Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Buckets Full of Sickness and Horror and Some Nice Christmas Pictures
I've been meaning to post pictures from the holidays, but between work, sick kids, and visitors, time has been thin of late. Let's start with the latest on the health front.
The good news is that the kids are holding up well. The RSV has passed, though the pronounced cough lingers on. The kids appeared to be doing very well toward the end of last week, and, with the doctor's concurrence, we decided to proceed with our planned visit to Tahoe. We kept the kids bundled up, and frankly they really didn't spend much time outside. But after we got home, it seemed like Milo was sick all over again. So, off to the doctors once more where there were concerns about a potential pneumonia -- it was either that or he had managed to pick up another virus. His pediatrician started him on antibiotics and Elaine brought him back in yesterday for follow-up. His lungs sounded fine but the decision was to keep him on his meds.
As you probably guessed, Maddy also caught RSV shortly after Milo. She still has a pretty rough cough, but her lungs also appear to be in good shape. It's bad enough that it wakes her up at night several times, but she has been in good spirits otherwise. Here's hoping we'll eventually hit a nice month long stretch of no illnesses. They're due!
In other news, M&M have finally graduated from the infant room at daycare. Milo was supposed to start full time in the pre-toddler room this week, but, due to sickness, today was his first full day. He wasn't his usual self, and was pretty weepy the entire day. Maddy has been transitioning this week, and will be a full time pre-tod starting Monday. She seems to love every moment of the new room -- pretty surprising since she normally take sa while to warm up to things. I'm still not quite sure why they call it "pre-toddler" since M&M and all of the other children all seem to fit the definition of just plain old toddler. But who knows? It's a while new world for them: M&M were becoming bored giants in the infant room, and now they are relative squirts compared to the other kids. Both M&M seem to really enjoy their new class, though, and there's a lot more to capture their interest.
On with the pictures...
A pensive Maddy on a chilly NorCal day - Approx. 12/20/2009
A holiday visit from Grandpa. Milo gets a tickle - Approx. 12/20/2009
Christmas Breakfast - 12/25/2009
Maddy inspects the presents - 12/25/2009
Milo digs his first car.
And so does Maddy.
Maddy wearing Christmas present camouflage. Can you spot her?
M&M and Grandpa bask in the warm glow of the Wiggles.
One of the interesting facets of Maddy's sensory issues is that she loves the feeling of fleece on her face. That's made her new hat from Aunt Heather an instant favorite. Removing it usually results in a tantrum, so we just leave it on.
More hat. This time Maddy tries out Milo's.
New hat and a phat new ride. Life is good.
1/14/2010 - Just about 19 months old. Milo takes a brisk walk.
2/1/2010 - Milo's favorite toys.
Maddy's pre-meal entertainment. Notice the scratch on her face? Poor Maddy has a bad habit of falling and banging her head. We're going to have her hearing and inner ear checked in the next few weeks to rule out any major issues. Either that or no more toddler fight club.
Milo cruises along.
The good news is that the kids are holding up well. The RSV has passed, though the pronounced cough lingers on. The kids appeared to be doing very well toward the end of last week, and, with the doctor's concurrence, we decided to proceed with our planned visit to Tahoe. We kept the kids bundled up, and frankly they really didn't spend much time outside. But after we got home, it seemed like Milo was sick all over again. So, off to the doctors once more where there were concerns about a potential pneumonia -- it was either that or he had managed to pick up another virus. His pediatrician started him on antibiotics and Elaine brought him back in yesterday for follow-up. His lungs sounded fine but the decision was to keep him on his meds.
As you probably guessed, Maddy also caught RSV shortly after Milo. She still has a pretty rough cough, but her lungs also appear to be in good shape. It's bad enough that it wakes her up at night several times, but she has been in good spirits otherwise. Here's hoping we'll eventually hit a nice month long stretch of no illnesses. They're due!
In other news, M&M have finally graduated from the infant room at daycare. Milo was supposed to start full time in the pre-toddler room this week, but, due to sickness, today was his first full day. He wasn't his usual self, and was pretty weepy the entire day. Maddy has been transitioning this week, and will be a full time pre-tod starting Monday. She seems to love every moment of the new room -- pretty surprising since she normally take sa while to warm up to things. I'm still not quite sure why they call it "pre-toddler" since M&M and all of the other children all seem to fit the definition of just plain old toddler. But who knows? It's a while new world for them: M&M were becoming bored giants in the infant room, and now they are relative squirts compared to the other kids. Both M&M seem to really enjoy their new class, though, and there's a lot more to capture their interest.
On with the pictures...
A pensive Maddy on a chilly NorCal day - Approx. 12/20/2009
A holiday visit from Grandpa. Milo gets a tickle - Approx. 12/20/2009
Christmas Breakfast - 12/25/2009
Maddy inspects the presents - 12/25/2009
Milo digs his first car.
And so does Maddy.
Maddy wearing Christmas present camouflage. Can you spot her?
M&M and Grandpa bask in the warm glow of the Wiggles.
One of the interesting facets of Maddy's sensory issues is that she loves the feeling of fleece on her face. That's made her new hat from Aunt Heather an instant favorite. Removing it usually results in a tantrum, so we just leave it on.
