Hand Foot and Hit Me in the Mouth

My little sweet, mild-mannered, quiet precious baby got what we think was hand foot and mouth disease last week.  I have deduced this based on my medical research and wait for it… an actual diagnosis from an actual doctor (I guess I am capable of change). Her symptoms were fever, followed by refusal to eat or be happy for more than about 2 minutes at a time. It’s been a blast.

It all started on Wednesday when she woke up and seemed warm, (but for the record did not register a high temperature before we sent her to school), and they called me around noon saying she was about 103. Ironically, I had a long lunch and was just trying to figure out what I should do with my time. I picked her up and she seemed okay. They said she was really sleepy and refusing to eat much. Since that did not seem to get better the next day, and since I was only working a half day, and because I felt maybe the doctor for once could have something enlightening to tell me, I decided to take her. SHE WAS THE FUSSIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE while we were there, did you get that? Yeah it was bad. After she was manhandled and had blood drawn, it was decided that because of the sores on her tonsils and her blood count that she has a virus and likely the one that causes  HFMD. I thought that was a little crazy until that night when her teacher messaged me and said another child went home with it, and now almost every baby in her room and the next one over has had it.

Okay, I thought, how bad could it be? Bad… She refused most foods (thankfully, I am still nursing a little and I had some supply in the freezer both of which she took no problem) and she would just scream for no reason, a lot, and there was not much anyone could do to make it stop.

We are 5 days in and she is just now getting her appetite back but the fussiness is still going pretty strong. I am praying for it to go away for all of our sanity!

Now back to the weekend review, we had a really good weekend, despite the fact little bit was not feeling great. I got a lot of QT with both of them, and Z was quite a trooper. He didn’t seem bothered a bit by her fussing.

We have started a new tradition of walking to my parent’s house after nap on Fridays. My dad walks over and we push them in the stroller and walk back together . It is really nice, and a lot easier to go for a walk when you have a destination (at least for me).

Saturday, we got up early and did the March of Dimes. It was great, and they did really well, although Z was definitely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people.

If you’re wondering, it was not cold, but Z always wants his blanket when he sees sister with hers, and sister’s (and probably his too) is for comfort not warmth…

We felt since we were up and in the area, why not hit up the mall. They did pretty well, although a bit cranky considering all the stroller time.

That night we went out to eat with the fam, and Lu was SO over it. We had to take turns taking her outside, but she was starting to eat a little better, so that was okay. Let’s just say, we’ve had more fun dining experiences.

Considering all that, we had a lazy Sunday, soccer was canceled (again), and we all went to bed early. Lu’s not quite back to herself, but she’s getting better every day, thank the Lord!

Ten on Tuesday: Weekend Edition

This Ten is going to be a list of 10 things we did this weekend. I believe there are at least 10 things, but let’s just find out, shall we?

1. Our usual Friday morning routine: We wake up, eat breakfast, I start cleaning the kitchen and catching up on things from the week, then Lu goes down for her morning nap, and Z and I get busy. We usually go outside and play sticks swords, but this time we went down to the basement because it was raining and yucky. We did everything: ping pong, foosball, hungry hippos, cars, trains, you name it.

Z may play fair when it comes to ping pong and foosball, but he’s a fierce hungry hungry hippos player, and by fierce I mean, he will take the yellow ball out of your hippo’s mouth and put it where he can get it. Basically, the only rule in Gax house for hungry hippos is Z gets the yellow ball… Every time and don’t you forget it!

2. (Not technically the weekend) but on Thursday morning, Lu pulled up for the first time in her crib, which swiftly resulted in us me lowering her crib. She was such a sweetheart and did it in front of Nick, Z, and me! Z asked what was happening and I told him, she is standing for the first time, then he responded, “like a big boy!” Yeah, Z something like that.

They told me at school (and I have been seeing lately too) that she is trying to stand a little and even bear crawl.

3. Friday, after nap, I decided to take them both to wal-mart. It was after 5. We didn’t need anything in particular, I just felt like going. I’m used to going during the week at lunchtime, and I was surprised how many people were there. Not sure I’ll be doing that again any time soon.

4. We went to Henry’s birthday party on Saturday in Gadsden. As I predicted Lu slept the way there and they both slept on the way back (notable because things rarely go how you predict them).

5. We had a blast! Z loved riding the train and we all loved being outside and celebrating sweet Henry. I can’t believe it was a year ago that we were celebrating his first birthday!

6. We went to the mall after the party and then ate at Carrabba’s. We had so much fun, but I was exhausted after holding Lu what seemed like all day.

7. Sunday, Nick and Faris planted some mint and a fig tree for my parents. Z was quite the helper, and showed that he may have inherited a green thumb (most likely from Nick’s side of the family).

8. Sunday, we had our favorite Sunday soccer day, and he scored a goal! I don’t think he realized it, in fact I know he didn’t realize it, because one of his teammates said “you scored a goal!” and he said “No I didn’t.” So there you go. Nick had his phone up and thought he was videoing when it happened, but it turned out he was in picture mode, so we didn’t get it, but I think he’ll be scoring more in the future. He was hanging with the ball better than I’ve ever seen him do before! Perhaps it was because he had a first class cheerleading squad on the sidelines.

