What a Week!

We've had a pretty rough week around here.

Sunday.

I went to get Sam from her crib and noticed she had thrown up in her crib.  Sometimes she'll do that and it's just like spit up so I didn't really think anything of it.  I told Derek I thought we should keep her home from church, but that was it.

We fed her breakfast, and while she was eating, she threw it up.  We tried giving her milk.  Threw it up.  Tried giving her water.  Threw it up.  Tried throughout the day to give her liquids and by that time, she didn't want to throw up anymore, so she just didn't drink anything.  Tried, and tried.  Didn't want to drink.

Monday.

I figured it was just a 24 hour bug, like most stomach things are, so I gave her milk first thing in the morning.  She was thirsty, so she drank.  And drank fast.  Threw it up.

I continued to try and get her to eat/drink throughout the day, and she just wouldn't touch anything.  Started to get mildly worried.

She was EXTREMELY lethargic.  She barely lifted her head from my chest all day.  She was like a little rag doll.  I'd lift her up and she used no muscles whatsoever to help me in any way.  She slept most of the day.  When she'd wake up from a nap, I'd get her up and she'd be awake for about an hour before her eyelids started drooping again.  Started to get more worried.

Kept trying to give her liquids.  Even brought out the syringe and tried to squirt it in her mouth.  Started to get pretty worried.

We decided it was best to take her to the doctor.  I was pretty sure I knew what they'd say (give her liquids and she'll be fine), but I figured it was better to hear them say it and to have them help me get liquids into her than to be too late and have her hooked up to an IV.

During the 2 hour wait at the children's hospital, we were able to get about 1 cup of pedialite into her system using a syringe.

Saw the doctors and they told me what I already knew.  They did say that sometimes kids can throw up for up to 5 days and have diarrhea for up to 7 and as long as they aren't dehydrated, it was okay.  Didn't know that.

Took her home.  Gave her more pedialite.  Had an AWFUL night.

She woke up at 12:30 and didn't go back into her crib until 3:30, meaning I didn't sleep.  She was asleep on me most of the time, but didn't want me to put her down, so I held her, awake, while she slept on my chest.

Tuesday.

She was MUCH better.  Still a tad lethargic.  Still no appetite.  But she kept everything down. Wouldn't let be put her down though.  Started to talk more, even play a little.

Wednesday.

Great day.  She played.  She giggled.  She was still clingy and didn't have much of an appetite, but she kept it all down again.  We even got to go to the mall to walk around.  She happily stayed in her stroller while we were there almost 2 hours!

Thursday.

Gave her milk in the morning.  She threw it up almost immediately.  What?  I thought we were done with this.  Another day spent at home, drinking pedialite.  She did eat some more and kept everything else down.

Friday.

Finally back to normal, almost completely.  Ate meals like usual, drank lots of liquid.  Played.  We didn't go out, because I was still scared she might be sick.  I think she was getting cabin fever even more than I was.

Saturday.

Everything's fine now.  She played by herself.  Ate and drank like normal.  Talked up a storm.  Giggled.  Mimicked.  She's Samantha again!

Overall, throughout the week, I'm pretty sure I did about 15 loads of laundry, cleaned up vomit and poo off of hardwood, carpet and furniture at least 8-10 times, snuggled my baby LOTS, and that's about it.  Even though I hardly did anything this week, it's times like this that I especially feel like a good mom.  I did what needed to be done.  I took care of my kid.  I gave her what she wanted.  I gave her what she needed.  I was kind and patient.

As hard as it was, this is what being a mom is all about.  And, I love it!

A Girl and Her Elephant--15 Months

Surprisingly, this may be the only time she's cried during her elephant photo shoot.  15 months...I'll take it!

She's making the elephant noise here, so I figured I should share it too!

This little lady is learning, learning, learning.  I swear she says a new word every day.  I need to be better at keeping a daily record of what she says, because I swear I have forgotten a LOT of them.  She's also growing, growing, growing.  Well, as much as Samantha grows, I guess.  She just had a 15 month check-up and she weighs 21 lbs!!! Woohoo!  She jumped from the 5th percentile to the 25th percentile in 2 months.  Now those doctors can get off my back! I told them she was fine!

Here are some things baby can do right now:

Word List (new words in bold):

1. mama/mommy

2. dada/daddy

3. puppy

4. baby

5. noodle

6. hi

7. bye

8. no

9. banana (said nana)

10. grandpa (said buh-puh)

11. bath (said "ba")

12. milk (said "lllaa" Don't ask, we don't know why)

13. uh-oh

14. aloha (“uh uh”)

15. diaper (“bye-per”)

16. more (“mo”)

17. hello (“lo”)

18. thank you (she said it once where it actually sounded like it, but now it sounds like “daddy,” but she still says it when appropriate)

19. ball (“baou”)

20. book (“baou”)

21. nose (“no”)

22. ducky

23. yucky

24. down (“daou”)

25. soother (“fff”)

26. shoes (“fss”)

27. mouth (“maou”)

28. bird ("baou") 

Sign List (new words in bold):

1. please

2. more

3. all done

4. Thank you

5. up

6. sorry (occasionally.  She usually says it like please, because they are pretty close.)

