Getting Tubes

A couple of weeks ago Quinn had to have tubes put in her ears. She had gone through four different antibiotics and she was working on her fifth ear infection when we went in.

I was very anxious and got really worked up about it, but of course Quinn did so well.

When we got there she was all smiles with the nurses, and in a great mood despite the fact that she had to fast and hadn't eaten breakfast. I'm sure she was distracted by the fact that a) she got to leave the house in her pjs, b) we were at a fun new place and c) she wasn't in her normal routine going to school.

In the prep area, we answered a bunch of questions, they took her vitals and they were ready to go. Luckily,  we were the first surgery for the day. She happily went with the nurse to take her back and I started bawling. I think the thought of a stranger taking her and putting her under anesthetic freaked me out. What if she wondered where her Mama was or needed me? So, I cried for a while and a nurse came and pulled the curtain and said she would give us a minute after handing me some tissue. I told her I felt silly, but she seemed to understand and I'm sure I'm not the first crying mama they've had.

After I pulled myself together, we went to the post op area and waited. We were probably away from Quinn for about 20 minutes total (if that). It was SO FAST! They brought her back to us and she was so groggy, but happy to see us. Sweet girl! She sat in my lap while they took vitals again and she kept dozing off.

The doctor came and filled us in on post-op stuff and that was it! I nursed Quinn and we were out of there in less than an hour.

I was really hesitant to get the tubes, but I'm so glad we did. She has already had a cold (stupid daycare colds...she gets them about every two weeks) and this time it didn't turn into an ear infection! YAY!

She didn't really have any sort of recovery time. We drove home (she fell asleep), ate breakfast and played the rest of the day. We even went downtown to meet Jeremy and she did great. I had so much fun with her and it was such a relief to know (fingers crossed) we don't have to deal w/ another ear infection.

I told my Mom, I think God knew to give me a healthy baby. I don't know if I could emotionally handle major health problems. We are so blessed that Quinn has been healthy and hasn't had any major troubles. I absolutely can't imagine what it would be like to spend time at a hospital with a baby hooked up to wires and tubes. I am so very thankful and I pray that any parent going through serious health issues with a baby would feel peace. I also pray that we never have to go through anything like that with Q! Having a sick baby is the most powerless feeling in the world, and I'm thankful I have my faith to lean on when we do have those times.

Quinn's 11 Months Old!

Sweet Baby (almost Toddler) Quinn,

It has been 11 whole months since you were born and it's hard to believe that this time last year I was a big, fat, hot mess. I think it was still in the 90s and I was ready for you to come out! Now you are here and I'm putting you in jackets and long sleeve shirts to make sure you are warm. Oh how the times have changed! Here are some fun things about you from the last month:

Walking (well not quite)
You are getting so big! It seems like over the course of just a few days your confidence has grown and you can walk holding just one hand. You do this precious little march and your feet are still turned out like a ballerina. You take off pushing things like you own the place.

 

Big Girl Shoes
Your walk is even cuter with the addition of shoes. We have started to keep shoes on all the time to get you ready to move to the next class at school (where they make you keep your shoes on) and to help you walk better. I think baby shoes are just about the cutest things in the world! Right now you like to wear what I call your cheer leading shoes and your little black Mary Jane shoes. Of course, I'm the mom who makes you look like a total dork because I require socks. Hey, you will thank me one day since you got mama and daddy's sweaty feet genes.

 

Strawberry outfit w/ your Mary Janes.

Hair (or lack of)
You still don't have a lot of hair, but it's starting to come in more. Your teachers at school make me laugh so hard because they try to make little pig tails or ponytails w/ a few strands of hair. It's pretty funny! I can't wait for you to have hair for me to braid and play with. We brush your hair every night after your bath so hopefully when you have a full head, you will be used to me messing with it.

 Your tiny little ponytail.

 You sweat a lot so your mullet sticks out when you sleep.

 Crazy hair!

