How To Change A Diaper According To Jacob

 

 

First, put on your “goggles” and “mask” to protect against little boy spray and stink.  Next, after taking the little boys britches off, place them on your head so that they are easily at hand when you are ready to put them back on.  Lastly, while the boy is mesmerized by your silliness and fully focused on you, change the diaper.  Use wipes as needed for cleanliness (Daddies tend to need more than Mommies).

Annie, be sure Chad sees this as he will need the pointers soon!

Health Update

Josiah is getting SO much better.  After a long hard weekend, Monday he finally had the energy to move around a little bit.  Instead of vegging out and moaning/crying constantly, he had enough energy to be grumpy and mad about not feeling good!  I’ve never seen him throw fits like that, but I was just thankful he had some energy back.  Tuesday he was happy and I made a call to the pediatrician to ask about some pustules that had formed on his fingers.  Just when I thought we were making progress, the nurse asked us to come in to rule out Herpes and Staph infections.   I prayed that it was Staph.

Thankfully it turned out to be an opportunistic Staph infection where the normal bacteria that lives on his skin took advantage of his down immune system and broke out on his skin.  A diluted bleach bath and a round of antibiotics should cure it just fine.  The doctor also said the virus caused ulcerative pharyngitis and exudative tonsillitis.  His whole left cheek and most of his tongue was one big ulcer.  Poor guy!  No wonder we had such issues.

After our visit to the pediatrician, we went to Publix to pick up his meds (which were free!).  I figured he’d be grumpy since it was way past naptime, but since he hadn’t been out of the house in days, he was clapping his hands, smiling, and talking to everyone!  I think he was glad to see there was still life out there.  It made me happy to see.

Last night Jacob watched Josiah while I visited with friends and I missed one of Josiah’s firsts.  He started giving kisses and Jacob got the first few all to himself.  He’s so cute and sweet as he grabs your face to give you a gentle kiss!   Maybe it is thanks for the round-the-clock care we gave.

Now we are focusing on catching up on sleep and regaining an appetite.  He naps well during the day, but seems to be anxious about bedtime.  Last night was the first night in awhile he’s gone to bed before midnight as he finally went down at 11:30pm :(  I’m ready for a return to routine.

Sorry, no pictures.  We all look too haggard!  Thanks for praying for his healing.  We are well on the way now.

Man’s Best Friend…

…or is it Dog’s Favorite Snoozing Buddy? This is Cooper Thomas, born to my cousin, Becky, last week.  He is five days old here and the dog, Clark, apparently loves him.  Isn’t he (and the dog) handsome?  This picture is one of MANY taken by my uncle, the new Grandpa.

Most Heartbreaking Days of Parenthood Yet

Josiah has been SICK SICK SICK since Friday with each day worse than the previous.  We have just been in survival mode trying to take care of him.  It is like having a newborn again with around the clock care since he needs a different medication every few hours and I’m constantly trying to get him to drink something.  Thankfully this stage shouldn’t last as long as the newborn stage, though I have to say he was a much happier newborn than sick boy.  The poor guy has been miserable.  Thank goodness it is the weekend and Jacob is here (and willing) to help me. 

He has some kind of virus that has given him oral ulcers and tonsillitis so he has been drooling like a faucet.  I can tell where he has been in the house because there are little puddles left behind (that and the constant fussing/moaning make him easy to find IF he has gotten up the energy to move at all).  Because of all this drooling and lack of fluid intake, I’m afraid we are on the verge of needing IV fluids.  His drool is slowing down and his diapers are not very wet, so I think his fluid tank is nearly empty.  We’ll see.  The good news is that his fever that was once merciless seems to have subsided and he is FINALLY sleeping soundly on Jacob’s chest as I write this.  Until now the only reprieve he has gotten has been thanks to Benadryl (don’t worry, Peds After Hours of Gainesville ok’d this – I’m thankful for them) and the rest that Benadryl allowed him to have was fitful at best.

Jacob and I are feeling sorry for ourselves and our lack of sleep, but we are even more sorry for Josiah.  It is impossible to look into his slobbery, tear-filled, miserable eyes while his body is quaking with fever discomfort knowing I can’t do anything more for him without shedding a tear myself out of misery for him.  Am I the only crazy mom who experiences this?  I pray I never have a child with SERIOUS untreatable illness, particularly at a young age where communication is limited.  As you know, Josiah is usually a fabulous sleeper, even when he is sick, and he doesn’t get too upset about being sick, but this time has been hard on him – and us!  After two doctors visits and two phone calls to Peds After Hours, I’m hoping we are nearing the end of the miserable phase and we won’t need those emergency room fluids after all.

I know this post must seem a bit dramatic, but from where I sit in my sleep deprived state I realize how blessed I am that this is my biggest worry for today rather than something more negatively life changing.