.
With Brielle still getting over this viral infection (for which nothing could be done for-her body is fighting it off itself) I am not sure what to make of her. She just turned 5 months, and she seems to be changing so much. Here’s why I type this: she seems to be weaning herself of the pacifier! WHAT? WHY? I cry! (as I put it back in her mouth while she is fussing). She reaches up and plucks it right out, to fuss some more. Again and again it goes. It has been like this for days.
Well, it began a few weeks ago when she caught a cold. That lasted for almost two weeks (the cold) and in her congested state, she had a hard time breathing while sucking on it, so she really couldn’t take it. But then, as she got better, she began to take it again. Then, about four days ago she contracted this virus. She didn’t show any signs of being congested in her nose, so I am not sure why she didn’t want her paci. But she looked miserable. She was either in one of these states: zoning out, crying, or sleeping (which she would just randomly do-anyone who KNOWS Brielle, knows she takes some effort sometimes to get to sleep!).
So, I took her in. She was miserable. Her fever was 101.9. They took blood from her big toe, which she cried all throughout. Her white blood cell count was up. But the Dr couldn’t pinpoint if it was viral, a UTI, or the beginning of pneumonia. So, he ordered tests for the UTI, which meant a catheter to obtain the urine sample, and a chest x-ray. The catheter was a mess, of course, Brielle was already upset to begin with, this seemed like torture. She started gagging, then throwing up, we had to roll her to her side, and start over with a new kit. But they got some. And lab results determined that was not it. Then we went to have the chest x-ray. I have never had an x-ray done on one of my children (seem odd? why is it the baby girl, not the two rambunctious older boys?), but I can tell you they use a very strange contraption for babies/toddlers! It is like a plastic tube that the baby sits in. There is a piece of wood in the center for their bottom, their legs dangle down, and Mom holds baby’s hands straight up over their head, then the tube closes around them. The x-ray technician said, “it may seem a bit barbaric.” Yeah. Luckily, he moved quickly. Brielle screamed. To the point of gagging and throwing up twice while enclosed. Good grief! Poor thing was put through so much in such a short time. The x-ray returned with minimal results, meaning it could be something, but it looked fairly normal. We returned the next morning, where they drew more blood (from the other big toe). Her temperature was back down to 98.9 and she seemed to be feeling a little better. The cells that fight viral infections were way up, the ones that fight bacteria were down. So, we knew it was 1) viral, 2) doing the work on it’s own. That was good news.
But none of this explains the pacifier.
I know that maybe I should be grateful if she is truly weaning herself of it at such a young age. But it worked so well to pacify her. She’s no less needy or fussy without it, I can tell you that much! Will thinks there is something wrong with her mouth. We can’t see any signs of teething on her gums. She is trying to put everything in her mouth, then gets frustrated. She knaws on her hands. I don’t know.
She is still not rolling over on her own consistently yet. She rolled over twice from her tummy to back three weeks ago. Then a few days later she rolled from her back to tummy. But apparently they were isolated incidents, as she shows no interest in any of that anymore. She is getting stronger with sitting up, and will probably be doing that all on her own someday soon.
But for now, I am enjoying the immobility. Quite well.
One of my favorite things I love about this stage is something that she’s been doing since the day she was born: feeling with her fingers and hands. It’s the sweetest sensation to feel on myself. So soft and searching. So rough: pinching, grabbing, pulling, playing. She is such a feeler! It will be interesting so see her development, if she is a hands-on learner as well. If she is a people-person, who affirms people, reaching out to touch them often. I wonder. She touches everything that comes within her reach. She is fast now too.
She also does this wiggly worm type thing when she is lying on her back. She squirms and wriggles purposefully. It’s really cute. She’s also getting a little more verbal with her vocals. Ah, the beginnings…..
She seems to be doing much better today, feisty and happily needy.
