her and said, if it was his kid, she would be at the hospital. That was all we needed to hear. We arrived, and they got her back rather quickly. Doctor came in and said they would get an iv started with some fluids for dehydration, and they would cath her, and draw blood to check for various things. Everything came back normal except her blood sugar was low. So for two hours, she got fluids, then for two hours after that, she got some glucose through iv. She was so exhausted, she fell asleep on me for about thirty minutes, but that was all. She cried and screamed the entire 7 hours we were there, with the exception of that nap. They had a hard time finding a vein to stick her with, ended up with it in her foot. At least it was not near Mr. Thumbkins - whew, that would have been even worse. After the fluids, she really seemed to be feeling better. She also held down 4oz. of Gatorade, so tonight Logan is sleeping sound in her own bed. They said with her being preemie, having a weakened immune system makes it hard to fight off such viruses. For tomorrow, the doctor said to feed her as normal, she needs some calories. If she doens't keep it down, then bring her back. Please pray for a good day tomorrow!!!

among the living...

Thats how I'm feeling right now. Whew - what a virus. I have spent the day with my mom (because Cody is at work) so she could look after Logan, we do not need to reinfect each other. Unfortunatly, Logan is still throwing up. She has kept down some Pedialyte this evening, but we still will be heading to the doctor again tomorrow morning. We have to get this under control. I feel so bad for her. She is so hungry, but when I give it to her, it doesn't stay down.

When all this passes...we'll get back to regular blogging. Sorry :-(

Ut o

warning: another bright and cheery, exciting, deep, put a smile on your face type of post coming your way. Or not.

Ut o whas what I was thinking last night as my stomach started churning. To make a long story short, ended up at the hospital around 1am to get something to help me stop throwing up. You body can only take so much throwing up, I was miserable and needed help! I had taken medicine I had at home (from pregnancy sickness) and it didn't touch this beast. Cody went to a friend's house to get me another type of med at 12, it didn't touch it either. Actually, I wouldn't know really if it did or not, it just came right back up. IV med is great - I didn't have to swallow anything - and it helped, as well as fluids.

My poor baby - this is what her tummy has felt like for days - I wish I could take it from her. She still is not feeling well - I gave her another dose of med this morning to hopefully keep everything down today, you know, pedialyte. Spoke with her doctor this morning, said to expect her to lose weight, but make it our mission to keep filling her full of fluids - that is what is most important right now for her.

Pray for my family, especially my husband, I think he is doomed to get this - and tomorrow is shift day. He has been taking care of Logan and I both. This virus is nasty, and if it hits your home, just so you know, it's contagious.

Enough Already!

If you have a weak stomach, you might not want to read this. Seriously.

This virus is still kicking my baby's tail. Yesterday I thought she was on the mend, appeared to be feeling better without the help of medication; however, this morning, I had to wake her up, and she has felt crummy all day. This morning, I gave her formula for the first time (small amount) and she kept it down. She was just fussy, clingy, not herself all day. She didn't sleep (not her norm) for naps, just didn't feel good. I actually thought she may be hungry (because she has thrown up everything she ate since Sunday, so I thought I would give her some cheerios and goldfish. FYI - goldfish are obviously not mild, and not good for an upset belly. She held it down, and ate it willingly, but still fussy. Trying to avoid the strong medication, I gave her some Mylanta, it seemed to help. She didn't turn into a happy baby, but not fussing. For dinner, I offered her rice mixed with chicken broth, mild enough right?!? As soon as the spoon entered her mouth, up the goldfish and cheerios came. Lovely. So, I gave her another dose of the medication. Now she is refusing the Pedialyte we offered her to put her to sleep with. Great. I guess tomorrow we will see how her belly is - not really sure what to do about feeding her. Oh, just in case you're not totally grossed out yet, she's been having diarrhea too.

She is drinking Pedialyte/water well, so I don't worry about her hydration. Now on day 4 of her being sick, I worry about her weight. She really can't afford to lose. I’m not sure why she is having such a hard time kicking this virus – let’s just pray it’s over soon. I miss my happy girl.

Sorry my post lately have been; boring, gross, mentioning the words throw up more than once in each post, pictures of a sick baby, diarrhea, etc...but this is whats going on right now - and her being sick and throw up have consumed our days lately. It will get better soon!!

little poser

I wanted to share another picture from last week when we had her pictures taken!
It is another one of my favorites, although I'm still holding out showing my real favorite!!!

