Well, we got the word today that Jonathan's test came back positive for RSV...they said there wasn't anything they could really do to treat it, but that now they know in case it gets worse or leads to further illness.
The dr said he felt Jonathan's case was fairly mild and believed that it was on its way out already however we are to continue the humidifier treatments and the saline treatments to keep the passages clear and if he developes any weasing or if it last more then a two weeks we are to take him back in.
Marion and I got to talking about it and we wondered if we haven't all had it...the kids had coughs and runny noses for about a week and a half to two weeks after Jonathan was born and both Marion and I have had the same symptoms as well. I guess we'll never know about the rest of us....though we do know about Jonathan!
For those of you who don't know about RSV, basically it is a virus in the respirtory area. It has been linked to inflamation of the lungs, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis...some cases can get severe if the infant stops eating and becomes dehydrated or if the airways become so restricted the child can't get enough air. Those are fairly severe cases...in one report we read online it said that it is believed that all children have had it at least once before the age of two...here is a link to Kids Health regarding RSV:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/rsv.html
Jonathan is doing very well actually, he does have coughing fits but the dr said his lungs were clear so we just need to weather the storm until he's over it.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Jonathan's Baby Shower
We had a baby shower for Jonathan to meet the neighbors...several of the ladies in the community had wanted to shower us once Jonathan had arrived so we did that today. It was very nice of the local ladies to do this for us. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy:
The next few pics are the decorations they did a GREAT job....
The next few pics are the decorations they did a GREAT job....
This was a BEAUTIFUL cross stitch that was done by one of the hostesses...I just love it!
The picture below is kind of a funny one...in the center you have me laughing with Elizabeth as she hold Jonathan, to the right you have Afftin feeding Lane who was born just 5 days before Jonathan, and to the right you have my sister looking like she's preaching or something but in reality is trying to catch a ball that she was throwing with the kids while waiting for the shower to start. I just think it is a funny pic!
The older kids were just thrilled to open all the presents...Abigail had a definate idea as to which presents should be opened when...they helped and had a great time...they even got several gifts for themselves as siblings...including the books and two little "babies".
This was a special gift from cousin Kimberly...what was even more fun was that Aunt Roxanne had gotten a shirt that says Mommy's Little Boy and given it to him at birth, and then Kimberly bought this one without knowing about the other one, so now he has a shirt for each of us!
Our New Piano
Well, we got a piano...Marianne had an acquaintance who was moving and wanted to sell their Baldwin Spinet Piano and it was a good enough deal we just couldn't refuse...we had talked several times about getting one because we'd like the kids to at least try to learn how to play so when the opportunity knocked...we took it. As you can see from the pictures, the kids are thrilled...Abigail even takes her story books, puts them on the piano and then sings songs about her books! It is quite adorable. Nathan has his own version of playing...usually alot louder!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
3 Week Appointment
Well, we didn't get a 2 week appointment in so we had a 3 week check up yesterday. Jonathan is doing well other then he has a cold. The dr said his lungs are clear though so he would characterize it as "just a cold". Nonetheless he went ahead and tested for RSV just to make sure. Which I find humorous because even if he has that they say there isn't much they can do for him because it is a virus...it is more just for us to know!
Anyway, he is doing great and very healthy the dr said...he weighed 8 lbs 2 oz which was up 10 oz in just a week and a half. He also has grown to 21 3/4 inches. His head was measuring 13 but I don't know what we started with in that so I can't compare. So as you can see, he is doing very well if we can just get over this little cold.
Last night we got out the humidifier from the kids room and used saline drops and he is doing MUCH better today though his cough is a bit more dramatic today. I think it is the mucus going down his throat! Poor thing.
The only other news is that we started potty training Nathan today...we will see how that goes...it wasn't overly successful this morning so we will see over the next few days if we can't find something that will work for us. I'll have to keep you posted on that one. Well, I best be running to get things done before we have to sit on the potty again...
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Stump Removal
Okay, so I don't mean the tree out front that just got cut down here...
Jonathan has reached yet another milestone in that his umbilical cord stump came off today!
It was actually quite a remarkable thing to me as three days ago it seemed fully attached and I was thinking "this things is NEVER gonna budge" because it was still as solid around as it was when we came home but then almost overnight half the cord just disappeared...seriously...we woke up and I went to swab it and it was half gone...within two days...completely off! And Marion got to witness its departure...which is unusual as well...we had been talking about it so when I told him it was hanging by a thread and would be off in a day or two (Nathan had a thread hanging one too and it stayed on by the thread for like 5 days) he came in to look at it. Well, as I was gently swabbing the rest of the cord to remove the crusties that had built up, off came the cord..I wasn't even touching it...Jonathan kicked and there it went!