More hat. This time Maddy tries out Milo's.
New hat and a phat new ride. Life is good.
1/14/2010 - Just about 19 months old. Milo takes a brisk walk.
2/1/2010 - Milo's favorite toys.
Maddy's pre-meal entertainment. Notice the scratch on her face? Poor Maddy has a bad habit of falling and banging her head. We're going to have her hearing and inner ear checked in the next few weeks to rule out any major issues. Either that or no more toddler fight club.
Milo cruises along.
Monday, January 18, 2010
RSV Finally Darkens Our Doorstep
Remember RSV? If you take a look back at our post from 27 September 2008 you'll see some of our first discussion about this nasty bug. Back then, RSV would have almost certainly meant a speedy trip back to the hospital for M&M for another lengthy stay. Concern for RSV was so significant back then that the kids received monthly immunization shots to the tune of about g-note each for every dose. Well worth it. (Thanks again to TriCare.)
Well, a few days ago, Milo started to acquire what appeared to be another basic cold. His cough became more persistent, he developed a fairly low grade fever (about 100), and after listening to some pretty intense coughing overnight we decided to pay a visit to the pediatrician today. It didn't take the doctor long to diagnose the problem -- it seems RSV has been making the rounds for the past week and she had already seen several cases over the last few days.
The good news. Despite a lot of well-deserved hysteria last year, Milo was in pretty good shape. His lungs sounded ok, and there was no plan at all for a hospital visit. Other than sitting through three nebulizer sessions a day for the next few days (which, by the way, are pretty awful) the RSV should pass in another few days without much more to it. Poor Milo absolutely hates the nebulizer, so hopefully he'll get over it quickly.
Although Milo passed the RSV to Dad (which is basically just an annoying head cold for me), neither Maddy nor Elaine has shown any symptoms at all. Given how contagious RSV is, and the fact that the twins share pretty much everything, it's pretty surprising. I wouldn't bet on it lasting. We have a trip to Tahoe planned for the end of the month, so hopefully it will be well past by then.
Well, a few days ago, Milo started to acquire what appeared to be another basic cold. His cough became more persistent, he developed a fairly low grade fever (about 100), and after listening to some pretty intense coughing overnight we decided to pay a visit to the pediatrician today. It didn't take the doctor long to diagnose the problem -- it seems RSV has been making the rounds for the past week and she had already seen several cases over the last few days.
The good news. Despite a lot of well-deserved hysteria last year, Milo was in pretty good shape. His lungs sounded ok, and there was no plan at all for a hospital visit. Other than sitting through three nebulizer sessions a day for the next few days (which, by the way, are pretty awful) the RSV should pass in another few days without much more to it. Poor Milo absolutely hates the nebulizer, so hopefully he'll get over it quickly.
Although Milo passed the RSV to Dad (which is basically just an annoying head cold for me), neither Maddy nor Elaine has shown any symptoms at all. Given how contagious RSV is, and the fact that the twins share pretty much everything, it's pretty surprising. I wouldn't bet on it lasting. We have a trip to Tahoe planned for the end of the month, so hopefully it will be well past by then.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Mustache-A-Thon 2010!
As some of you know, I'm competing in the 5th Annual Beard500 - Mustache Division. It's fair to say that few things remind us of Megan's List like seeing me with a mustache. So, how can I turn such a force for ill repute into something that brings some good? Recently, a well-intentioned friend offered to buy me a giant trophy if I immeidately dropped out of the Beard500 and shaved off Mus-Caliber. And thus a great idea was born. So, here's the plan -- I will gladly shave off this hideous thing once I have raised at least $300 to benefit NICU families at Alta Bates (Milo & Maddy's alma mater). I will use the $300 to buy twelve $25 gift certificates for the families of infants at the NICU to use for purchases of food, local services, baby items, etc. As Elaine and I learned during the four and a half months of M&M's hospitalization at Alta Bates, the financial toll can be huge. We spent roughly 6+ hours a day in the NICU, which means a lot of meals out, parking, and fuel expenses every day, in addition to reduced income. Many families are financially strapped to begin with, and worrying about how to pay for a decent meal or a parking garage should be the last concern for a family struggling with a very sick baby/babies.
So how can you help? Easy, contribute whatever you can. Whether the reason is to finally see the demise of Mus-Caliber or to support a great cause, give til' it hurts! I don't have any particular system for collection, and you'll have to trust my accounting. You can donate a few different ways: OPTION (1) If you have an account with PayPal, use PayPal to transfer money by going to www.paypal.com. Login, then select the "Send Money" tab; enter email address rstiles3 at gmail dot com (obviously write it like a normal email address - that's just to protect me from spambots); then enter the amount; and select the "Personal" tab and the "gift" option. OPTION (2) Send a check to me (email me for the address if you don't have it); or OPTION (3) the easiest, hand me cash. If you prefer, you can buy the gift certificate yourself -- there is a Whole Foods right next to Alta Bates and I'm sure something like Babys-R-Us would also be welcome.
Finally a bonus option: Anyone who contributes more than $50 will be entered in the drawing to personally shave off this hideous thing.
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