Diagnosed

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I have mentioned a few times on this blog that Taryn has had a cough that just won't stop. We finally got referred to an allergist last week. On Monday we went to see Dr. Prochnau. He tested Taryn for an allergic reaction to 10 common allergens. We were really hoping that she wasn't allergic to cats or dogs since she has 2 cats at home and 2 dogs at daycare. I had allergy testing when I was about 12 and it was NOT fun. Back then, they scratched you and then dripped stuff into your scratches and then you had to lay there and wait to start burning and itching. I was dreading watching that happen to little T. Fortunately, now they have these little plastic things that they dip and then just twist on your skin really quick. Taryn was a trooper and didn't cry at all.

The good news was that she didn't show any allergies. Hooray, the kitties can stay! The bad news was that the doctor diagnosed her with asthma. Some babies do grow out of their asthma once they grow into their lungs. So, we're hoping for that. But, with a family history of asthma (me & my dad) we're not too optimistic.

The news got even worse when I went to fill our THREE prescriptions for her. First prescription $14... 2nd prescription $15... 3rd prescription $430. OUCH! And the expensive one is the one that she is supposed to use on a continual basis. We talked to the doctor and told him how much the medicine cost and HE was shocked as well. He said we would find something less expensive. Thank goodness.

So, now Taryn is halfway through 10 days of a steroid to clear out her lungs. She has a breathing treatment that she can take if she starts coughing a bunch. And she has the ultra-pricey treatment that she also takes everyday... And she just loves taking the breathing treatments... Not so much.

It doesn't get much more pathetic then this...

Holy Half a Year!

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Taryn is now 6 months old! A half of a year... If we were rounding, we would have to round UP to a year now.

Taryn has finally stopped being kept down by random illnesses and she has gotten back to acquiring a multitude of baby-skills. Don't get me wrong, she is still sick... She just isn't letting it slow her down now. She actually has a date with the local allergist on Monday. We're praying she's not allergic to kitties!

She now sits up by herself. She can stay sitting for a long time, but occasionally tips over. She rolls over very quickly and can push up onto her hands. She wants to crawl but hasn't figured out how to get that big baby belly off the ground. She stands really well in her exersaucer and even jumps around and dances. She likes to look at things upside down, so she will throw her head back and arch her back to look at things. She now makes all sorts of noises like BABABABA and DADADADADA. She is getting very close to waving hi & bye. She has done it twice and she understands what it is now, and knows it involves her hand... Her little fingers move a little bit when we wave to her, but she just hasn't put it all together just yet on a regular basis.

Stats from her 6 month checkup:

Weight: 19lbs 1oz (97th percentile)

Length: 26 3/4 in (90th percentile)

Head: 18 in (off the charts... she got the Klemme head.)

A couple weeks ago, we had an old friend of mine, Amber, and her husband Matt and baby Allie over. Allie is 2.5 months younger than Taryn. It was SO CRAZY to see how far Taryn has come in such a short time. Allie was adorable, but didn't do much... Taryn is well on her way to being mobile and likes her toys and is so much more interactive now. She is a total wiggle-worm... Which is cute unless you are trying to change her diaper or wipe her nose or stuff her into her winter jacket.

Taryn continues to grow out of her clothes as fast as we can buy them. She now wears mostly 12 month clothes. She is now getting teeth which is so sad to watch. She is in so much pain and hits herself in the mouth. Her cheeks get all red and all sleep schedules go out the window. One tooth has poked through already and the second one probably will be through by tomorrow. Hopefully we'll get a little hiatus before the upper teeth come in.

Taryn has a cute little personality. She LOVES to smile at people. She is a nosy little thing and will break her neck looking behind her at whatever is going on. She loves sitting up in the front of the cart now when we go to stores. I'm surprised she doesn't get whiplash from turning her head from left to right looking at everything. She totally adores the cats... They do not reciprocate her feelings. Darby will stand near her and sometimes let her pet her until Taryn gets a hand full of fur or tail. Jasper is still mad that she is no longer the baby of the family and generally avoids Taryn like the Plague.

The next 6 months will have so many more milestones... Crawling, walking, the beginning of her talking... And maybe, just maybe, she'll sleep through the night? Pretty please. She also has her first holiday season coming up and her first plane ride out to NJ to see her Grandpa Jeff.

Everything she does just amazes us so much. I can't wait to keep watching her develop and getting to know her little personality.

