Someone seems to be feeling a little better. He wouldn't eat during the day so Matt ended up swinging by my office so Casey could eat. He then needed a diaper change so he got to visit my office. My boss quickly darted away from him, probably trying to avoid me making him hold Casey again. Casey made up for his lack of interest in eating once I got home and he even ate some little bits of chicken during dinner.

Without giving you all the long, drawn out story, we had a not so great experience with our pediatrician this week. The more I think about it, the angrier it makes me. We saw a covering doctor on the 26th. She insisted Casey had an ear infection, not a stomach virus. Forget the ER doctors diagnosis of a stomach virus and the fact that he had been vomiting for 3+ days, and the fact that Matt and I got sick. Shockingly, when we took him back to the office--and saw a different doctor--on Thursday, we were informed that he did NOT have an ear infection. Such a vote of confidence for the care our boy is receiving!!
Due to all the throwing up, Casey was on a Pedialyte-only diet until this morning. Currently our fridge and freezer look like a dairy bar due to all the pumping that was going on during this ailment. He's been slowly getting some energy back, but he's still not back to his regular speedy moving self. Soon, we hope.

Casey looking sick with his cousin Caroline.

Here are a couple pictures of Casey opening gifts at Grandma & Papa's house. Caroline was very excited to help.

Blah Humbug

We missed Christmas. I do not joke. We really missed it. Matt, Casey and I were all sick and home in bed. All day.

Bug

Thankfully, Casey has slept through the night for the past five nights. I've probably just jinxed us, but I mention this because when we retrieved him from his crib this morning, it looked as though he had gotten drunk and passed out in a now dried puddle of his own vomit. I changed him, and brought him to Carrie so he could nurse. I was just about to fall back to sleep when I heard the tsunami of vomit rush forth washing us all out of bed. Several hours and two vomit baths later, we called the doctor, whose message referred us to the covering doctor. Assuming he was only going to tell us to go to the emergency room, that's where we headed. Infants and chest pain are apparently the fast lane to ER service, as we were in and out. After charming the admission staff and nurses, the doctor determined that Casey had the stomach bug going around and suggested small amounts of pedialyte on regular intervals.

I forgot to mention that we are currently boycotting etoys and Walmart.  Both companies have made me irate in the past few weeks, so we're boycotting.  

Casey returned to daycare yesterday.  The teachers seem frustrated by his lack of napping, but that's nothing new.  Sometimes he just doesn't like naps.  While I was getting Casey ready for bed I turned to get PJs out.  He was on the floor & I really only turned around long enough to get PJs and close the drawer.  Somehow he managed to take off his diaper.  He then crawled away from me as quickly as he could--laughing, of course--in what I think was an attempt to stay naked as long as possible. 

Although sick, the little guy is still in a good mood. And he always enjoys a bath.

Casey is sick again. He's got another ear infection.

8 months

Casey is 8 months old today.  He's crawling like a speed demon, cruising all over the house, and he desperately wants to walk.  I made him some real food for dinner, but he didn't seem so interested.  He did, of course, eat mangos.  Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but Casey got some bath toys as a gift.  He likes his rubber duck, but the assorted sea creatures scare the bejesus out of him.  He stares at them in horror and then starts shrieking when he sees them. Naturally we use them for punishment.  

The PC/Mac debate seems to have been settled in our house.  We all vote for the Mac.  Our PC is still not working right & that is why you haven't seen any new pictures. 

Today we went to Jacob's 1st birthday party. Casey was excellent. Sadly, he slept through a visit from Santa, although he did catch a riveting game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, which by the way, has come a long way since my day, complete with inflatable donkey.

Casey enjoyed his first Hanukkah celebration on Sunday night.  Matt tried to post pictures, but the other computer crashed & the pictures are on that one.  This is why we love the Mac...so user friendly and reliable. 

Casey still had a runny nose.  Matt is fine.  I feel fine but for some reason have no voice.  (I am aware that Matt is probably thrilled).  

Happy Hanukkah

Even though this is already the 6th night of Hanukkah, we celebrated the Festival of Lights tonight. Casey was showered with gifts, shielded from the dog, and managed to choke down a piece of brisket. He wasn't so interested, however, in watching old home videos of his father's first year of life.

Casey went to the doctor yesterday.  He's got an ear infection, so they Palm Piloted his prescription for the delicious bubble gum flavored antibiotic to our pharmacy.  He has been in a remarkably good mood.  It would be nice if he would sleep more, but who can fault a sick baby for wanting to play at all hours of the night.  Matt started to feel ill yesterday, and I'm not feeling so hot now.  I suppose it's good that Casey likes to share...

In more exciting news, Casey has been cruising around the family room holding on to the couch, or the gate set up and his Jumperoo.  He's been increasingly daring about letting go and trying to stand on his own, and he managed to do it for a little bit this evening (Matt witnessed it, I did not).  

Sick Day

Casey was home sick today. He went to bed at normal time last night & woke up a couple hours later with a very stuffy nose. None of us really got much sleep last night, and we decided he would not be going to "school" today. So, we hung out all day. He was in a very good mood, especially considering he was unable to breathe through his nose. This evening, he developed a little fever, but hopefully it's nothing serious.

