Still sick but on the mend

Our Hudson is still sick but is definitely on the mend. He is on his second round of antibiotics to keep about the pneumonia. He is on 3-4 breathing treatments and mucinex every 4 hours. He has finally broke his fever and is regaining his appetite. He has been throwing up some since the end of last week. We believe it is all of the phelgm in his little belly. We are hoping for nice weather and for all the germs to leave the Elliott and Penrose households. Hudson has been sick for at least a month now with this nasty cold and virus and Gavin has been sick and coughing the past week or so. Allergy season is also at it's peak and mommy has a scratchy throat and wheezy chest. I am looking forward to everyone feeling better and for the warm weather to stay!

RSV

Hudson is sick for the first time in 18 months. Well sick as in needing antibiotics. He has had a cold and runny nose multiple times since teething. He has had a cough and congestion for many weeks. It began to move into his chest over the weekend. Monday was Presidents Day and I was off of work. I debated taking him in that day but he sounded rattling and not wheezy. Monday night I got my mom's stethoscope to listen to him and he was wheezing. He didn't sleep well at all on Sunday or Monday night.

We headed to the doctor on Tuesday morning and the visit revealed RSV with a spot of pneumonia on his left lung. We started preventive antibiotics for 10 days and are currently doing breathing treatments. Hudson was a trouper at the doctor's office even though he hated the xrays and the first breathing treatment. He has been feeling much better and acting like himself.

We are thankful we caught this virus early and that he did not have to be hospitalized which can be common with RSV (dehydration, vomiting, high fever). Hudson has not had a fever at all.

We are so blessed that this is his first illness in 18 months. God is Good all the time.

Pee Pee in the Potty

Hudson has shown interest in the toliet for quite some time. We often let him go in with us when we use the restroom. I have let him sit on the toliet without a diaper a couple of times and Mimi had also let him do it several times.

Last night after dinner, Hudson's diaper was very wet. I knew it needed to be changed so I told Jerm we should just let him try to sit on the toliet. And guess what happened? Hudson peed in the potty on the first time. He also set their squeezing his stomach muscles and grunting like he was trying to poop although that didn't happen (probably because he had pooped 3x already). We praised him and cheered and he was so excited.

About 5 minutes after we had put his diaper back on, he went back to the bathroom door and started to whine. Jerm and I assumed he just wanted to sit again (gets fixated on new things plus our reaction) so we let him try to sit again. AND he peed again. It wasn't much but he sat and went pee two times last night.

We are just going to slowly introduce the potty to him. We know he is probably no where ready to be potty trained (he is only 18 mths) but this has to be a great start! We are proud of our little buddy!

18 Months Old

Hudson is officially 1 1/2 years old now. It's so hard to believe that my baby is not a baby anymore but really a toddler. He is so sweet and loving and affectionate but also stubborn and strong-willed. He is smart and funny. He loves to do puzzles, read books, play with all of his toys, go on walks, and be outside. He really still enjoys bath time as well. His language is booming and he is starting to repeat everything. He is producing more and more 2-word phrases at this time.

We have taken him to every MSU home game this year and he loves them. He cheers with the crowd, dances to the band, sings the fight song, and claps and shouts. He even occasionally boos when he hears grandpa.

He is sleeping around 10 hours at night. He only takes one nap a time which usually is between 1-2 hours. Hudson has all of his teeth but his 2 year molars which we think are trying to come in. He has been slobbering a ton and chewing on his hands. He is a great eater. Hudson loves most fruit. His favorites are strawberries, bananas, oranges, peaches, and pears. He also likes a handful of vegetables....green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots. He eats alot of cottage cheese, sliced cheese, and meats (turkey, ham, chicken, and tuna). He likes grilled cheese and noodles (mac and cheese, Parmesan etc). Hudson only drinks milk or water and rarely ever gets juice.

At our appointment yesterday, Hudson weighed 29.12 pounds which places him in the 90% and 32 inches tall which places him in the 50%. He is a growing and healthy boy. Everything looks good and he did not get shots so his next round will be at 24 months. I can't believe that in 6 months I will have his next visit but also be planning for his 2 year birthday party.....makes me kind of sad.

We are looking forward to warm weather, lots of time outside, and the lake this summer! Hudson, we love you so incredibly much and thank God for you daily! You have made the last year and a half of our lives the most wonderful time. You are such a joy!

What's New

It has been quite a while since I have posted. Hudson is such a big boy now. He is growing and speaking more. He is at least 30 lbs now and loves to eat.

His favorite foods include lunchmeat, hotdogs, sliced cheese, cottage cheese, strawberries, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, and of course sweets (which he doesn't get often). He likes grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and fish sticks. We are yet to try peanut butter but I think he will love it.

He is beginning to have an explosion of language. Receptively, he is very smart and understands just about everything we say. Expressively, he is beginning to copy many new words. Some of his recent new words include: help, please, thank you, bubbles, off, nope, and oh no. He has signed more since he was very young and continues to request more of things by signing. He also recently learned the signs help, please, and thank you. I am excited to see if he will continue to use them.

He is a very active and smart boy. He is somewhat stubborn and likes to have his way. We have started using time out (1 minute) in a designated spot on the wall and he really seems to understand the concept. He continues to be a little jealous of Gavin when Mimi is watching them both. He does however love him alot and I'm excited to see them play together when Gavin gets older.

We have an appointment on February 1st to check weight and height.....no shots this time. Thank goodness! I will post an update after his next appointment. We love our boy so much and feel very blessed to have a healthy and growing baby boy!

H or Hudson clothing

http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/2011/12/monogram-swap.html

Kelly's Korner is hosting a monogrammed clothing swap. I am looking for boys clothing 24 mth or larger with an H or Hudson on it. If you have something, please email me at andinwvb33@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Friends Weekend

Three of my friends from grad school were in this past weekend. Audrey, from Nebraska who drove 9 hours, and Lyndsay and Aliece from St Louis. The girls stayed with Katie, and I got to spend the weekend with them going out to eat, making pottery, eating sushi, having drinks, watching a movie, and staying up way too late. It was so much fun being around these four girls who I spent so many hours with at school. They truly are friends I know I will have for a lifetime.

Thank you to Jeremy for watching Hudson and letting me spend my whole weekend away. You are the best daddy and husband a girl could ask for. I am truly blessed!!