Playing Catch

When Karsten and Madison play together on the floor, Karsten 'throws' Madison's bone. Granted it doesn't go too far; however, he is throwing it. Scott decided to try a little game of catch with Karsten - he did great! There were a few interludes, but he definitely got the hang of it. Too cute!

Much Better

Karsten is doing better each day - the breathing treatments are making a world of difference. He still has a stuffy nose, but he has way more energy than he has the past couple of days. He had another date with Grandma today and she said he seemed 5,000 percent better. They had lots of fun playing and 'talking'.

Maybe it's not croup?

Karsten spent the day with Grandma today and I got regular updates about how is feeling. When I came over at lunch to check on him, he was definetely doing worse - he was coughing more, had a runny nose, didn't eat his breakfast and just wanted to be held.


I called the doctor and they agreed that I should bring him in to be seen by the doctor. They fit us in at the end of the day and once the doctor listened to his breathing, she said his chest sounded conjested. I had told her that several of the other kids at daycare had RSV and she determined that it was likely not croup, rather RSV that triggered croup like symptoms.

She gave him a breathing treatment and she said after the treatment his lungs sounded much better. We got a nebulizer and medicine to take home with us so we could do breathing treatments as needed. By the time we got home, he already seemed to be feeling a little bit better and as the evening went on he started to act more like himself. Whew - so glad I took him to the doctor this afternoon!

It Takes A Village

Thanks to everyone for all of the notes and emails with get well wishes and prayers for Karsten. It was so thoughtful of you and we enjoyed reading them.

Karsten got out of the hospital late in the day on Monday and seems to be doing well. We were all glad to be home. We're all exhausted so it will be an early night for us!

Karsten is going to spend the day with grandma tomorrow since he's not well enough to go back to daycare. Luckily she doesn't work tomorrow and is free for a date with Karsten! We're very thankful!

Awwww Jeez, CROUP?

We put Karsten to bed last night just like we always do. Around 10:15pm we heard him having a coughing fit and it lasted a long time. We were both on our way up to check on him when we heard him start to make a gasping noise - we've since learned that this HORRIBLY SCARY noise is called stridor. We picked him up and he kept coughing and gasping - Scott had the presence of mind to fill the bathroom with steam and take him in there. While he did that I called our doctor - they said if the steam didn't help after 10-15 minutes, we should head to urgent care. After the recommended waiting period he was still gasping and making a horrible wheezing sound so we loaded him up and took him to urgent care at Children's Mercy South.

On the way there he started to fall asleep then had another coughing fit as we got close to Children's Mercy. He was gasping so much I didn't think he could get any breaths - in all of that coughing he made himself sick...all over me. SO, Scott pulls up and I run in with him saying "He can't breathe". The nurses heard him and immediately knew what was going on - we were checked in and in an exam room having a breathing treatment within 15 minutes of arriving. They were so helpful.

Breathing treatments and a 9 month old are quite challenging. I think I got as much of the first treatment as he did. I was trying to hold him somewhat still as he thrashed around crying - he didn't know who these strangers were or why they were holding things in his face. Poor lil guy.

After the first treatment (~11:30pm) he was still wheezing quite a bit. After the treatment they have to observe him for 2 hours to make sure there are no adverse side effects. At the end of the 2 hours, it was decided that he needed another treament and that he would be admitted for further observation. So, another treatment was done at 1:30am, and it finally gave him some relief and let him rest. He rested on and off until we were transfered to a room around 2:45am.

Able to rest after his second breathing treatment. Scott was resting too - we were/are worn out. :)


Scott and Karsten rocking in our room this morning.


The scary looking bed he slept in and played on. He wasn't too sure about it when he initally saw it.


By this afternoon we were all pretty bored - Scott and Karsten decided to watch the cars outside our window. This was also the place where I snagged 2 hours of sleep last night.

Playing in the crib this afternoon - he was tired of being held so this offered a fun place for him to play.

We finally got the green light to come home this afternoon and we were all so glad to be home. Keep your fingers crossed that he has a good night tonight and there is no futher gasping for air. I would be a-ok if I never hear that sound again.

