Sick Days

Bit of a long week here! Sleepless nights, colds, poop, and internet trouble. Not a pretty combination. LOL, the blizzard was actually the FUN part of our week!

First Ruby wasn't sleeping. Couldn't for the life of me figure out why she was tossing and turning and waking up crying again. And why she was hard to get down for naps again. Turns out the Giardia is back. Ugg. That is exactly what happened the last time she had it. Tough little buggers decided to stick around I see. Poor Ruby. I wondered why she wasn't eating much for a couple days. After 4 nights in a row of little sleep (Ruby would go back to sleep after crying but I couldn't) Mommy came down with a cold. I sware, I have NEVER had so many colds as I do now that I am a Mom. This is like the 3rd or 4th one in 3 months! Time to go back to all things natural and organic. Been straying a bit due to Whole Foods being so far away, but I really need to go back on probiotic vitamins and a mostly vegetarian and organic diet.  I never get sick like this. Of course, kids really do carry lots of stuff and we have been around lots of them - at the mall, the classes, friends, etc, so maybe I'd get it anyway. 

So, first, I got a cold, then a couple days later Ruby got one, then at the same time the giardia symptoms started coming back and then we got the call confirming it. I had been weaning her on to milk and was up to 1/3 of the bottle and now we have to stop dairy again. Urrr. She hasn't been real cranky - all things considered - but there were a few days that were trying. Feel so bad for her.  Since we missed classes and were home all day, we had to get creative. We finger painted, colored, pulled out her princess tent, wrapped presents together, decorated a few little trees around the house, and played with every toy and puzzle we own. We have also snuggled a lot and watched more TV than I ever thought I would allow, but it's been nice and she needed the down time. One exception is we went out in the snow yesterday. Will do another post on this and share some pics. There is no way anyone could recognize her hidden in her snow suit so I feel okay posting!

So we've had a long week, but some good stuff, too. Ruby has been bonding with Daddy more than ever. It's so great to see. Since we've been home I have tried to give them alone time, but she would always run into the kitchen looking for me. Now she will sit in his lap and snuggle for an hour and not run for me. While I love her running for me, this is actually a really, really good thing and I love how much she has bonded with Jeff in the last few weeks. She will run to him now just as much as me and he can pick her up and hold her for longer periods of time. It's just wonderful to see!

I went out on a limb this week and ran to Toys R Us during her nap. It was packed and there was a lot of traffic so I didn't get home in time. Nervous Nelly that I am, I called Jeff's cell like 5 times during her nap. He would answer, YES, Jen, she is still sleeping! Finally, I knew I wouldn't make it back in time so I told him to get her up and let her know I was on my way home. She had already napped 2-1/2 hours so I knew she had to get up. Ruby had never woken up without me being there. But she feels secure enough that in my heart I knew she'd be just fine...and she was. I got home only about 15-20 minutes after she got up and she was snuggling in front of the tube with Daddy watching the Wonder Pets. He said she cried just a little but he told her I was coming right back and then he took her downstairs. Success! Next time I will try a little longer and see if I can go for an hour. Sometimes it will be nice to be able to get a break, but still I think it will be harder for me than for her! But it is good for her to know that sometimes Mommy has to go out but I will always be back.

Today, she still has her cold and giardia, but she's a little better each day. And Mommy's cold is gone so she can clean her house and entertain her little one with much more enthusiasm! Hooray!