Diva Personality
Well, your little personality has started to show and it's hilarious. You laugh, fake laugh, cry, fake cry and you have the sweetest disposition. You like to love and pat people and things and you say "ohhhh" in the sweetest voice. You have started smiling with this cheesy smile where you wrinkle your nose and laugh. You have also been having some little diva fits. You do this sort of fake cry and then stop and look at us to make sure we heard you. It's pretty pitiful. You are very sensitive lately and we can't tell if it's your ears (more on that later) or if it's just your age.

For example, a couple of weekends ago we went to get donuts at a new place by our house. Side note: this place was really yummy! Our friends who live in the Four Points, Steiner or Anderson Mill area need to visit Angel. The maple/bacon donut was a winner! Anyway, when we were there, we were feeding you some cheerios and you were trying to put them in Daddy's mouth. He finally took one and ate it and you flipped. You just looked at him for the longest time and then looked at me like "why did you let him do that." Then a meltdown ensued. Oh dear. Sensitive girl!

Happy one minute...

Devastated the next minute!

Food/Drink
We don't make bottles for school anymore! YAY! This makes us so happy because we don't have to wash bottles. We send cold, pumped milk to school and then you have a bottle before bed. Mama has started to wean, so hopefully by this time next month I can say we are done w/ the pumping. You have started to get a little picky with food. You used to eat anything, but with your new little personality you are showing us what you like and don't like. You spit things out w/ your tongue in the most dramatic way. Mama might have to start getting creative w/ the way we feed you veggies. You are eating the school lunches really well, and I'm looking forward to seeing how you do w/ cow's milk when you turn one.

Sleep
Nothing has changed really. You sleep really well at night from about 7:30 to 7:15am. You have actually been sleeping a little later which gives me hope that I can sleep late one day too, but I won't hold my breath. That's okay...we have the most fun in the mornings. Napping...forget it. You hate it and it just doesn't happen. I get excited if I see you took a 30 minute nap in the crib. Otherwise, your school sheet just says "refused" next to almost every hour on the sleeping chart. They try to get you to nap in the crib, but I think there is just way too much going on that you don't want to miss. I'm praying you sleep better in your next class when you are all on the same nap schedule and the lights are dimmed. Last weekend you finally went to sleep during nap time but you were still sitting up. Hey, whatever works. You slept for 40 minutes so I was fine with it.

You finally gave up and went to sleep sitting up.

Your BFF Ella
Ella is definitely still your BFF (other than Kelly at school). You have started to become even more interested in her, and you look for her and ask for her a lot. Now that you are sort of walking, Ella isn't sure what to do with you. I can't wait to see what she does when you start chasing her.

You like to stand at the top of the stairs and yell down to Ella.

Into Everything
You are starting to get into everything. We have to keep an eye on you all the time now because you can get into things faster than we can keep up. Your new favorite is Ella's water bowl and the stuff under our bathroom cabinets.

Tubes
Final news of the month is that we are getting tubes in your ears. I'm a little nervous about them putting you under for a couple of minutes, but honestly it will be worth it. You have had four infections (going on five now) in the last three months and you have been miserable. I hate it when you start getting them. I can tell because you lose the sparkle in your eye and you just aren't yourself. It makes me sad and it's the most powerless feeling knowing I can't do anything to help. I'm also tired of you being on antibiotics. You have tried four now, and I can't imagine putting you on another! So, hopefully this will make things all better and we can move on to teething molars...oh dear!

Nannie Mae went to the last doctor's appointment with us.

We love you and we CAN'T WAIT for your ONE year birthday party! Mama is kind of out of control w/ the planning, but it will be fun and we will be sure to take lots of pics!

Love,
Mama and Daddy

A few more photos for fun...

Cutest Baylor baby ever!

Ohh, loving Daddy!

You'll still fall asleep on my shoulder sometimes, and I love that!

So grown up in your rocking chair at Nannie Mae's.