So Long Swaddle!

Brady's eye looks FABULOUS! And for the most part, Brady is feeling better - though a cough and some congestion lingers. So it's time to resume our quest to sleep without the swaddle! According to the "experts" you're supposed to wean from swaddling after 4 months. For those of you keeping count, Brady is now 19 weeks old.

Friday, the first night, was easy. Perhaps he was just tired but he slept through the entire night. But the subsequent nights were not so smooth. The poor boy doesn't know what to do with his hands as he falls asleep. For the most part, he punches himself in the face repeatedly, accidentally throws Paci across the crib and tucks-and-punches his legs against the mattress - all while his eyes are closed. It takes about three or four visits from Mom or Dad before he finally falls asleep. We have to put Paci back in and hold his hands still while his drifts off. He's doing very well, though. We have to remind ourselves that he's had his arms strapped down while he slept since birth. He doesn't really know what to do with himself without it right now.

We've also made a new discovery: Brady loves to go the "the office!" While visiting his friend Ian, Brady took in an office tour. He was entertained for nearly an hour. So we ran out and got him his own on Sunday. His first conference call was a Skype chat with his Poppy on his birthday. Happy Birthday, Poppy!

Doctors, Spaghetti & a Bullet

It's a good thing this kid is tough!


BEFORE:

Brady and Mom went back to the pediatrician yesterday. Dr. Segal was not pleased with his progress, so it was another 500mg shot of rocephin and a referral to a pediatric eye specialist. Dad took Brady to Dr. Berland's office. He spent an hour filling out paperwork while holding a very wiggly boy. The diagnosis: dacryocystitis. Due to blockage in his tear duct, bacteria collected causing the swelling and irritation. Tim held Brady while the doc pressed six or seven times on Brady's blocked duct. Sufficed to say the boy was not happy. It's a good thing Dad was on duty, too. Mom wouldn't have fared as well. Brady's eye showed marked improvement this morning.

We had Spaghetti Dinner Nite at daycare yesterday. The director's husband made the meat sauce, which was excellent! The minute we sat down with our plates, the family across from us looked at Brady's eye and asked "blocked tear duct?" Their son suffered the same when he was a baby. Man, it's good to connect with other parents.

AFTER:
It is also good to chat with Brady's teachers. Miss Laura came over to hold the boy. Apparently, several kids are home sick with the croup. And after Brady left for his doc appointment, three more kids went home with the same symptoms. Thanks to multiple absences and a whole bunch of antibiotics, we may have dodged a bullet here. *crosses fingers*

Dad took Brady back to the eye specialist today. Unfortunately, it was at the office in the boonies. But the doc was very pleased with his progress. No hospital admittance for the little guy. Yeah!!! But, to be sure, the doc ordered one more shot of rocephin - which they didn't have on hand at the office in the boonies. So Dad got to pay another visit to the pediatrician back in town. Sheesh!

One more follow up tomorrow, and a series of oral antibiotics and we should back in working-baby-order.

A Red, Red, White and Blue Day

Brady and I are spending this very patriotic day together on the couch. I'm watching the Presidential Inauguration Parade, waiting for the South Cobb High School marching band. Brady is watching the back of his eyelids, one of which is much larger and redder than the other.

The poor little trooper has a bacterial infection. Dad had to pep-talk him through a shot of antibiotics this morning. Man, am I glad I missed that one...though if it doesn't clear up like it should, I'll get to help him through tomorrow's dose.

This kid is amazing! Though it looks like he attended an inauguration rumble (I'm tempted to slap a raw t-bone steak on it!) he's smiling, kicking and talking up a storm. He spent a good 20 minutes in his Bumbo chair playing with his Taggie blocks. He exhausted himself and passed out in my left arm thereby allowing me to log into work and one-handedly rebalance some portfolios!

We'll letcha know how it heals.

Sunday Funday

A typical Sunday: (1) stay in our jammies until noon, (2) watch "Independence Day" on TNT even though we watched it last night, too ("Welcome to Earphth!"), (3) finally motivate enough to gear up for a family walk. We didn't walk very fast but we walked pretty far. Emma was on the job, scoping out the neighborhood for nuisance pets and unruly chipmunks. Billy made sure we all stayed together. Brady made us stop a couple times to wipe the boogies from his eyes and nose (think "Dumb and Dumber" as Lloyd and Harry roll into Aspen). Now we're watching the Eagles lose to the Cardinals and Brady is *still* not sleeping!? I'd say it's been a pretty productive day for a group of folks each at the tail end of a mean cold.

News Flash!

FYI: Babies don't like having boogies sucked out of their noses.

A Sum-Up and the Joy of Family Time

Holy moly! Has it really been a month! It sure has been busy. I'm sorry I fell off the blog-train! But I'm back, and I've resolved to keep you dear folks updated.

Here's a quick summary, as I'm typing this on my lunch-5-minutes (f.k.a. "lunch-hour").

December 15 - December 23, 2008

Grammy came to stay with Brady. Mom went back to work. Bittersweet. Wonderful to be back at work where I was missed and needed. Sweet: that Brady was able to spend so much quality time getting to know and love his dear Grammy. Sweet: that Mom and Dad didn't have to worry as they bolted off to work each day. Bitter: for obvious reasons.

Grammy teaches Brady to stick out his tongue. Brady is named President of the Tongue Club. Grammy is named Vice President. Mommy lobbies for less drool production.

Brady starts "talking" to his bear and mouse mobile. He also learns to love streaming sports radio, so much so that he cries when Grammy's laptop goes to sleep. Brady is spoiled with daily outings and only-God-knows as many kisses. Oh, and Brady gets mini baths after EVERY diaper change! Doesn't Grammy know that Mom and Dad are dirtbags? ;o)

December 24 - December 27, 2008

Grams and Bubs come to visit for Brady's first Christmas! Everyone sports festive holiday jammies for endless photo opps. Grams teaches all how to be an expert in predicting and catching baby spit.

December 28, 2008 - January 3, 2009

Grammy comes back for one last week. Mom & Dad ring in the New Year with the realization that their aging livers are past their prime. Brady and Grammy ring in the New Year with Zzzzz's.

January 5 - January 14

Mom gets stressed out, her immune system suffers a blow and a wicked cold reigns victorious. Brady and Tim catch the funk five days later. Brady holds his own bottle while spending a sick-day with Dear-Old-Dad.

Ultimately, the Wrights settle into what will be their schedule for the next several years: work, daycare, watching DVR'ed programs on the weekends and fully-immersing themselves in the joy of being together.