Our First Family Illness

Before we became parents, we were amazed to watch whole families crumble due to some illness. Suddenly little Tommy has a cough, and the next think you know, each family member is bed-ridden and spewing fluids from every orifice. That was something I knew was inevitable, but I still dreaded it.

I don't mind when Lee or I get sick. My typical way of caring for a sick adult: wash your hands, eat some soup, and sleep it off. Easy, low hassle, usually works. However, I have been pretty anxious about what to do if Kara ever got sick. Would I recognize that she was sick? How would I handle it? Would the pediatrician think I was a bad mom?

My fear finally presented itself...Kara got sick. Yesterday I noticed that she was feeling a little warm, but she was acting normal. Still playful, maybe a little fussy. But as the day progressed, Kara began to feel really warm. I took her temperature. 102. Yikes!

Well, we went to the doctor. Kara has a virus. Nothing can be done other than acetaminophen and Pedialyte. Poor baby.

Kara is the last of the family to get sick. I have had ridiculous fatigue and a little nausea for the past week, and Lee came down with something pretty crummy as well. He was achy in all his joints, had headaches, and kept getting the chills. Since we were both sick in totally different ways, but Lee's was worse, I tend to blame-shift and think he was the one who infected our daughter (but I know deep down it could have been me...or some random person that I let get a little too close to her at the store -- this virus is spread through respiratory droplets).

So, tonight the Fithians will be hunkered down getting some rest, eating lots of medicine, and praying we get over it soon.

World Cup!

It is time for the World Cup!

In my opinion, the best sports tournament on TV! Or maybe it just seems that way because it is up against the NBA finals...the most boring and drawn out tournament on TV.

I don't have a favorite team; I just want to see good soccer. I will cheer for whichever team plays awesomely.

Click the comic to enlarge.

Swimsuit Edition

It is officially summer now that the thermometer is consistently over 90 degrees and we avoid going outside between the hours of 11am and 5pm. And because it is summer, it is time for swimming!

Kara got to go in her first pool on Memorial Day weekend. Kara's feelings about the pool seemed to be somewhat neutral...but a little on the pouty side.

However, it really doesn't matter whether or not she liked the pool, because she looked adorable in her little bathing suit.

Kara looking cool.

Model Pose.

Bird Watching

Today, I had a very exciting afternoon. I felt like I was watching the Discovery channel outside my back window. I will preface my story by explaining that we usually don't have wildlife in our neighborhood since it's a relatively new development (that was probably a person's cherished farm at one time). I have never seen a squirrel, a raccoon, or a possum. Only boring animals like birds and frogs; perhaps an occasional stray dog.

So...today I was checking out our garden (which is actually doing pretty well) when a baby cardinal literally fell from the sky about a foot away from me. I think it was taking its first flying lesson, and failed. The dogs immediately pounced on the yard invader. Fortunately they didn't attack it, or else I would be blogging about how I spent the afternoon crying. Instead they just stood there sniffing it until the mama cardinal dive bombed them.

I have learned from watching animal shows on TV that this was one of those moments when nature needed to take its course, so the dogs and I went inside and took a front row seat at the window. All 3 of us were fixated on watching the little chick hop around the backyard. The mama and daddy cardinal were flying from the chick to the fence and back again. I tried to go outside to get a picture of the little family, but the parents would fly away every time I opened the door. I would even try to trick them by standing really still and hoping they would mistake me for a statue. But they wouldn't return until I went back inside. Birds are smarter than they look.

Now, like most Discovery channel features, the helpless chick's life was in danger ("Watch out Baby Bird!"). As it innocently hopped around our backyard chirping for its parents, I noticed a couple of mockingbirds gathering on the roofs of homes adjacent to ours. Very menacing; couldn't mean anything good. then one by one they began flying into our backyard. It was go time! The male cardinal would swoop down and chase them out.

It was JUST LIKE on TV! That was very cool to watch.

Well, eventually the baby cardinal found its way out of our backyard. It actually escaped through the opening that one of our dogs used to use as a way out. Now it is in the side yard (the side without windows) so our little show is over.

That was our excitement for the day. Other than that, I pureed some peas for Kara and washed the dishes...and nothing cool happened while I was doing that.

These are a few of my favorite things

Life with Baby K has been so much fun now that she is 4 months old. She has her own little personality and does new things almost daily. But for all the new stuff, she is still pretty predictable in some of her preferences. Here are a few of her favorite things...

She usually gets excited when we go into bathrooms because mirrors and running water are super awesome, but she is even more happy when she goes into a bathroom naked. She loves everything about tub time. She especially likes grabbing the rag out of our hands and sucking the water out of it. However, not so cool when the rag is full of soap.

Playing with paper is incredibly entertaining. I'm not if sure she ever gets tired of it. Who needs expensive toys or videos to babysit their children? A torn bag and packing paper will keep her occupied long enough for me to get showered and ready in the mornings.

She has begun sticking things in her mouth. She consistently tries to eat her bibs...and her hands...and mommy's face.

Last, she likes looking at faces. Forget Baby Einstein, she is mesmerized by the opening credits to One Life to Live (lots of faces and flashing colors). Yes, I just publicly admitted that I watch a Soap Opera. There are worse things I could do, but that is probably the lamest.

The Most Addictive Sound

According to some guy who was on Rachel Ray one time, the most addictive sound in the world is baby laughter. The second most addictive sound is a cell phone ringing (note the word used was addictive, not enjoyable). Unlike the cell phone ring, I happen to think baby laughter is both addictive AND enjoyable.

Lee and I were able to get Kara's first laughs on video. We were playing fetch with Kermit in the backyard, and Kara was tickled by it.

kara laughing

We don't mean to cause anyone to become addicted to our baby, but I'm sure this is probably the safest addiction you could have.

Roll Over!

I hope this isn't premature, but I am so excited to share with everyone that Kara rolled over today! A perfect little flip from her tummy to her back!

This isn't the first time she has rolled over. When she was 5 weeks old she used to stiffen her little body so much when I would put her on her tummy, that a few squeals and kicks later she would be on her back. I tried desperately to get this on video, but it never happened. Obviously, those were flukes, but I think today was the real thing!

We were playing on the floor and without any coaxing, she just started pushing and wiggling until she was on her back. I was so excited when she rolled over that I swooped her up, gave her lots of kisses, and ran to the phone to call Daddy. He was very proud of her.

Of course, I tried to get it on video, but the battery was dead! What!? Hopefully she'll do it again soon.