10 months today

To my Joshua,

My, my baby have you grown! You are starting to look like a little boy now instead of a babe. I can almost see you at age 5 and it makes Mama want to cry. I'm so pround of you and so is Dada. This year has almost been a blur. You've hit every milestone with ease except for sleeping through the night. But it seems like you've joined the club of many babies that don't sleep through in your generation. So Mama isn't worried, that night will soon come. Two more months until your birthday. I'd repeat that day ten times over to have you and we're blessed God chose us to be your parents.

Well, the peds. visit went okay. We had to wait a little while which we aren't used to because it was an urgent/sick visit so we were squeezed in appointments. Josh got restless in the waiting room and fell in love with an older woman (little girl about 16 months old). He insisted on touching her and I mentioned to the father that he is sick and it wasn't a good idea. They were drawn to each other as most children/babies are.

Finally in the exam room, right away after listening to his lungs the doc said he was wheezing. My heart dropped and right away I though, 'he is going to have asthma like me!" I'm hoping this is something that'll go away but asthma is hereditary. And why does it seem like African American's tend to have it? I remember a study done years ago about low-income families living in the projects and the corelation with roaches. For lack of better words, WE AIN'T GOT NO ROACHES! It pisses me off because despite the diet, the care, he still may get asthma.

So, the doctor prescribes Albuterol liquid which I know right away will help him but one of the side effects is jitteriness, tachycardia and for kids that recipe is bouncing off the walls. Josh didn't sleep until 10pm. About an hour an a half later than his usual bedtime. I'm thinking he'll sleep late...not this kid. He's up 6:30-7:00am like clock work, with three times waking up during the night. I want him to cry himself to sleep but my husband gets up with one little "ahhh" from Joshua. I urged him to let him cry, we've done everything else BUT Ferberize this kid, it's the last resort but he won't stick to it. I work nights and I know when he's home at night with him he doesn't let him cry. This should have been part of yesterday's 'pepa vent' too. But anyhoo, my gut feelings about this cold rang true. I can only hope that it ends here and not with another visit. I'm not looking forward to dealing with asthma if that's what it is.

Sigh pics

My husband knows nothing...(peppa vent)

about this blog...HA! I mentioned it to him some time ago. But my husband's interest when he sits down in front of the computer is graphic design. He'll spend HOURS...on a project in Photoshop or designing new t-shirts. Do you think he'd want to know what his wife is saying about his fam on the internet...nah! I could call him a one eyed purple puking people eater and he'd never know the difference. That goes to show that opposites sometimes don't attract. Joe and I are like day and night in a lot of aspects. Yet we are both creative with our hands, me more on the tactile side of crafts, knitting, card making, cooking, gardening. He's more of a graphic and drawing creativity. Although I draw a little myself..no where near as good as my other half. I'm telling you, if he shows me another black superhero he's thunk up (yeah thunk), I'll scream. How bout drawing your beautiful wife as a superhero....stop laughing at me yall.

Too many days I've felt like, like, like MultiTask Wooooman! I've got gatchets, pda, cell phone, coffee maker, wipes warmer and diaper dispenser all on my trusty belt. At night I shut down and become SEXY MILF Woooman! Sidebar: I've always hated the term MILF, it's not cute at all but in this entry I use it as such. But I'd never want to be called that by anyone! But you get the picture. And some nights I'm CryoMom, I sleep through baby cries, hubby snores and cat-capades (we have a cat that has spastic rantings from time to time, running and seemingly jumping off the walls to exert her energy) because if I don't I'll have a heart attack and die from exhaustion.

But Joe, my spouse, partner, love sometimes misses the point. So I yell it. Nuff said.

YES! YES! YES!

As you can see from the title I'm quite happy today. For the past week Joshua has been eating like a champ. Yes, you heard it hear first. We've made it throught the storm. I still can't tell you what was going on with his appetite. I do have to say that for the past week he has had the worst cold ever. Symptoms: runny and slimy gook from the nose, drooling profusely, coughing-but with productive tones to it and no fever. I've been giving him Infant Tylenol cold Plus and it's been expectorating the mucous but due to him having no fever I've been hopeful and assured that it isn't an infection. Actually, I've been waiting for the fever so I could make the appointment with the doc...but nothing. His spirits are high and he plays normally so I haven't been overly worried. If it doesn't settle down by this week I'll call her up and take him in for an exam.

On the teething front, he's got another upper central incisor coming through in the front next to the other one. And low and behold it looks like he'll have the diastema or space in front like his Mama. I was hoping he had teeth like his Dada but because he's a boy it'll probably look good on him and be a defining trait. I grew to hate my space and then at times I like it. On my many travels to Jamaica, it's a feature that men there tend to find attractive in a woman. But here in the states it's always ugly and negative. Well, still too early to tell what his permanent teeth will be like, I can only hope he has a better history with the dentist than I did.

What's in the milk man?

Again, we are confronted with more food issues. The struggle continues with getting Joshua to eat as well as he used to. Each meal is a surprise whether we'll get cooperation from him or a tantrum. We've removed the high chair table to prevent feelings of confinement. I've pushed the high chair up to the table so he feels like a big boy. Joe has even put him on his lap to get him to eat better. I believe it's beyond teething that's the problem.

