This tooth right here...

Poor boo, I think she's had reason to cry. Those two bottom teeth have company on top. One is clearly pressing through there on her right and it looks like three more little white patches on her gums next it. Keeping track in her baby album I looked over the pre-laid out page for recording teeth and found she's months ahead of the typical time frame for all of these, at least according to Hallmark. We've been making fun, picturing Fiona by Christmas with a veneer like smile chewing on a pig ear. One thing that has increased in difficulty is breastfeeding. Sparing descriptive details, I've been seriously bit on more than one occasion!

Could there be a happier Typhoid patient?

Outbreak

Instead of malaria, as reported in a previous entry, it turns out Jim contracted a different, nasty infectious disease. Think turn of the century, tenement slums, and an Irish house maid named Mary... Yep, the few the proud, Jim is now one of the 400 or so Typhoid cases reported annually to the CDC. After much speculation and a copious amount of "lab samples" the official diagnosis that put a close to the three plus weeks of malaise, fever, chills and night sweats is Paratyphoid, caused by Salmonella para typhi bacteria. No pretty way to say it, someone in India didn't wash up before prepping dinner. Although it sounds wretched this was the best diagnosis from the options Jim's doctor presented--everything from a cardiac valve infection to cancer. Before the bug was even identified he was hospitalized, placed on broad spectrum IV antibiotics, given a CT (with a liter of tasty banana flavored oral contrast), an echo cardiogram, and multiple chest x-rays. Last Tuesday, after a week on isolation in his little basement room at Mercy Hospital, Folsom, he came home, 7lbs lighter, detesting bananas, and sporting a home IV catheter coiled around his right upper arm. He's feeling great, symptom free so by next week this should all be a distant blog memory as I get back to work (I had to prove I was OK for the hospital), Fiona fusses over a mouthful of teeth, and Jim finishes up antibiotics before his next dreaded work trip.

Fiona meet Murray, Murray meet Fiona...

I had elicited Fiona's help in picking out a card & present for our little neighbor's 4th birthday but instead Fiona focused entirely on Fiona. While I poured over greeting cards at Hallmark she literally reached from her stroller and grabbed this bloated, bubbling fish off the shelf. He made her squeal then laugh in such distinct little eruptions I couldn't resist adding him to our cart. Later we both agreed he looked like a "Murray." Welcome Murray.

Mmmm paste....no it's rice cereal

Rice cereal, teeth, malaria, and other fun stuff...

So, "How does malaria fit in?" you may wonder...I'll get to that. First, Fiona...

As with most new devices Fiona screeched and straight legged me when I first tried sitting her in a feeding chair. She had been studying us eating more and with two perfect little incisors I thought it was time to introduce food and utensils. Neither Jim or I are very allergic people (one of us is just picky...) and I kind of foo foo these food rules that have magically appeared over the last decade where-by babies should only eat orange vegetables first, then certain fruit, one at a time, a week at a time, and not before six months of age, yadda yadda... (All I can say is my mom crammed all kinds of stuff in me before I was even three months old and I survived.) so Fiona got a taste of apple sauce, bananas, and sweet potatoes. Ultimately she looked at me like I was crazy, smacked down a few bites of rice cereal, then tried to order up a side of booby. The plastic spoon, on the other hand, must be very flavorful.

Her teeth continue to bother her, at least that's what I claim to put an end to the colic stage, in my head anyway. She's worked her way through most of her extensive summer wardrobe, including a an afternoon spent lounging in her entirely impractical turquoise bikini with cover-up. I broke down and bought an "exer-saucer" my child development friend swears

impedes walking development but keeps Fiona extremely happy for twenty minute intervals. She runs three miles a day with me, all strapped in and shaded in her new orange BOB jogger, complete with shocks and suspension. Either she she loves the outdoors or I can't hear her over my i-pod.

Regarding blood born pathogens...As blogged in June healthy Jim was busy taking anti-malarial pills and heading off to Bangalore, India for whatever it is he does for Intel. After twelve days he returned with sandalwood sculptures, a traditional Salwar Kameez http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameez outfit for me, and quite likely a case of third world disease. It took about two months for the fever, chills, rigors (shakes), and malaise to set in but now they've persisted for three weeks. In the US, diagnosing malaria is tricky since the blood test is sensitive and not many MD's have seen it. He's still battling the unknown officially but all signs point to malaria. He's following-up, again, this week. Fi and I both feel great and if it is malaria it's vector born, not person to person.

Our house is still on the market (a month now) and we have lots of showings that keep me busy cleaning up baby clutter. We have our eyes on a place in Folsom so I hope the hard work pays off.

Twice as nice...

