Portraits

I took a couple shots of Camden while we were hanging out on Saturday morning.  I have been putting a little clip in the side of her hair and I thought it looked cute.

She, in turn, wanted to use the camera and took a picture of me.  Not altogether flattering, but the picture taking was not too bad.

That evening we met Aunt Carole, Uncle Ric and ReeRee for dinner at Penn Station and Camden wanted to take a few more pictures.  She got a good shot of Aunt Carole....

An interesting angle of Uncle Ric...

And a very unique shot of her Daddy...or at least his elbow.

Let the Thaw Begin

When Camden and I got home on Friday night, there was still some light in the sky, so we woke Daddy up and told him we wanted to go outside and play in the snow.  More specifically, he needed to take Camden out while I cooked dinner. 

When I came out to see how they were doing while the meal cooked, Camden was staying on the edge of the driveway and throwing tiny snowballs at Kevin.  Her silly hat kept coming down over her eyes, despite Kevin's attempts to keep it off her face.

I suggested she go play in the yard and she promptly took off running.

She got to the edge of the house, turned around to face us and said, "I'm in the yard."  Then ran back to the driveway and continued playing.

We were cold after about 15 minutes (plus supper was almost done) so we headed inside for the evening.  But it was a welcome glimpse at the possibilities of evenings outside that we will hopefully be able to enjoy very soon!

Happy Valentine's Day

With lots of Love from Camden!

Don't Get Me Started!

At Wednesday's round of shots, we had to make an appointment with an ENT.  The specialist at Peyton Manning's St. Vincent ENT clinic (GO COLTS!) had a cancellation the next day that we jumped on (instead of waiting 3 more weeks).  I was excited to get a second opinion since I really couldn't believe this was dragging on and on.  When I went to get Camden that afternoon, naptime was just ending and Camden was still snoozing. 

I love her heart pillow!

We made our way to Fishers (a good hour drive) and waited.  Camden wasn't really looking forward to another doctor appointment.

She threw a fit getting on the scales.  She threw a fit when she saw the chair that she might have to sit in.  The only redeeming part was the books that she could sit on my lap and read.

The doctor came in and began getting a little history.  I expressed what I have expressed at EVERY visit I have had in the last month and a half.  Camden is showing no other symptoms of an ear infection - no fever, no pulling or playing with her ears, no whining (well...that's relative, but in regards to not feeling well).  She has a runny nose (but what 2 1/2 year old in daycare doesn't?) and still has a bit of a cough. That's it!  He asked a few more questions then rolled over to look in her ears.

Of course, Camden threw a major fit.  She started flailing, jerking her head back and forth, and kicking.  I held her in a death grip like I always do and the doctor looked in each ear.  Then wheeled back and asked if she always reacted like that when she is examined.  Well, yea, her experience with doctors in the last 2 years has always led to something pretty dreadful...she doesn't have the highest regard for an examination.

"Well," he said, "I don't believe she has an ear infection and I seriously doubt she ever has."  WHAT!  My mind went racing.  I got teary-eyed.  I was getting angry.  I couldn't believe all the medicine we have pumped in her...these horrible shots we were giving her...don't get me started on all the money we have spent on copays at doctor offices, prescription drugs, and OTC's or all the missed days of work (vacation days used) and daycare (that we have paid for). 

He continued to explain that when kids throw major fits like that, blood rushes to their head and ears.  Of course, when a doctor looks at them they are red!  She does, indeed have some fluid behind her ear drum, but it's not infected.  We would be seeing other symptoms if she were...duh...fever, pulling on ears, etc.  I was getting mad at myself now for not insisting and not trusting my intuition.  He said he thinks antibiotics are often over prescribed because of this and many pediatricians miss it.  Sorry, but not with everything else that should have been taken into account at each examination - what the mother was saying, the lack of other signs, that all the power medicines were not changing her condition.  Come-on!  I kept saying I was shocked that she still had an infection, especially with how bad the doctor was saying it still was. I know my baby girl.  She communicates verbally and non-verbally when she is sick.  As I said, don't get me started.

He does give fluid in the ears about 3 months to clear itself up...on it's own/without medication!...and then they look to tubes.  She is about half way through this so we are going back to him in 6 weeks to see where we are with it.  In the meantime, he suggested that we try some desensitizing efforts with Camden at home to try to make an examination easier.  He chuckled and admitted he didn't have any suggestions, but that she needs to at least learn not to kick the doctor!

I left the office, immediately called our pediatricians office and canceled our Friday afternoon appointment for more unneccesary, PAINFUL shots.  GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I am following-up with our peds office with my concerns and displeasure with this, but more so I am just glad we can move on and stop torturing this poor child and stop giving her medicines that she doesn't need.  I also get to spend the weekend re-potty training and dealing with the yeast rash.  Don't get me started again.

Since we were in Indy and since she definitely needed some pampering (spoiling) we stopped at the "Cow Place" aka Chick-fil-a so we could eat and play at her favorite playplace. 

French fries, fruit and "lemilade" - Camden's perfect dinner!

We are so glad it's over...lots of lessons learned!

See?

That light-up stretchy worm thing is cool to play with!

TMI?

Kevin took Camden to the doctor on Monday afternoon to see how the RSV was doing (fine) and to check on the never-ending ear infection (still going strong).  So after 10 days of Augmenton and accompanying diarrhea, we're still battling it.  Additionally, because we had to rely on pull-ups/diapers for almost 2 weeks, she no longer likes to use the potty or wear panties and has a yeast diaper rash.  Wonderful!  15 days of Nystatin to clear that up.

She also had to endure two shots of even stronger antibiotic at the visit.  It took Kevin and a second nurse to hold her down long enough to get one in each thigh.  The head nurse said it's a fairly painful shot and stings going in.  Camden tensed up so much that she most likely will have big bruises, too.  And on top of that, we have to repeat it again on Wednesday...and if it's still not better, again on Friday.  Then it's off to an ENT for further decisions.

On the stop at Walgreens to get the Nystatin filled and to buy some Ibuprofen for the pain (nurse recommended because of the swelling and pain from the medicine...and the fight to inject it), Kevin bought his baby girl several treats for her suffering - yogurt covered pretzels and a light-up stretchy wormy thing (which is actually pretty cool to play with!).

She almost had him talked into Buzz and Woody stickers, too, but instead got a promise that she could watch it when she got home.  Yes, the poor girl is incredibly spoiled (but sometimes deservedly so!).



Happy Birthday Papaw!

I picked Camden up from daycare (yea! First day back) and we met Daddy, Austin, and Papaw at a restaurant in Crawfordsville to celebrate Papaw's birthday.  I prepped her on the drive to be sure to give him a hug and tell him, "Happy birthday."  We pulled up at the same time and she got soooo excited when she saw the three guys.  It was truly funny how she squealed and giggled and waved as we found a parking space.  She immediately got out, ran up to Papaw, gave him a hug, and said, "Merry Christmas!"