It Goes So Fast

I feel like Thanksgiving just flew right by us this year.  We enjoyed a wonderful time with my parents.  It was a little strange, being just the four of us, but kind of nice too.  A quiet dinner and dessert followed by great conversation and football.  One of the more low key Thanksgivings that I can remember.

And now, my living room has been rearranged to make room for the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree that adorns our front window.  Our mantel is full of Christmas ivy, stockings, ornaments and candles, all singing their own little Christmas tune.  I love this time of year.

I'm just hoping it doesn't whiz past me as quickly as the other holidays have.

We Made the Paper!

Check it out... Wireless Zone in the News!

Cup of Joe

Its 8 am and I'm already enjoying my second cup of coffee while two pecan pies bake away in my oven.  I love Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for...

A healthy family.
Two beautiful children.
A wonderful husband.

Oh and who can forget the fact that the God of Heaven, the One True God, chose me from my pit of sinfulness to be His child.

Amazing.  Truly Amazing.

Success!

I was sure I was crazy this morning when I decided to take the girls to the grocery store by myself.  I mean, what mother in her right mind would take a newborn baby and an almost two year old to Meijer the Monday before Thanksgiving all by herself?

That would be me (though some may beg to differ on the "right mind" part).  I am proud to say it was a huge success!  Thank goodness too, because Matt works a long day today and won't be home until well after bedtime for the two kiddos.  Had we not enjoyed such a wonderful experience, it would have made for a much longer day for mommy.

Now, who wants to help me get this house cleaned?

A Rash No More

Its been three days on the soy formula and Elli's face has improved immensely, not to mention her demeanor.  Matt and I have been in awe at what a wonderful child she has been.  Content, sleeping long hours and best of all, not screaming after each feeding.

Elli's face before.  (This picture doesn't quite do it justice.  The rash was much worse in person.)

And after using the soy formula for just 36 hours.  What an improvement.

So, I'm not sure what to make of it.  I tried nursing her yesterday and it was a disaster.  Her rash didn't return full scale, but she was back to being a fussy, unhappy baby.  I can only deduce that my breastmilk, for whatever reason, bothers her.  Could it be a milk allergy?  Who knows.  Now I have a freezer full of breastmilk and am not sure if I should donate it, or save it for a rainy day...just in case she grows out of this stage.  Do I quit pumping and let my milk supply stop?  Oh, the questions.

For now, I'm just happy to have my sweet, contented baby back.  Thanks for your prayers!

Doctor's Visit

Before I get into the update from the doctor, I did want to tell you that we tried using soy formula last night to see if Elli's condition improved.  Wouldn't you know she slept longer last night (full and satisfied) and woke up looking like a different baby.  No large red patches on her face.  Just dry skin.  I was amazed at the difference.

But, I still took her to the doctor, to get a fourth opinion.  He was bewildered.  Could be severe baby acne...but unlikely.  Could be an allergic reaction to the antibiotic...but why only on her face?  Could be an allergy to dairy coming from my breastmilk...but again, why only on her face?  Could be a combination of severe eczema, baby acne and cradle cap all in one.  So many questions...so little answers.  I told him about the limited success we had with the soy formula which peaked his interest.

The diagnosis:  Continue to try to soy formula for a week to see if she improves.  At that point, we can retest the breastmilk to see if there is any digression.  We're also going to try a steroid cream which treats eczema on some of the drier patches around her mouth.

Hmph.  Not exactly the outcome I was hoping for, but certainly more direction than I was given on Monday.  I like this doctor.  I think I'll keep him.

Now, off to bottle feed my baby and then pump.  How time consuming!

More to come...

Research

Thank you all for your suggestions on what the cause of Elliora's rash could be.  We woke up this morning with hopes that it would be better, but it is indeed worse.  The rash has changed from small, red bumps to large, red, dry patches of skin.  It almost looks like her skin has been burned from the inside out.

I've been doing some research on my own and have found so much evidence that suggests this is a reaction to the amoxicillin I was taking.  But, one can never be sure.

To add to the stress, I called the doctor today to schedule another appointment, since the rash isn't getting better, and found out that the nurse practitioner we always see is no longer there.  When did that happen?!  We just saw her a week ago and she didn't mention it.  Maybe she didn't know?  Maybe she wasn't allowed to say?  Either way, I'm distraught.  I have never taken my girls to their actual doctor, because we liked Jenn so much.  Poo!  Now I feel like I'm starting all over.

Sigh.  So, here I am, wishing for those "healthy" days I took for granted during Annelise' first months.  I never realized how hard it is to have a sickly kiddo with no idea what's going on.

Rash Update

I love medical mysteries...

When they are on shows like House or ER.

I hate them when they happen to my family.

I took Elliora to the doctor yesterday, fully confident that they would have a solution for her rash/acne/face disease.  Much to my dismay, the doctors (yes, they had to call in more than one) were unable to determine just exactly what this mysterious rash is.

One was convinced it was baby acne.  But, I quickly caused her to doubt, stating that the timing of my taking amoxicillin and the day the rash broke out was too coincidental.

The other had no idea, but encouraged me to stay away from the antibiotic for at least a year.  "If it were my kid, I wouldn't risk it."

But, neither offered me a solution in getting RID of the rash.  Which was my purpose in going to the doctor in the first place.

So, Elli woke up today with what looks to be a worsening condition.  I've been off the antibiotic for more than 4 days, drinking lots of water, and there is no improvement.  Today, her eyes are swollen and she looks like she has red hives.  Its almost like she got a sunburn from the inside out.  The areas that are the worst are dry and peeling - and fire engine red.  Poor thing.  Have any of your kids experienced this?

Please pray that she gets better soon.  Otherwise, we're back to the doctor demanding answers and a solution.

Rash, Icky Icky Rash

I'm a terrible mother.  Ok, I don't really believe that, but it makes me feel better to say it.  Elli has a horrible rash.  And I'm not exaggerating.  I'm not certain where it came from, though I have my suspicions.  It started out looking like baby acne, then spread all over her head, eye lids, inside her ears and onto her chest and back.  So, we're headed out to the doctor today (if I can get them to answer their phone!) to find a cure.  The poor thing looks like she has a disease.  I suspect it could be from the amoxicillin I was taking last week for a double ear infection.  Or possibly she caught the same bug Matt and Annelise had and this is the way it has chosen to make its presence know.  Either way, we've got to get this taken care of!

Hm...its Monday.  I haven't decided how I feel about it yet.  The trip to the doctor will probably determine it though.

My First Smile

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Oh the Sickness

Its happened...something that occurs once a year...

Matt is home sick.  Poor thing came down with the same thing all of his students have...

No, not H1N1 (that we know of at least).

Just a sore throat, achy body and headache.  No fever that we can tell.

Plus, Annelise has a horrible cough/cold and I have an ear infection.

Little Elli is the healthiest thing around here.  For now...

Oh the sickness.  Please go to someone else's house.

Photo Op Failure

Lets just say I'm glad I didn't pay to have their pictures taken.

Trick or Treat.jpg

Alayna the elephant and Anne the lady bug. The girls had a blast! Anne loved saying "cookie treat" at each door.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry