BJ at 18 Months

Nicknames: Beej, little man, stinker, lovebug, bug, Captain poopypants, bud, Stink, Little stink, baby boy (I can't help myself), Mister

Weight & Height: 25 lbs 8oz (45%) and 31" (15%)- (poor guy is getting mom's genes in the height currently)
Hair: Blonde
Favorite foods: "ogs" (hot dogs- the turkey, no sugar, nitrite ones his mom lets him have), bread, fruit, berries, applesauce, cheerios, and he LOVES his soy milk
Favorite toys: balls, Diego cart, tools, kitchen pots and pans, tents/tunnels, shoes, hats
Favorite stuffed animal: his "doggie" (and he loves his blankets)
Bedtime: 7 p.m.
Wake-up time: 6 a.m.
Naps: mostly one nap a day for 2-3 hours around 12:30-1, when home with Dad, sometimes 2 2 hour naps
Favorite person: Daddy mostly, but really loves being with Mommy too
Latest Accomplishment: his speech has really picked up, also, he has done a good job working on his behavior- better with time outs, asking for help, asking please (don't get me wrong, he's still a toddler)
Likes: playing with Mommy and Daddy, "reading", going for walks/playing outside, "cooking", coloring/sidewalk chalk, "driving" the car (with Daddy into the garage), fixing cars with Daddy, playing on Mommy and Daddy's bed, cleaning/sweeping, digging in the garden
Dislikes: having to come inside, being dropped off at his sitter's in the morning, diaper changes, zucchini, green beans, black beans

What he is saying: apple, uh-oh, "og" (dog), "ock" (sock), "uck" (truck), Dada, Mama, up, "juiz" (shoes), book, doggie, "itty" (kitty), "hep" (help), hi, ball, bye-bye, night- night

What he is signing: all done, more, please, water, help, thank you, milk, eat
What gets said about BJ most often: how cute he is, and more so- how well mannered
Best known for: his expressions
Fears: suffocating with his inhaler?, Mommy or Daddy leaving him
Health: doing better, only a few colds this year, gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
How he's like Daddy: he likes Mommy, has a mischevious grin at times, loves to "drive the car", mostly laid back personality, work on the car and outside, take napps
How he's like Mommy: his coloring, his hugs, love of cuddling (at least while he reads)

Funny things he's done lately: cover his eyes with his hands, but look out through the fingers, "clean" our already clean oven with a wet sponge, getting upset when he accidentally peed on one of his favorite books, signing "all done" from the backseat on car rides, asking to sit on the couch and clapping when the TV got turned on (he doesn't watch any TV at all- it is really never on with him around!), "sliding" down the stairs on his belly- really fast, blow kisses by putting his hand over his mouth and blowing through the fingers, taking his pj pants and diaper off one night in bed, putting pants on upside down, putting another pair of pants on over his current ones

That's probably enough for now. The pics:

"Cool dudes" at the zoo

Friends from church L to R Luke, Kirina, Nicholas, BJ

Helping Daddy work on the car

Heading out on the Diego car

"Gotta get to work Mom" (notice the tape measure on his pants)

