Easy Does It

The BBD & Stella Rae: August, 2008

So far, so good. Stella got her second round of shots this morning, and tonight she is relatively mellow. Last time she got the shots she had a massive fever, and seemed really drugged. This time she had a mild fever, which Randi treated with Children's Tylenol, and now just seems relaxed, although she continues to stubbornly fight sleep, as always.

In other words, I am really glad we divided up her vaccines.

This was a decision we reached about a month ago. After seeing her in so much pain last time, and being worried about loading her up with so much drek at once, we decided to divide the vaccine dose in half, and instead of doing it all at once do half this month, and half next month.

I think it was the right move. Her reaction is less severely bad, as noted, and we have piece of mind that we're not filling our baby with aluminum, or at least reducing the amount over a longer period of time.

Our doctors at Premiere Pediactrics were completely understanding about it, and Stella's general checkup went well. She's a touch over 16 lbs. and a little over 24" long. She's in her 95th percentile for weight, and 75th for height, meaning she's a little more wide than long, which wasn't really a surprise.

It was a nice day to push the stroller up the few streets to our clinic, near the Methodist Hospital in Park Slope. I am lucky enough to have a job that understands that this is important to me, and allows me to go to these visits. For which I am really grateful.

I have to say, though, that every day with Stella is better than the last. I know I've complained, at length, about the crying, the endless terror, the frustration we've felt because she's as close to an insomniac as any baby can get. But I don't think I'm giving the full picture. Because even amidst all this, she is really just an absolute joy, and the best thing in my life.

When I get home at night, she is often asleep. Of course before not too long she's crying, and fussing, mainly due to this baby version of acid reflux we think she has. I'll pick her up, and in between horrible, acidic burps she'll gradually relax and calm down. Half the time she falls asleep leaned against my chest. It's incredibly sweet, and I have to remember that it won't be too long before I won't be able to hold my baby for as long as I want. That time could even be six months from now, based on how fast she's growing.

She smiles at me, she rubs her head against my beard to scratch herself, she hugs me as I hold her. This is all amazing stuff. I know more amazing stuff is to come, and I will never cease to love her, but I am pretty sure that when she's a teenager she won't rub her forehead against my beard anymore. Mainly because she'll be taller than me, but also because she'll think she's too old. So I better get it all in. Summer time is already more than halfway over, and we have to enjoy every moment of it before it's gone.