This is One Doodle That Can't be Un-did

They say the second child gets the shaft. In relation to pictures taken, time and attention to detail given. Definitely in worry (that’s a positive in my book by the way). I looked back at the very first posts I wrote on this blog. At my journey through pregnancy and Breck’s first year of life. I documented everything. And I’m so glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed reading about our missteps and milestones. There is so much that I’ve forgotten. I have not been nearly as diligent about writing here about Emmy. No well check updates, first (second or third for that matter!) teeth exclamations or vocab lists. Her first birthday came and went and she was 10 months old the last time that I posted anything. I’m failing. 

This sweet butter bean is 10 months old today. I seriously cannot fathom that she’s nearly a year old. It some ways, it seems like I was just pregnant. 

She has been crawling for over 2 months. She pulls herself up on everything and walks along the edges. She walks behind her walker or the tricycle! She can clap for you, shake her head no and wave bye bye. She says “dada” and has the cutest growl you’ve ever heard. Changing her diaper/clothes is like wrangling an alligator. She’s always hungry and she’s a distracted nurser - you pull her off before she’s ready though, and she’s pissed. She has two bottom teeth and just cut her first top tooth a few days ago.

She is tough. Man, is she tough. Breck pushes her down and pulls her around and she never cries unless she really gets hurt. And she loooooves him. Her face lights up when she sees him and she thinks he’s hilarious. Their dynamic is what my dreams are made of. She is everything that Breck isn’t and together they are the perfect combination. 

...it pours. We made it through RSV Hell 2016. Breck went back to school for one day and his fever was back the next day. Fortunately for us, we had pediatrician appointments already scheduled that day. Emmy got her shots and Breck was given the “his ears look pretty good, his flu test was negative, it’s probably another virus” diagnosis. So we left. The next night his fever sky rocketed to 106.3 and so did my panic. I called the nurses hotline at the hospital and she advised that we get to the ER pronto, in addition to putting a scare into me. Upon arriving (the ER was PACKED), they took his vitals and gave him Tylenol. By the time a doctor saw us (4.5 hours later), his fever had broken and we wasted a minimum of $375. A rash had barely started on him, but they told me not to worry about it. His x-ray was clear of pneumonia and his ears were good. 

The next night he threw up and I was done. I wanted a strep and scarlet fever test because something was going on. His fever was still sooo high and we were pumping him full of Motrin and Tylenol as often as we could. So we took him to our after-hours pediatrician and they ran all the tests. His ear infections were most definitely back and the flu test they took was skewing towards positive. Why no one caught the ear infections prior to that night is a question that I’d love answered. They gave us a stronger antibiotic and Tamiflu which both made him vomit. He threw up every hour for 4 - 5 hours that night. Whether it was the meds or the virus, we’ll never know. The poor kid was miserable. His rash had spread and looked real gnarly at this point. 

Now we had to go back to his pediatrician the next day for a follow-up from this new diagnosis. We determined that Breck couldn’t tolerate the new antibiotic, so they prescribed the one that he was on previously. They gave him two really strong antibiotic shots there and told us to keep an eye on him. 

We were able to start the antibiotics again 24-hours after the shots and then 24-hours after that, his fever finally broke. His little body was starting to heal. His rash stuck around for another 3 days at least and he was weak and thin because he hadn’t really eaten in 5 days. It all broke my heart and was pretty traumatic for all of us I think. 

He got better by the end of that next week and we were able to go visit my in-laws in Idaho, for which he thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I have my energetic, sweet, sometimes attitude-laden boy back. 

RSV has literally torn through our house. Breck had it for nearly a week before we ever knew what it was. Two Saturday nights ago, he went into a coughing fit and threw up a handful of times before falling asleep. That’s when I noticed the short, shallow breathing and saw his little ribs beneath the skin with each breath he took. We took him to the ER shortly after that and thank God I decided to go because they put him on oxygen within minutes of arriving. He stayed there for nearly three days, intermittently on oxygen. His tiny lungs were only working at 85% of what they should’ve been working at and they found he had a double ear infection, most likely the cause of the prolonged 104* temperature. He did the best a 2.5-year old could do with having to have a tube up his nose and being poked and prodded constantly. It was immensely scary, but equally scary was that it could have been a lot worse. 

He’s doing so much better and I have my energetic boy back. 

Welp, they say the second child gets the proverbial shaft...accurate. I didn’t send out announcements this time around and I’m definitely not updating this blog with any sort of regularity. Truth be told, it’s a wonder I get myself dressed and to work in the morning. Let alone any extra curricular activity (i.e. writing, showering, sleeping). Despite my aloofness, she is a complete and total sweet pea. She is ten times smiley-er than Breck ever was and her face lights up when you happily lock eyes with her. She’s such a good baby and thank God for it because some days I don’t know how I handle both of them. 

Current stats:

Weight - 14lbs. 2oz.

Height - 23.5″

Loves - grabbing toys, playing on her mat, sitting with mama, her brother, nursing

Milestones - rolled over from front to back, cooing back and forth with you, giggling

I’m transitioning her into her crib soon because this little lady is still waking up in the middle of the night to nurse. Most times it’s just once, but lately she’s been throwing in two sessions and I’m a walking zombie. I think she’s working on a bottom tooth too.