Welcoming my new cousin... Jacob Charles!

Jacob Charles was born yesterday. He was 21.5 inches long and weighed 8lbs 12oz. (Apparently it is the Coleman genes that make the big babies like Jacob and Taryn!)

Jacob is my cousin, which is totally odd. It seems like he should be a nephew or something. Basically, my family is a bit loco. I have an aunt that is younger than me... There are grandkids and great-grandkids being born in the same year... Madness! Basically, my grandpa had kids from when he was 17 until when he was 38, so that tends to confuse things a bit. And, speaking of my grandpa, the Charles is after him.

I can't wait to meet little Jacob next month when we go out to NJ after Christmas!

Congratulations to the Deusterhaus-Plothow's!

As most of you know, Matt & Stacia tied the knot this weekend in the Bahamas! From the pictures, it looks like it was an awesome ceremony! We wish we could have been there! We are looking forward to celebrating the nuptuals with you on New Years Eve! Congratulations and I hope you enjoyed the honeymooooooon!

Thank You Veterans!!!

The i will never die

This reminded me of something that would have gone on back in the Unifi days...

Welcome Max Adam!!!

Congratulations to Grant and Ashley on their bundle of joy... Max Adam was born today! 7lbs7oz 21 in. (Is that a double Elway? And then Elway times 3?)

Grant and I have been friends since pre-junior high. I still remember him wearing sweat pants to school everyday. I am so excited that he's a dad now! Hopefully Taryn and Max can grow up being friends as well. (But that Max better keep his paws to himself!)

Happy Halloween!!

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Oh how times have changed... Gone are the drunken dressed up Halloween festivities at the bars of Chicago... Tonight was a new kind of crazy. Nothing like 7 dressed up grandkids!

We made our first stop by Grandma Mary's house and her neighbor Stanley. Then we went over to Uncle Neil's for a cookout and costumes. The older kids went trick-or-treating while Lee and I stayed back with Taryn and our newest nephew Ryan who is just 1 week old! (So tiny!)

6 of the 7 just missing Ryan ~ There's Ryan, but now we're missing Austin!

Taryn's outfit was ridiculous. She was a pudgy little kitty with extra padding built into the stomach of her outfit... As if she needs extra padding around her middle! What girl wants that? Lee was like "If we take her trick-or-treating, does she actually get candy? Do we just eat the candy she gets? Or do we just parade her around?" I'm guessing you are not surprised to hear... We just ate her candy.

I guess this was technically Taryn's 2nd Halloween... Last year she was dressed up as a jack-o-lantern!

Halloween used to be Lee and my dating anniversary. Just 12 years ago was when we first started dating at a Halloween party in high school. So romantic... Or something!

Posing with some pumpkins...


What exactly is this thing?


I wonder if it is something to eat...

Perhaps I will take a taste...

It was delicious!

F-U FLU!

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On Saturday, I woke up with a backache. I thought "Hmm, I must have slept weird." From there, the ache moved up my back and into my chest in a matter of hours. I knew then... It was the flu. Oh CRAP. Lee had gone out to his cousin's farm to do "man stuff" and I met Kelin for lunch at Chik Fil A (yum) on her way down to Indy for a wedding. When we were done with lunch, I could feel the fever starting. I had read that H1N1 comes on really quick, so I was a little nervous. I headed to the doctor.

They checked me out, I had a fever, I had chills, I had body aches, a cough, I was MISERABLE. They said, this is the flu, but it isn't H1N1. If it were H1N1, you'd be in a lot more pain and discomfort. Really? Wow. That would suck. Since I am nursing, I can't take any good meds, so their answer for me... Advil. DOH.

From there, my fever spiked up to 102. I got a migraine, all the fun stuff. Then, Taryn's fever started. It has been a roller coaster of my fever spiking and then breaking... Chills, then being a huge sweat ball. And this is day 4...

Finally, Taryn seems to be fever-free. I am still fighting it. I remember Jess writing about being sick as a mother. This time I got to live it. It is rough. You feel like death, but you still have to bounce your baby around the house. You want to go into a coma for 4 days, but you have to get up every 2 hours throughout the night because she is waking up and your husband has to go to work in the morning. It is something I could have gone without experiencing!

This is what sick looks like.

And now... Lee has a "tickle in his throat". Really hoping that he isn't the next flu casualty. You know how guys are... The man-flu may be the end of him!