But running through the dust and dirt was the best part
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Fall in Ohio
Given our excursions in Ann Arbor and Richmond we hadn't been too motivated (or free - I've been on call every weekend we've been home) to get out to the local fall festivities. But we did at least try a few weeks ago to go out for a pumpkin. Initially, J was not super excited about being contained in the backpack for the trip out to the pumpkin patch.
The tractor ride out there was a little more exciting
But running through the dust and dirt was the best part
Unfortunately more than 80% of the field pumpkins were rotten so that left us little hope for the rest lasting the two weeks until Halloween. So we left a little dirtier and empty handed. But at least there was the tractor ride back to the car to round out the trip.
But running through the dust and dirt was the best part
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Fall in Virginia
For our next trip we set out for Virginia to visit with Chris, Emily, Sam and Nate. Very early Saturday morning J woke up very cranky and a little warm but we just chalked it up to teething and being uncomfortable in the pack and play. After a dose of Ibuprofen he seemed a little flat but wasn't too sad looking so off we went for some apple picking in the mountains.
We stopped to check out the pumpkins too but we figured it would definitely put our checked bag over the weight limit so we didn't try to take one home.
While on the hayride, J seemed a bit down and he would not let go of the pacifier but since he's been teething so much we just added another dose of medicine.
Once we got to the vineyard he seemed back to his regular self and he had a great time running around in the grass while we had a gourmet picnic and some wine tasting.
Back in the car he passed out quickly and by the time we made it home he had a fever of 104. Well we knew then that it wasn't teething and despite constant meds by 2am his temperature was up to 106.4. We were lucky he didn't have a febrile seizure but he was shaking and lethargic and just very sad. So, while we made it 15 and half months without an extra call to our pediatrician or hospital visits, now we were off in the middle of the night for our first ER visit. Luckily Aunty Em knew right where to take him and with some more tylenol and IV fluids he seemed to feel better. His labs didn't look bad but they thought he might have pneumonia on his chest xray even though he had no cough or other symptoms. They gave him one dose of IV antibiotics and were leaning towards admitting him for observation but since we had a flight to catch the next day and I could watch him closely, they let us go home. Strangly by that afternoon he seemed to feel fine again and we were even able to enjoy some play room time with Sam and Nate and make a trip to the park. The only remnant he had of being sick is the hemangioma birthmark on his left cheek that flares when he is stressed or has fevers.
The fevers came back that night but he did great at the airport and on the ride home. A visit to our pediatrician and some new labs and xrays showed that their pneumonia diagnosis was likely an overcall and more than likely he had some sort of virus. After another 24 hours his fever finally stayed away and although he was extra sleepy for the rest of the week his happy personality returned.
We stopped to check out the pumpkins too but we figured it would definitely put our checked bag over the weight limit so we didn't try to take one home.
While on the hayride, J seemed a bit down and he would not let go of the pacifier but since he's been teething so much we just added another dose of medicine.
Once we got to the vineyard he seemed back to his regular self and he had a great time running around in the grass while we had a gourmet picnic and some wine tasting.
Back in the car he passed out quickly and by the time we made it home he had a fever of 104. Well we knew then that it wasn't teething and despite constant meds by 2am his temperature was up to 106.4. We were lucky he didn't have a febrile seizure but he was shaking and lethargic and just very sad. So, while we made it 15 and half months without an extra call to our pediatrician or hospital visits, now we were off in the middle of the night for our first ER visit. Luckily Aunty Em knew right where to take him and with some more tylenol and IV fluids he seemed to feel better. His labs didn't look bad but they thought he might have pneumonia on his chest xray even though he had no cough or other symptoms. They gave him one dose of IV antibiotics and were leaning towards admitting him for observation but since we had a flight to catch the next day and I could watch him closely, they let us go home. Strangly by that afternoon he seemed to feel fine again and we were even able to enjoy some play room time with Sam and Nate and make a trip to the park. The only remnant he had of being sick is the hemangioma birthmark on his left cheek that flares when he is stressed or has fevers.
The fevers came back that night but he did great at the airport and on the ride home. A visit to our pediatrician and some new labs and xrays showed that their pneumonia diagnosis was likely an overcall and more than likely he had some sort of virus. After another 24 hours his fever finally stayed away and although he was extra sleepy for the rest of the week his happy personality returned.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Fall in Michigan
Including our trip to Chicago we've been on the road quite a bit in the last month. Early in October we headed up to Ann Arbor to check in on some things with our rental house there and as luck would have it we were able to catch up with some old friends who were also in town.
We got a later start than we wanted but J took it in stride and eventually fell asleep in the back seat. Then he was the life of the party in our hotel room until after midnight. Maybe we should feel bad about keeping him up so late but he was having a great time playing "trot to Boston" with Jenna and running around the room exploring all the new cabinets and places to hide things. Once the party was over, he was out like a light but even the black out curtains didn't keep in bed any later than normal the next day.
After a few runs to Home Depot and some maintenance at our old house we all set out for the fall festival at the orchard.
The petting zoo was a hit at first
But then the goat actually touched him and he wasn't so sure
So it was onto climb up the haybale mountain
It was a good time
After a "ride" on the tractor and then a real ride on an antique fire truck, we went on a hayride through the woods. Turns out a "car ride" at naptime leads to a nap no matter what the vehicle.
After a good hour snooze in the backpack it was snack time and J had his first taste of apple fritter.
It was also a hit.