With Brielle still getting over this viral infection (for which nothing could be done for-her body is fighting it off itself) I am not sure what to make of her. She just turned 5 months, and she seems to be changing so much. Here’s why I type this: she seems to be weaning herself of the pacifier! WHAT? WHY? I cry! (as I put it back in her mouth while she is fussing). She reaches up and plucks it right out, to fuss some more. Again and again it goes. It has been like this for days.Well, it began a few weeks ago when she caught a cold. That lasted for almost two weeks (the cold) and in her congested state, she had a hard time breathing while sucking on it, so she really couldn’t take it. But then, as she got better, she began to take it again. Then, about four days ago she contracted this virus. She didn’t show any signs of being congested in her nose, so I am not sure why she didn’t want her paci. But she looked miserable. She was either in one of these states: zoning out, crying, or sleeping (which she would just randomly do-anyone who KNOWS Brielle, knows she takes some effort sometimes to get to sleep!).
So, I took her in. She was miserable. Her fever was 101.9. They took blood from her big toe, which she cried all throughout. Her white blood cell count was up. But the Dr couldn’t pinpoint if it was viral, a UTI, or the beginning of pneumonia. So, he ordered tests for the UTI, which meant a catheter to obtain the urine sample, and a chest x-ray. The catheter was a mess, of course, Brielle was already upset to begin with, this seemed like torture. She started gagging, then throwing up, we had to roll her to her side, and start over with a new kit. But they got some. And lab results determined that was not it. Then we went to have the chest x-ray. I have never had an x-ray done on one of my children (seem odd? why is it the baby girl, not the two rambunctious older boys?), but I can tell you they use a very strange contraption for babies/toddlers! It is like a plastic tube that the baby sits in. There is a piece of wood in the center for their bottom, their legs dangle down, and Mom holds baby’s hands straight up over their head, then the tube closes around them. The x-ray technician said, “it may seem a bit barbaric.” Yeah. Luckily, he moved quickly. Brielle screamed. To the point of gagging and throwing up twice while enclosed. Good grief! Poor thing was put through so much in such a short time. The x-ray returned with minimal results, meaning it could be something, but it looked fairly normal. We returned the next morning, where they drew more blood (from the other big toe). Her temperature was back down to 98.9 and she seemed to be feeling a little better. The cells that fight viral infections were way up, the ones that fight bacteria were down. So, we knew it was 1) viral, 2) doing the work on it’s own. That was good news.
But none of this explains the pacifier.
I know that maybe I should be grateful if she is truly weaning herself of it at such a young age. But it worked so well to pacify her. She’s no less needy or fussy without it, I can tell you that much! Will thinks there is something wrong with her mouth. We can’t see any signs of teething on her gums. She is trying to put everything in her mouth, then gets frustrated. She knaws on her hands. I don’t know.
She is still not rolling over on her own consistently yet. She rolled over twice from her tummy to back three weeks ago. Then a few days later she rolled from her back to tummy. But apparently they were isolated incidents, as she shows no interest in any of that anymore. She is getting stronger with sitting up, and will probably be doing that all on her own someday soon.
But for now, I am enjoying the immobility. Quite well.
One of my favorite things I love about this stage is something that she’s been doing since the day she was born: feeling with her fingers and hands. It’s the sweetest sensation to feel on myself. So soft and searching. So rough: pinching, grabbing, pulling, playing. She is such a feeler! It will be interesting so see her development, if she is a hands-on learner as well. If she is a people-person, who affirms people, reaching out to touch them often. I wonder. She touches everything that comes within her reach. She is fast now too.
She also does this wiggly worm type thing when she is lying on her back. She squirms and wriggles purposefully. It’s really cute. She’s also getting a little more verbal with her vocals. Ah, the beginnings…..
She seems to be doing much better today, feisty and happily needy.
1 comment:
My Fiona is 5 months, will be 6 on the 28th. I had forgotten what a fun stage this is with the vocals and the wiggles. The pinching I could do without, especially when she finds that tender skin on the back of my arm!
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