Ride along

Since Karten is working on pulling up, we decided to break out a fun toy we got at a baby shower. Karsten can either push it or ride on it. We thought it would be fun for him to pull up on or practice his balance while riding.

Scott and Karsten building it. Do you see Scott actually reading the directions?! :)

Karsten having a great time putting it together - he really liked this piece.

Checkin' it out.

He was so excited once we sat him on it and wheeled him back and forth!

Trying it out while he's standing.

He'll get the hang of it - practice, practice!

Back in the seat having a great time! Notice that every time he's on the seat having a great time his mouth is WIDE open? It's hilarious!

Rolling back and forth between the two of us.

Swing!

We went to the park this afternoon for Karsten to try out the swing. When I put him in it he was a little unsure, but once the swing started moving he was cautiously happy.

Not so sure about this thing. He kept his hands in his lap and looked very unsure.

Hey, this is kinda fun!

Yay - it's fun when Dad pushes me!

Having a good time swinging

All smiles - he was giggling too. It was adorable!

He was "talking" to us

A family picture - we're in the background as shadows

This is my favorite pic of the whole day - he looks like he's having so much fun!

Watching the other kids play as Scott told him that someday they would get to go down the slide on the playground.

Haircut #3

You may remember haircut #2 was only about 6 weeks ago; however, Karsten's hair grows sooo fast! Since his 9 month pictures are coming up this weekend, I decided it was FINALLY time for another haircut. For some reason I don't like getting his hair cut - it's like acknowledging he's getting older or something. Who knows.

He wasn't so sure about what was going on when I first put him in the car.

He did a great job sitting still for her to cut his hair!

He was watching elmo on TV here - the person that put lil TVs at each station was a genious!

Almost done!


This is a little blurry but he was moving quickly so I didn't get a great picture of the new do. It looks pretty cute. The bangs are a tad shorter than I would like them, but Scott keeps claiming that they are the perfect length.

Clap!

Karsten showed us a new trick on Friday night. I was holding him while we were talking then all of a sudden he started to clap! He got done clapping and I said "Yay" and clapped back at him.

When he claps he always smiles really big - you can tell he's very proud of himself!

9 month Stats

Karsten is 9 months old - can you believe it? I sure can't - where the heck did all those months go?

We had his 9 month dr. appt today and she said he is doing great!

He weighs 21 lbs, 8oz which is in the 70th percentile and he is 28 inches tall which is in the 50th percentile.

He was right on track with all of her questions - babbling and saying dada, baba (no mama yet!), crawing and starting to pull up, eating a variety of food, etc.

No shots this time, thank goodness!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We love holidays at our house and St. Patrick's Day is no exception - plus we had to show off our Irish roots. Here are a few pics of Karsen sporting his St. Patrick's day ge.

Havin fun

Serious face

Happy face!

Baby ipod

Karsten got this fun toy for Christmas - when you push the buttons it plays nursery ryhmes and the 'screen' has two or three pictures it changes between. We call it his baby iPod because it's the same idea and the front of it resembles an iPod. Karsten really enjoys playing with it - he was crawling around the kitchen with it the other night.

Shaking the baby iPod - cause that's just what you do. Notice that only one foot has a sock on. We can not keep socks on both of this boy's feet - he's always pulling them off and putting them in his mouth. I randomly find single socks scattered througout the house - today we discovered one in his carset. Why? Who knows! :)


He's also ready for his first St. Patrick's Day!


x

YAY for baby iPod!

Figuring out what each button does.

Splish Splash

Karsten really enjoys his bath time - he and Scott have quite the bathtime routine.

First you have to fill up the tub. While the tub is filling up they throw the bath toys into the tub. Usually he starts giggling while he does this.

Once he gets in tub he splashes around and grabs for the various toys. Then he bangs them on he tub or in the water. Endless fun!

Talking to Scott.

After getting dried off and getting his PJs on, it's time to brush his teeth. He doesn't seem to mind it too much. If it takes too long he starts to bite the toothbrush.