Damien is Four Months Old

Damien is four months old. Man where did the time go! What an awesome, yet tiring, fun filled adventure those four months have been. Damien's fourth month was spent at home letting Damien get used to his house, his toys, and sort of a routine. No traveling this month except for a few trip to great Grandma Nelda's. Damien's biggest change during this month was his ability to use his hands. He is now quite good at grasping and grabbing toys and bringing them to his mouth. He loves his Sophie the Giraffe and Mr. Mushroom toys and loves to bite on them (he's got quite a hard bite now). He is really into his toys now and his days are usually filled with what Mommy calls the toy olympics - couch, bed, jungle, swing, exersaucer, bouncy seat, stroller, etc. As expected, D doesn't have a long attention span so he likes to be moved around. Damien still is not too thrilled about stroller walks (although he seems to really like to hang out in his stroller in the kitchen when Mommy tries to cook/bake or clean). Mommy has had to carry him in the carrier on a number of walks, resulting in mommy keeping the walks close to home. He also started drooling like a fool. No teeth yet, but probably not too far off.

All smiles after his 4 month shots (after crying briefly and then having his bottle)

Damien's concentration with his toys is really neat to watch.

Damien loves his exersaucer (thanks Rollin) - for about 15 minutes!

A Damien favorite - chillin in the stroller inside while sucking on a toy.

Mmm, Eeyore tastes so good mommy.

Damien's First Trip to the ER

Well, Damien succumbed to his first bout of illness shortly after Christmas. His symptoms started with a few coughing spells where he had trouble breathing and increased irritability. This of course sent Mommy into a first rate panic who demanded that we seek medical attention for Damien right away due to his age (2 1/2 months). Damien's French grandmother Colette didn't delay and found a drop in doctor that was still open (it was about 10pm). We rushed over there, and after examining Damien the doctor thought the coughing was due to his reflux and didn't find any signs of respiratory illness. We went back to Grandma's house feeling quite relieved and a little shaken (at least Momma was).

Once we got there, however, we were able to reach Damien's pediatrician's office back home. That doctor listened to his cough via skype and because of the whooping cough epidemic in California (that has killed a number of little babies) and the incubation period being right on from when we left California (on a plane full of coughing people) he wanted us to take Damien to the ER right away to get looked at and tested for whooping cough. CAN YOU SAY PANIC! Man, Momma was a hysterical mess. Thankfully Papa and Grandma Colette were calm and held it together. So, off to the Women and Children's Hospital in Lyon we went at about midnight. After a brief wait in a special under 3 months waiting room (to keep these small things away from older sick children) we saw another doctor who did a work up on Damien. He also didn't think that Damien had any signs of respiratory illness and didn't think that he had whooping cough either. He wasn't sure what exactly was wrong (at this point Damien didn't have any signs of congestion, just the mostly dry cough), but said he was going to be just fine. Momma was highly skeptical and a nervous wreck. He agreed to test for whooping cough and other potential infections. So, after the test, we were sent home and told the test results would be ready in about 2-3 days.

We got home from the ER at about 5am. Everyone crashed out, except for Momma, who just couldn't sleep and just wanted to hold little Damien. Later that day Damien started getting congested so we treated that with saline solution and steam, lots of rest and cuddling. Those two days were the LONGEST two days in Mommy's life - who stayed up every night because she couldn't sleep unless someone else was holding/watching Damien and because every little cough sent a little panic button off (since Mommy already tends to dwell on worst case scenarios). Thankfully, on the morning of the 3rd day the hospital called to say that all tests were negative - so, in the end, just a cold! Phew! That night, after having champagne with dinner to celebrate the good news, Momma and Papa went out for their first date night to check out a lighted wind turbine art exhibit by the river and to grab some drinks on a cool river boat barge bar.

Little D was quite the ham with the doctors and didn't seem to mind the examinations or understand what all the fuss was about. Mommy, on the other hand, was a hot mess.

Checking in to the Hospital in the middle of the night. We forgot our passports, whoops, but luckilly Mommy had her driver's license and a copy of Damien's birth certificate.

It's OK Mommy, I just have a cold, I will be OK.

Damien Gets His First Round of Shots

Damien received his first round of immunizations. Both momma and papa went to the appointment because momma thought she would need reinforcements due to the trauma. First the not so little man was weighed, coming in at a whopping 12 lbs 10 oz! Then he saw the Dr. for his baby acne and some reflux issues. We were told the acne would just go away in another month or so. Afterwards, the little D was given an oral vaccine which he took like a champ. The nurse said baby's typically don't like it because it is very cold, well D takes his bottles straight up cold straight from the fridge (we didn't want a pampered boy!) so that helped.

Then came the shots. Mommy was almost hysterical before they were administered so papa had to push her out of the way and try to distract her with the burp rag and loud noises. It worked and before we knew it the nurse had done her deed. Not a peep from D after the first shot, but the second one, well that drew the kind of hysterical cry where they scrunch up their face turn bright red and are silent for a few seconds while the wind up to the belowing cry. But, after being picked up and cuddled by papa and quickly given a bottle, all was well. Until.... a few hours later and then it was as if it all hit him, and he was one sad panda. Several hysterical fits and almost constant moaning and fussing in between cat naps describes the afternoon. Finally, after some tylenol and a good nap, another bottle, and lots of cuddling with momma and papa, Little D started acting like himself again around 8pm with lots of cooing and smiles. Thank goodness, momma's heart was just breaking seeing him so upset.

What are you guys doing to me?

Momma and Damien get cozy in the Dr's office.

Papa trying out a new hold that Damien loves.

Like a leopard who stocks his prey from the tree.

The post shots bottle, see the bandages, poor guy!

Damien is One Month Old

Damien went to the doctor for his one month check-up. He is a perfectly healthy and happy boy. He is gaining weight like a champion boxer! His one month measurements are:

Weight: 10 lbs 14oz

Height: 23 in

At the Doctor's office.

Getting a second chin!

Getting cuter by the day!