I asked Marion if we were gonna keep this one..he said NO...
Jonathan has reached yet another milestone in that his umbilical cord stump came off today!
It was actually quite a remarkable thing to me as three days ago it seemed fully attached and I was thinking "this things is NEVER gonna budge" because it was still as solid around as it was when we came home but then almost overnight half the cord just disappeared...seriously...we woke up and I went to swab it and it was half gone...within two days...completely off! And Marion got to witness its departure...which is unusual as well...we had been talking about it so when I told him it was hanging by a thread and would be off in a day or two (Nathan had a thread hanging one too and it stayed on by the thread for like 5 days) he came in to look at it. Well, as I was gently swabbing the rest of the cord to remove the crusties that had built up, off came the cord..I wasn't even touching it...Jonathan kicked and there it went!
I asked Marion if we were gonna keep this one..he said NO...
Friday, February 08, 2008
Our First Big Day Out!
Well today was our first big day out where I drove and took all three kids some place all by myself...
We had MOPS this morning and even though we had everything covered, I still wanted to go just to see my ladies and be apart of the group...they were great to welcome us and we had a great time even with the numbers down. (that is a whole other thread) Nathan fell asleep on one of the MOPPETS laps and though I tried to rouse him he was out so one of my MOPS moms helped me carry him to the van...and Abigail got frustrated with a song that she didn't know and was crying but after a few minutes with Mommy she did better...otherwise, it was a great day and I think we all enjoyed the outing.
The day didn't stop there though...after MOPS we had a quick bit to eat at the park while I fed Jonathan and gave sandwiches to the kids...then we had a few errands to run around town and finally we headed to Grandma Schlatter's for naps. Then Jonathan and Mommy headed back home for a brief moment to gather our tax information and wait for Daddy to join us and off we were to the tax lady to get that all turned in.
Our day finally came to a close once we got back, got the kids and then had dinner with Ann and Larry (Marion's cousin). We hadn't seen them for a very long time and so they came for dinner and a game or two! Have you ever played WHOONU by Cranium? It is a fun and quick game that lets you get to know those that you are playing with...I didn't do so hot at it but it was fun! And it was great to see them again.
I could really tell by 9:30 p.m. that I am not back to 100% yet...after all it has only been 2 weeks...I wouldn't say I overdid, I am just tired and can tell I did more then my usual days at home! I am really looking forward to having the kids home more this week...it is amazing how they can drive you nuts at times and yet you REALLY MISS them when they aren't around! I don't know what we'll do with Abigail for sure as she asks almost non-stop where we are going next...she has gotten so used to going some place each day that I think she'll have some adjustment to staying home with Mommy! And I am having to relearn how to handle my middle son as it seems he has changed so much in two weeks...I actually think he was changing before that I just was too tired and preoccupied to notice...now I can see that my old ways of talking and dealing with him just don't work...he really needs more structure and guidance in making choices yet the freedom to be his own little self...it will be fun to walk this balancing line with him...not to mention that Daddy told me the other day that he thinks Nathan's big enough to potty train and that Marion feels it would be best to have it done by March! HA! We will see how that goes!
Well, that about covers it for us right now...we will keep you posted as Jonathan develops, we work with Nathan, and Abigail continues to grow!
We had MOPS this morning and even though we had everything covered, I still wanted to go just to see my ladies and be apart of the group...they were great to welcome us and we had a great time even with the numbers down. (that is a whole other thread) Nathan fell asleep on one of the MOPPETS laps and though I tried to rouse him he was out so one of my MOPS moms helped me carry him to the van...and Abigail got frustrated with a song that she didn't know and was crying but after a few minutes with Mommy she did better...otherwise, it was a great day and I think we all enjoyed the outing.
The day didn't stop there though...after MOPS we had a quick bit to eat at the park while I fed Jonathan and gave sandwiches to the kids...then we had a few errands to run around town and finally we headed to Grandma Schlatter's for naps. Then Jonathan and Mommy headed back home for a brief moment to gather our tax information and wait for Daddy to join us and off we were to the tax lady to get that all turned in.