Here's proof that he survived day 1 of daycare.

Crawling...


Mid-stand...

Trying to climb onto the couch...


Had Daddy given him a bath tonight these pictures would not have been possible. There is a strict no standing allowed policy during Daddy given baths.

Casey and I survived his first day of daycare. According to one of his teachers he did very well for his first day. He only fussed and cried a little and he took a nap--in a crib, nonetheless. He was not a great eater, but he did play with the other kids quite a bit. He was playing when I arrived to pick him up, and it took a couple minutes to get his attention. Then, of course, he was full of smiles and ready to go.

Today is Casey's first day at day care. He was a bit reluctant at first for me to put him down or for Miss Hyiesha to hold him, but once his new friends came over to say hi, he was all smiles.

Matt was scheduled to do the next blog update, but he has shirked his responsibilities.   Blame him.  Additionally, our computer is on the fritz and I can't figure out how to get pictures posted using the Mac.  So, fair readers, you'll have to wait for Matt to get home to see new photos of Casey. 

Edit:  Responsibility fulfilled - scroll down to Thanksgiving post.

 

Casey's first Thanksgiving turned out to be quite an experience.  Upon arriving at Aunt Berta's house, we got a flat tire.  Every man in attendance had a role in the tire change, like a poorly orchestrated pit crew.  After an otherwise enjoyable day, we departed in the late evening with a false sense of security in the spare tire.  After about 20 miles, I noticed that the VSA light was flashing.  I found it odd, but attributed it to the spare causing the system to malfunction.  I was quickly reassured by the thumping sound of a flat tire that the system was indeed functioning as designed.  We pulled off the (Garden State) Parkway to discover a blown spare.  I called Acura Roadside Assistance - who needs AAA with all the money we paid for this fancy car?  ARA can't tow from the GSP since it is a contracted road.  I'm connected with the state police, who tell me a tow truck will be out within 30 minutes.  Fortunately, we were the first of the southbound relatives to leave, so we weren't completely stranded.  Oh, and the State Police stopped to make sure help was on the way before speeding off.  The tow truck arrived at the same time as my parents, at which time I learned the tow would take me as far as the next exit, but not to worry, ARA can take me the rest of the way.  WRONG.  ARA will only tow you to the nearest dealer - makes sense, Acura should get paid for the repair in exchange for the free tow.  Except that the nearest dealer to our location is a) not open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving and b) is not convenient to our house.  Plan b.  Drive an hour home to retrieve *another* sparetire, an hour back to the car to change tires for the second time, and an hour back home.  Nobody got hurt, things could have been much worse, but not exactly what we had in mind.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We'll be heading to Aunt Berta's house for the holiday.

We also have to say Happy Birthday to Nicole!! We hope you have a wonderful year.

This afternoon we went to have lunch with Nicole. Casey and Matt both got to see her new abode, which they seemed to like. They might be invited back someday, as Casey didn't soil her carpet or furniture. He did crawl all over like he owned the place though. After she kicked us out so she could get ready for her trip to AC, we did a little shopping (ok, she really didn't kick us out, but she was going to AC and we had to hit a couple places prior to returning home). Casey won over all the ladies he saw and did not whine at all the whole time we were out. Perhaps we'll keep him.

Casey was 7 months old yesterday. He's well on his way to becoming a genius, of course. He crawls--belly off the floor--and he's quick, like a cheetah. He's been pulling himself up to stand and has started letting go trying to stand on his own. He likes the sippy cup, but prefers chewing it & tossing it on the floor than actually drinking from it. The Nuby, I believe it's called, which has a straw that does not leak* is preferred for his water drinking needs. He's figured out how to pick up finger foods and now they usually make it into his mouth.

*the straw does in fact leak, as evidenced by the wet pants I had from said straw dripping onto them this afternoon.

This is from back on the 3rd & I forgot to post it. Michael is now officially the visitor who travelled the farthest to visit Casey. Maybe someday Casey will pay him a visit.

Teething cookies taste just like animal crackers.

Since learning to crawl, we can't put Casey down and turn our backs for more then a second. We've found a way to contain and entertain him...


This is not frustration...

Casey's friend Jacob and his mom came over to visit this morning. We knew her a few years ago when she was in Brownies with Aunt Cristen (& Grandma was the troop leader). Now, in an odd twist of fate, she works with Daddy. We were bad parents and forgot to take pictures of the first play date, if we can even really call it that. The boys seemed to like each other best when they were at least a foot away from each other.

Casey and I went for his 6 month checkup this morning. He weighs 17 1/2 lbs and is 26 inches long. He's sitting, crawling, pulling to a stand and has 2 teeth. We got a DPT shot, a prescription for vitamins and don't have to return for another checkup until he's 9 months old.
The staff was all dressed up for Halloween--including the Dr who was wearing
enormous sparkly wings--but they didn't want to pose for a photo.
Casey was dressed as a duck yesterday--we do Halloween a day early here. Stupid, yes, but
that's how it is. He's currently lunging at the computer and screaming because I'm not letting him get to it, so I will have to post pictures later.

Casey's mattress needs to be lowered again...


Sitting seems to be his second favorite thing to do.