Oh Those Crazy Holidays

Have had a wonderful week spending time with Kieran and Ken. We've mostly just hung out at home and ran errands but it's been very nice to not have to worry about getting up the next day for work.

Christmas was a blast. Kieran had more fun with the wrapping paper than the presents (though he's starting to enjoy them now). We've begun toy rotation as well, and we'll take everything we have out now away in 2 weeks. Hopefully this will keep him from getting bored with the toys available to him.

Today we bought real shoes. He's got two pairs of soft soled shoes that he can wear inside but now that he's walking very well, I decided it was time for big boy shoes. We went to Stride Rite and got him a pair of sneakers (yes, I did make sure he was measured, etc first). After he put on the pair that fit best, he was a walking/running maniac. He walked at least 1/4 of the mall (Arundel Mills, which is a huge mall). He would walk for a while (into the path of oncoming people, laughing the entire time) then start crawling. Ken would pick him up, tell him he had to walk or be carried but that he couldn't crawl on that floor. Kieran had a blast. He's sleeping now but I expect when he gets up, he'll want to put on his shoes again.

Spotted Kieran

Not a type of dessert I have concocted, but what he looks like right now. Kieran is likely allergic to penicillin. On Sunday Kieran woke up with what looked like pimples on his face. We noticed it was also on his neck and ears so called the doctor. While I ran errands, Ken took Kieran in to the emergency pediatrics place and they gave us a new antibiotic, prescribed Children's Benedryl and a hydrocortisone cream.

Today he was just about the same. The doctor yesterday said that the rash should clear up fairly quickly so we called his regular pediatrician and Ken took him in for a second look. They asked that we take him off all antibiotics (he still has an ear infection but it is not in danger of rupturing right now), upped the dosage on the Benedryl and we'll be back into the doctor's office on Wednesday.

They said he's likely allergic to penicillin and all types of antibiotics derrived from it. They're concerned because the hives are pretty bad but they should go away after he's not on anything for 48 hours. Which means his Christmas eve and Christmas day photos will have the hives in them (poor baby), but that the day after (Wednesday) he should be fine.

OK, I've got to go back to work - I missed Thursday of last week so today is my makeup day. I'll try to blog during the rest of this week. Happy Holidays all!

Dang Ears!

He's got a dual ear infection again. Back on antibiotics, but otherwise okay.

Here's a quick rundown of what happened. Wednesday at 4pm I got a call from daycare. Kieran had thrown up twice and had a "large bowel movement". I had originally intended to get him to the Dr's on Thursday but due to this, we took him down to the Nighttime Pediatrics place that's in Columbia.

I took him there straight from daycare but neglected to make an appointment (the first time I went they said I didn't need it). After getting there I was told that the earliest they could see me was 7:40 pm (it was around 5). So, we headed home for dinner and hanging out before going back.

We got there around 7:30 pm and ended up waiting about an hour before we could be seen (an emergency took precedence). After being weighed (they think he's only 18 lbs, about a half pound less than he weighed at his last doctor's appointment) and generally checked, they looked at his ears. Yep - dual ear infection again. They're putting him on a different antibiotic so that if this is a continuation of the first infection there's less chance of it being resistant to the drug. We've got a follow up appointment set for Darleen's birthday (that's Jan 2) with his regular doctor to see if everything is cleared up.

He hates medicine - and this has been no exception. Ken gave him the stuff this morning but Kieran was hanging upside down and some of the medicine came out his nose. Poor baby. Ah well, if he didn't fight us so hard on this, we wouldn't resort to these issues. So anyway - overall he's in great spirits and isn't having any issues. He's back at daycare today and we'll be having fun all next week. I had to take yesterday off as daycare said he couldn't come back the next day with so much spit up. He slept a lot yesterday (about 4.5 hrs during the day) but I think he needed it.

Now if only I can catch up on my sleep. Maybe after we buy our new mattress.... love to all. Happy Holidays!

Daycare and Colds

Kieran has had a cold for about 6 weeks now (off and on). He has a few days each week or two where he's fine. Then the snot just comes back.

He hasn't really been fussy about it or having trouble sleeping so I haven't bothered the doctor about it. I've been under the (probably right) assumption that he gets a cold, gets over it, then catches another one at daycare. I called the doctor yesterday (finally caved) and they said, yes, this is likely the case but please bring him in anyway just so they can check on him. He's not feverish and his appetite has been fine so they're not that worried. We'll go to the doctors tomorrow, likely after work - I'll post on Friday to tell you what they said.

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been very busy between work and getting ready for the holidays. I'm still at a complete loss as to what to do for Kieran's birthday. I know the party is for me and whatever we do either has to be an early brunch (10 am or so) or an early dinner (4:30 pm or so) because he has lunch at 12 and usually promptly falls asleep afterward. At home he can sleep for up to 3 hours. Sometimes I have to go and wake him after 3.5 hours.

Not much else new, we're looking forward to ripping the wrapping paper off all the gifts under the tree (we have bought Kieran precisely 1 gift for Christmas, everything else under the tree has come from Ken's family). Then we're heading over to my brother's house for a Christmas dinner which I'm really looking forward to. Now that Kieran is walking he's able to be even more interactive with my nephews and niece. They all seem to enjoy him. I can't wait until he's a bit older and they can actually play together.

