On The Mend

Holy cow, the month of January has been total craziness at the Purcell household.  The boys have been really sick and on antibiotics for almost the whole month it feels like.  Last time I posted, Carter was diagnosed with Croup.

Since then, Carter has been diagnosed with a double ear infection and RSV.  Nolan has been diagnosed with RSV and a single ear infection.  Nolan has also been battling ugly styes on his left eye.  My poor boys!  Luckily, neither one has had the flu or strep. Everyone is finishing up their antibiotics and finally feeling/acting like themselves again.

I was starting to become worried when the boys began passing germs back and forth to each other, but we did the best we could at keeping them separate.  This weekend was the first weekend in the month of January, we actually enjoyed hanging out and relaxing around the house.  I snapped a few pictures over the past few weeks, so I will add them all in this one post.

Carter was supposed to have his 4 month check-up, but we had to reschedule due to his ear infection.  Nolan was supposed to have his 2 year check-up, but we had to reschedule due to his RSV.  In February, the boys will have their check-ups and we will know their weight and height.

 Nolan took to taking his naps in his closet for some reason....

 Sick baby trying to play with his cars

Both boys wanted their mama non-stop.  In this pic Nolan and Carter were starting to feel a little better.

 Most likely watching Toy Story or Madagascar

I've probably watched Toy Story 3 and Madagascar 1,2, and 3 a total of 15 times each these past few weeks.  Those are the only movies Nolan has wanted to watch.  Oh well, at least they contain some adult humor.  Bill and I now walk around the house quoting Madagascar! "I like 'em big, I like 'em round!!" lol

Nolan is still battling his stye, but all in all the boys are feeling great.  Smiling and laughing!!!

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  We greatly appreciate them!

A Croupy New Year

On our way home from the last Christmas get together, Carter wasn't acting like himself.  He had a painful whine and cry to his voice instead of a hungry cry.  I was worried, but I decided to steam up the bathroom when we went home to help him with his congestion. 

I woke up that night, December 30th, around 11:30pm to Carter wheezing when he was breathing, stridor.  He has been congested for about a week and I think because of all the traveling we did for the holiday parties it wore him down.  He started to bark when he coughed, so I called the pediatrican's extension number.  Nolan had Croup when he was about 6 months old and he had the same symptoms.  The nurse on call told me to take Carter to the E.R. because he is so young. The nurse said Croup isn't usually dangerous for older babies, but when younger babies have Croup their airway is so small to begin with it can become dangerous.  I made a mad dash to the E.R., while Bill stayed at home with sleeping Nolan.

Once at the E.R. and an eternity of waiting, the doctor diagnosed him with Croup and prescribed a breathing treatment and an oral dose of steroids to help with the inflamed airway.  Carter did not like the breathing treatment or the medicine at all!! Poor baby screamed his head off.  After the breathing treatment was finished and the medicine administered Carter ate and went right to sleep.  The nurse recommended a cool mist humidifier, we have a warm mist, to help with Croup.  I made a pit stop at Walgreens, thank goodness for 24 hour stores, to purchase a humidifier and headed home.  Carter slept great the whole night.  I went home with a much happier baby at 3:00 in the morning!

Since Croup is contagious and the steriods Carter is taking can decrease his immune system, we decided to stay at home by ourselves and bring in the New Year.  We ate a delicious meal of Express Meal by 54th Street and went to bed at 9:30pm.  Bill was the only one who stayed up to watch the ball drop at midnight!!

2012 was a great year with the birth of our baby boy, Carter, and our other baby boy, Nolan, turning 2!!  I know 2013 is going to have a lot in store for us and it will be an even better year!  Happy New Year everyone!!

Carter is 3 Months Old

Carter is now about 3 and a half months old.  I am a little behind on taking pictures, but we made it in the 3 month time frame.  I weighed and measured him this morning at home, since he doesn't have a well visit until he is 4 months.  Carter weighed in at 15 pounds and measured 24 and 1/2 inches in length.  My baby boy is growing like a weed. 

He eats non-stop, so I guess he is going through a growth spurt again.  He has been chewing on everything a lot lately too, so he is probably teething.  Carter is my little cuddle bug.  I'm so glad he is able to breastfeed because it is such an important way to bond with him!  I love when he is nursing and falls asleep peacefully in my arms.  Carter is my little angel.  He's the happiest little guy around; always smiling and cooing. 

Carter is busting through his milestones:
- rolling over from belly to back
- grasping and swatting at objects
- smiling and he even laughed out loud on Sunday!!
- holding his head up
- sitting up in the bumbo

Of course, I had to have a mini photo shoot at the house this morning for his 3 month pictures. He did great even though he is recovering from Croup.

My little model exhausted from his photo shoot!

Happy 3 Months Carter Lynn.  You truly are a blessing to our family.  You bring so much joy and entertainment to our lives.  We love you!