God's messages through the weekend

I have had quite a mixed month. I'm working closely with surgeons this month, which has proved to be mostly stereotypical. I must qualify that. These surgeons seem to have a pretty decent bedside manner (not typical) but are fairly harsh and demanding with themselves and their colleagues (read: me). I've been really working on my attitude lately, having God remind me that if being overnight call on a night that I was not scheduled to be is the worst of my worries, I am extremely blessed. However, this does not take away the grueling fatigue I fight at times with the onslaught of harsh comments and really sick patients. I have definitely been stretched. So, just when I was not sure I could take it any longer (come on, you'd think it would be common sense to tell me that a patient I had been trying to save all night died), I have had a weekend of reminding me where my priorities should stand. I slept Sat. but had a wonderful time hanging with my boys. We had a sermon on Sat. night highlighting the scandals of child and sex slaves in the world and our apathetic response as American Christians to these horrors. How blessed I am for being in a place where I don't even worry about that. Then we watched "The Blind Side"- wow great movie, very touching. Again, I have been blessed, I have never worried about not having a place to sleep. So I was reminded again that my little insignificant stressors are fairly minor. Sunday, God knew what was best once again, I slept in (on accident) instead of running a 5K I was hoping to race. Another reminder- you don't have to do it all. And then, we went to the zoo with BJ instead of working on all I felt was pressing- again, reminder of priorities as I watched him ooo and gasp at the animals. Finally, we "ended" the weekend with a parenting class with some great friends- where one announced she was pregnant, and another shared her heart and struggles. We rejoiced and grieved. AND the lesson specifically hit on not thinking we can do it all. So now, I'm trying to focus on God and his provisions instead of panicking about the massive amount of things yet to get done, laundry, senior project, journal club, sleep. God is good, He gets us when we forget to listen and focus on ourselves instead of others. He sends us messages through our friends, missed alarms, sweet kiddo hugs, pastors, and life in general. Are you listening?

Outside

I think I've mentioned it before, but our little guy LOVES going outside. He loves going for walks, riding in the jogging stroller, hitting the park, helping Daddy wash cars or sweep, and most recently helping Daddy in the backyard with digging! Brandon is working on a planter for our garden for this year and has been trying to get in little bits of work here in there on these great sunny Colorado evenings. BJ is quite the little helper. Today when we got home for the day, he ran over to the sliding glass door, pointed out, and signed please. When I told him he didn't have any shoes on, he ran and found them so we could put them on. He had to be appeased with a walk to the mailbox though for tonight. But, I'm glad we have plenty of BJ approved sunscreen, we are going to need it this summer!!

Very intent on raking!

I love how he found his pocket in this one!

A bit heavy to maneuver!

Shoveling

Another early passion, driving. . . (with Mommy at the Denver Car show!)

BJ's dance

Check out BJ's dance to a song from the "Cars" soundtrack- it is on the book he keeps pushing the button to.

Loving life with a toddler . . . most days

We truly are loving life with our toddler. Over the last few weeks BJ has definitely picked up concepts that help immensely keep the peace in our house. He is getting more consistent with "staying" on the step for his 1 minute time out, and stops crying once he hears the timer go off. He has also done a great job of learning to sign "please" which is great since he has learned whining doesn't get you much, but asking "please" can be much better! It is so cute though, he repeatedly signs "please" even when you say no- like we will change our minds if he asks "politely" enough times.

He is in love with being outside- doing anything- shoveling, sweeping, going for runs, bike rides, park, walking. Loves it- and signs "please" a lot, while pointing outside. Other loves- shoes (ours and his), soy milk, bags, books, hats, balls, and when Mommy or Daddy come to pick him up or come home.

We recently were able to fly back to celebrate BJ's cousin's (my nephew's) 1st birthday. It was great to be with family, and awesome to see BJ "play" and interact with both sets of grandparents, aunt and uncle, and his cousin (somewhat). He even did well on the plane- playing the whole time on the way to Omaha, sleeping on the way back! Let me assure you, there were lots of giggles during our quick trip back!

Other updates: he did spend last week being sick (I know, again) with a fever (103ish) for a few days, but developed a rash after the 3-4 days of fever, sealing a roseola diagnosis- which is a harmless virus. We loved the extra cuddles, but would have liked him healthy instead!

Ok, on to the pics- it is the best part anyway

Shoveling in his PJ's- yes I did let him do this

Deep in a good book- The Pokey Little Puppy

Hiding in the curtains with his friends

With Daddy's hat, Mommy's shoes

Notes from Dr. Mom

Here are a few tidbits that I wish I could tell all my patient's parents, and some of them I do. They aren't always popular, but definitely backed by years of medical training (which is almost over!)

1. A fever, by definition is a temperature above 100.4 degrees F, regardless of if your little one usually runs lower.

2. If you tell me they are running a low grade fever, I will assume, they are not febrile at all.

3. Ezcema, although can be very itchy, painful, can bleed and get infected, is not an emergency. Please do not go to your emergency room for this.

