Road to recovery

So I feel like I won't be jinxing myself too badly if I say that Domi is on the road to recovery. He still has many moments of mama-oopa mama-oopa (up mama) freak outs, but he is definitely improving. This weekend was pretty much a bust, we just hung out inside and tried to survive, but today Domingo and I met Leticia and the primas at the children's museum and I think he had a pretty good time. He kept coughing and crying; I think it makes his ear hurt since he was pulling on it quite a bit. But he only needed to be held 80% of the time, which, trust me, is better. And he found a new best friend.



The other true indicator is that he got a bit of his appetite back today. For the last three days he's been living off leche, jugo, and what remains of his baby fat. I was starting to get a little distressed that even bunnies and clementines were not tempting, but this today in addition to his leche and jugo, he ate some yogurt and granola, asked for bunnies, ate a clementine, had some of my chicken sandwich, and even asked for some toast with jam, a sure sign he's on the mend.

Although it was kind of a misnomer, Domi had his "well-child" visit recently and I have some numbers to post before I forget completely.
Domingo is still quite long 33 and 3/4'' (95%); but slimming down, maybe from all this running, but also from being sick I'm sure, 25lbs 1oz(75%); his head hasn't changed, but I guess it's fine, still 19'' (75%). The doctor was a little shocked when she asked if he had 5 or 6 words besides mama and dada, and we told her about how many more. I hate to be one of "those" mothers, especially since I really don't feel like it's bragging (or don't mean to at all), but I counted all the words he can intelligibly say at 16 and a half months, and it is well over one hundred. He is a very verbal child, hopefully he'll continue, although currently the bulk of his communication consists of (like I said) mama oopa, mama oopa.

Despite all the whining, coughing, back strain and ear aches, I think we had a pretty good day. Definitely a pretty good day.

Mama's boy

Maybe it's because he's been sick the last MONTH, or maybe it's because he is now officially and totally weaned (hurray!) or maybe it's because he's 16 and a half months, or maybe it's because he's still a little baby for God's sake, whatever the reason, Domingo is going through a heck of a "mama" phase. He demands to be picked up, refuses to go with anyone else, cries when I put him down to, I don't know, go to the bathroom perhaps? Let me just say, thank goodness reading material has never been a necessity of mine to, ahem, get the party started. Now I don't have time to even squeeze the Charmin, let alone read the label.
And he shows no sign of letting up. It's really hard when he's so sick and miserable to let his cries go unattended, especially when all he's asking for is a little of my undivided attention. But I also worry that so much (and I really hate to use the word, but will anyway) "indulgence" will come back to bite me in the rear very shortly. Number one, I know I will not be able to pick him up and hold him aloft for much longer. Besides the fact that it already kills my back to heft up his 25 pounds, pretty soon there will be no where to put him, not to mention that it is probably not the smartest thing for someone with a "troubled" pregnancy history to be doing over and over again as the weeks go forward. And second, after baby 2 comes along, he'll need to learn that sometimes mama can't pick him up or play or read or be with him in the same way that I was before. That sounds so awful, especially since I really only started being with him in these ways that are actually meaningful to him very recently. I mean, I know it was meaningful when I was feeding him, and changing him etc., but he wasn't able to articulate how meaningful it was to him (if at all) that it was me doing it. Now, he wants mama to read a story, mama to play with cars, mama to shover her hand up the squirrel puppet and talk like a raving lunatic. But mostly he wants mama to hold him in the air 24/7. And that's a problem. Papa would help if he could, but Domingo will have none of it. Which is actually a little hurtful at times. I just remind him of all those months when papa was the only one, and mama was just a pair of milk bags (and if our faithful readers will recall, he used to call me papa as well, I was a nameless pair of milk bags!).
So now it's mama's turn to be the one and only, and I'm sure this will pass, with or without me obsessing over whether I'm doing the right thing, whether the new baby will ruin poor Domi's life (I'm sure it will), and whether or not I'll ever be able to close the bathroom door ever ever again. Oh well, visitors, consider this fair warning!

Sick v. 2.0

Sorry to have been so inco-blog-icado lately, but we are struggling with round two of this hideous ear infection. Just when we thought we were out, they drag us back in! Today marks the third trip to the doctors office in as many weeks, and Domingo was none too pleased. And it looks like we have to go back tomorrow for more. YUCK.
The ear infection I guess never truly went away and then when he got dosed with Graciela's killer cold this weekend it came back in full force. He's had really high fevers the last few nights and when I took him in today, the doctor checked his ears and she actually gasped and said, "oh my God that looks awful." Not exactly what you want to hear after two weeks of dutifully giving oral antibiotics 2x per day to a reluctant and very head strong toddler. So the doctor ordered two GIANT antibiotic shots in his (less since this miserable cold) chubby little thighs and I had to hold his arms down while the nurses shot him up. I don't know who was more upset me or Domi, probably him. I held it together until I called Chris with the recap at which point I was crying much harder than Domi, who was serenely asleep by then.
After sleeping for most of the afternoon, Domingo is up and acting much better although his nose is running free and wild, as nature intended, and he has a really gross sounding cough. All kids get sick. Thank goodness it's nothing that serious.
I will also add that I apologize for continuing to be delinquent on the doctor well check post, and the long awaited Paraguay post. Did we even ever leave? I don't remember. Coming soon. Or so I keep telling you.

The end of an era

Months ago I had made a plan to wean Domingo by 15 months. Then after our trip to Paraguay. Then after his horrible cold. I had no doubt that it would be a hard won battle, since Domingo starts his crying for "leche" before he is even out of the bath. Recently we've been committing cardinal baby sin number 9, and giving him a cup of milk when he wakes up at night asking to nurse. Before ye cast the first stone, we were very concerned because he was so sick, and he needed to drink lots of fluids, we were afraid of dehydration, and I just don't have enough milk to keep him hydrated, so we caved. The result is now he asks for "leche en vaso" milk in a cup, when he wakes up. I take this as a step forward, and a ministep back since we'll have to wean him from milk over night now, but it's progress people. (I'm not mentioning the fact that he wasn't waking up at all before he got sick, I'm not mentioning it I say!!)
Tonight as we got Domi out of the bath, he was patting the blanket where he falls asleep, desperately asking for leche, and to "acostarse" (lay down woman)! Then he said something that shocked both Chris and me to no end. He said "leche en vaso". We looked at each other and said "okay", fully assuming as soon as he got the cup in hand he'd throw it aside say "NO" and demand leche mami. Much to my delight, he got the cup and didn't ask to nurse. He drank his "leche en vaso" and then snuggled next to me and fell asleep. A few times he patted my chest, but I handed him the cup again, he drank and then snuggled in again. I tried to see if I felt any twinge of regret or sadness, and I can honestly say NO WAY!! I wanted to jump for joy, but didn't dare move in case Domingo woke up asking for mas leche. Here's desperately hoping that tomorrow goes as easily as tonight.
After 16 and half months of nursing, I'm saying that I'm hanging up my boobs for another good 5 and a half months. That's right. Hopefully in about 24 short weeks there will be another voracious little nurser rooting around in Domi's world. It's pretty wild, but as we've seen Domingo change and grow and turn into such an amazing person, the decision to go for two was pretty easy. I mean, look at this face, and tell me that you disagree. (The baby not the dog!)



We'll keep everyone updated as to how we're doing, we all have many changes to look forward to over here.

Better!

I didn't get the chance to post the "SICK!" post because I was too busy actually in the trenches. This was the worst cold ever. I would post the picture Chris took, but it makes me too sad to look at how horrible he looks. To top it off, on Thursday, Domi woke up in such a horrible mood, he was so uncharacteristically crabby and mommy-clingy that I made an appointment at the doc. and they confirmed that he had a nasty ear infection in both ears. I felt so bad for not taking him in sooner, but I figured they'd say, "yeah, he has a cold" and send us back on our miserable mucus-filled way.
But luckily today he is so much better. Domi was back to his normal cheerful and sweet natured self and only relapsed into the crabby mommy-needy sobs at bed time. He even went down for a nap without a fuss, so I can definitely say he is on the mend. So, sorry no Paraguay post just yet, but I am still trying to catch my breath from all the coming and going and barely keeping sane, but it's coming, and it will be before our next trip down there, I promise.

16th month update!

16 months, man how time flies! This time last year, I was just starting back at work, the breast pump was out in full effect, and you were not even eating solids yet. My what a difference a year makes.
This past month you've really made some tremendous leaps developmentally. You have mastered the art of walking, and now want to run everywhere. We knew you could do it, but it is nice to finally be able to say "yes, he's walking" to concerned strangers who need to know if you are hitting your milestones.
You are also talking up a storm. You pick up new words everyday, and repeat everything that we say. Note to mama and papa: stop swearing. Seriously, you are such a little parrot, it's incredible to watch how quickly you pick up new words and then use them later in a totally different setting, like a real person or something!
That is something else that is developing at lightning speed, your personality. You've discovered the word no, and how to use it. It's you favorite. Whatever it is that we want you to do, or to have, or to share, the answer is inevitably no. You're favorite new game is "psych". You act like you are handing over what ever prohibited item you've gotten your chubby little hands on, and then when it's in a finger's tip reach, you yank it back and say "NO". Cute the first couple times, not so much when it's the 500th time I've asked for the blow torch back. (Just kidding, it's still cute) The other thing that you've started that's less then charming, is fighting over your books with your primas. You are very good about sharing your toys, and don't make a fuss when the girls yank a toy from right out of your hands. Where your possessive side comes out is during story time. You push, and kick and yell NO, NO, NO! when the twins try and even sit next to you when someone is reading you a story. If they go and get another book for someone else to read, you run over to them and steal the book away. It doesn't matter which book it is, you want them all, and don't want anyone else to catch even a glimpse. Like I said, less than charming, but we're still a work in progress, right?
I almost don't want to write it out, but you're sleeping has gotten to the point where it's really not worth talking about anymore. It's almost as if I don't have an excuse to sleep in and make Daddy take you in the morning. I could get up myself and maybe go work out? Um, maybe not. ( psst: don't tell Daddy I said that.)
This month we had a real adventure with our trip to Paraguay. I will write out a detailed summary of everything we did, who we met, and where we went this week, because I want to be able to remember your first trip, and want you to someday read it too. Overall, you had a terrific time, met so many people who adored you from the moment they saw you, and cemented your love of turtles.
The fun didn't stop in Paraguay though, and this past week you had a wonderful time with Grandma and Farfar, hung out with the primas at the aquarium (you LOVE the peces, and could've stayed there for hours more, just watching the fish swim in front of you, it was great) and the zoo, and got such a hideous cold, that I fear we will all be paying for our fun times with the next few days of misery. You are currently asleep after serious vap-o-rub intervention, steam room lounging, and a long scream-fest where only mama would do, papa got the straight arm and a dose of NO NO NO! Oh well, it does feel good to be wanted.
Love,
Mama

Not quite ready to recap...

Here are a few pictures to satisfy some of your desire to see the sun in this 10 degree weather. I promise to get our full trip recap up here as soon as possible, but it's still crazy town over here. Grandma and Farfar were here because Ana is still out of town, now we are hosting my cousin and her aunt and friend for a day before they head back to New York, and today Leticia and the girls came up to have a weekend on the town, so not a lot of time or energy to go through the whole wonderful, insane, hot time that we had in Paraguay. So again, here's a few pics. enjoy!