9. We did our usual grocery run on Sunday evening, I still love seeing them sit side by side, even though Lu is already starting to annoy her brother….

10. We had a great weekend, spent a lot of time outdoors and together! What more can you ask for?

Lu 11 Months

Having just experienced the anticipation, excitement, joy, and sense of accomplishment that comes with participating in a marathon, I am so sad to think that some evil person or persons took that away from thousands of people. Yesterday goes down in history as another senseless act of evil. I am truly frightened bringing up my children in these times, but I remain faithful that we are under the protection and plan of God and God alone.

Editor’s note: I started this post yesterday, but my real job got in the way.

My baby is 11 months today (yesterday). While I was tempted to take the pictures this weekend, I decided to maintain accuracy (or precision, can’t remember which), and I took her pictures this very (yesterday) morning in school clothes in the middle of the a.m. rush at the Gax house. 

She just seems bigger to me these days. She’s interacting a LOT with Z. He makes her laugh, without even trying, but she also likes to steal play with his stuff, like his Angry Bird Star Wars game. We hear a lot of “Stop! Lujayn!”

Random facts about Lu:

She is super active and into everything, I think a lot more than Z was at her age.

She is down to 3 feedings a day (one 4-5 oz. bottle at school), and really the nighttime one is very short. I’m very kinda ready to be done with breastfeeding this time, probably because she’s never been that into it, more of a business transaction for her than an emotional one.

I worry about her feeding herself because she’s kindof rapid fire and doesn’t bother finishing the last bite before she sticks another one in, and sister loves to eat but she’ll let you know if she doesn’t like something and also when she’s done.

She does NOT like to be messed with and she’s good at letting you know it. She can bat your hand away in about 2 seconds and has been like that since she was a newborn. She really gets annoyed when Z gets in her face. She usually responds with a little love tap.

She is so much better at playing by herself/letting you put her down in a room. For about 2 or 3 months, she would scream every time I would put her down in a room and expect her to entertain herself. It had me a bit worried, but she has chilled a lot the past month or so.

Speaking of chilling, she can sit in her bed and entertain herself after she wakes up in the morning or after naps. Z did that, and I loved it, so I’m glad she seems to be able to do it too.

She is a lot like him in behavior, but I can definitely see some differences, especially her feistiness. One word I would use to describe her is persistent. When she wants something, she goes for it, then goes for it again and again.

She can wave when she wants to, and I think I’ve seen her clap. I could also swear she called me mama the other day and I thought I heard her say hi one morning, but I honestly don’t know… That is kinda sad, sorry my second child! I love you so much though!!

I am super excited for her first birthday next month. We can’t wait to see Nana, Tata, Aunt Talia, Uncle John, and sweet babies Emma and Addison!! It’s going to be great!!

All in the Family

It has been an almost lifelong pipe dream of my dads to have all of us living within walking distance of each other. As I’ve mentioned before, my dad is very extraordinarily persistent, so here we are in 2013, myself and my family, my brother and his family, and my parents all living in the same neighborhood. (We are working on my sis, but she’s not far away, and it gives us a great reason to get away to the beach regularly!).

It wasn’t easy getting here, as a matter of fact, a LOT of unlikely events had to take place over a long period of time to get to this point (and we’re still working). First, I (through a whole crazy chain of events) found a the perfect office for me right across 280 from this neighborhood. Then my amazing husband agreed to move down here to east buddha (in B’ham terms), only 15 or so miles away from his office, but probably the most miserable 15 miles in Birmingham The Southeast The South, the nation! He is such a trooper though, and I love him even more for it!

Then my bro, along with his family, made the trek down here from the North after 4 6 a million years of medical training to go into practice with my dad. After looking in several areas around here his house in our neighborhood kept coming back to him until he gave in and got it.

Then, and possibly the most unbelievable event of all, my parents sold their house in my hometown, and agreed upon found their dream home right here! Now, I wasn’t sure that would ever happen for many reasons, but mostly because my mom seemed quite content with her little condo and my dad was embracing his life as a vagabond, wandering from our house to the condo following a schedule that we could hardly keep up with. At least he always knew where he was going (I think).

So, now here we are, literally walking back and forth to each other’s houses, having meals together and taking obscene amounts of pictures together…. And I wonder sometimes why I don’t really have any friends…. (just kidding, for those of you reading this, I love ya’ll :))

Above all, we feel so blessed to be so close, both in relationship and now in physical proximity!

Catch Up Post

Uploading my iPhone pics I realized that a lot has been happening lately that hasn’t made it to the blog, so let’s review, in no particular order:

1. Nick’s birthday

The man loves pumpkin pie (and dark chocolate)

Me and Z tore up the cookie cake though, well, mostly me, but you know I was celebrating…

2. My parents moved in to their new house

3. Cousins visit, simultaneously, Z gets the hang of riding his bike.

4. Lu begins feeding herself

and pulls up to her knees (especially in the bed)

4. Z’s first soccer game of the Spring

5. Several really great Fridays and weekends in between

Well, okay maybe not that much has happened, but work has been busy stressful, and I didn’t want to blog if my tone was going to seem annoyed rushed flustered less than cheery, but work is work and my babies make me happy and whole, so by association sharing pictures of and facts about them makes me happy too, so there you have it. Until next time….