Happy Birthday, Garrett!

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

5 years ago (at this hour) I was holding in my arms my 2nd beautiful son, just 2 hours old. I was so blessed by a FAST labor and delivery. I delivered Garrett just 44 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. He was a very healthy 8lbs 9 oz and 22.5 inches long (not quite as big as Hunter, but not a runt for sure!). Our 5 years with Garrett have been anything but dull, that is for sure. He has such a sense of adventure (knows how to make my heart stop!), and he has fun doing everything. We've had our share of medical issues dealing with all of his allergies and the effects of them, but we are definitely on the upswing now...we've reintroduced some artificial colors and he did not react! Garrett loves books and is well on the way to learning how to read. Of course, Spider-man and anything super heros is a favorite, too!
Hopefully, today will be a special day for Garrett. We were supposed to have family come today to celebrate with us, but Garrett is a bit under the weather. He has an ear infection, strep throat and a fever that won't go away. You would not know at this moment that he is not well...he is doing karate in the other room with Hunter (poor Hunter!). So, the family will come another day. Today will be just the 4 of us.

Happy Birthday, again, Garrett! I hope today is a great day and that we spend many, many more birthdays with you! I love you, Gar-bear!

Pardon me while I whine just a bit...

I am tired of germs! Can I say that any clearer??? Yesterday was Hunter's birthday. Want to know how we started the day??? With Garrett coming in my room at 3AM to tell me his throat felt funny and that he thought he was going to throw up. He was right...he threw up! And he was running a temperature of 102. I looked in his throat, and saw the red, swollen tonsils and knew exactly what I was dealing with...STREP!!! I called the doctor and they couldn't get us in until 2:30...grrr...poor kid was sick and needed to be seen! So at 2:30 we go (after I had to get Hunter from school early) and Garrett slept the whole time we were there. How pitiful is that?!?! The doctor did a rapid strep test (which came back negative) but concluded that he does, in fact, have strep. He also has an ear infection. Thankfully, his flu test came back negative. Today, the little guy says he feels much better, despite the 102 temperature (that is not responding to Motrin). I am getting very worn out with all of the sickness. February started with strep and looks like it is ending with strep!!! Maybe I can rest in March!!!

7 Years Ago...

I was returning from having an ultrasound done (in labor) and they told me my baby was 10 lbs! I was horrified and in disbelief. I was hoping and praying that they were really off. Then I promptly got into the hot tub and labored some more. 2-3 hours later, I had endured enough pain, and asked for Tylenol. Yep, Tylenol! Since that didn't even stay in my stomach 5 minutes, I then went for the big guns...the epidural! Since I was 8 cm dilated when I got the epidural, I was afraid I was too late. But, my contractions slowed, and they had to give me pitocen. By 6 I was fully dilated and told to rest...my contractions were not very productive. An hour or so later I started pushing...and pushing...AND PUSHING!!! I pushed for 1.5 hours, rested, and pushed another 1.5 hours. FINALLY, at 10:48 PM Hunter Gabriel Bowles arrived, weighing a whopping 9lb 15 oz and was 23.5 inches long! No wonder it was so hard to push him out...he was HUGE!

So today I reminisce about the long day of labor that resulted in the most precious gift a person could EVER get...a beautiful, healthy baby boy! My life with Hunter has been so blessed, I can't imagine not having him with us! Happy Birthday, Hunter-bug! I love you!!!

Update on Hunter

Well, it would appear that 20 days of antibiotics did not quite get rid of the strep bacteria in poor little Hunter's throat. He still has some pockets of strep infection on one of his tonsils. Our doctor said to give him 4 more days of Omnicef (b/c we have some) to give him 14 days of this particular antibiotic, and we have an appointment with the ENT for March 3rd. If, in the meantime, he should spike another fever and the strep rears it's ugly head, we are to either call our doctor or go straight to the ENT. I really just want Hunter back to his normal self. They checked his hemoglobin yesterday just to make sure he is not anemic...his color is really pale and he just doesn't look well. That did come back normal, so this infection has just wiped him out.

So now I can get on to thinking about birthdays that are coming up this week! Hunter will be 7 Wednesday and Garrett will be 5 on Saturday!

Germs, Germs GO AWAY...

...And Please, please, DO NOT RETURN!!!

I am really worn out lately. Why? Because apparently strep throat LOVES Hunter. Poor Hunter finished a 10 day course of antibiotics, only to start running a fever again the very next day (last Sunday). By Monday morning, his temperature was 103.7, and he had a horrible cough and very, very red, swollen tonsils. Back to the doctor we went. She took blood to check him for mono, strep, and other infections that could be causing Hunter to be so ill. By lunchtime his temperature was 104. He slept all afternoon and into the evening. Several days later, I got the blood test results...STREP!!! Well, I knew it was still strep, but was glad that mono was ruled out. Hunter kept a fever all week, despite being on antibiotics. Finally by Friday evening he was fever free. Today is Wednesday (I think...) and the last day of his more powerful antibiotic. I looked in Hunter's mouth today to still see on very swollen tonsil with several white spots on it and some blisters in the back of his throat. I called the doctor's office and his doctor is out today, but we will see her tomorrow. She told us last week if he doesn't respond to this antibiotic that we will have to see an ENT to remove his tonsils. I don't know if that is what is next, but if it is, I need lots of prayers for some extra strength and patience. I will update after we see the doctor tomorrow!