Here's Our Pool

We're having our pool resurfaced. The workers came today and jackhammered the hell out of it. Simon and I went over to my parents' house, even though the pool guy assured us the jackhammering and plaster crushing weren't loud at all. Sure, mister.

And don't forget the hot tub:

A Worrying Day

Today I took Simon to the doctor for his 6 month checkup. Michael and I were eagerly awaiting (and dreading) the weigh-in. Simon's been so close to the edge in terms of weight. He started off in the 5th percentile, then dropped to the 2nd. For the last month I've been extra-obsessive about feeding Simon. I breastfeed about every two hours or so during the day, sometimes more frequently. I've chosen the solid foods with the highest calorie counts (thank you, bananas, for being there for us), and I always feed Simon as much as he wants, which is a lot. He wakes up once or twice in the night, and I feed him then. I feel like I've been trying to cram as much food as possible down his throat. So, on to the weigh-in.

Simon has dropped off the chart. He has fallen below the weights listed. He weighs 12 pounds, 14 ounces. He has gained only 7 ounces in six weeks. He's 25 1/2" long, which places him in between the 10th and 25th percentiles. That's also a drop for him. He hasn't grown in height since his last appointment six weeks ago.

His doctor ordered blood tests and wants to see him in a month. I'm to keep breastfeeding him and to increase solids to 3 times a day. She also okayed avocado, for the calories and fat.

Simon did not have a great time today. He needed his left ear irrigated to remove ear wax so the doctor could check his ear drum (it's great, by the way). He screamed throughout. Then he got 3 shots. More screaming. Then we went to the pediatrics lab where they took 3 vials of Simon's blood. He really screamed. By that time he was sore and cranky and overdue for a nap.

I really hope Simon doesn't have anything seriously wrong with him. They're checking his thyroid, kidneys, and other unspecified things. If there is a problem the doctor will call by the end of next week. If there's no problem, we'll wait until his appointment next month and see if he's gained enough weight. If not, there will be more blood tests. Yikes!

In preparation for this doctor's visit, I went through Simon's sleep log and added up his total sleep hours for each day since the beginning of the month. The results are not great. He averages about 11 hours of sleep per day. This includes nighttime sleep and naps. He got 12 hours or more on only 5 occasions. The most he slept in one day was 12 1/2 hours. This is so far below average. I don't know what to do. I can't make him sleep more. He won't. He sleeps okay at night these days, but his naps are terrible. He wakes up after 30-35 minutes. He gets around an hour and a half of sleep during the day, and that seems to be his limit. He won't listen to reason.

Maybe that's why he's so damn thin. He's awake and active so much. I don't know. I'm just worried.

This Just Freaks Me Out

This woman knits teeny tiny things. With teeny tiny needles. Some needles are so small they're just wires and can accomodate 80 stitches PER INCH. That is amazing. And crazy. I couldn't make most of her designs even full size, but to make a sweater that fits in the palm of your hand? Where do you find buttons that small? And what happens if you drop a stitch? Do you just give up, or do you try to catch and fix it with a microscopic crochet hook? I don't know how it's possible, but this woman has made some really cool stuff.

These Are For My Sister

Especially check out 06:42 on the last one.

It's Freaking Hot

It's in the 90's right now, and if I asked when you thought my air conditioner conked out, what would you say? If you're thinking "yesterday," you're right. It was hotter yesterday, too. We have two air conditioners in our house (plus another one in the converted garage). The one that services the front part of the house (living room, dining room, kitchen) now just blows warm air around. We are not fooled. The air conditioner that services the bedrooms works okay, but there is something wrong with the air ducts (I think), and the air flow is minimal. There is an exception and that is Simon's room. The air flow there is intense, so we have to close the vents at night. So, there's only one room that is adequately cool and it's too cool.

I swear our air conditioner works like a dream all winter.

Something Amusing

Check it out. It's got Frank Conniff and sometimes Joel Hodgson.

Simon Is 6 Months Old

Today's the day. He's not a little stinker anymore. He's a mid-sized stinker. And by stinker I mean cutie pie. Actually, he's still pretty little. Here he waits for another bite of delicious organic peas.

The Soaker

Simon is wearing the wool soaker my fabulous sister made for him. He looks great in it and it really works. He's soaked it a couple of times and left his sheets dry.

