Sick, Sick, Sick

Sickness has moved into our house, and it seems determined to stay.  (which is apparently true for a lot of people these days.)

John had a fever last weekend, and we stayed home from church last Sunday because we were all feeling fairly crummy.  Well, I waited out his cold all week, but his eye got runnier and runnier (he still has a clogged tear duct), and I began to suspect both pink eye and an ear infection.  Finally after a few rough nights in a row, I took him to the doctor on Friday morning.  Sure enough, pink eye and a double ear infection. 

Well, after the appointment and then getting the prescription filled, Ada began to act a little strange, refusing to eat her lunch and then refusing to eat her dinner.  Strangest of all?  She asked if she could go to bed last night.  Asked!!  So obviously I wasn't surprised when she woke up at 10 last night with a stomach virus.  After stripping her bed and giving her a quick bath, she fell asleep in our bed, until we had to repeat the entire process a couple of hours later.  Finally, at midnight, she and I both ended up in her twin bed (with fresh sheets), where she insisted on lying right beside me.  We were taking up about 1/4 of the bed.  And we slept on and off through the night, waking up periodically for her to get sick.  It was a doozy of a night.

Then today, John has been so very fussy, I am sure from the ear infection, and I was trying not to nurse him.  Well, he decided to absolutely throw a fit.  It was really funny to watch.  Scott tried to pick him up to comfort him, but he was flailing about so much, that Scott had to put him on the ground to keep from dropping him.  At one point during the fit, John spotted the boppy.  It was hilarious because he immediately walked himself over there and tried to pick up the boppy.  Obviously it was too big and heavy for him to carry, so he just put his hand on it, looked at me, and pushed it towards me.  I was getting the message loud and clear:)  He wouldn't let it go either.  He was determined that I was going to pick up that boppy and nurse him.  Finally, he won.  I told myself that he is still feeling bad, and we will get back to weaning in a couple of days.  I am a bit frustrated because he was DONE, and then he got sick, and we are back to square one.

The good news?  My sick children are both in bed before 6:30, and Scott has gone to pick up a movie for us to watch.  So, though it's been a stressful day, I think, I think, we are looking at a relaxing night.  And Ada hasn't been sick in a few hours, so hopefully we are past the worst of it.  She is counting on attending a birthday party tomorrow, but we'll see if that actually happens.  She keeps insisting that she's "all better," so that she can go. 

And, by the way, I think the fact that John is old enough to process the fact that the boppy equals nursing means he is old enough to stop nursing.  Do you agree?

Saturday and John's Success

So...I wanted to blog about something other than the ongoing potty drama (which has reached an all time high today), and I realize that I haven't said much about this stinker lately, and we are having all kinds of success with him.

This week in the midst of potty training, I also tackled "operation wean John," and we have done exceptionally well with step one.

This week, I stopped nursing John before naps.  To give you a full picture of how much this guy has been eating, I have weaned him down to four times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime, plus at least once in the middle of the night).  So, we have dropped two feedings--the feed-to-sleep at naptime feedings.  He only cried before the first morning nap, and after that he adjusted well to the new schedule.  Our next goal is to drop the middle of the night feedings.  He gets to keep the meal time feedings and bedtime feedings until his first birthday, and then we will begin dropping those one at a time, starting with lunch.  I am guessing bedtime will be the last to go, but we are weaning and that is a huge deal around here!!

Plus, all of a sudden, he is eating solid food like a champ.  Like a champ.  We have established quite the routine, every time he wakes up--in the morning, after morning nap (so lunch), and after afternoon nap (dinner) he gets to nurse.  Then, he eats a snack of baby goldfish or cheerios or, his favorite and what I feel the most guilt about, fruit loops.  He LOVES fruit loops and goldfish, and I have to give just a few at a time, or he will stuff his mouth until he is choking.  Then he eats an entire thing of baby food.  He does this three times a day.  It has only taken us eleven months to get on a feeding schedule;)  The goldfish and other finger foods have been a lifesaver for me because I am able to keep him occupied while I cook or clean the kitchen or whatever.  And he also drinks out of chews on his sippy cup while he snacks.  So...progress, right?

As for Ada...oh man, things are not good.  The fear has taken over to the point that today she cried and cried and cried while I left the house to run (for 15 minutes).  She was crying so hard over my leaving the house that she was shaking when I got home (I absolutely had to have the running break, though).  She then sobbed and sobbed while I took a shower, and not having a clue what to do during my afternoon tutoring session, I gave her permission to watch cartoons while I was gone (they have been taken away until we have potty success).  She still cried, but the cartoons kept her calm enough.  Things are not good (and this does not even include the insane freak out when I tried to take her to get her hair cut.  She ran from me, into a corner of the salon, where she curled up and screamed.  Needless to say, we did not get her hair cut).  So...we are just praying for some direction with her.  I have a hunch that many of these fears will be released once she uses the potty, but I honestly don't know how that is going to happen at this point. 

And now both the kids are in bed, Scott is watching the Falcons on tv, and I am about to go to Target just to get some time by. my. self.  Ada is my precious girl, but I am feeling a bit suffocated. 

And there's an update.