It would be wonderful if
It would be wonderful if we could play outside every day.
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It would be wonderful if we could play outside every day.
Sorry for the non-posting lately. The end of last week was uneventful, so I had nothing to write about, and the weekend was so eventful that I didn't have time to write! I'll try not to make this post too long though, Evan's trashing his room so I don't have time to write all I want.
Evan is doing well--he's becoming an expert walker, so much so that he now has to have something in his hand when he's walking. Unfortunately, this means fridge magnets end up in the bedroom closet, tv remotes end up under Evan's bed, and luckily nothing has as yet ended up in the toilet (though I did find a pair of my pantyhose in the shower this morning--who knows?)
Saturday Mike's folks showed up and told us to take the day off (and that they didn't want to see us back at the house until late). The two of us have forgotten how to go on a date, and usually when we have someone to watch Ev we'll go for a sandwich, walk around Target, and come home. Terrible. This time we did better, taking a spur of the moment trip to Pittsburgh to stroll around the North Shore and catch the Bucs game. It was a lovely day together, and we really enjoyed it.
Sunday was busy with breakfast with Mike's parents and then Timmy's confirmation. I was his sponsor, so we had to be there an hour before it started to line up. That was a long hour, but the Mass was lovely and we all went out to dinner afterwards. The day brought back memories of my own confirmation, which I can hardly believe was ten years ago this past weekend.
That was a very important day for me, and while I watched all of Tim's classmates go up before the bishop, I remembered all of my friends with whom I was confirmed. I don't think that I kept in touch with one of them, though I did run into Lara Herrmann a year and a half ago when I was pregnant with Evan and she had just started med school. I was a little sad thinking about those people who were once so important to me, but I guess that's the way things go in that time of your life--it's hard to maintain friendships during times of so much change. It's amazing that I've stayed close with as many people from high school as I have--I'm very happy about that and really treasure those people that are still my friends today. I wish I had done a better job with some others from high school, because it's nice to have people that have known you since you were 14 and like you anyway.
I know that was totally off the topic of Evan, but that's what I was thinking about yesterday. Now I have to jump in the shower, because Lisa (my lovely pal from high school) and her son Cole are coming over this afternoon.
I've posted some pics from the last few weeks, including Easter pictures from this past weekend. Enjoy!
Click here for the pics.
Today Evan is 15 months old. Carry on.
This weekend was a busy one for Evan. Daddy left for Rochester on Friday morning, and we spent the day playing and napping. In the evening, we visited with Aunt Cara and her parents. Evan loved tearing around their house! Luckily, Cara's mom thought to block the stairway with a chair, so we avoided catastrophe there, but he still managed to mess up the tv and get into the kitchen cabinets.
He was reluctant to leave because he was having such a good time, but we then headed over to visit Aunt Beth and her family. There Ev had just as good a time with all the kitty cats and the knobs on the stereo system. Unfortunately, he turned the stereo on by mistake and nearly blew himself across the room. After that and a terrible assplosion, it was time to head home. On to Saturday.
Saturday we woke up around 8 and got ready to go shopping with Grandma. Evan enjoyed being out and about, especially since I tried to let him walk a little bit in each store. That lasted until he took a header in Kohl's, but by then it was time for lunch, so we went over to Eat N Park. Ev had a nice lunch there (complete with bunny cookie) and was happy to take two walking tours of the restaurant with me, and he forgot all about the bump on his forehead.
After lunch and a quick stop home, it was up to Grandpa's house to color eggs. Ev played outside there for most of the afternoon, but after a fall on the steps all he wanted was a hug and a nap. So he slept through egg coloring, but that worked out okay. We stopped for gas and a car wash on the way home (Ev likes going through the car wash) and then headed to bed to wait for the Easter Bunny.
Oh, the bunny was good to Evan this year (as was Grandma, Grandpa, Great Aunt Louise, Great Grandma, etc.). He wasn't too thrilled with his Easter basket, but he did enjoy the little plastic eggs. We spent the day up at Grandpa's again, playing outside and trying to hunt for eggs (which Ev could really care less about). We did get the whole escapade on film though, so we can enjoy it for many years to come. Dinner was at Aunt Louise's, and Ev did his best to show off his walking skills there After stuffing ourselves with lots of good food, we headed home to bed.
It was a lovely holiday all around, and Ev is still worn out. We'll try to post some pictures tonight of Evan in all his Easter glory.
It's been a pretty quiet week around here. Evan is feeling a little better each day, and is almost totally back to his normal routine. We return to the doctor this afternoon to make sure that he is recovering properly and that his lungs are clear.
Evan and I took advantage of the sunny, warm weather at the beginning of the week. We played out in the yard in the afternoon, walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the house, and generally wore ourselves out! We even took walks with Daddy in the evening, and that was a nice relaxing end to the day. Evan really enjoyed being outside, and I think we're both looking forward to more days like those.
