the cure

Who new taking a sick baby out into the frigid winter night could be a cure?

The boy got sick right after I did.... of course. Staying home with a baby while you're sick, it's a fairly good bet you'll pass it along. At first, he seemed to just get a little of what I had with a runny nose and a little fever. Didn't last long, but then showed signs of lingering, metamorphosing into another strain altogether.
Got to the point he's coughing himself awake at night and during naps, which is leading to a crib phobia. He has been sleeping through the night for a few months, and taking good naps without much fuss. The past week, he cries when you put him down, cries when he wakes, and is up several times a night.

As a parent it is difficult to see your child hurting like this. But alas, there is nothing you can do. A little Tylenol for the fever, TLC for everything else. You cannot give any other medications to a 7 month old. So you hope each morning this day is better then the last and keep the TLC coming.

So when invited to go out to a local Christmas light celebration (booths and lights everywhere for about a month), your initial reaction is to pass b/c baby isn't feeling well. You then take note that although said baby is still coughing and has a runny nose, he appears to be feeling quite fine, actually. Thus deciding to risk it and go knowing he will love the lights and the people and the company of grandma and grandpa.

And he does. At first he doesn't really look up. Maybe because he's in the stroller wearing 3 layers of clothing and then covered by a thick blanket, hat, gloves that don't fit, and booties. Poor thing can barely move, much less look UP. But he likes the music and the people and the girls dancing in the amphitheatre.
And then I pick him up and carry him and all at once he spots the lights. BAM! Head goes back, eyes open wide. Mom's arm almost falls off trying to hold this uncomfortable position, but it's so amazing to see the reflection of all those lights in his little eyes that we hold it just a while longer.

He fell asleep in the car on the way home, right around when he would usually go to bed anyway. Woke up when getting his pj's on, but right back to sleep within a minute of going in the crib. Not a cough or a whimper all night.

Was it the cold air? The lights? The excitement? something snuffed out the cough and this morning we woke up bright and cheery.
Notice I said WE.

intuition

I've discovered child intuition.

Often we hear of Mother's intuition, or sibling, but this past week and especially today have taught me about baby intuition.
After running ragged the past weekend, I came down ill Monday morning. A head cold, not the end of the world, but definitely difficult when you are caring for a seven month old more or less by yourself. Nose running, head aching, stomach turning, mouth coughing, and all whilst trying my best NOT to so much as breathe on the babe.

He has been a cranky pants all week. Today, I woke up feeling a tun better, head somewhat cleared, nose no longer in a tissue using marathon. And the boy sensed it. He has been a joy today. Laughing, babbling, smiling, snuggling. Love incarnate.

I feel better, he feels better.
Ahhhhhhhh. Aren't drugs wonderful!

And so we continue to prepare for a small Christmas, just us and the parents and my brother. We had a big party on Sunday with about 35 people, lots of kids and running around. It was wonderful. I love the holidays. I focus on all the family and friends and support we have, and how pretty everything looks, and 24 hours of a Christmas Story on TV. I try to focus on all that and leave the rest behind.
I hope you are all able to do the same~

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Cheery Holiday, and anything else you may find yourself having the celebrate this season. May the families we have be healthy and happy, & the families we don't be waiting just around the New Year's corner.

I saw, I spoke, I wait

I met with the GAL at the courthouse. She was very nice and appeared genuinely interested with what I had to bring to the table.
She immediately asked me what I had done to piss off the cm's supervisor. When I asked why, she stated she questioned the cm on her lack of communication with the foster mother. She reported her supervisor had instructed her NOT to provide any detailed information to the foster home. Guess I wasn't so far off base. I briefly told the GAL about that situation, so now she understands where I'm coming from.
She confirmed there were people living in the home that shouldn't have been and she gave warning to the cm this needed to be addressed. She let me know they were planning on allowing the 13 year old daughter to take care of the baby while the mgm was at work. She told them no way, no how, and that appropriate daycare will be utilized.

So basically, she seems on top of it.
I know the boy will be going with MGM, I just want to make sure all his needs are going to be met and we make it as smooth a transition as possible. GAL in agreement and requested visitation be bumped up ASAP. I mean, if mgm is all that and more, then why are they still supervised in the first place??
Ahhhh. Time to let this one go. For now.

I am now focusing on Christmas, most specifically making stockings. God forbid I do anything so easy as just purchasing them. Any ideas? I purchased a bunch of felt and found a few patterns online. I have a bunch of sequins and beads and 'stuff' and am waiting for inspiration.