Thanksgiving...

We visited Richard's family in California this weekend and had a great time. There were over 30 people there!! Miles had a blast playing with the kids and making us grown-ups laugh. He likes to wrestle the kids and dance with the adults. I love that he is so totally outgoing.

On Friday, we visited some friends in Pleasanton and then were off to San Francisco. I was craving some crab cocktails (which is weird the day after Thanksgiving, I know), so we were off to the wharf. We also got clam chowder in bread bowls that Miles loved.

We walked up and down The Embarcadero and did some window shopping. This picture was taken at the coffee shop inside the bread factory.


We were going to come back to Reno on Friday night, but there was a storm passing through the mountains, so we crashed at my cousin Susan's house just south of Sacramento. Miles had fun playing with her two dogs and kids.

He was so great the entire trip! I thought he would be miserable in the car for hours at a time, but he proved me wrong in the greatest way possible. I couldn't be happier. I wonder how he'll be on an airplane...

Pre-sick photos

Here he is with his little camo hoodie and his fat face.


Waving at the camera! Say cheese!

When will he be well!?!

His impetigo has since gone away, but now Miles has a mild touch of bronchitis and had the stomach flu this weekend. I feel bad because Richard gave him the bronchial infection, and I'm the one responsible for the flu. I had it so bad that I was completely evacuated of any stomach contents within three hours. That was no picnic, let me tell you.

Richard, on the other hand, had a cold about a month ago that turned into a sinus infection that then turned into acute bronchitis. He has the weakest immune system, and because he's working out and training three times a day, his body hasn't had the time it needs to get well.

So my poor little baby has had the worst few months. I was miserable with the flu and Richard has been miserable with his cough, but my poor sweet child had both on Friday night. He would only sleep if I was rocking him, so I got NO SLEEP that night. I remember sitting on the couch at 3:30am in tears - I was physically, mentally, and emotionally spent. I've never been that exhausted and have never felt that helpless.

He still isn't sleeping well and was awake last night from 3:30am to 5:30am. He was in an okay mood, but he was somewhat fussy becuase he didn't fall asleep until 10:30pm although I tried to get him to sleep at 9:30pm.

I can't wait until he's his happy, cheerful self. I almost forget who he normally is because all of his health issues have taken over his otherwise wonderful disposition.

God, Buddha, Higher Power, if you are reading this, please do what you can to give my baby back to me. I miss him!

When things haven't gone well for you...

"When things haven't gone well for you, call in a secretary or a staff man and chew him out. You will sleep better and they will appreciate the attention." ~ Lyndon B. Johnson

Speaking of staff man, Miles has a staph infection. Aparently, staph is everywhere. "Many healthy people carry staph bacteria in their noses without getting sick." Gross. Miles was lucky enough to get a cut or scratch that let the bacteria in to fester and multiply. He's on two very strong antibiotics as his doctor was worried it would turn into Scalded skin syndrome, which would result in my son going to the hospital for the fifth time in his short 13 months.

I can't wait for him to get better. For those who are parents out there, you know what I'm talking about. There is nothing more frustrating and more upsetting than to have a sick child who is miserable, and there's nothing you can do to help them. I also can't wait to have a full-night's sleep again. My poor baby wakes up itching and crying A FEW times a night.

I look forward to the time when this blog can be used for fun and cheerful stories instead of dreadful and gloomy ones...

Maybe... Maybe Not...

Well, Miles may not have impetigo, or maybe he does. No one seems to know just what he has, but I know that I want him to get better soon. His sores have now spread up his legs to his stomach, chest, and arms. He is constipated from his antibiotics, doesn't sleep but an hour at a time, and is generally miserable.

He had a culture taken on Monday at his doctor (who is a family practitioner and not a pediatrician). They had to peel off one of his scabs using a scapel and vigorously rub a cotton swab over the open wound. This sample was taken to the lab where they plan to "grow" the bacteria for a week to see what it is.

His follow-up appointment is on Monday, and he has another appointment scheduled on Tuesday with a dermatologist, just in case. He may have some rare skin disorder, but my doctor doesn't want me to freak out too badly.

In good news, he can walk like a mad-man. That means that he's everywhere and is into everything. He looks like a sumo wrestler because he's a little chunky and has bow legs. He waddles all over the place and falls down as soon as he tries to run.

He loves our dog, Doug, a six-month-old American Bulldog. And Doug loves Miles. They share kisses all the time, but it's not as gross as you might think. Miles thinks our cat, Penny, will be just as lovable, but he finds time and time again that she's not into that.

My husband comes home tonight, and I'm so excited to get as close to a full night's sleep as possible. It's hard living away from him Monday through Friday... I feel like I'm a single mom. It'll be nice to sleep a solid six or seven hours for once.