She is such a poser....

I figured everyone would want to see my happy baby, not my sick baby. Enough of the sick pictures - here is my smiley girl! Speaking of sick, she is feeling alot better - almost herself, but not quite. This virus really kicked her tail. She has pretty much had a liquid diet today, and not much of it, but it has all stayed down! Maybe tomorrow we will do back to a more normal diet.

I need to attack another a pile of laundry tonight...arhhh. Not the same one as last time, a new one. You would think I would learn a lesson, and fold each load as it comes out of the dryer...blah, blah, blah. Not happening at this house.  

it's confirmed...

she is a thumb sucker...for sure. It has always been her comfort, and never taken a paci. I have never seen her suck it as much as she has today though! Poor Mr. Thumbkins didn't catch a break all day. Logan held down her Pedialyte, as well as some applesauce (so far). She is asleep for the night. I am not sure what tomorrow will hold as far as feedings go. I assume we will try formula in the morning, unless she shows signs of still being sick. She has slept all day - on us and in her crib.

We cancelled her physical therapy today. We just went last Thursday, so that's ok. Last time, the therapist was obviously concerned with her not crawling, but more so concerned with how she uses her legs, or lack of using her legs. She pulls to stand but always leans on the object, and pulls to stand using her arm strength, instead of pushing up with her legs. When she "army" crawls, she really pulls herself forward with her arms, less pushing with legs. She certainly does use them, just appears she has compensated for "whatever" is causing her legs to not be very strong.

We do go to speech this week, but I feel like Logan is doing well. To my standards anyway! She has downed Pedialyte (not sure if it is much thicker than water?? Anyone?) from a bottle, with little/no gagging. Still no sippy, I don't care at this point. When she is sick, I have to push fluids, it doesn't matter how it gets in her. I am more than thankful she has done so well with the fluid from a bottle.

still sick

Logan usually wakes herself in the morning around 7:30 give or take a few. Rarely do I have to wake her up in the mornings. This morning, it was 7:45, and we had not heard a peep all night. Last night, she only drank Pedialyte, so I assumed she would wake sometime during the night hungry, but she didn't. Typically, the moment you walk in her room and say her name, her little head pops up and she gives you the biggest smile. This morning - nothing. Cody had to pick her up out of her bed. She was limp and not herself. I called the doctor, said to give her some formula, because she was probably hungry. She kept down the Pedialyte last night, so the nurse felt comfortable offering her formula. She ended up drinking a bottle, and appeared to be keeping it down. She never would rouse though. She just wanted to sleep. We put her in her crib, and woke her again at 11:30, we needed to see if she would wake up and act normal. Nope, she didn't, she threw up on Cody. I called the doctor, they said to bring her. Not more than 2 minutes in the car, she gushed her entire bottle all over her and the car seat. Ew. We got her changed, and cleaned the car seat the best we could, and off to the doctor, again! She was so pitiful - slept on the way there. She never picked her head up from my chest - just laid there. Doctor said it was a virus - and gave her medicine to help settle her tummy. Within an hour, she acted like she felt better. She has since had some Pedialyte - and is sleeping. We are not used to seeing Logan lethargic, hoping she wakes up feeling better!

this morning when we woke her up...

this afternoon after a dose of the medicine

she's sick

I am assuming it's some type of virus. She threw up once yesterday, but I attributed it to gagging on water. Who knows. This moring she gushed her entire bottle, plus a lot, all over the both of us. No temp, just fussy. This afternoon, she did it again, horribly. Poor baby. She has not had anything solid since this morning, (applesauce, and that came up) only water/pedialite mixture. Seems to be keeping that down so far. Hopefully this will be gone in the morning .

Sorry, no pretty pictures tonight. But I promise some will come!

A Little Under...

Logan has been feeling a little under the weather. Yesterday she woke up with a cough and very congested. I took her to the doctor and she gave her some medicine. It has already started working. Even though she was sick, she was so sweet yesterday - she cuddled most all day. Last night she was so congested - she couldn't sleep. My mom came and stayed with me to help in case we needed to hold her up all night. She could breathe better upright. She ended up sleeping pretty well, I am grateful for that. She is still congested, but we are using our "booger sucker" like crazy!