Just Wondering

It's Mother's Day today, and to celebrate I did a few loads of laundry (I guess I wasn't trying very hard). Our washer and dryer are made by Miele, a German brand. I always use the "extra dry" dryer setting, and it just occurred to me what a stupid setting that is. All I ask of a dryer is that my laundry end up dry. What exactly is "extra dry"? How is it possible for something to be extra dry? And why do I choose that setting? I guess I feel that by choosing "extra dry" I'm increasing the odds that my clothes will actually be dry. Michael uses the "normal" setting. I guess that means he's confident that his clothes will get dry without incident. But me? I don't have that kind of faith. In fact, I often inwardly cluck my tongue when I see Michael use the "normal" setting. "Silly man," I think, "his clothes will never get dry that way."

But isn't this really Miele's fault? Why have an "extra dry" option if "normal" could get the job done? Thanks for nothing, Germany.

Joel is back!

And so are TV's Frank and Trace Beaulieu (and others). See, for Mother's Day (my first), Michael got me the first Cinematic Titanic DVD, The Oozing Skull, and it's hilarious. The movie is pretty god awful. There's a Middle Eastern dictator, a crazy doctor, a dwarf, an imbecile with an acid-mangled face, an atrocious woman with the worst hair imaginable, and so much more. Well, I've only just started watching it, but I'm liking it a lot. Sample line: "Yeah, instant death is the death of kings." Ahh, I missed those guys.

"Nothing says 'this car hasn't been tampered with' like the popped hood."

I Like Bananas

A Sigh of Relief

Simon has been sleeping much better lately. I don't know if this can last, but it's almost miraculous. Simon only woke up once last night. He did the same two nights ago, plus he slept for 7 hours and 45 minutes straight. A personal best! He still usually cries a bit before settling down to sleep, somewhere between 15 and 40 minutes. However, tonight he went down without a peep. In his crib. Like a regular baby.

His naps, on the other hand... Well, he's not a nap fan. He started fighting naps big time last week. I'd put him down half asleep in his crib and he'd wake himself up to cry and scream. He could keep it up for an hour, too. He just wouldn't sleep. Two days ago I got him to sleep by holding him against my chest. He napped twice that way. Yesterday he napped once in his crib, then later in his stroller while I pushed him around. Today he actually slept in his crib for two naps, and he didn't cry either time. Two naps a day seems to be his new limit. And he always wakes up after exactly 35 minutes. Like clockwork. I don't care. I'll take it. It is so much better than what he was doing before.

Funny Video

The original video is funny on its own, but the fake English translation makes it even better:



I actually like the song.

Classic

Here is an awesomely funky video (and song):


And I like it.

A Small Guy

Simon is in the 40th percentile for height and... the 2nd percentile for weight. That just astounds me. 98% of babies his age weigh more than he does. His doctor is not concerned with his weight. That also astounds me. I've read of pediatricians telling mothers to supplement with formula because their babies are in the 25th percentile, but this doctor says Simon is healthy, so why worry? Good point. It's hard not to, though.

What else is worrying? Oh, that Simon only slept for 11 hours total for last night and today.

How Thrilled Am I?

Really, how thrilled do I look? Well, don't let the photo fool you. I'm not as thrilled as all that. It's nap time at my house of horrors.

Little Sweetie:



is not interested in sleeping. He's more interested in screaming.

It Took 4 Hours To Do What?

To get Simon to take a 35-minute nap, of course. He finally fell asleep on the 3rd try. He's currently crying and babbling his way through his evening nap. It's been 25 minutes and I'll bet he's not going to sleep.

LATER: No, he didn't sleep.

The Mailman Fails To Bring Life-Changing Surprise

I really thought today would be the day.

My Mother Got Lost...

...between the bathroom and her bed. Last night she got up to use the bathroom, then couldn't find her way back to bed. It was dark and she figures she took a wrong turn somewhere. My mother told me this glorious tale of directionless confusion this afternoon while we listened to my son scream through his nap. As she tells it, it took her quite some time to eventually find her side of the bed. "I'll just back up until I make it back to the bathroom and then start over," she thought to herself, but I don't think she ever made it back there. She ended up by a wall at the other end of the bedroom. When she finally made it to her side of the bed, she looked over and noticed that my dad wasn't in the bed. She did a tour of the house and finally found him in a chair in the guest room. A spooky tale, to be sure.