Lessons in Motherhood

Hailey’s mystery fever is back. I’ve been doing more research on these fevers of unknown origin and came up with Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis (PFAPA) or Marshall’s Syndrome. She’s not a textbook case because her episodes occur at intervals greater than 4-6 weeks, but she does exhibit the high fevers with no other symptoms. Of course, no one knows what causes PFAPA. There are a few treatments that have shown promise, but they aren’t really worth it for us. Typically kids just grow out of the fevers. It can take years, but at least it’s not something more serious. Also, I have no idea if this self diagnosis is correct, but I’ll be talking to Hailey’s pediatrician about it asap.

After consulting with our pediatrician, I purchased a new type of bottle and used a new feeding technique (forward facing vs. cradled). Apparently, doctors know what they’re talking about because after about a half hour of Mommy’s quiet begging, Sophia finally took a bottle. There was no screaming, no carrying on, just a lot of time getting used to the foreign object in her mouth. I happened to have the camera handy, but it wasn’t real easy to snap the pick and not disrupt her flow. Now, let’s see if I can repeat my success tomorrow.

It appears that there is some disconnect between Hailey’s brain and her mouth. One is moving faster than the other, but I can’t tell if it’s the brain or the mouth. However, I know that something is out of whack because of the nonsensical conversations that she has. Here’s my favorite quote from this morning:

“Josie’s not a bad girl because I need a flower in my hair because I want to hold it.”

What?!?!?! How did she connect Josie with a flower in her hair? What sentences went in between those? I have to capture more of these sentences because they are priceless!

Those are the words that my Fairy Tan Mother will have to say as she magically fixes the ridiculous looking orange streaks I have on my legs from misapplying self tanner. Well, I didn’t misapply. The can had poor instructions. I didn’t know you were supposed to rub it in!!!

Hailey, Sophia, and I took a trip to Buffalo all by ourselves. It was a little tricky to navigate two children, a stroller, a diaper bag, and a suitcase, but we managed with a little help from valet parking. Of course, the trip was not without it’s moments of comedy:

Hailey noticing a pigeon 20 yards away on the tarmac: “Look, Mommy, a chicken.”

Hailey during landing: “My ears are stuck, Mommy. I need your ears.”

Pilot: “We are going to be waiting here for a few minutes because there is a plane currently at our gate. Please do not get out of your seat until I turn off the fasten seat belt sign.”
Sophia 3 seconds later: Giant poopie explosion noise.

Hailey visiting the beach on Lake Erie: “Look, the ocean!”

Hailey sitting in Grandpa’s convertible Miata in the garage (top down of course): “I’m driving to Vegas, Mama. I need the keys.”

Hailey carrying on a conversation with herself in the backseat: “I’m Cinderella. No, I’m not Cinderella because I’m Sleeping Beauty because I’m not Tinker Bell. No, I’m Tinker Bell, but I live in Pixie Hollow.”

Hailey making random commentary in the backseat: “Oh, Jesus.”

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I can’t help it. She’s so darn cute. Click here for more pictures on Flickr.

Check this out!!! Sophia has decided to take a pacifier. She’s taken in on multiple occasions over the past two days. I just gave her one and put her in her crib to sleep. It’s amazing. I don’t force it on her when she doesn’t want it, but there are times when she clearly wants to suck on something to go to sleep. Those are the times when I sneak it in, and she actually likes it. I’m so glad she caught on to the benefits of the pacifier just in time for her first plane ride tomorrow. We’re going to Buffalo…wish us luck!

I think that most people are familiar with the concept of toe cheese. You know that gross fuzz that sticks in between your toes? Well, Sophia has a slightly different version which occurs in her hands. Because she does not take a binky, she often tries to suck on her hands. Then, her hands get covered in fuzz which balls up into little stinky hand cheese deposits. It’s really quite nasty. You often forget about these little details when you haven’t been around babies for a while. That’s why I though I would share it with you. Aren’t you glad you know?

Last night was Relay for Life. It was a great time for all, and we raised a lot of money to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer. However, we had a bit of a life or death incident. The theme for our team this year was “lifesavers.” There were Lifesaver candies all over the tent. Hailey had one early in the night that I broke into several small pieces, she had a second while she sat on the blanket with her Daddy, and the third she had while I was walking the track with Sophia. As Luke was telling her that she needed to sit down while eating candy, she tripped and the candy got stuck in her throat. By the time I got back, Luke calmly done some version of the Heimlich so that she was already puking and up came the Lifesaver. It was pretty scary, but she was fine and asking for popcorn immediately after. We learned an important lesson…no running with candy (or no candy period!!)