"Hotel" Hasbro

Friday afternoon I took Teagan to the doctor because she had what I thought were minor cold symptoms. In fact, I almost didn't take her at all because her two month well visit was scheduled for Tuesday. However, the night before she hadn't eaten from 2 am to 11:30 am and had a feaver of 100.4, so I decided I better take her in. When we got there the doctor listened to her breathe and then ever so calmly told me that he wanted to do a very quick test to see if she was RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) positive, but then we needed to give her an immediate breathing treatment and take her to the hospital. Five days later, we are finally home from what the nurses refer to as "Hotel" Hasbro (Hasbro Children's Hospital).
Teagan was diagnosed with RSV positive Bronchiolitis and while we were in the doctors office she was in Respiratory Distress. The doctor said it was equivilant to a fifty year old man having a heart attack. Thankfully the breathing treatment stabalized her enough to get her to the ER. A normal baby's respiratory rate is usually in the 30's and 40's. Teagan's was over 100 at the doctor, 90 in the ER, and then ranged from 60 to 80 while she was admitted. It was pretty scary. I felt better about the whole thing once I understood it a little more and knew what all the numbers meant on the various machines she was hooked up to. There is nothing sadder than seeing your two month old daughter with an IV and monitors hooked up to her.
They had to continuously deep suction her with a tiny tube down her nose and into her throat. Now that she is doing better I can use the aspirator instead. RSV is actually a common virus, but because of how young Teagan is it effects her much more drastically and has been fatal in other cases.
I thank God for getting us through this and for the amazing love and support that we continue to have from our family and friends. Both grandmas came right away of course, Nana flying in from Florida. Although I think she would use any excuse to come visit. Teagan is doing so much better now and we go for a follow up discharge visit on Thursday.

Teagan Smiles

There is nothing we love more lately than making Teagan smile and coo, which she does often. She is a very happy baby and when she is actually awake she doesn't stop cooing and making funny squeaky noises. However, she is a little shy when it comes to the camera. As soon as I point it towards her she is mesmorized by it and stops what she is doing. I tried to explain to her that you can't be a super model if you freeze in front of the camera, but oh well.
Here is Owen trying to get her to give a big cheese.




These next pictures are a little fuzzy unfortunately, but I still love them.

MLK Day

Every year I say I want to do something to honor Dr. Martin Luther King on his birthday, and most often we end up doing nothing, which is especially sad considering all the amazing things Chicago had to offer. This year I was determined to do something even if it was small. So we went to the Children's Museum to see a performance. It was really geared more towards older children, but I enjoyed it and Owen and Teagan did a good job sitting through most of it. After we left the performance Owen had fun playing at the museum and Teagan was content sleeping in a sling. I tried to take some pictures, but Owen doesn't like having his picture taken lately. Unless of course you are trying to take a picture of his baby sister and then he wants to be in it too.

Tummy Time with Baby T

One Month

At one month, Teagan...

• smiles in her sleep
• sounds like a dog's squeaky toy when she has the hiccups, which is often
• cries very little, almost always only when she is hungry
• has chubby cheeks that have filled in and thighs that continue to add rolls
  
• sleeps with her mouth open like her Mama
• has her hair parted on the left, naturally of course
  
• lets her big brother kiss her forcefully all over her head
  

A Christmas Tradition

Owen, Christmas 2006

Owen, Christmas 2007

Owen and Teagan, Christmas 2008