I want my moneeeeey!!

The diagnosis

So, contrary to what all the nurses and doctor's had guessed, Charlie does indeed have Rotavirus. Who the heck knows how we managed to escape infection ourselves, but no wonder Charlie was pooping himself silly. He seems to have had a bad case, as most information available indicates he should only have had diarrhea for 5-8 days and we are now on day 15 (do you KNOW how much we've spent on diapers in the past two weeks?); for those of you keeping track at home, that's way too long. We've embarked on a month-long bowel health reconstruction project, sort of like the Big Dig, beginning with white bread, Pedialyte, rice, saltine crackers, and acidophilus. Poor guy; we had chicken Kiev and broccoli rabe for dinner. Maybe we shouldn't have eaten it in front of him? Next week, if he's doing well, we can add squash! He's been a pretty good sport through it all, even smiling at the nurses who, only moments before, had stabbed him with an IV and caused him to squirt blood all over the table. It takes a mother's love to weather the bowel storm of the past two weeks; Daddy went to the cabin for a guy's weekend while relatives took care of Claire. Glad he's home.

The Best Butt Balm Recipe Ever

After over a week of unrelenting Diarrhea, Charlie's little pooper was the color of a Florida sunrise. Yesterday was spent trying to keep up with the diaper blowouts every hour, as well as trying to keep his bottom dry and soothed. Needless to say, Gretchen was at wit's end, as was Charlie's bottom. To the rescue came neighbor Kristin, with the following recipe for the Best Butt Balm in the world:

• 1/2 Tube of A+D Ointment
• 1/2 Tube of Zinc Oxide (or Desitin)
• 1 T. Bacitraicin (or other antibiotic ointment)
• 1 T. Maalox or Mylanta (ya rly)
• 1 T. Betadine

Mix ingredients to combine and apply every diaper change. We didn't use the Betadine, but this stuff works! Charlie woke up this morning and his rear was MUCH better looking. We've been keeping this applied all morning and his bottom is almost right as rain. If we could just get him to stop soiling himself so often, life would be grand!

miles' allowance

miles' allowance
Originally uploaded by little birds.

A woman known as "little bird" has posted a picture on Flickr of her son's saving system. miles' allowance shows how she has set up three jars for her son. One for savings, one for charity, and one for spending. I think I might suggest this for Claire. I especially like the hand-written labels that Miles has made.

Perambulation update!

He's standing! His best distance walking is about two feet, but if Easter Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's house was any indication, the walking is imminent.

Mmmm....cholera!

Ok, probably not cholera, but Charlie has been sick with the barfy runs since Sunday. We've been to the doctor a couple of times since then and they have told us that it's something that's going around. Poor little guy has been losing liquids faster than a keg at a sorority luncheon. The hardest part is keeping up with the laundry load. Little dude is blowing out a new pair of pants every two hours!

There's not enough time...for CAKE!

Gretchen's Birthday is tomorrow. She's going to be 34 years old. We're planning on going out for dinner in lieu of a gift, but I found the perfect gift. Don't tell anyone, but this should be a t-shirt based exemplification of her perfect man: Bauer Power. She'll love it.

I give you my word.

WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?

DAMMIT!

First Steps, redux.

While on the first business trip in many months, I received the phone call any traveling parent dreads: "Charlie took his first steps!" I was coming down off 3 days of truck show induced ecstasy in Louisville, KY. Gretchen had the kids at Grandma's house. Charlie took at least two steps, but that was about it. I wish I had been there.

Then today, we were a couple of doors down at the first birthday party of one of Charlie's friends. I got to see Charlie stand for a few seconds, then take two steps. Not that he got anywhere, but it was great to see. Lucky for me, I don't travel much anymore, so I should not miss any more big accomplishments in the future.