Updates and a STOP to Ear Infections for Good

...Well, it has been 2-months since I have been a "Stay at Home Mommy," wow- how time flies. I actually feel like I am busier now then when I was actually employed. Lots of things to keep us busy. My week consists of Mondays and Wednesdays- I visit a trainer and take a core class, my mother-in-law comes over these days, and plays with Jake while I TRY to get my body back as well as run errands, etc. Tuesdays are days at home or out and about, Thursdays are our "Tiny Tot Gym Class" at the Park District- Jacob loves these classes. Really, it is an indoor gym time- with balls, mats, slides, and little tents for the tots to climb in and out of. There are 4 other kids in the class and we have song time at the end of each session with bubbles! Jacob LOVES all the kids, he LOVES the mats and balls and climbing and LOVES the bubbles and songs- we even sing them at home and dance, at the end of each class, he follows the teacher with the bubbles, because he cannot get enough. He seems to have taken a real liking to Peyton Stanczak- Jess and Peyton are in the class too- he loves kissing her and hugging her, they laugh together, and imitate eachother- it really is hysterical. He has another girlfriend in the class too- Little Neve- she is my trainer's 15-month old daughter, who Jacob took a liking to immediately. After class, we come home, have a snack, and off to night-night- during which time I do laundry and fun stuff around the house. Fridays are kind of free for all days- playgroups or whatever is going on- we are in. This week I begin my contract work for my old company, I do the calling during nap time- we will see how that goes. Naptime is also changing these days, so I am a bit nervous about how I am going to fit this in.

Jacob is doing so well in so many ways, I LOVE being home with him, he is so funny and he knows it- he is quite the "talker" (though I still cannot make out all of his words- he improves everyday), he loves to wrestle, read, and talk on my phone (like he is actually having a real conversation). Tantrums have taken on a new challenge in our home. The kind of tantrums where he throws himself on the floor and goes at it if he doesn't get his way, if someone doesn't understand him, or if he is exhausted (which is usually the case)....which brings up my next point...the kid is EXHAUSTED. He is waking up once a night now with screams- he is still getting more molars (I have never seen him in so much pain)- this is something that even Motrin can't seem to fix for the time being. Lastly, he is waking up because he is on ANOTHER ear infection- that would be the 16th time he has been on antibiotics JUST this year alone! Which brings me to the finale of this post...after a year of changing his milk from dairy to soy to try to lessen the mucous (to lessen the ear infections), to several probiotics he has been on to even out his good bacteria from all of the antibiotics to numerous doctor's appointments, specialists, and opinions (from extreme opinions- doctors telling me to take him off wheat, sugar, and dairy to the mainstream doctors telling me to keep up with the anitbiotics to do the tubes immediately)- I have come to a final decision...after changing milks, diet, etc and nothing working- (we are literally at the doctor every other week)Jacob will be having tubes put in his ears next Thursday- December 17th. I received the pre-surgery rules in the mail, one of the rules is no medicine for 2-weeks leading up to the procedure- well, a kid that constantly has ear infections- that's impossible. I spoke with both our pediatrician and the ENT, and they said it is fine if he is on antibiotics now, but just try to get him off motrin a week before I don't even think the antibiotics are working right now because he has been on them so much, his little body is becoming immune to most of them and well, without motrin- he is going to be in pain...(can you believe how dependent we are on these medications?! I am so done with all of this) It is a 15-minute procedure, we will be going to Lutheran General, and our doctor used to be the head of pediatrics at Children's- I want to believe we are making the right choice. I have been very emotional about this, but I don't know what else to do anymore. 16x on antibiotics for fluid in the ears or ear infections for 12 months is out of control...I can't bare to see him in pain any longer...this is where we are at. Sadly, Jake will be missing his LAST class at the park district that day-but this is when we were scheduled. Please say a little prayer for our Little Man next Thursday...prayers are always the best medicine.