Furthermore, I've changed milk formula this week. The nursing ended at around 6 months. Joshua just stopped wanting the breast and my production slowed down. So prior to this any supplementing we used Enfamil Lipil. Never had any stomach problems and he never was the throwing up type. It worked so we stuck to it. Well, I switched to the formula for older babiew Enfamil Lipil Next Step. He drinks it down like the other milk but I've noticed his stools have been smellier and looser, with even a lighter color! I'm wondering if the higher iron content is causing the problem. Usually it'll make the stools tighter rather than loose but in Joshua it's done the opposite. Also he's had a nasty cold with coughing and a runny nose, no fever. So the combination of the two may be causing the loose bowel movements. Other than that he's a happy baby. Activity hasn't changed and he crawls around more and more each day.
I'll have to keep investigating before I finally decide to take him back to the pediatrician.

Speaking of the pediatrician, one of the down sides of being a nurse and the pediatrician knowing it, is that things aren't always explained fully. Now I'm a labor and delivery nurse first, a well baby and post partum nurse second, but I'm NOT a pediatric nurse so I don't know everything about baby development. At times I need a little extra explanation which she fails to do. Last visit, I almost felt rushed. If it happens again, I'll have to let her know my feelings or maybe even change doctors which I'd hate to do because technically she is quite smart. She's young and she keeps up on the latest in child care. But, we'll see.

On a lighter note, I'm still working on my baby's invites to his party. I'm making them myself and it's take longer than I expected. I'm glad I started early. And I've really gone overboard on the pirate theme. Oriental Trading Co. will be getting another big order from me within the next week or two. I want to make sure the house is fully decorated in Halloween and Pirate stuff galore! I think I'm more excited than Joshua (of course he'll probably never remember being so young). But this will be a family tradition, Joshua's big birthday/halloween party! I love it. We must purchase a camcorder. Financially we haven't been able to afford it so a moving cdocumentary of his first months wasn't a possibility, but stills we have plenty. Scrapbooking, card stamping and recording is my passion.

It's Our Anniversary

It's been four years since our marital vows were taken on Sunset Beach in Montego Bay Jamaica. Altogether it's been 7 years together as a couple. I have to say we've had more rough times lately than good. But the best of all is the birth of our little man, our blessing, Joshua Bryce. Somehow no matter what we go through, it all works out in the end. Sometime later rather than sooner but I keep praying for God to guide me. There are aspects in one's life that can't be changed. You decide on what to do about it or just accept things as the way they are. I guess I sound like I'm spitting a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but I know there is someone out there that knows what I'm talking about. Will there be another 7 years? If God discerns it, yes. If we discern it, hell yeah.

Movement pics

Mama's Food

Slowly Josh is getting away from his baby food. Unfortunately he wants to be but isn't quite ready for table food. He hasn't mastered the chew up and then swallow concept. Oh, he's ready and willing to eat the good stuff. But, at times will swallow only after two gnaws which is not nearly enough breakdown. It's getting more and more difficult at feeding times. The crying persists and we can't figure it out. The pediatrician recommended that we strap him into the high chair securely and remove the table, thinking he feels restrained. Not working. He still wants to get out of the chair and refuses to eat proper in or out. I have to say that he does get one good hardy meal in a day which makes me feel a little better.

On another subject, this boy is moving and shaking progressively more every day. In addition to a lil' more pep in his crawl, his confidence with standing and pivoting while holding on to something is improving. He'll even let go of one hand. When he realizes that he himself has done something new and big, he'll glance at me and grin the biggest gum-toothed grin. I can only grab him and kiss him up good when he does that....so cute.

And as for the birthday planning, I'm making the invited myself. I love crafts and anything involving handmade items so this is relaxation for me. If I haven't mentioned it in previous posts, it's a pirate paaaarrrrty...arrr arrr arrr. We already have the suit. Yes you read right.

Now for me, off to bed this beautiful sunny morning. Sigh, night shift sucks but it's the sacrifice you make right now.

New Tooth, Tantrums and Crying spells persist

I don't know why but this stent of drama in little Joshua's world isn't coming to an end. Today he went from being happy to crying and thrashing in a matter of minutes. I see a new tooth coming in on the top but he won't let me get near it. In the morning especially he usually has a high temp. Right now, I'm just trying my best to soothe him in anyway that I can. Although I'm hear at work tonight, I was thinking of keeping him home tomorrow to care for him. Don't get me wrong, the sitter is really good with Joshua but nothing compares to Mama. Only problem is trying to stay up after working all night. And at times, he usual long morning naps ends up being a short cat nap. And I need sleep. So, things to consider before I head home in the morning.

His pediatrician appointment last week Wednesday was good. Joshua is now 21 pounds and about 29 1/2 inches long. She claims he is in the 75th percentile for children his age. I would have automatically thought he was up in at least the 90th. Josh is a big baby, so the thought of babies bigger than him.....God bless their parents! But, due to his length, we had to purchase a new car seat. Ended up buying the Britax. Although very expensive, the reviews on every web site and parent guide point right back to it. It's either get a cheap and marginally safe car seat and end up buying a new one in a few months due to weight restrictions or buy the Britax which will carry him all the way to 65 lbs. So we bit the bullet and went with the best. Only the best for my boy.

They say it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!

WOW....34 years old. I can't believe it myself. With each year I realize that birthdays change. The excitement I used to get the night before my birthday...gone. But again, it's a kids holiday. Now if I get calls from family and friends I'm appreciative that they have remembered me. I thank God for allowing me to be in this world another year.

As far as plans....maybe dinner and my brother has invited me roller skating! Haven't been roller skating in years but it's so much fun and I used to be darn good at it. Let's hope it's like riding a bike, cause there's more weight now that I've got to distribute on those little wheels. Just check out the bum in the pic! YIKES.