I returned to the ER yesterday because Wednesday night I had trouble swallowing and Thursday I couldn't breathe in deeply. My hives were not improving either. This time they gave me an IV drip instead of injecting the medicine right into the IV needle. They also gave me an epinephrin shot. That was not fun! My heart was racing, my body was jumpy, and I was breathing even more shallow. I had to stay longer, so Justin took Caden shopping at Dick's while I got some rest. The medics taking care of me this time did not believe the detergent was the culprit because my reaction would have been different. (What?! You mean I rewashed all my laundry for nothing?) So the doctor also prescribed me antibiotics in case it is a bacterial infection.
My prescriptions took forever at Wal-mart and I was feeling awful all evening. That night, I had to call Justin home right when he got to the church for basketball so he could help me with Caden, who would not stay asleep. We finally got him down, Justin left, and I went to sleep. Caden didn't wake up until a quarter to one. I nursed him, put him back in the crib on the first try, and slept until 5:30 (out of habit), though Caden didn't wake up until 6. He has never only woken up once! Miracle of miracles and many prayers answered. I am feeling so much better and my hives are starting to fade. They're completely gone from my face. I hope this recovery continues!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I Like Polka Dots, But...
I like polka dots, but not all over my body. Monday I woke up with a fever and nausea. Justin stayed home from school to care for Caden so I could rest. In the middle of the night I woke up to Caden's cry. I rocked him and, feeling itchy, scratched my neck, noticing it was bumpy. I gave the baby to Justin and went to the bathroom to check it out. I turned on the light and saw red-hot hives all over my chest, neck, and lips. By morning, they were on my ears, face, arms, hands, stomach, and back. Justin couldn't stay home again, so I was going to wait until the evening for him to take me to the doctor. But by ten, they kept spreading and I was so itchy. I dropped off Caden at my visiting teacher's house and checked into the ER. The red bumps were now also sprinkled lightly on my legs, feet, hips, and behind. All they could do was give me medicine. No one knows the cause of the outbreak. The only thing new lately was a slightly different laundry detergent. I usually use regular Tide, but decided to try it with a color-safe bleaching additive. However, I don't know why it took me a few days to flare up. I washed the sheets in that detergent a few days earlier, but didn't experience the reaction until the night I wore pajamas washed in the new detergent. And it doesn't explain how it got on my face since the pillow cases were washed in the old detergent. It may not be the source, but it's the only suspect right now.
I'm on steroids and allergy medicine. I'm not taking the anti-itching pills because they're not breastfeeding-safe. I took one pill yesterday and had the worst night with Caden since I couldn't nurse him. So I'm using calamine lotion instead.
I feel like the Phantom of the Opera. I can't even imagine what it's like for Stephanie Nielsen (LDS blogger disfigured in an accident). I just hope it all goes away soon! At least so I'm not itchy all the time, if not to appease my vanity. Keep me in your prayers please!
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| My arm; the bumps are brighter red in reality |
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| My mouth |
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| My chest; the white stuff is calamine lotion |
I'm on steroids and allergy medicine. I'm not taking the anti-itching pills because they're not breastfeeding-safe. I took one pill yesterday and had the worst night with Caden since I couldn't nurse him. So I'm using calamine lotion instead.
I feel like the Phantom of the Opera. I can't even imagine what it's like for Stephanie Nielsen (LDS blogger disfigured in an accident). I just hope it all goes away soon! At least so I'm not itchy all the time, if not to appease my vanity. Keep me in your prayers please!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
My Little Cuddle Bug
I love Caden at this age. He is so interactive and fun. Right now he's in a cuddly stage. He loves to hug and snuggle me and Justin. He loves to give big, wet, open-mouthed kisses. And he loves to be hugged, snuggled, and kissed back.
I grew up in a very touchy feely home. I loved it when I was little, but by the time I was out of the house, I put up a huge space bubble. I still love to hug and cuddle, but on my own terms. Justin grew up in the complete opposite atmosphere: he was physically deprived, which made him crave physical affection. Of course, that makes for an interesting marriage. Took some time for us to find a middle ground. Anyway, now that I'm a parent, I can understand why my family was so huggy kissy (besides the fact that we're Hispanic and Italian). It's hard not to smother a cute little baby with love!
I grew up in a very touchy feely home. I loved it when I was little, but by the time I was out of the house, I put up a huge space bubble. I still love to hug and cuddle, but on my own terms. Justin grew up in the complete opposite atmosphere: he was physically deprived, which made him crave physical affection. Of course, that makes for an interesting marriage. Took some time for us to find a middle ground. Anyway, now that I'm a parent, I can understand why my family was so huggy kissy (besides the fact that we're Hispanic and Italian). It's hard not to smother a cute little baby with love!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Caden's Latest Tricks
Caden is 9 months now. At his check-up, he weighed in at 19.5 lbs and measured 26 3/4 in. long--short and stout. He is perfectly on target developmentally. And he is so much fun! Most of the time. Caden loves to stand up on his own and wants us to applaud every time he does. He can walk holding onto furniture and pushes the little walker my visiting teacher let us borrow (he wouldn't at first). He figured out how to open any kind of drawer. He mostly just enjoys the sound of it banging shut, but he also likes to take things out. We can't put the latches on yet because we are moving to a new house (more on that later). He is also obsessed with my flip flops and other shoes. Every day we say no and move him away a million times, yet he always goes back, as with anything else we say no to. He knows he's not supposed to because he gives this little innocent smile and tosses the shoe away from himself. He also knows the sound of an off-limits door opening and speeds over to get inside before I close it. Too cute. But tiring chasing after him all day. How do moms get fat when they're constantly chasing and picking up their kids?