We rounded out the day by having dinner with our former neighbors and had a great time catching up. We had planned to go to the children's museum on Sunday but J was up and at 'em before 6 so after brunch and a trip to the bookstore to get everyone some new U of M gear, he passed out in the car. So we took advantage and headed back to Ohio. While our trip was short, it was fun to show Josh his first "home" even if he was only there for about a half hour before we moved. All in all we had a great time back in our old stomping ground with good friends and we'll definitely have to go back soon so we can see everyone else.
We got a later start than we wanted but J took it in stride and eventually fell asleep in the back seat. Then he was the life of the party in our hotel room until after midnight. Maybe we should feel bad about keeping him up so late but he was having a great time playing "trot to Boston" with Jenna and running around the room exploring all the new cabinets and places to hide things. Once the party was over, he was out like a light but even the black out curtains didn't keep in bed any later than normal the next day.
After a few runs to Home Depot and some maintenance at our old house we all set out for the fall festival at the orchard.
The petting zoo was a hit at first
But then the goat actually touched him and he wasn't so sure
So it was onto climb up the haybale mountain
It was a good time
After a "ride" on the tractor and then a real ride on an antique fire truck, we went on a hayride through the woods. Turns out a "car ride" at naptime leads to a nap no matter what the vehicle.
After a good hour snooze in the backpack it was snack time and J had his first taste of apple fritter.
It was also a hit.
We rounded out the day by having dinner with our former neighbors and had a great time catching up. We had planned to go to the children's museum on Sunday but J was up and at 'em before 6 so after brunch and a trip to the bookstore to get everyone some new U of M gear, he passed out in the car. So we took advantage and headed back to Ohio. While our trip was short, it was fun to show Josh his first "home" even if he was only there for about a half hour before we moved. All in all we had a great time back in our old stomping ground with good friends and we'll definitely have to go back soon so we can see everyone else.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Chi town
Last weekend we set off for Chicago for a medical conference and we had a great fall weekend to check out the big city.
Friday afternoon we set out to walk around town.
The shiny "bean" in Millennium park was a big hit
But a small park area to run around in was even better
We tried for a dinner out of some Chigago style pizza but a baby who hadn't slept well the night before was less than interested in being contained in a high chair. So, pizza to go back at the hotel and an early night for everyone left us in better shape for a packed day on Saturday. The weather was beautiful so first we headed down to Navy Pier. After some lunch we went took advantage of the reciprocal membership with the Cincinnati Children's museum and checked out Chicago's version.
Getting ready for the water table
Splashing was a lot of fun
Drying off turned out to be a good time too.
There were ball mazes
Pianos to play
Mail to collect
and archeology sites
After a quick turn on the Navy Pier ferris wheel
We were inspired to go see some real dinosaur bones. So Josh had his first boat ride on the water taxi and we set off for the Field Museum to check out "Sue".
After deciding to appreciate the beauty of the fall day by walking the forty minutes back to our hotel we had a very tired (and teething) baby but he loved all the sights and sounds and spent most of the way back waving at everyone we passed. After flirting with our waitress over some great Mexican food, he was out for the night. Since we wanted to wait for naptime the next day for the drive home once we were up we set off for Shedd aquarium.
Josh's favorite part was the area where you could dress up like the penguins to climb and slide over the "ice"
He was not so amused by the piranha hat in the gift shop so we took that as our cue to hit the road and head back to Ohio.
Friday afternoon we set out to walk around town.
The shiny "bean" in Millennium park was a big hit
But a small park area to run around in was even better
We tried for a dinner out of some Chigago style pizza but a baby who hadn't slept well the night before was less than interested in being contained in a high chair. So, pizza to go back at the hotel and an early night for everyone left us in better shape for a packed day on Saturday. The weather was beautiful so first we headed down to Navy Pier. After some lunch we went took advantage of the reciprocal membership with the Cincinnati Children's museum and checked out Chicago's version.
Getting ready for the water table
Splashing was a lot of fun
Drying off turned out to be a good time too.
There were ball mazes
Mail to collect
and archeology sites
After a quick turn on the Navy Pier ferris wheel
We were inspired to go see some real dinosaur bones. So Josh had his first boat ride on the water taxi and we set off for the Field Museum to check out "Sue".
After deciding to appreciate the beauty of the fall day by walking the forty minutes back to our hotel we had a very tired (and teething) baby but he loved all the sights and sounds and spent most of the way back waving at everyone we passed. After flirting with our waitress over some great Mexican food, he was out for the night. Since we wanted to wait for naptime the next day for the drive home once we were up we set off for Shedd aquarium.
Josh's favorite part was the area where you could dress up like the penguins to climb and slide over the "ice"
He was not so amused by the piranha hat in the gift shop so we took that as our cue to hit the road and head back to Ohio.
Monday, September 26, 2011
The last taste of summer
A few weeks ago we tried to go out apple picking since last year in early October we were too late and missed it here in Ohio. Well evidently the apple season here must be really short because this year we were too early. The trip wasn't a total waste because we got to catch up with some good friends and we drove past a huge field of sunflowers.
Last summer was such a blur - between the baby, the move, the surgery and the new job it was winter before we knew it. So this summer it's these little moments that have meant the most and we've tried to savor them for the gift that they are.
Last summer was such a blur - between the baby, the move, the surgery and the new job it was winter before we knew it. So this summer it's these little moments that have meant the most and we've tried to savor them for the gift that they are.
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