7. I am teaching her “help” right now, but haven’t done much with it.

Animal Sounds (new sounds in bold)

1. bark

2. neigh

3. baa

4. meow

5. bock (chicken)

6. whatever sound a monkey makes

7. And an elephant

8. moo

9. roar (like a jaguar, yes, she associates it with a jaguar because that, of course, is one of the first animals Derek taught her...)

Body Parts she can point to when asked:

1. tongue

2. belly button

3. nose

4. Working on eyes, ears and toes right now.

She's started some small imaginative play.  She loves phones, and for awhile now, she's put up one of our real phones or one of her toy phones and we'll have conversations, but just the other day, she picked up a random toy that was rectangular but otherwise didn't look like a phone, put it to her ear and said "lo?" She's also taking some of those bristle blocks and tried to comb her hair.  I didn't think imaginative play began this early.  But, then again, I also didn't know tantrums began this early either, and we've been dealing with those for months!

She loves brushing her teeth.

She hates vegetables and meat.  Where does she get her nutrition?  Good question.  We're sorry Auntie Carolyn!

She loves singing, and it's super cute!

She hates when mommy and daddy hug or kiss (she'll slam her hands on the floor while screaming "NO!!!")

She loves playing with daddy when he gets home.

She hates the vacuum.

She loves reading books.

She hates being restrained.

She loves showing off all her new words and noises to everyone.

She hates when someone isn't playing with her all. the. time.

She loves doing what I tell her not to do (as she's looking directly at me).

She hates when I leave the room.

She loves splashing in the toilet.

I feel like I'm missing like a million things.  I say it every month, but this girl is so much fun!  I'm learning a lot, right along with her.  I'm learning how to discipline as she learns to throw more tantrums, steal from kids, and hit.  I'm learning to take time to teach her new things as she learns how to say them and point to them.  I'm learning how to keep my house somewhat clean as she learns new ways to destroy it!  I love her!  Here are some pictures:

She got into my church bag that has paper and colored pencils in it and made a complete mess of my floor...

...and her face!

Fun going down slides. 

Even more fun going down BIG slides!

I painted her hands and toes for Hawaii.  

Seriously, this was the best I could do!

I hope my friend doesn't mind that I posted this picture of her son.  Samantha is very forward with the boys...

Sorry it's graphic, but the story is awesome, and we had to document the first time she pooped in the tub!  With her soother in her mouth, she looked up at Derek and said "bye-per" (diaper).  The sound was muffled, and she said it about 3 times, before Derek realized what she was saying.  He looked down, and it was too late!  At least she tried to warn him, right?

I looked over at her from the kitchen and this is what I saw...

On an abnormally warm day (literally all of our snow but this melted that day), we went outside to play.  She wasn't that interested unfortunately.  We'll have to get some toys out there this summer!

She rolled on top of this blanket, then pulled it over her like we do before bed.  When she rolled over to get up, it covered her face.  She was kneeling on it and couldn't get it off her face.  Pure terror filled her poor little body and all I could do was laugh hysterically and yell at Derek to get the camera...then I saved her.  I am such a mean mom!

Hawaii--Pictures Speak a Thousand Words

**CAUTION** Photo dump ahead

Somehow we scored the master bedroom, complete with this outdoor shower.  It was so cool! 

Master bath

This girl was a TOTAL beach bum.  She loved the water, the sand, everything.  Although, she didn't quite like when she was wet and then got sand on her hands or feet and it didn't come off, but she got used to it pretty quickly. 

Hey wait, I have something to tell you!

Derek and I got to go on a date one night.  Wasn't the best food, but the company sure was great! :)

Fun at the splash park. 

Daddy got wet too!  Too bad

We found her this way one morning...

We were having issues with the air conditioning and it was pretty chilly.  Apparently, her head was a little cold!

Oops!  This was one of the many times she fell in the water, most of the time she went all the way under...and she LOVED it!  Sometimes she'd do it on purpose.  This girl is fearless!

I promise, she really loved the beach!

This was one of her rare cranky moments.  Derek even said towards the end of the week, "Samantha has been so pleasant this trip!"  Couldn't agree more.  Although these pictures don't tell you that!

You know she's tired when she'll lay down with you!

Where's the baby?

There she is! She loves going under the water!

This lime isn't sour. 

Oh wait, yes it is!

Nah, I'm still good!

Bike riding along the coast. 

It was such a beautiful way to start our mornings!

Fire dancers. 

Twice a week, these dancers would come and give a show for FREE!  It was fun to watch a hula show without paying an arm and a leg!

And, last but not least...
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Would you look at that?

Man, I wish I was in that boat.  They certainly got a really good show!

All in all, our trip to Hawaii was AMAZING!  We spent most of our time at the beach, and Samantha spent most of her time asleep (seriously, the girl was only awake for like 8 hours of the day.  Vacations must take a lot out of her!) but we wouldn't have done it any other way.  It was so much fun, so relaxing, so enjoyable.  When can we go back?