No, I'm not having another baby... At four months and two weeks little Fi has more than doubled her birth weight and I have the official word from her pediatrician that those eyes are staying blue. This afternoon we visited Dr. O'Malley for a scheduled check-up, shots, and weigh-in. For the record Fiona now weighs 15 lbs 5.3oz (72% for age) and measures 26.16 inches long (92nd % for age). And for the record, I win, since I guessed 15 lbs this morning while Jim thought 14 plus change. Lucky girl carries her weight well since she continues to shoot up in length. Sometimes I'm in awe over how long she looks laying on her play mat or in her crib--is that a toddler or an infant!? Anyway, she wowed the doctor with her rosy cheeks and stellar health. Developmentally she's doing all the things she should be doing. In a fit of anger in her crib one night she ended up on her tummy and learned she actually likes to turn when she does it herself. Now when I put her to bed on her on her back she immediately grabs her security bunny and rolls over onto her side/tummy. I check on her a lot but it's OK as she easily lifts and turns her head from side to side and can roll back over with a little effort. That's scary since all the info out there implores parents to put babies up to a year on their backs no matter what. But what can ya do if they move themselves?!



This visit ended with the same nasty shots as last time, two in one leg and one in the other, so she's sporting two Daffy Ducks and one Bugs Bunny band aids. They didn't zonk her out like before and I had to settle her with rocking and pacifier to get her in bed. I'm working tomorrow and Jim's in Portland so I very much hope the night is smooth.

Jim and I did manage a little break from fussy girl over the weekend. Initially we had planned to take Fiona to the beach house with our friends but as she's turned out the way she has and we're exhausted, Grammy stepped in to sit with her Friday afternoon through Sunday midday! I 'm not sure whether I should feel guilty or not, but I really enjoyed the peaceful, adult time. The weather was cool and windy so I constantly thought how miserable both of us would have been had she come along. Overlooking the fog and waves we drank wine, enjoyed a feast of stew and crab we caught ourselves (Sam really), and most importantly I got caught up on celebrity gossip in the latest issues of US and People. Sunday, Grammy was more than ready to see us walk in the door ("Fi's a two man job...", she commented.) and we were more than ready to wisp our little bunny rabbit up for kisses and squishing.

"The future's so bright... ( Fiona 4.1 months)

...I have to wear shades."

I couldn't resist the infant sun glasses clearance at Target, especially since Fiona's not even supposed to be in the sun or wear sunscreen for two more months. Most adorable baby buys are impractical. But the future does look brighter as --I hesitate to say it and hope I am not jinxing anything--Fiona seems to have turned a corner. We encounter little set-backs but overall we have happier baby who coos more, smiles more, laughs, and sleeps better. Last week she showed off her new self to Great Grandpa Al who couldn't get enough of her dimpled grin and delicate squeals. When she's happy every ounce of her body shows it and her baby blue eyes sparkle. Musical caterpillar and turquoise bear with plastic hands are currently her two favorite toys. She enjoys the big swing for about 10-15 minutes and I can still count on the Symphony mobile to occupy her in the crib for a bit. Like her father, she also likes checking herself out in the mirror. We've moved into the big bath, using the mini inflatable tub-in-tub Marlo gave us. Fi was a little nervous at first and more hesitant to get her face wet but once she gets comfortable her legs & arms start slapping water and she throws a fit when it's time to towel off. We're still experimenting with the extra stinky (going in & coming out) super digestible formula for gassiness and digestive issues and at four months we introduced rice cereal for a little substance. She does Ok with it thinned out in a bottle but hasn't figured out spoons. There's nothing she likes more than stiffening out her little legs in a supported stand. Not only does she straighten out when protesting her car seat, but she loves being held up tall on your lap, the counter, the couch, floor... This made me think she'd pass on tummy time and go directly to walking but over the past week at night she's turned on her belly to sleep and has a new interest in flipping over during the day. If you can avoid a string of drool, she also delights in a Super Woman flight overhead.
You can spot our greatest development, and likely reason for mood swings, if you look closely above...Fi has sprouted two teeth smack dab in the mid, lower gums! Our pediatrician said he, "would be surprised if at 3 1/2 -4 months Fiona were teething," but my friend Karen, mother of three, had it right. Of course teething means more unsolicited advice from everyone I encounter, with a whole new litany of "unique remedies" for her discomfort. For now we're offering Tylenol, some Orajel, and cool chew toys, inccluding hands. She leaves a mark if you let her!
I tried a day back at work last week while Jim played Mr. Mom, with copious help from grammy. Getting up early was hard but it was nice to be around co-workers again and have something to do that was my own. I'm scheduled through mid-September and we'll see how it goes from there since Jim anticipates more international work travel.
I almost forgot another big milestone--As part of going back to work and needing more rest at night, I deposited Fiona in her room. She had been in the pack-n-play near us to feed frequently but now that's she 14 lbs and shouldn't have to eat as much at night off to enjoy her beautiful nursery. She didn't seem to notice the move and I feel good using the space we spent so long painting!