Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist Visit

We took Emmy to the ENT Specialist last Friday.  He checked her ears and her most recent ear infection has cleared up.  He mentioned that there was a little bit of pressure but nothing to write home about.  After the exam, she had to get a hearing test.  She passed, but was borderline. 
The doctor mentioned that in order to get tubes you must fall into a specific category of having four or more ear infections within six months.  I get frustrated going to different doctors who don't have Emmy's chart, etc.  I can't put a number on how many infections she's had, I just know that it has been A LOT!.  Emmy's latest ear infections were a bugger.  She has had three since Halloween that did not clear with the medication that was given to her.  This last one finally went away.  Since she has only had three lately, the doctor said we should wait a month and then call back with our decision.  If she gets another ear infection within the next month, she will be getting tubes.  This specialist was concerned with getting this tubes process done before the next baby comes.  I guess we'll see what the next month brings us.

Organizing

I have started going through all of the clothes that Emmy has outgrown and organized them into four different bins.  This was a huge project because Brad had initially just placed whatever into the bins...not looking at sizes or anything.  You wouldn't believe some of the things that I found in there.  I think he just likes to get things out of sight.  Now most of her clothes are all placed neatly into bins and categorized by size.  I can't believe how many clothes this little stinker has/had.  It really opened my eyes to how much shopping I did for her.  If we have another girl, she'll be getting a bunch of hand-me-downs...but great quality.
I have a list that I'm trying to tackle to get organized for the new baby.  Tonight I'll be retrieving the infant baby bottles and nipples to get them ready for use.  
Each day I think of something more to add to my list.  Looking at this list makes me go holy crap, but on the other hand it helps me feel not so overwhelmed...hopefully we can tackle one or more items each week. 

28 Weeks

Yesterday I went to my 28 week check up.  Everything is right on track.  The heartbeat sounds great and my belly is measuring normal, but a little big...says the doctor.  Most people think I look small.  I feel like a whale.  I weighed in at 147 lbs.  I've gained about 15 pounds so far. 
I had to test for gestational diabetes and also get my hemoglobin checked.  They make you drink this fluid within five minutes and then wait an hour to test your blood to see if you're diabetic.  I passed.  The drink is not too bad and tastes more like the juice that's inside those little plastic juice containers with the metal lids that you rip off.  My grandma always had this juice on the farm. 
My hemoglobin is normal and the lab technicians just said to continue taking the viatamins that I'm on.  I'm glad that my iron isn't low.  When I was pregnant with Emmy, I had low iron and had a major craving for ice.  I haven't had any cravings with this pregnancy...yet.
I will be going into the clinic every two weeks and then once a week when I get closer to delivery.  We scheduled our c-section with the doctor, but it hasn't been confirmed yet.  Looks like it will be a "Good Friday" baby and a little Easter Bunny!!

Follow-up on ears

I picked up Emmy at daycare today and she had apparently fell while playing and now has a big cut on her forehead.  She seems fine and was happy when I picked her up.  It's about and inch long, but it looks more like a rug burn. 

I wanted to get her ears looked at again so I brought her into Ready Care after daycare.  As I was in the waiting area, I noticed that Emmy developed a rash on her back & stomach.  Good thing I was at the clinic.  When we saw the doctor he said that the rash was just viral and nothing to worry about.  However, she STILL has her ear infection and the doctor put her back on Omnicef...I'm getting really tired of this.  These medications just don't work.  We have an appointment next month for her 18 month check up.  Her pediatrician is reviewing Emmy's chart and will be referring us to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist to start the "tubes" process. 

Favorites

Emmy's favorite book is definitely Green Eggs & Ham.  She grabs this book several times a day and brings it over to us.  She loves to flip the pages as we read to her.  Some of the pages have been ripped out.

She loves to open the blinds and wave to the neighbors.  She waves and says hi even when there is nobody around.  Lately our neighbors have let their dogs run around the cul-de-sac.  Emmy barks at them and laughs. 

When daddy goes bye bye, she runs to the window and waves to him and says bye as the car drives away.  This melts daddy's heart!   

She loves to organize and pull things out of drawers. 

