A Long Three Weeks, but Spring is Here!

Between Olivia's cough virus, mom catching it, then Olivia getting the runs and Kevin being gone for almost all of it, this has been a long three weeks.  Thank goodness Olivia is *almost* healthy and I'm back to normal!  On top of all that, my daffodils, mini hyacinth and crocuses are blooming or coming up and the cherry trees are all in bloom!  How pretty! :)  Sure makes me want to go hiking or camping.

After our fun at the emergency room, Kevin was here the night for the second fever spike and that was helpful.  Then he left and she continued to have a fever for the next several days, but fortunately not as high.  Shortly thereafter, Olivia developed a bad case of the runs, which led to very uncomfortable (and red) diaper rash!  We visited the doctor a few times and never determined the cause of it.  The main fall out is that we've totally stalled on introducing solids and working on sitting up.  But now that Olivia can have a diaper on for at least half the day, it's time to start working on that again.

 This past week, lots of folks pitched in to help.  Olivia had spent most of Sunday bare-bottomed in the family room and having the runs.  Kevin had an evening flight back to LA and I had forgotten to pick up Pedialyte.  Home alone with Olivia, I started getting nervous, she was crying and I figured I needed the Pedialyte.  Charlie came to help out and babysat while I ran to the store at 8:45pm.  Awesome!

Monday, Karen babysat all day and Olivia was a fussy girlie.  Again, bare-bottomed most of the day, the diaper rash was not getting worse, but not getting better either because her tummy was still upset.

Tuesday through Thursday, Patti babysat at the house and had an OK day, a Fussy day, and a Fun day!  I'm so relieved Olivia recovered a bit for Patti to have at least one fun day with Olivia.  Even Uncle Steven pitched in for a bit and covered a few hours when Patti had an errand to run!  After taking Olivia to the doctor on Tuesday for another appointment to be checked out, we started giving her some probiotics in her milk and attempting to feed solids again - all with the objective to give her something to make more substantial poo!  I guess the probiotics are helping because Olivia refuses to eat any food.  We're trying a modified BRAT diet (Banana, Rice cereal, Apple sauce, and Toast - but no toast for Olivia).  Oh, but on Thursday she did eat some cereal-milk-applesauce mixture for Patti and apparently they had fun!


Kevin returned Thursday and rode home with me - to find a happy baby at home.  What a relief!  Wednesday evening had been pretty tough with a really fussy baby, but Thursday she was all smiles!  Perfect timing!  Suzanne even came over that night for our last hangout before she departs for Dubai to start the next chapter of her life.  Very exciting!



Today, Kevin babysat all day - the first time he's been alone with Olivia for more than about 3 hours.  They had a lovely day - jumperoo, only a few diarrheas, smiles. :)  I got some work done, but man is my work life suffering big time.  It's tough to be worried about a little baby at home and feeling like I should be there taking care of her, but having to be at work.  I think things will get much better now that she's almost healthy again!

OK, momma's tired.  It's been a long day and a long week.  I'm looking forward to music class with Olivia tomorrow - it's always entertaining. :)

Recovering

Olivia is feeling much better today from the weekend's virus.  She drank all four bottles at daycare!  Yesterday she only had about 7 ozs of milk, today it was closer to 16, so clearly her appetite is recovering.  :)  Makes mom happy. :)

I have certainly contracted something, so while Olivia is better, I'm something of a walking zombie during the day when the oral decongestants don't do much.  At night, I cave and use Afrin, just one spray on each side, and the transformation is astounding!  The main advantage is that I can sleep when my sinuses are clear.  No idea what I'd do without the stuff.

So much for working a full 40 hours this week. Monday I left at lunchtime to come home and take Olivia to the doctor again.  Yesterday I only got in 8 hours before the congestion was really hitting, and today was a half-day before I came home sick and slept all afternoon.  There are several people out sick.  On the plus side, I was in the office for the important meetings today.  Tomorrow I plan to keep my germs to myself and work from home.  Maybe I'll sneak in some resume work as well.  The real bonus is that I'll let Olivia sleep in until she naturally wakes up around 7.

I'm excited to restart Olivia's adventure into solid foods tomorrow.  Since she ate most of her cereal today, I think we can start with veggies again.  She hasn't really tried anything new since late last week.

I'm looking forward to the weekend.  Friday night Charlie & Delores will come over early enough to play with Olivia, then will babysit while I go out with my lactation circle mom-friends for a quick drink.  Saturday we should be getting more rain, we have our little Saturday morning music class, then will head to Jessica's for lunch (Jessica and friends/family are doing a 10k/5k... but I was too late to register and as it turns out, the weather will be poor, so we'll just join for lunch :) )

Sunday, Aunt Kathy will come to babysit and play with a healthy, awake Olivia!  Fantastic!  Monday, Kevin comes home!  Also fantastic!

First Trip to Emergency Room

Staying home from daycare on Friday with her Puppies cuddling in close

Not so sure about eating, and not feeling well

Little Olivia has her first Big Bad Virus... which sent us to the ER Friday night when I was worried that she was having trouble breathing.  Her temperature spiked to 103.4 while we were in the hospital and they gave her Ibuprofen and Tylenol at the same time.  Then she had a "breathing treatment" aka albuterol and oxygen.  A half hour after the "treatment" she was MUCH better and smiling all over.  I think by that time her temperature had dropped as well.  She was 99.8 degrees when we were discharged.  Scary night!  Kevin was on travel so it was just me and the girls.  I'm not super impressed by Washington Hospital ER, but they did take care of Olivia... eventually.

High on Albuterol with a lowered temp at 2:30 am in the ER!  Little trickster! 

Sleeping in on Sat after our late night (home at 4am)

Last night her temperature spiked above 103 again, after being around 99 most of the day.  At least this time Kevin was home to help with giving her the inhaler, her ibuprofen and generally cooling her down and soothing her.  Olivia has been fussy from not feeling well, poor thing.

Feeling much better!!!  But Sat night still had a Big Bad Fever. :(

Just cute -with the crab on her butt

Today she's still been not herself.  Her temperature started climbing around 4pm and I gave her ibuprofen again.  She's been having diarrhea a little and not eating/drinking much.  Tomorrow she'll stay home from daycare and I'm hoping she'll be back there on Tuesday.  With any luck she'll be all smiles tomorrow!  Kevin leaves for LA again and will be gone Monday through Monday this time.

While Kevin was gone, Steve and Patti came over for a little while - we basically finished the crown moulding and baseboards in Olivia's room - very exciting!  Now Kevin just needs to paint the window casing.  He's "forbidden" me from doing it.  So, during this trip I hope to finish caulking and filling the nail holes in the guest bedroom crown and maybe the hallways.  Sure would be nice to have that all done!

But, it's going to be a long week.  My first week back FULL TIME at work, and Kevin on travel... and the dog-walker not available, and Olivia sick.  No biggie, just another week. :)  I had hoped to have some time to myself today and to get a few things done, but with Olivia not feeling well, and the Super Bowl (or Dud Bowl) on TV, I had to sit with Olivia a fair amount.  Fortunately, I was able to cook my food for the week.

Sleepy sleep time! :)  It RAINED today!!!  Not nearly enough, but at least it's something in this terrible drought!   And, I'm in drought-mode, figuring out all sorts of ways to conserve water.  I also managed to do some weeding during the weekend when Steve and Patti were here.

Nighty Night.  Pics to be added!