Ryan's Nine Months

Well, Ryan is skinnier and shorter than Michael was at nine months.  Ryan weighs in at 23 lbs 4 oz and 27.25 inches long and Michael was 25 lbs and 4 oz and 29 inches long. 

Ryan and I spent three hours last night at Children's Hospital.  He was still sounding like darth vader, but otherwise was normal.  Since he breathing still sounded off I took him back to the pediatrician yesterday.  The pediatrician said that he had to go to the hospital for stronger medication to resolve the croup.  So, I was quite panicked and trying to figure out what to do with Michael.  A neighbor watched Michael for about 20 minutes and Ian came home.  We get to the hospital and the nurses did a test (which could have be done at the pediatrician's office) and determine that he is getting enough oxygen and they question why I am there (especially since his disposition is so pleasant).  The ER doctors come in and I get the same reaction from them (we saw three).  They did do an x-ray of his neck and saw nothing.  They also felt that since he seemed to be handling the illness so well that he wouldn't benefit from any more medication.  So, it was an interesting evening. 

Croup

Ryan has croup.  He started coughing yesterday and didn't sleep well last night.  This morning his breathing didn't sound very good.  After a visit to the doctor in the AM he was diagnosed with croup.  The nurse gave him a shot of dexamethasone and a prescription for predisolone (which Michael was just on for poison ivy).   He still had his appetite most of the day and would smile every now and then.  He was just very sleepy and miserable when he'd coughed.  He wanted to be held a lot.  Michael had a cold earlier in the week with a cough, so I am guessing that is where Ryan caught his virus.  Hopefully, he'll be better in a few days. 

Grinder

Ryan has learned some new skills: gurgling and grinding his teeth!  The last one is quite annoying.  I'm not really quite sure how he grinds them as the top one is hardly any tooth!  He seems to really want to feed himself.  He always seems quite proud of himself when he gets the puffs or a biscuit in his mouth and he loves drinking his water.  Michael has a cough right now and his voice is becoming hoarse.  So far he has stayed on the green circle in his new classroom (they have a traffic light discipline system).  Olivia is still his best friend at school.  I went to the huge consignment sale this past week and bought lots of Christmas presents and clothes.  I volunteered to work 6 hours in exchange for shopping earlier than the general public.  I think it was worth it as things were not picked over and there were not any crowds.  We also went on a walked (called Tyke Hikes) through a park and learned about leaves.  Here is a picture of Michael (Ryan is in the background) doing a craft: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tykehikes/.

Babble, B - 52 Bombers, and Buffalo

Ryan started babbling yesterday.  He sounds like Pebbles from the Flintstones.  This morning Ian and Michael went to the air show.  They saw lots of planes and got a special access pass to sit in the pilot seat of the Fed Ex cargo plane because of Ian's connection!  In the afternoon we all went to South Park to feed the ducks and geese at the Game Perserve and shockingly the park's herd of buffalo were visible!  I counted twelve of them two of them being babies.  We also visited the playground while we were at the park.  After leaving the park we stopped to get gas and Michael wanted us to go to pump 5 (he has a fascination with the number 5).  We weren't in a position to get to 5, but we could easily get to 6 on the other side of 5.  So, we pulled up and said "we're at five!", thinking that he saw the 5 on the post and not the 6 on the gas pump.  However, he said "It's kind of like six..."!

Nap Time

Usually naps start around 12:45 - 1:00.  Yesterday, we finished lunch around 12:30 ish.  Michael said to me "I'm going upstairs."  I said "Why?"  He said, "I'm going to take a nap, I'm tired."  And he went upstairs and got himself in bed.  Ryan and I came in and covered him up and said good night and that was that.  At the opposite end of the spectrum: Ryan and I went for a walk this morning.  He snoozed for a few minutes at the end of our stroll, which was about 20 minutes shy of the start of his usual morning nap.  However, I am learning that short snooze like that can allow him to stay up and play for an extra hour!  It's crazy how that mini power nap can sustain him! 

Goodbye Summer

We had another day of oppressive heat yesterday, so we went to the Mt. Lebanon Pool. As always, it was freezing. But with the 95 degree heat, you got used to it pretty quick. Ryan seemed to like the pool - Michael still took a while to adjust. The rest of the weekend is going to be a wash with all the rain we are going to get.

Michael and Ryan had a screaming match this morning. Michael would scream and then Ryan would scream. Ryan clearly knew that he was in a "conversation" with Michael. It was pretty funny.