Teething

I brought Brandon to the pediatrician this afternoon because he was pulling at his ear on and off all weekend and when I took his temperature this morning it was 100.3. I wanted to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. The doctor looked at him and said he sounds good and he doesn't have ear infection. She did see the outline of two teeth on the bottom at the gum line. She thinks he will have teeth within a week. She said the low grade fever and ear pulling can definitely be a sign of teething. He has also been drooling like crazy and constantly is gnawing on his hand. I gave him some tylenol so hopefully that will help him to feel a little better until the teeth come through. He has been as happy as he always is and is constantly smiling.

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen

This was posted on facebook a few days ago by a preemie mom from a group that I am part of.

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen
(Erma Bombeck)

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.

As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.
Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles."Give her a preemie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God?She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God."Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."

"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has just the right amount of selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.

She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

8 Months Old Actual, 5 Months Old Corrected

Brandon is 8 months old today. I can't believe he will be 1 in four months. The past 8 months have flown by. Brandon had an appointment with the GI Specialist, Dr. Teitelbaum, today. He now weighs 15 pounds. Dr. Teitelbaum didn't have too much to say. We are going to keep Brandon on both of his medications for reflux since he is doing well. I think Dr. Teitelbaum would have taken him off the axid but I said he is doing well on both so he will stay on both medications until he goes back in 3 months. In 3 months Brandon will be taken off of the axid and see how he does on just prevacid. Here are some pictures from today. We practiced sitting and he is doing pretty well with it with a boppy pillow behind him. He gets wobbly at times but overall is doing well.

Discharged from Physical Therapy

Brandon had physical therapy today. His physical therapist hadn't been here in a month. That is the longest he had gone. He is doing so well that she discharged him although she said if I notice anything I can call. I asked her about his hips being stiff since the pediatrician mentioned at his appointment 2 weeks ago that they felt stiff. She felt them and said they are ok. She said if the pediatrician looked at him when he wasn't relaxed they could have felt stiff. She worked on sitting up with Brandon and showed me some things to get him to sit. He usually prefers to stand and will push up on his legs when you try to get him in a sitting position. He did really well with what she worked on with him and sat, with the boppy pillow around him, for awhile. I am going to definitely work with him and I am sure he will be sitting soon.

Brandon and Daddy

Stu went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Belmar yesterday. I took a picture of Brandon with him. Stu was in his dress uniform since he marched in the parade.

Brandon and Mommy

I realize that most of the time I am the photographer so there are not a lot of pictures of me with Brandon. My parents were here over the weekend so my mom took some pictures of Brandon with me. He was so funny. Every time I just said the word peek a boo he would crack up laughing.

Snow Storm

Last night it snowed. We got close to a foot of snow. I dressed Brandon in his snowsuit this morning and brought him outside so he could see the snow. He was not sure what to think of it but hated being in the snowsuit.