Hopefully we'll get some photos uploaded to the blog soon (as well as the promised video of walking). Other than that, I better get back to work. I'm off next week since daycare is closed. Love to all, happy holidays!

He's Figured Out Those Legs!

Yeah, he's walking. We have a video of it (he looks a little like Godzilla or Frankenstein's monster) but we haven't figured out how to get the video off the camera and onto a website just yet. He's been able to walk for awhile now but this weekend it truly became his preferred mode of movement.

Weekend was good, but I caught Kieran's cold so I'm tired and cranky and sore. Ken hasn't gotten much sleep between me hacking up a lung and Kieran waking up early (though he tends to go right back to sleep). Ken's on his own again for 3 days this week but then I've only got one more week of work and I'm home with the bugger for one full week (and then some). I'm looking forward to it.

That's it, gotta get a decent amount of work done between now and the time I leave tomorrow. Just wanted to say - He's walking! We're so excited and proud of him.

And the Festivities Continue...

We're headed to mom's tomorrow for another Hanukkah celebration. I just finished up my shopping so - WHEW. Now I've got to begin thinking about birthdays (we have 8 to celebrate in January).

Not much else is new, I'm sick with whatever Kieran's had (forever and ever), Ken has somehow so far managed to escape this. Let's hope that continues. Next week I head out to Austin for 3 days on business and then I'm back for a week and then we start the final holidays of this year and start birthday month. It's still very strange to me to consider that Kieran will be one year old next month. I've got to get on the ball and organize his birthday party!

Ok, that's about it for me. Love to all, blog again soon.

Happy Hanukkah

First night of Hanukkah was last night. We lit the candles, said the blessing, it was nice to share this tradition with Kieran and Ken. We're still looking to figure out all of our traditions and I'm sure that some will evolve from what we did as kids and some will evolve from our lifestyle and Kieran's ideas as well.

Got a HUGE box of presents from Debbie which we put under the tree last night (though Ken informs me this is the only year that presents can be under the tree in advance of Christmas eve). We're now struggling because we need to recycle the great big box and our next recycling day isn't until Friday of next week. BAH - I may have to compromise my desire to recycle with my desire to move around the living room. Or we'll throw it down in the basement and remember to recycle it next year :-).

Kieran is still not feeling well - coughing and sneezing up a storm, but otherwise in good spirits. If this continues this weekend, I'll call the doctor on Monday. It's so frustrating because just as he seems to recover from one cold, he just flips right on into the next one. I'm concerned that he may have allergies or it could just be the nature of daycare.

Anyway - he slept great last night, though I think his throat is a bit sore today (his nose was completely booger-covered when I saw him this morning so I'm fairly certain he was a mouth-breather all night). Ken and I have fallen into the very very bad habit of staying up until 11 pm (the horrors) and I've been dragging all week. I'm also coming down with something of my own, but I've started back up on my Multi-vitamin and hopefully that will help some.

A bit of daycare news...
So, last night I come to get him and he's walking. He's holding onto a chair but he's walking. He seems to be doing this more and more. I'm fairly certain he'll walk before Christmas but I've been betting he'll walk within a month for 3 months or so now. There were other parents there picking up their daughter, the husband turns to me and says "Smiling. This one," (points at Kieran) "is always smiling when I see him." Its nice to know that he really does have a great mood most of the time.

Other than that, he's been doing well. He's battling a diaper rash along with the coughing but that (diaper rash) goes away fairly easily.

OK back to work for me. I travel again next week (poor Ken!).

Flights of Family

So, my flight from Vegas did not arrive until nearly 4 in the morning on Saturday (originally slated to be in around 1 am). I had not slept but made it home by 5 am and was asleep by 6 am (when Kieran woke up). I was THRILLED to see Kieran when I got up at 10:30. He was not as excited to see me.

He warmed up to me after he realized I wasn't going anywhere again. We had a good time hanging out together in the house on Saturday. Just me, Ken & Kieran. We skipped the photo shoot as I would have looked like a panda bear with big circles around my eyes.

Sunday we had Uncle Irv's tombstone unveiling to attend. For those who are confused - in the Jewish faith we don't put anything on the tombstone right away. About a year after the funeral we do an unveiling of the finished stone, complete with a few prayers. Got to see a lot of family and had some nice food at Aunt Helen's.

Afterward, we headed to Dad & Dar's for Hanukkah (I know, I know, we're early). Had a really good time there and Kieran LOVED chasing all his cousins - and I'm pretty sure they liked being chased. He's doing more and more walking - I feel like I left a baby and came back to an almost-toddler. Its sad and cool at the same time. No, this does not mean that I am thinking another baby anytime soon, if ever. We will adopt when we're able (do you hear that Dad?).

Anyway - thanks again to Dad and Dar for the cool gifts. Kieran just loves his ducks. Have a great cruise and we'll see you again soon. For Andy and Wendy - we'll see you next week at our next family outing. Then you're free of us for two whole weeks and then we'll do it all again.