Not Very Merry.

We had our first trip to the hospital on Christmas night. We noticed that Jackson was a little warm on Monday morning after opening his presents. So we took his temperature. 100 degrees even. Not cause for alarm really, but we called the pediatrician's after hours hotline. Betsy told the operator the symptoms and the Dr. called us right away. She told us to give him Tylenol and monitor his temp.. So that's what we did.

After a relaxing morning and afternoon we went over to Grandma and Grandpa B's for Christmas dinner and festivities. Jackson had gone through phases of fussy, sleepy, sleeping, and happy all day and the evening was no different. We kept checking his temperature and giving him Tylenol and although Jackson was clearly not himself, the treatment seemed to be working pretty well.

After we left Grandma and Grandpa's house, We gave him another dose of ibuprofen and checked his temperature. 100.6 degrees. After about thirty minutes he seemed to be hotter. So we checked again. 101.2 Not good. The fever was going the wrong way. Another thirty minutes or so and we checked again. 102.1 degrees. We called the doctor again and she called right back again. She told us we could either go get him some Motrin and and keep monitoring it or head downtown to the Children's hospital. We chose the latter.

We got to the emergency room at about 12:45am and we were quickly moved through to triage. The nurse checked his temp (the hard way) and it was 101.2. They then led us to an exam room and we were thinking "wow! this is moving quickly." Wrong!

We dressed Jackson in a tiny hospital gown and began the wait. At one point he even perked up a bit.

That didn't last too long. He slept some and we waited and waited. Finally after two and a half hours a nurse came in and took his temperature. 103.3! He was burning up. They brought in some Motrin and we gave it too him. At first it seemed to have no affect, but within about thirty minutes he really started to cool off some and the redness in his cheeks lessened and he was able to get some sleep.

Eventually, the doctor came to see him. The doctor barged in, turned on the lights, and ordered us to sit Jackson up. (the doctor was far from friendly) He wanted to see if Jackson would track his movements as he walked back and forth (a test for menengitis). Jackson passed. The doctor felt fairly certain that menengitis was not the issue and ordered a blood test and some chest xrays.

Two nurses came in to put in an IV (the iv was in case there was a later need for antibiotics) and draw the necessary blood. That was the hardest thing Betsy or I ever had to witness. They placed a splint on his arm to keep the IV in place and poor Jackson looked like a wounded bird.


So then we had two xrays, which was less of an ordeal than I expected, and we went back to the room to wait an hour for the results of the blood test. Jackson was able to fall asleep again and after about an hour, the doctor came busting in again barking orders for us to wake Jackson up and get him playing with a toy or something. Easy for him to say. He'd be back in five minutes to see him. He came back in and checked for Jackson's eye movement tracking the doctor across the room etc. He again was satisfied. He told us that the blood work looked good and the xrays were clear. He dicided to go ahead with the antibiotics although he did not suspect bacterial infection.

A nurse came in and hooked up the antibiotics to the IV and said in 30 minutes it would be done and we could go home. With the Motrin still working, Jackson managed to have a little fun while the antibiotics were being delivered.



How cute is that little hospital gown?

That was it. They set us free with the instruction of having his pediatrician check him out the next day. It only took seven hours! We got home around 8:30 am (with the gown!)

Fast forward to today. After a long day yesterday of fussy, happy, sleepy, fussy, asleep, fussy, fussier, sleeping, happy, fussy, fussy, fussier. Betsy took Jackson to see his doctor. Within minutes she could tell he had hand, foot, and mouth disease. She couldn't believe the ER doctor didn't catch it. She really couldn't believe he didn't look in his mouth and see the tell tale sores.
Anyway, the long and short of it is that we have a sickly baby on our hands for several more days. He has a sore mouth and therefore doesn't want to eat or drink. Dehydration is the primary concern. He'll get through it, it's just gonna be no fun for a few days.

Friday we are having Christmas number two with the Mills'. So Jackson gets another chance at having a happier holiday. Check back on Saturday for Christmas pictures from both actual Christmas and from the upcoming Friday Christmas. I figured this post was long enough so I'll post all the Christmas pictures together.

9 Months!

Today, Jackson turned nine months old. He visited the pediatrician for his nine month check up and another round of shots. He was weighed and measured as usual. Not much change since the last time. Still just under twenty pounds.

On Tuesday, Jackson took his first steps. He was standing at his piano, as he often does, then he decided to turn around and walk to his momma. She was just two steps away. I think he could have made it a couple more steps if she had been further away. Big trouble is just around the corner.
Here he is practicing his technique.


Other than getting older and learning to walk, we've been getting ready for Christmas. Over the weekend we worked on some top secret crafts.
Red on Saturday.

Green on Sunday.


Dressed up and under the tree just for fun.


Bye Bye for now.

Nothing is Safe

This little monster is mobile and he knows it. Jackson is no longer content to just sit where you put him. He's gotta move! Of course he only wants to crawl to and climb up on things we don't want him to get into. Sometimes he does choose a safe target.
Here's an example.




It used to be that if Jackson was hungry you could give him a bottle and he'd sit still and drink it. Sometimes he'd even fall asleep. Not anymore. The bottle doesn't interfere with his roaming.







When Jackson does reach his destination he has to put something in his mouth. If he can't bring it to his mouth he just brings his mouth to it.

So that's life at the Birdsong house lately. Chasing a baby around and saying "No! Don't put that in your mouth."
And finally, here's a couple extra pictures that are just cute.

Jackson with his pants on his head.


And Jackson ready for the cold weather we had last week.