4. Smoking outside is not equivalent to not smoking at all. I realize quitting smoking is hard, but so is much of parenting- quitting is the best thing for your kids.

5. If your child's teacher says they are an angel at school, and they are a terror at home, you may want to look at your parenting techniques, not get them evaluated for ADHD.

6. Cough medicine in a child under 6 years of age is not recommended by the FDA, and has not been shown to be effective at all. Sometimes, there is nothing you can give your child to improve their cold. You can just love them, and pray that time will go faster.

7. Antibiotics are never, ever indicated for a viral illness.

8. Green mucus from the nose is not always an indication of a bacterial cause, it can be merely a natural progression of a cold.

9. Viruses take 7-14 days to improve.

10. An infant who grunts while pooping, but produces soft stool, is not constipated. Babies don't have to poop daily.

11. There have been zero studies to prove that immunizations cause autism. In fact, there is overwhelming evidence against it. There are side effects of immunizations- usually a mild fever, soreness at the area, a small red lump at injection site. The serious side effects or complications, are extremely rare. I am pro-immunization and countless studies have been done on their safety. The immunization side effects are minimal compared to the horrible diseases they prevent, that still exist in the world. I immunized my son.

12. I will not refuse to see a child whose parents have chosen to not immunize. It is their decision.

13. Not everything you read on the internet is true.

14. If you call me at 2 a.m. to tell me that your child has some red skin or other nonpainful problem, I will try to answer your questions without asking you why you just noticed this at 2 a.m.

15. Juice really adds little nutritionally to your child's diet. It is mostly sugar (even 100% juice) and whole fruit are a better choice. Your child really could just drink water instead, or water down the juice. The exception to this: juice can produce diarrhea, so can be helpful in constipation.

16. Go with your gut, I have seen countless instances where the parent's sixth sense was right. If you think your child needs to be seen, take them in, regardless of what someone tells you on the internet or phone.

17. Never hesitate to ask questions, there is no stupid question, even if it is on an aforementioned item!

There are more, but these are the ones that were forefront on my mind this afternoon. P.S. If I'm not at work, I generally don't judge or think about your medical decisions concerning your own child, so don't think this is a message to anyone in particular.

Words!!

BJ is finally talking!! He really should have started talking a while ago, but it can be hard to talk when you can't hear well!! (But that has really changed with his tubes!!) He has now started saying Uh-oh, ball, apple, up, and occasionally mama and dada. The mama really only comes out when I'm on call- then he calls and looks for me. Dada still is very frequent either. But any food is "apple" and "uh-oh" comes out a lot!! He is loving any and all balls lately- and his football sounds like "ba-ba" (ball-ball) We're so excited to finally here him say some words. A few of his docs were concerned he was behind in his development and needed to be evaluated, but Dr. Jill (our family doc) was happy to wait- I'm glad we did. He is such a fun little guy right now- loving to play with us, loving to sit and read books with us (this is relatively new) and has started making towers out of blocks. (But if the blocks tumble when he tries to put one on the tower, the whole thing must come down.) Unfortunately, he has been sick (again) this last week or so. Running a temp anywhere from normal to 102 to once 105+. He's been diagnosed with RSV causing an asthma flare with a likely ear infection and pneumonia complicating the whole picture. We've stayed home with him all week- now Brandon has started feeling badly too, but he's on the mend. We're not sure if he picked this up from Mommy- I had laryngitis prior to his illness, or at Lil Monkey Bizness- an awesome indoor playground he loves to go to. Either way, our pulmonologist is hopeful that when he is five (I wish it was sooner), his airways will be bigger and less prone to illness and inflammation. We're hoping so! Here are some quick pics of our sweet little boy!

Helping shovel

Dragging "doggie" around
Wearing the backpack cooler makes you cool!

At the top of the slide at Lil Monkey Bizness

And down!!