Anyway, Caden can entertain himself for most of the day, which is really nice. He'll just play in his room by himself. Sometimes he'll suddenly realize I'm not there and cry and then come crawling to me. He recently learned how to make clicking sounds with his tongue. He also scrunches up his face really funny, like a fake big smile (sorry, no photo currently). He was making some people in sacrament meeting laugh last Sunday.
Caden is currently on a potty strike. He won't tell me when he needs to go, and his digestive system has been out of wack the last couple weeks, resulting in a lot of poopy messes and a nasty diaper rash. I've switched to disposable during the day instead of cloth so I have one less thing to clean and smell. Caden also doesn't like to stay on the potty anymore. I used to be able to leave him alone while he went, but now he climbs off, spilling the potty contents all over the floor. Yucky surprise for me one morning. I have no idea how long this will last, so I've been lax about taking him potty. Only if I catch him pooping will I rush him to the potty. I also put him on whenever I change his diaper, first thing in the morning, and before bath time. I don't want all my work the past five months to go down the drain!
Caden alternates sleeping in his crib and sleeping with us. Most nights he sleeps in his crib for 3 or 4 hours and then sleeps with us the rest of the night. Two nights now (not consecutive) he's slept in his crib the whole night; he still woke up at night, but he went back to sleep in the crib. He usually goes to bed between 8 and 8:30 and wakes up between 6 and 6:30.
He has two bottom teeth. He's not a great chewer though, so he still eats mushy foods. He can't feed himself either. I have to be careful when feeding him whole fruit because, like his father, he takes big bites and swallows, resulting in coughing and choking. He eats solids 3-4 times a day and nurses 5-7 times a day and 2-3 times at night. Basically, he's always hungry. He's more of a grazer unless it's been a long time since he last ate. Caden is so funny after he nurses. He gets this happy look and goofy smile that we call the drunk baby face.
I love my baby so much! He is so funny, even when he's getting into trouble. He is so much fun and we love playing with him and making him laugh and then laughing in return. Caden is the cutest baby ever!
Anyway, Caden can entertain himself for most of the day, which is really nice. He'll just play in his room by himself. Sometimes he'll suddenly realize I'm not there and cry and then come crawling to me. He recently learned how to make clicking sounds with his tongue. He also scrunches up his face really funny, like a fake big smile (sorry, no photo currently). He was making some people in sacrament meeting laugh last Sunday.
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| His latest way of falling asleep in the stroller or car seat. |
Caden is currently on a potty strike. He won't tell me when he needs to go, and his digestive system has been out of wack the last couple weeks, resulting in a lot of poopy messes and a nasty diaper rash. I've switched to disposable during the day instead of cloth so I have one less thing to clean and smell. Caden also doesn't like to stay on the potty anymore. I used to be able to leave him alone while he went, but now he climbs off, spilling the potty contents all over the floor. Yucky surprise for me one morning. I have no idea how long this will last, so I've been lax about taking him potty. Only if I catch him pooping will I rush him to the potty. I also put him on whenever I change his diaper, first thing in the morning, and before bath time. I don't want all my work the past five months to go down the drain!
Caden alternates sleeping in his crib and sleeping with us. Most nights he sleeps in his crib for 3 or 4 hours and then sleeps with us the rest of the night. Two nights now (not consecutive) he's slept in his crib the whole night; he still woke up at night, but he went back to sleep in the crib. He usually goes to bed between 8 and 8:30 and wakes up between 6 and 6:30.
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| More laundry fun! |
He has two bottom teeth. He's not a great chewer though, so he still eats mushy foods. He can't feed himself either. I have to be careful when feeding him whole fruit because, like his father, he takes big bites and swallows, resulting in coughing and choking. He eats solids 3-4 times a day and nurses 5-7 times a day and 2-3 times at night. Basically, he's always hungry. He's more of a grazer unless it's been a long time since he last ate. Caden is so funny after he nurses. He gets this happy look and goofy smile that we call the drunk baby face.
I love my baby so much! He is so funny, even when he's getting into trouble. He is so much fun and we love playing with him and making him laugh and then laughing in return. Caden is the cutest baby ever!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Five Things I Don't Do
1. I don't fold most of the clothes and I never iron them. My husband does.
2. I don't drink milk with cookies or any other dessert. Only water.
3. I don't do my hair. I don't even know how to use a curling iron. The few times I've tried--on myself and others--were disasters. It doesn't help that my mom and little sister have naturally curly hair. The only thing I can do decently is straighten my hair, and I don't own a straightener right now.
4. I don't always dry the dishes before putting them away. Lazy, I know.
5. I don't take off my makeup before going to bed. I only wear eyeliner and mascara and not everyday, but I wake up looking like a raccoon and sometimes I get puffy, sensitive spots on my lower eyelids. Yet I still don't do it.
What do you not do?
2. I don't drink milk with cookies or any other dessert. Only water.
3. I don't do my hair. I don't even know how to use a curling iron. The few times I've tried--on myself and others--were disasters. It doesn't help that my mom and little sister have naturally curly hair. The only thing I can do decently is straighten my hair, and I don't own a straightener right now.
4. I don't always dry the dishes before putting them away. Lazy, I know.
5. I don't take off my makeup before going to bed. I only wear eyeliner and mascara and not everyday, but I wake up looking like a raccoon and sometimes I get puffy, sensitive spots on my lower eyelids. Yet I still don't do it.
What do you not do?
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