She definitely likes to feed herself and insists on doing things alone.  She will only let me feed her if I put food on her spoon and let her feed herself. 

She has discovered the louder side of her voice box.  She screams really loud sometimes just for fun. 

She loves cuddle time with mommy right before bed.  When daddy asks her if it's bed time, she comes running to me. 

She likes to help me cook and likes to push the chairs from the dining room table. 

She somehow enjoys pretending like she's got her fingers caught in something and says ouch. 

She really enjoys stacking her Disney toys with daddy and then knocking them over.  Her kitchen is a favorite as well. 

Vocabulary

Here are some of the words that Emmy has on her list:

• mama
• dada
• baba
• no
• wawa
• go
• uh oh
• oh no
• ball
• hi
• bye
• yeah
• yea! - with arms up in the air.
• wee
• wow
• more
• ouch
• tickle, tickle, tickle
• I don't know
• kitty - sometimes
• puppy
• bathtime - she mumbles this
• diaper
• Tyler - sounds more like Dyla
• She's starting to know what 1,2,3 is.

Here are some of the sounds that Emmy has on her list:

• lion
• elephant
• snake
• bee
• cow
• kitty
• puppy
• monkey
• sheep
• rooster
• pig

Laundry Basket Rides

Emmy loves to go for rides in the laundry basket.  Brad lifts her up in the basket and swings her around like a little roller coaster.  She giggles and when Brad puts her down, she signs for more. 
When the basket is empty, she'll push it near something so that she can balance while she lifts her leg to get inside the basket. 
Lately, she has figured out how to push the laundry basket close to the top of the stairs and ride down.  She has also tried this with her potty chair.  Crazy little girl.

Sign Language

We are able to communicate a little bit through sign language with Miss Emmy.  She knows how to tell us when she's hungry, when she wants more, when she wants a drink and when something is really good she rubs her belly and says "Mmmmm."  We are working on the sign for when she has to go potty too.  She knows what her potty chair is for and will sit on it, but we haven't really worked on it that hard yet.  I don't want to force the potty chair just yet.  I would like to have her out of diapers before the new baby comes, but I'm not sure if that will happen.  If not, no big deal.  I'd rather do it when she's ready. 

New Baby...Coming Soon

I feel a little unprepared for this new baby. We have a few names picked out, but haven't settled on one.  When we find one that we like, we end up saying it two days later and then aren't quite sure if it fits anymore.  I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post.  I ended up printing off the baby names from the social security website.  I printed 1,000 boy names & 1,000 girl names.  I gave Brad a copy and myself a copy along with a highlighter and I figured there would be at least one that we would agree on.  Nope...not a one. 
We still haven't really bought anything new for the baby.  We pretty much have everything from Emmy...I think.  The only new thing that I want to get is a new breast pump. 
I thought that Emmy and the new baby could share a room, but now we are thinking that it would be best if we separated them.  I think we will be moving Emmy into the other bedroom which is currently Brad's office.  I'm not sure where we are going to put the office.  We are already outgrowing our house!! 
I think we'll just get Emmy a new toddler bed so that we don't have to buy another crib. 
It seems like this pregnancy has gone by really fast, but also feels like I've been pregnant forever.  

Happy New Year

We traveled back up to Hoffman for New Year's Eve.  While Lorri stayed home with the kids, Bob, Edna, Julie, Deb, Jerry, Tony, Christy, Brad & I went to see the Stagebenders (a comedy duo) at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria.  The show started at 9:00 and there were much more people in the crowd than last year.  Brad, Christy & I went to see them last year and laughed our butts off.  When Christy noticed that they were going to be back in town, she got tickets right away for all of us.    
The Stagebenders' act is a nonstop, fast-paced hurricane of interactive comedy that has to be experienced to be believed.  If you ever get a chance to see them in person, I would highly recommend going to see their performance.  They even perform in Las Vegas at Harrah's.  See a funny clip here.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO3VV2p752o
We made it back to Hoffman before midnight on New Year's Eve and watched the ball drop at midnight on T.V. - pretty exciting stuff.  
We hope you had a fun New Year's celebration - Here's to 2010!