While at the doctor's office - she also said Logan was a little underweight. We knew this - but it's never been a concern since she is on her own little curve. She said she would probably keep her on formula until 15 months for the extra calories.

When I tried offering one of her bottles in a sippy cup, it was unsuccessful. Formula just got a little under her chin. None in her mouth. She thinks the nipple is a toy and she should play with it - will not suck it! O well, we will keep trying.

We currently have a little under two inches of snow on the ground. It is absolutely beautiful.

Logan's new favorite thing to do is to play a little under her toys, instead of in them.

Her favorite toy is still her socks - remember this post?

No change, she still would rather have a sock than anything.

Logan is waking herself up coughing now, I'm ready for this cold to be alot over.

Over the last few days, Logan has been increasingly "clingy" to Cody and I. Yesterday; she was whiny and especially clingy to me, not really her usual behavior. Last night, she woke up screaming. I went and got her, she immediately hushed. I rocked her for a while (this is how she normally goes to sleep) and she never would close her eyes - but the rest of her body appeared to be asleep - limp limbs, even breathing, etc...So I tried to lay her down, with no such luck. Over the next three hours, Logan fought sleep terribly. I tried everything. I rocked, sang, shhh'd, talked, bounced, patted, and let her cry (yes, I realize I could have let her "cry-it-out", and she would have undoubtedly made herself throw up, and yes, I know I could have left her and she would have eventually fallen asleep; but I'm just not that strong). If she let her eyes fall shut, then her hand would start patting. If her hand stopped patting and fell, her foot started tapping. Anything to not fall asleep. It was wonderful cuddling with her, but at 2am, I was desperate for her to go to sleep! After several failed attempts at getting her back to sleep, (I could get her to sleep, but she woke up when I laid her down and walked out of the room. She kept a tightly clinched fist around the neck of my shirt, not letting go) I laid her down, she whimpered (not screamed), I walked out. After about 15 minutes of whimpering, she hushed. I never heard another noise. Thank you Lord.

This episode warranted a trip to the doctor. Not because, "my child doesn't sleep through the night!" but because this is not her normal behavior. She usually sleeps 11-12 hours a night with minimal interruptions. We took her in, and she checks out perfect!!! Apparently, she is just at the right age for "separation anxiety." I am glad, however, that she is not sick. She had fun at the doctor - she usually does.

I love the scrunchy face. It's attractive. Maybe the doctor will think so.

Hope she did, because Logan obviously thought she would love it.

We love Dr. H!

After our fun, uneventful trip to the doctor, it was therapy time! Logan is doing better crossing her midline, but still has a saggy tummy! Silly girl. She tried different ways to encourage Logan to play on all fours with her tummy up, Logan loved it - Not. Maybe over the next few weeks she will develop an interest. We have an appt. next Thursday for a speech evaluation with Children's.

Am I going in the right direction Dad?

Cody's dad comes home Saturday - Welcome Home Brian! Hope everyone has a good weekend.

uncharted territory

This morning I woke up with my tongue feeling about 10 times larger than it should. Just a hunch, I thought something may be wrong. I assumed I had strep throat because this is exactly how it felt last time. Yes, last time. Logan and I both had it only a month and a half ago. Cody took Logan downstairs to play while I got ready to go to Urgent Care. I was already panicked that Logan had it too. I tested positive, no surprise. I figured we should take Logan in, because if she did in fact have it, I did not want her symptoms to appear this evening and it be a weekend. Thankfully, Logan does not have it. While I have been resting, Logan and her Daddy have had a fun day. 

Logan has recently discovered her way into the kitchen, new territory for her. We have letter/number magnets on the refrigerator - no, I don't think my child can spell at 10 months, nor count, but I think every kid should have them, and I couldn't resist when I saw them in the store. They scream, "There is a kid living here!" (As if all the other toys lying around don't). Anyway, this afternoon Logan wandered into the kitchen and found the numbers! She loved them, and was even lining them back up in order when she finished playing with them! Just kidding, they of course went straight to her mouth, see?

 

She sort of reminds me of a puppy in this picture -

She frequently has toys hanging out of her mouth. I love the look.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend!