This week, Luke has experienced two new "firsts" - both have caused mommy and daddy some major stress.
First of all, as you know, the last time I posted Luke was running a fever of 103.5 (on Monday night). This sickness began at the beach - on Sunday, he began to have a runny nose but he still was in a good mood. We had the best time on the beach and at the pool on Sunday!By Sunday night, I could tell that Luke was starting not to feel good. For example, Luke and I took a bath around 6:00 on Sunday night and he played in the bathtub just as happy as could be. Then, all of a sudden, he started crying and would not stop. I put him in the stroller and took him for a walk and he fell asleep quite easily. But, then when I got him back to the condo, he woke up crying again. This time, I gave him some ibuprofen and put him to bed. He was up off and on all night and he felt like he had a fever. On Monday morning, Landis and I loaded the car and were home by lunch time. Luke slept the first two hours of the trip then he was fine for about 30 minutes and then the last 45 minutes, he cried all the way home so as soon as we returned from the beach I took his temperature (rectally). It only showed 99 degrees so I thought he was probably okay - just had a cold. Then, as the day went on, Luke got sicker and sicker - the snot and cough got worse and worse and greener and greener. He didn't want to play, he didn't want to talk - he just wanted someone to hold him - which is not like Luke at all - he's normally a wild man! Around 5:00, Landis and I went to Wal-Mart and bought an ear thermometer. It was 40 dollars but it is the best thermometer ever! It takes a very accurate temp in like 5 seconds. The first time I checked Luke's temperature around 6:00 - it quickly showed 103.5. I thought, "oh wow, that can't be right." So, I waited about 10 minutes and took the temperature in the other ear. This time, 103.1....at this point, I worried. I called my aunt Sonya, the nurse, and asked her what she thought. She told me to call the doctor to see if they were open for late hours....I called....they were closed! :( I called Sonya back and asked her what I should do - I was so worried that Luke would seizure from the high fever. Sonya told me that fever induced seizures were not caused by how high the temp got but how fast it got there so she gave me strict instructions on what to do during the night time hours to keep Luke's temp from sky rocketing quickly. She told me to rotate ibuprofen and Tylenol every 4 hours and to wake him up to make sure that he received the dosage on the 4 hour mark. I followed her instructions and even though none of us slept on Monday night, Luke's temperature stayed around 102 all night. On Tuesday morning, his temp was 100.5 and he looked awful! Matter of fact, we all looked and felt awful. I, of course, took another day off of work - 3 in a row at that point - and Landis and I took him to the doctor at 9:00am as soon as they opened.
We were able to see Dr. Goldston. He listened to Luke's chest and looked in his ears and then told us what I dreaded hearing - Luke has an ear infection! Well, well, two days of preschool and he has the germy infections that I have for so long dreaded! Dr Goldston's next comment - he will need amoxicillin. Another dreaded comment! My sweet Luke has managed to live the first 20 months of his life without any antibiotics, so I was a little disappointed at this "first" time experience - the dreaded thick, pink medicine! I guess this is what I get for putting him in preschool. I think I said this out loud to Dr. Goldston and he reminded me that these infections are going to come sometime in their early years so the sooner he can build his immune system, the better. Sure, doc....thanks for trying to make me feel better.
In the meantime, I held my pitiful little boy in my arms as we headed towards the drug store. By 11:00am, Luke had his first dose of the pink stuff, barely ate some lunch, and was passed out! Not in his crib because his snot was draining so bad he couldn't sleep on his stomach or back, but, instead, asleep in my arms for over 2 hours. Now, that part, I enjoyed. :) Pretty much all day on Tuesday, Luke and I laid around and watched Sesame Street and read a ton of books - that's all he wanted to do - he was quite sweet and I did enjoy our bonding time, but, I wanted him better quickly.
Tuesday night was another rough night - no one slept because Luke couldn't sleep because of the coughing and drainage. He didn't nap well on Wednesday either so by the time I got home from an exhausting day at work (I seriously ran around 100 mph playing catch up and then gave a 2 hour presentation at the end of the day), Luke was ill as a hornet - tired, runny nosed, coughing, pitiful, hornet. I tried taking him outside - that didn't make him happy - I tried playing hide and seek - that didn't make him happy - I tried reading books - that didn't make him happy. Not even Sesame Street made him happy. Seriously, at one point in the afternoon, he stood beside the trash can outside in the corner and cried for no reason for 10 minutes - he didn't want me to touch him, he didn't want to ride in his red car, he didn't want to read - he just wanted to cry! Finally, I was about to lose my mind so I said, "Do you want to ride in the stroller up the street?" He dried up quickly and shook his head, "yes." So, that's what we did - we took a 30 minute stroll around the neighborhood and he settled down okay. Dinner was stressful - he didn't want to eat anything - I really think he went like 4 days without eating anything but a few bites of fruit here and there. I was able to get him to drink a lot of milk and water/juice. I was dreading Wednesday night - I was already exhausted and truly thought Luke would be up all night again. But, surprisingly, he wasn't - matter of fact, he slept from 8:00pm to 5:45am. But, little did I know...we were in for another "first".....
Around 5:45, I looked on the video monitor and saw Luke lying down with his bottom up in the air, you know the cute fetal position?? He was whining but he still had his head down so I tip-toed to the kitchen to start my coffee. I could still hear a faint whine but I wasn't going to go get him because I thought he might go back to sleep. Well, about 5 minutes later, the whine got louder and I thought I heard something touch his door. I went ahead and walked towards his room, and, yes, I did hear something hit his door. I thought to myself, "no way", this isn't happening???? I carefully opened the door and there stood my 20 month old runny nosed baby behind the bedroom door - yes, out of his crib without a thud, without hurting himself, just a whiny baby who was wanting someone to get him out of the dark. I couldn't believe it!
So...here's a positive and a negative - he was obviously on his way to recovery but now, mommy and daddy have to begin the transition to a toddler bed. Landis and I talked about it and thought, well, let's give it a few more days. When I woke up on Friday morning, I took the video monitor to the kitchen with me to fix my coffee - Luke was still asleep. About 6:15, I saw him beginning to wake up. He wasn't completely awake - just rolling around in his bed. I turned my back from the monitor to put my coffee cup down, looked back in the monitor and Luke was gone from his crib! Seriously, in less than 30 seconds! I walked back to his room and there he stood at the door, grinning this time! I never heard a thud or even a struggle - it was like he just flew down from the crib in like 30 seconds! Wow - that gymnastics sure is paying off! :)
Then, today, I, once again, kept the monitor up very loud so I could hear him wake up and run into his room to get him before he crawled out. Around 6:15, he whined, I jumped out of bed, walked across the hall, and he was already standing at the door! Oh my goodness - are you kidding me? I'm not sure if he got out that fast or if he got out quietly while I was still sleeping and then whined when he got to the door. Whatever the case, my child is going to be one sneaky, agile, climber - and, papaw and daddy are putting the toddler bed together TODAY! I can't wait to keep you posted on this adventure!
You know, I knew these transitions that we are going through would happen one day - I knew my baby wouldn't sleep in a crib forever. But, I don't think I was prepared for this to happen this fast. I'm thankful that he hasn't been hurt - he has never even struggled to get out! But, I'm a little sad that this stage in his life is over. It's just another sign that he's growing up! Did anyone ever figure out how we could freeze these little guys???? If you do, let me know....
I have made notes of so many super sweet and very smart things that Luke is doing right now that I want to post soon with some adorable pictures. I'll try to post those soon - no promises, it's wild around here! Until then, keep us in your thoughts as we spend the first night with a true toddler in the bedroom next to us!
Thanks for reading - have a wonderful weekend!
Toddy
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