Last weekend we had our first frantic scare for our daughter’s health. Being first time parents, every small change can seem huge and perhaps critical to our daughter’s health. Saturday, she was sleeping more than usual. Feeding just about as often as usual, but not necessarily as long as previously. In the evening, I took her temperature and she was above normal, though I did doubt the thermometer’s accuracy since it was used in her armpit and not the ole reliable tuckus. After a call to the on-call pediatric nurse, we took her to the ER at the nurse’s suggestion. She had also been having pain before her bowel movements or passing of gas, which accompanied by whining cries, sharp cries or sometimes piercing screams had only begun 3-4 days before.
As seems to happen with our family, our daughter recovered her health once at the hospital (my hubby’s ER visit had the same reslut when he had what we assume to be gall bladder pain). Her fever was gone (assuming it existed), after being taken from her car seat carrier for examination she was wide awake and alert like her normal self, and the bowel movement she had in front of the doctor on duty elicited no more than a wiggle and sigh from her. The doctor did hear gas bubbles in her tummy, and my husband and I got to experience her cries as we held her for a couple of tummy x-rays (just to be sure). The results: gastric disturbance. In other words, she was having normal baby bowel probs.
It didn’t end there though. Being the first time parents we are and more than likely over-reactionary, we turned the heat down in the house. The result was that our duaghter the next morning was still unusually sleepy and her body temperature was low. This time we used an rectal thermometer that my hubby had purchased at the 24 hour pharmacy in the late hours of the night after the ER. We debated phoning the on-call nurse again, but decided first to get her warmed up. Body to body contact being best, she and I laid down, belly to belly, chest to chest. She warmed up, perked up and became her usual wiggly, alert, hungry self again. She’s been back to normal ever since.
My husband and I realized just how isolated we are up here, with most of our family about 1,300 miles away. It made me appreciate support networks of family and friends. I wouldn’t change how may life has worked out in the past year and a half. I’m glad we moved. I’m glad to be pursuing my degree. And I’m completely overjoyed that our daughter is in our lives. I am happy with my life and all of its facets. Plus, I’m a bit humbled to know just how different life is that I have a small being completely dependent on me for her survival.
This is her earlier this week (after the taxing weekend):
I’d like to note two three things: 1) I don’t believe in headbands or bows on girl babies, but my mom bought them and I decided to take a picture with one to humor her. 2) The little pixie absolutely loves to lie on her changing table and stare around her room. She is most calm there (and also while breastfeeding) and hence the ability for mommy to take pictures (without the inclusion of a mammary shot). 3) As she gains weight, she gets even more cherub-like. Her cheeks and double chin (not so visible in this pic) are evidence. Her legs and arms are filling out nicely too. They were very skinny at birth. I was surprised to have a skinny baby considering her parents, both at birth and in their current physical shape.