Solid Foods---Hits & Misses

Giving Lorelei solid foods has been going very well. After rice cereal and sweet potatoes, we tried a mashed avocado. This did not go so well. Maybe it wasn't sweet so she didn't like it or wasn't mashed up enough??? Who knows? A couple days later we tried pureed banana and that was very well received. Mama Jamie has been making all the baby foods at home with the food processor and blender. This has been going well, it just takes a few minutes and it's great as you know exactly what she's getting. Tonight, we are trying peas. Wish us luck!

 

What is that bowl of green stuff?

 

No avocado....NO!!!!!!

 

I do like sweet potatoes and bananas though.

 

And, I like to help and make a mess.

 

All done!

Sweet Potatoes For Our Sweet Potato !!!

Since Lorelei did so well with rice cereal earlier this week, we thought we would celebrate her 6 month birthday by giving her sweet potatoes--her first real food. She did very well. She likes to help guide the spoon in her mouth, which is really cute, but, is really messy!

 

Flashback Friday!

 

Since today is Lorelei's 6 Month birthday, here's a look back at when she was only 3 days old.

 

Hungry Girl !!

Lorelei has been feeling a lot better since her bout with bronchiliotis, so, we decided it was time to start her on rice cereal. Aaron had a great idea of starting it a few days before her 6 month check up in case there were any issues or questions. As soon as Aaron came home from work last night, we got her started. We're proud to say Lorelei happily took the whole bowl! Our little girl is growing up!

 

 

It's Been A Rough Week....

It started last Saturday when we noticed Lorelei developed a cough, the sniffles, and an occassional sneeze. She had gotten a pretty bad cold before, so, we just thought we had another one on our hands. She made it through the weekend where Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Special baby-sat on Saturday afternoon so Aaron and Jamie could go to Chili-fest in Oconomowoc and on Sunday evening Grandma Honey and G-Pop baby-sat so we could do an early Valentine's Day dinner. It changed on Monday when she woke up from a 4 hour nap with a case of diarrhea, a temperature of 100.3, wheezing, and what appeared to me was trouble breathing. I immediately called Aaron and told him and we agreed we needed to call the doctor. They asked how quickly we could be there. I told them 5 minutes and Aaron was just leaving work so he would meet us there. After taking her vitals, listening to her chest and taking her oxygen levels (which were actually just fine) we were told she has bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a lung infection caused by a virus (usually Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and it infects the lungs smallest airways and creates excess mucuous and secretions. The wheezing heard in infants is caused by a narrowing of the smallest airways in the lungs. The wheezing lasts approximately 7 days and the cough for about 14 days. In addition, a common complication is an ear infection which she also got in her right ear. And, in the long run, approximately 30% of children who develop bronchiolitis will develop asthma....and, with Aaron and I both having asthma, I think we know what will happen there. While we were at the doctor's office, they put her on a nebulizer machine and the liquid mist of Albuterol (ironically Aaron takes this in an inhaler form daily). Afterwards, the doctor said her lungs sounded better. So, our job for the week was to have her on this machine about every 4-6 hours, and give her antiobiotics for the ear infection, AND start her on probiotics to keep the good bacteria going in her. In addition, we were told no daycare for 2-3 weeks.

The next day we had a follow up appt and were told her lungs were sounding better and she wasn't wheezing at all, so, we were hoping the worst was behind us. However, that night, Lorelei had a really good coughing fit and started to wheeze again AFTER we did the nebulizer. We called the on-call doctor and we were told the wheezing is a good thing in a way because it means everything is loosening up AND it is always worse at night because that's when babies lay down the most.

On Thursday, we called the doctor's office to tell them we haven't seen any improvement in her at all. She is still wheezing on occassion and still coughing. We just wanted to be assured that we just needed to ride this thing out or should she have shown some improvement by now?? When I told them the wheezing doesn't get any better after the nebulizer, they asked for me to come in with her that morning. So, of course, Mama is a basketcase....oh....did I mention Mama fell ill on Monday night too with a temperature, body aches, headache, coughing, sneezing, and major nose congestion (we confirmed on Thursday--it's the flu--and too late to do anything--gotta ride this one out). When we got to the doctor we were told her ear infection looks a lot better and she is now what they call a 'happy wheezer' and this is just going to take more time.

So, here we are on a Saturday night...waiting to see what next week brings. On next Friday, we have her 6 month vaccinations and if they're anything like her last set of vaccinations, we can plan for another miserable weekend. :( But, at least we know what to expect and we're ready for it.

On the bright side: Lorelei LOVES her medicine...anything in a dropper she excitingly takes and we have timed most of her nebulizer treatments perfectly and we will give her a bottle and then the treatment and she falls asleep in our laps. Also, once we are all through this, we begin solid foods!!! And, Mama has the best husband in the world who was able to stay home for a day this week and leave early to come take care of his girls. And last, but, not least, Lorelei has the best Grandma-ma who came out twice this week to help with the baby, tidy up the house, and just be there for her. How my mom took care of me and my sister when we were sick seems impossible. She sure is a saint. Saint Margaret Mary. :)

Flashback Friday

Here is a short clip of Lorelei's first day in this world.

 

 

I'm So Excited !!!

Lorelei's little personality is really starting to come out. She is very happy when she has been fed, (if she sees a bottle she wants it asap--so, we have to keep bottles out of sight until it is time to feed her), she gets very excited and playful midday and after her naps, and she gives Mommy and Daddy lots of laughs and smiles. We also are getting pretty good at knowing when she needs a nap. Here is a fun video of Lorelei after a well-needed morning nap.

Exersaucer Fun!!

We've been testing Lorelei and the exersaucer periodically over the last couple of weeks. Well, this weekend she finally seems to have gotten it and we can already foresee this is going to be a lifesaver!