2009

Happy New Year!
Well although its only a week into 2009 it has been a very mixed emotion year.
New Years Eve Kenn and I got off work early and picked up Brandon and took him to see his first movie! We went to Arundel Mills and went to see Disney's BOLT! He didn't want to sit at first, once the lights went down he sat on Kenn's lap but was a little confused and frightened. The previews were very loud and over his head. So Kenn had brandon's head up against his chest, one ear on Kenns chest and one hand over brandon's other ear. The movie started with a Car's short film, so that helped (he makes us watch Cars at least once a week). Then the movie started and he warmed up. I didn't realize the movie was 3-D so that also was a little bit of a problem. Brandon watched a good 1/2 of the movie without glasses. then the other part trading glasses with me and having him hold his on his nose. He really seemed to like the movie (its a dog, cat and hamster) and sat through the whole thing! We were very impressed! (so was the lady next to us when i said it was his first movie)
At the end of the movie (spoiler alert) the little girl gets trapped in a burning building, and Bolt couldn't get her out. So they both just lay down and brandon started crying! I couldn't believe it! So we were there trying to confort and keep him quiet by saying they were ok. We were amazed he could comprehend that much!
After the movie the plan was to go to Fudruckers (brandon loves it there) but after driving to annapolis we found out they closed early. So brandon was getting pretty tired by this point so we went picked up a pizza and went home. Kenn and I just stayed in and watched no country for old men and then the ball drop. I figured out it was the first new years that Kenn and I have been together where it was just us on New Years. (we used to go to Fells Point every year with a group of friends)
Jan 1st- it all goes downhill.
We were woken up to Brandon throwing up all over his crib... Basically thurs/fri consisted of Brandon not eating and not drinking and throwing up once a day with constant (sorry for detail) diarrhea. This with combination of him not eating much all week b/c he had the bad cold/ear infection. I think i forgot that part. Brandon started hacking the sat after christmas and he was having problems sleeping, so tuesday we took him to the Dr and he was diagnosed with a ear infection.
I feel like there are 2 possible reasons for him being sick. 1)that stomach bug going around and 2)his antibiotic. he's been on augmenten (sp?) a couple times before and one of the warning signs is diarrhea. Now when they weighed him tuesday they did so with his shoes and coat on and it said 30lbs. now keep in mind he wasn't eating much all week and i think his weight was really a lot less then 30. (when weighed4 days later at the ER he was 24lbs naked) so friday night the I got a hold of the Dr via phone and she said to reduce his medication. sat Am he still wasnt doing well so i took him back in where we saw another DR. She said that if he didnt start drinking to page her that afternoon. Brandon was VERY lethargic sat. didnt get up to do anything. I went to a friend's Baby shower (yeah kim!) and while there Kenn called me to say he was up from his nap and still not drinking, so i paged the Dr and she told me we prob should take brandon to the hospital to get checked out. I leave and go pick up the guys and get to Anne Arundel Medical center at about 4:45pm. after sitting in the lobby a good hr or two brandon becomes hysterical. I have Kenn bring him up front to ask how much longer (and my plan works perfectly) they bump us up to be seen by the admitting DR. He looks at him (very gruffly) and says he needs bloodwork, and an IV. (which is what we assumed). so we sit in that waiting area another 2hrs. a couple other crying fits. (i did not want him to touch anything b/c people were getting diagnosed with bronchitis and strep all around us) I also learned that if your in the military they take you first, which i felt was unfair. Just before they took us back brandon started singing to me, on his own mind you..."baby Beluga" which was adorable and heart melting after having him be so miserable.
Finally two very nice nurses took us back to get blood from brandon and put in his IV. He did pretty good. We "burrito'd" him. (where you wrap his limbs up in a blanket) so he couldnt thrash about. Only bad part is i didnt realize until we were finished that they put the IV in his right arm. the arm he sucks his thumb!
So we were then taken to a room to hook up IV fluids and brandon is FLIPPING OUT. now its 9pm at this point, he's sick and sleepy and all he wants to do is suck his thumb and we will not let him bend his arm. it was horrible. So a new nurse comes up and starts to ask why he's getting and IV and basically being a huge bitch. She's asking why he was getting an IV when obviously he wasn't dehydrated yet b/c he still has tears, and why didnt the DR just write him a prescription for a drug that apparently makes them hungry. And why didnt i offer him a Popsicle. I told her at this point that I did offer him one but he didnt like it. Now she turns to me and says "well with a negative attitude like that of course he wouldnt take it" Nurse Bitch then goes on to tell me how children pick up on negativity and that i'm not a good mom b/c i cant get him to drink or eat. (well not exactly in those words)
So after a week of brandon being sick and several days of stress from him not eating, and being at the hospital for 5hrs and holding my son as he thrashing historically around, watching him get an IV and can not suck his thumb i was fine.
Now i start crying because of the nurse. SO then kenn's telling me to be strong b/c brandons watching which makes me cry more because now im not strong for my sick son.
Brandon basically collapses into sleep from exhaustion and we see a new DR. He was very nice (and did NOT suggest medicine) he said to try the IV and if he sleeps through it all, finish it. Luckily brandon did sleep through it all, so another 1 1/2hrs doing the IV and we check out at 10:30pm.
While doing the IV kenn starts to feel sick... none of us had eaten dinner so we thought it was that. he ends up going to the bathroom twice at the hospital to throw up.

We get home, Kenn ends up throwing up all night long. (i banish him downstairs b/c i cant deal with the constant getting up and still sleep)Thus begins our sunday. Kenn now officially has a stomach bug. he's horribly sick sunday. Brandon wakes up feels a little better (he actually eats some waffles my parents bought him) and is drinking a little. I end up having Kenns mother come over to watch brandon so i can go to pick up a anti nausea medication for brandon and get supplies from the grocery store. I came home, made Kenn some homemade chicken noodle soup and just took care of both of my boys sunday.
Monday brandon went to daycare, he ate a little more I went to work and felt exhausted after 4 days off. Monday and Tuesday Kenn stayed home from work and did his best not to "contaminate" the house (as i put it).
Both are doing better today. they both ate a little more for dinner, both have lost several pounds. (poor brandon looks emaciated).

BUT THE RAVENS WON!!!!! (thus is the good part of the month)

Brandon also had his first sentence on Tuesday night at dinner "debbie kicked ball". Meaning his teacher kicked the ball to him at daycare. its amazing now seeing him try to create sentences!

I also ordered the accessories for Brandon's birthday and I'm in process of creating the cake for him with Annette! I'm so excited!