that's what it was!

These past few weeks have been a bit crazy to say the least. Monroe was not himself and had a medley of symptoms. We thought it was teething. Turns out it wasn't. Eventually (after 2 weeks) we headed to our doctors office where we saw a nurse practitioner one day, and then 2 days later a covering doctor. The nurse practitioner diagnosed Monroe as having an upper respiratory infection and possibly an ear infection, she mentioned a possible chest x-ray but thought it was very unlikely that he had pneumonia.

Then we weighed him, dun dun dun. Honestly I've been putting off weighing him again it makes me feel like #$%@$%^ when he gets weighed and things are not where the doctor thinks it should be. Maybe it shouldn't make me feel like this, but how does it not? I am the one feeding him, making his food, deciding on his portion size etc etc. I may be sensitive about it, but I want to provide the best for my son, for my family.

But let's be honest mama's, everyone has one thing (at least) that they feel like they aren't doing up to someone's standard.

So his weight, on the first appt he'd gained about  8 grams in the last 7 weeks. Then 2 days later he'd dropped 10 ounces. Big weight to be losing on his little frame. At his second appt the doctor thought he didn't have an ear infection and that his chest sounded absolutely clear and that he just had a cold.

So we booked an appt a week later to check in with our regular doctor on Monroe's weight. He had seemed to be markedly better in the few days leading up to this appt. Then on the morning of the appt, Monroe woke up  with a fever of 102* and nursed for about a minute, then just wanted to be rocked back to sleep. He woke up again and nursed for a very short time, then could keep nothing down. Then off we went to our appt. Once there and after going over everything our doctor requested we complete a chest x-ray as we were going on week 4 of him being sick.

Sidenote: Baby chest x-ray. Horrible. (google image result) mama cried, roe barely fit into the tube like torture device etc etc.

The fabulous x-ray technician hinted that I should go right back to see my doctor  (she may have mentioned pneumonia). So we did just this and I was advised that Monroe indeed had pneumonia. We left with a prescription for banana medicine, which he thankfully takes pretty easily and we are now housebound for at least the next week. With a follow-up appt next week and another x-ray in a month-which Paul is holding his hand for.

The good in all this is that this explains Monroe's rapid weight loss and his random fevers he's been having. The doctor is no longer so very concerned about his weight and we hope that after this he chunks up. If not though he has his father's genes (which are pretty good ones I must say) of lovely leanness.

So good luck to going stir crazy all week to me.
Thats the excitement in our lives right now.
g'night.

Sans.

I met the newest little sweetheart today, her name is Rae and she is gorgeous, and so snuggly and just over 14 days old. I get what makes women do this pregnancy/birth/newborn/infant thing over and over again. I do.

Today I also got a solo day, one where I drove alone, and almost went into the customary carpool lane, then realized roe wasn't there. I listened to music, and then didn't. I then listened to silence glorious silence. I ran into a local fav restaurant in our old city (pho dau bo, we liked to say it was a-pho-da-bo get it affordable?) to get pick-up for the new mamas. alone.

After some lovely snuggles and discussion surrounding why midwives feel the need to recommend supplementing when a baby drops weight promptly after you give birth. Roe dropped at least 10% and we were prompted to give him formula, had I not been a bit stubborn and stood up for myself I could have easily been bullied into believing that I was doing something wrong. What is with our society and the need to not allow nature to runs its absolutely natural course? rant rant rant.

This was followed by hot drinks and dessert with my oldest and very dear friend my jb and good conversation.

I then headed home and was excited to see my boys, who were both exhausted after daddy decided to take them on a 3 hour lakeside hike this afternoon ( I think he's trying to one-up me). I love knowing that Paul can step up, he even said to me that he'd expected me a bit later and that I would have stayed for dinner with jb and ange who was supposed to show up later. But my obviously dying cell phone battery made me feel getting home would be best as I had no communication available to discuss dinner with him.

I love only being a little worried about roe not getting attached to a bottle. That was my biggest concern of the day. Because Paul is a great husband and father to me and my roe.

I guess I don't really have a point other then make sure you choose a good parent partner in your life. If you don't it's going to be tougher than it might otherwise be. You'll get through it I am sure, but having someone who gets you and your ideals and cares enough to ask about how to mix the veggies with rice cereal in a specific way is awesome. Having a day off is amazing. Coming home stress free and refreshed is even better. That would not be possible with anyone else than my other half.

cheesy I know, but so very true.

ps. Monroe now has 4 teeth, two sweet little one and two huge top front ones. I hate these top ones, they stole my happy bay away for 2 weeks and counting. Whoever tells awful stories about teething, they're true. seriously.