Evan is walking without assistance now. He zooms through the house from place to place, and is very excited about his new found freedom. He wants to be on the go from morning until night. His balance has improved remarkably in the last few days, and he doesn't fall as often. He did get his first skinned knee this week though, and several bumps on the head, so we still have a little ways to go.
I'm excited for Easter weekend (more so than Evan I'm sure). I've made him a little Easter basket with some treats in it,a little stuffed chick that cheeps and a board book of "A Catholic Child's First Prayers". Very cute. I think we'll try a bit of an egg hunt too (but nothing too elaborate, because I'm sure he's not going to understand it--I just want to get some pictures). We'll see how that goes.
If there is one good thing that has come out of putting new brakes on the car this month in order to get it to clear inspection, its this. We made thirty bucks on the deal. How, you ask?
Right after Evan was born, we signed up with the Upromise program. It's a program that earns you money back on things like grocery items and other things, such as brakes. It's really pretty neat, you can enter in your grocery club cards and it tracks everything automatically. In a year we've earned about 50 bucks, through things like grocery cards, brakes, AT&T Long Distance.
I'm not pushing the hard sell here, I know I get mad when people try that on me, but here's the deal: if you want to, you can have your savings on every day things like Coke and chips go to Evan's college fund. If you'd like to get involved with that, and help Ev, email me and I'll send you a special link through their site that will make sure your contributions go to Evan. It's fast and free, and best of all helps Ev.
Things with Evan's illness are moving along. He seems to be improving a little each day, and has gotten used to taking the medicines without too much fuss. Unfortunately, he is still very wired from the steroids he is taking and is getting little sleep (as are his parents). So we're all pretty cranky around here.
Luckily, the steroid dose is down to two times a day from three. It's going to be twice a day for the next two days also, then it goes down to once a day for four days until we discontinue use. I'm looking forward to that day, let me tell you.
Ev's been a real sport about taking his medications (even though he has to take them three times a day). They are beginning to do their job, as his wheezing is almost gone while the coughing has lessened considerably. Only eight more days of meds to go!
The downside of this is that they indeed make him really wired. It's almost midnight now, and Evan has been up since 7 this morning. No nap. That's 17 hours of awake time so far, and it doesn't look like bedtime is anytime soon.
He's crying his head off now, so off I go.
Ev's been coughing on and off for a few days now, but last night he was really bad. He was restless, hacking, and generally uncomfortable. He also started wheezing when he breathed, and that's what worried me the most. So we called the doctor this morning and went in to see her this afternoon.
Evan has asthmatic bronchitis. It's caused by an infection--his throat is red, he's coughing a lot, and constantly wheezing. This may be a one time event, or it may be the first of many infections like this for him since he could be developing asthma. He's at greater risk for asthma due to his prematurity and poor lung development at birth, which we knew, but I didn't think the onset would be this early. Of course, it may just be a fluke thing and he may never have it again. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. That's something that really sucks about him being born so early--you can't ever forget he's a preemie because so many of the problems or delays they face don't emerge until later on in life. A year, three years, five years down the road--it will be a long time before we see if there are any lasting effects of his being born 9 weeks too soon.
Ev was sent home with three medications to take several times a day. One is a steroid to help keep his airways open (and which will make him wired), an antibiotic to get rid of the infection (that will give him loose stools) and another medication that we are only to use if he has a bad wheezing episode (of course, if his breathing becomes too labored, we need to take him right to the emergency room). With all these medications, Mike said he envisions Evan running naked around our house at 2 am, screaming and pooping everywhere. Anyone want to come over tonight?
We'll keep everyone posted on how Evan is doing, and hopefully this won't be too tough for him. On a lighter note, click here to see Evan walk down the hall!
***NEWSFLASH*** Evan walked all the way down the hall by himself today. Film at 11.
We three return safely from Cleveland to a new shower (thanks Kevin) and a relaxing Sunday evening at home. Evan and I enjoyed our few days away--I got to relax and Ev got spoiled, so what more can you ask for?
Mike had a rough week at work last week, and I'm hoping that this week goes more smoothly for him. We don't have anything planned ourselves, aside from the usual errands and such. I'm sure we'll find something exciting to do, even if it's just staying in the house.
Evan is still working on walking, and getting better every day. He's still a little timid, but I'm sure he'll get over that in no time at all. He's also drooling a lot so we expect that tooth #4 is on it's way. I hope it comes soon, because he's been pretty cranky about it.
That's the brief news from here--it's time to unpack.
Frustration is being up at 12:30 am with your son, who wants nothing more than to play with his farm animals, when all you really want to do is lay your head down and go to sleep.
It's really warm in our apartment tonight. We have the heat off and it's only about 50 degrees (and rainy) outside, but Mike thinks the guy downstairs must have his heat cranked because we are all sweating up here. And we're only wearing underpants (or diapers) and t-shirts. I need a drink, a real drink--oh no no no no. (That one's for Cara).
In the morning, Evan and I are off to Cleveland until Sunday (Mike will be joining us on Friday). It's been recommended that we keep Ev out of the house while our new shower surround is being installed, so we're outta here.