Our day finally came to a close once we got back, got the kids and then had dinner with Ann and Larry (Marion's cousin). We hadn't seen them for a very long time and so they came for dinner and a game or two! Have you ever played WHOONU by Cranium? It is a fun and quick game that lets you get to know those that you are playing with...I didn't do so hot at it but it was fun! And it was great to see them again.
I could really tell by 9:30 p.m. that I am not back to 100% yet...after all it has only been 2 weeks...I wouldn't say I overdid, I am just tired and can tell I did more then my usual days at home! I am really looking forward to having the kids home more this week...it is amazing how they can drive you nuts at times and yet you REALLY MISS them when they aren't around! I don't know what we'll do with Abigail for sure as she asks almost non-stop where we are going next...she has gotten so used to going some place each day that I think she'll have some adjustment to staying home with Mommy! And I am having to relearn how to handle my middle son as it seems he has changed so much in two weeks...I actually think he was changing before that I just was too tired and preoccupied to notice...now I can see that my old ways of talking and dealing with him just don't work...he really needs more structure and guidance in making choices yet the freedom to be his own little self...it will be fun to walk this balancing line with him...not to mention that Daddy told me the other day that he thinks Nathan's big enough to potty train and that Marion feels it would be best to have it done by March! HA! We will see how that goes!
Well, that about covers it for us right now...we will keep you posted as Jonathan develops, we work with Nathan, and Abigail continues to grow!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Snow Bunnies
We had some more snow yesterday and though it came all day long, we can still see the ground in a few places...nonetheless the kids REALLY wanted to go out and play in the new snow...
So this afternoon after naps we dressed them up in their snowsuits and boots and let them go out and play...here are a few of the pics I got:
Abigail is really into posing for pictures...
Nate was REALLy happy to be outside!
So this afternoon after naps we dressed them up in their snowsuits and boots and let them go out and play...here are a few of the pics I got:
Abigail is really into posing for pictures...
Nate was REALLy happy to be outside!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Pics of Jonathan
Here are a few picture of Jonathan....
Sucking his "thumb"...this is the closest he has gotten so far...you can't really tell in the picture but he really had it in there!
Here is another good one with his eyes open...I know several have stated they have not seen him with his eyes open yet...but he is becoming more and more awake and alert as the days go on...
Here is the crew...they were all together reading! (note Jonathan isn't that happy about the situation...if I remember correctly, it started with Daddy holding Jonathan and then the other kids climbed up to get Daddy's attention too!)
Sucking his "thumb"...this is the closest he has gotten so far...you can't really tell in the picture but he really had it in there!
Here is another good one with his eyes open...I know several have stated they have not seen him with his eyes open yet...but he is becoming more and more awake and alert as the days go on...
Here is the crew...they were all together reading! (note Jonathan isn't that happy about the situation...if I remember correctly, it started with Daddy holding Jonathan and then the other kids climbed up to get Daddy's attention too!)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Weigh In
Well, at 9 days old, we had to take Jonathan in for a weigh in...and the results were:
7 lbs 8 oz
Marion thought for sure the way he eats he would have gained back his birth weight plus but not quite yet...when we left the hospital he was at 7 lbs 3 oz so he is doing really well.
He also sleeps really good going 4 hours at a stretch for a few nights and then we are back to 2 1/2 hours for a night and then a couple more at 4! I definitely have nothing to complain about with him!
He does seem to spit up quite a bit but we are working on that...I think he like to suck so much that he over eats! We are experimenting with supplementing the pacifier for additional sucking times and seeing if that helps the spit up issue!
All in all, things are going good...the older kids still like him, though they are still spending quite a bit of time at Grandma's still...starting next week they'll spend more time at home...and then we'll see how they are really doing.
7 lbs 8 oz
Marion thought for sure the way he eats he would have gained back his birth weight plus but not quite yet...when we left the hospital he was at 7 lbs 3 oz so he is doing really well.
He also sleeps really good going 4 hours at a stretch for a few nights and then we are back to 2 1/2 hours for a night and then a couple more at 4! I definitely have nothing to complain about with him!
He does seem to spit up quite a bit but we are working on that...I think he like to suck so much that he over eats! We are experimenting with supplementing the pacifier for additional sucking times and seeing if that helps the spit up issue!
All in all, things are going good...the older kids still like him, though they are still spending quite a bit of time at Grandma's still...starting next week they'll spend more time at home...and then we'll see how they are really doing.
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