Don't Speak Too Soon

Drat, I jinxed myself -- Molly's rash is back with a vengeance! She's been extra spitty and drooly and fussy this last week, so at least I know what is causing it this time. She's having a really bad bout of reflux, although I'm not sure why. I initially thought it was my minuscule caffeine intake, but I totally cut that out over a week ago and she's still spitting away. She's been drooling a lot more (possibly some pre-teething drool) and I'm wondering if that has something to do with it. I seem to remember that Max's reflux got worse for a bit when he started producing mass quantities of drool in the months before his teeth surfaced. At this rate, we're going to need to invest in some more bibs!

Molly did manage to develop a nice, painful knot on one of her legs after her shots last week. She was pretty crabby about that for a couple of days, but the lump is mostly gone now. She has also transformed from the "spectacular sleeping baby" to the "I-don't-need-to-sleep-I-want-you-to-hold-me-all-the-time baby." To make things even more difficult, Molly has decided that she'd much rather suck her thumb or nurse than take the paci -- which would be fine and dandy except that she seems to want to suck on something all the time lately. I let her nurse for over an hour last night and as soon as I unlatched her and tried to put her to bed, she threw a baby fit until I let her comfort nurse again.

And, as a less-than-promising start to this week, Max seems to be coming down with a cold. The poor little guy has a running/stuffy nose and obviously isn't feeling his best. He doesn't have a fever, but he keeps coming up and leaning his head against me, which he usually only does when he's very tired or doesn't feel well. I'm hoping he'll shake it fast and it won't progress -- if he starts sounding "chesty" at all we'll have to trek on in to the pediatrician's office and see how his lungs are doing. I was hoping that we wouldn't have to pull the nebulizer out of the closet this year, so we'll see how it goes.

And, since it never rains but it pours, I came home from work on Friday and had to make a quick call to the vet, since one whole side of our dog Cider's face had swollen up like a balloon. I rushed her right over the vet, waited around for ages (they squeezed us in and they were running behind), and was relieved to discover that the swelling was probably just an allergic reaction to a bug bite (I was afraid it was a nasty tooth issue or worse). So, a few doses of benedryl and antibiotics later, Cider appears to be totally recovered.

On a less woeful note, Max did learn to "jump" last week. If you say "boing boing" to him he'll push up on his tip toes and alternate lifting his feet off of the ground in an attempt to jump. It's pretty funny to watch, especially because he's very proud of his new accomplishment. He's also learned to say cookie ("c'gee"), which we've discovered might not be a good thing after all -- he's taken to asking for cookies constantly. "Good morning Max, do you want to eat?" "Mama, Hi! C'gee!!!" He doesn't seem overly impressed with the argument that you can't have cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hey, but Fig Newmans have fruit in them, so they're kind of healthy ... right? ;)

Needless to say, we're a little behind on all things Christmas. About 3/4s of the shopping is done (online, of course), the Christmas cards have been ordered (but not delivered or sent out), and our Secret Santa items are well begun (but not done). We haven't gone to get our tree yet (this weekend, honest!) and I'm debating whether or not to brave the lines and germs to take the babies to see Santa. I'm trying not to think about the pounds and pounds of Christmas fudge that we need to make or the stocking that needs to be finished. But, the scary thing is, we've actually hit our personal best this year as far as the Christmas timeline goes. We'll get there!