I should technically title this "Childcare" Reflections since they're taking care of the child, not the day...but I've grown up calling it daycare and I'm sure I always will.
All mothers, moms-to-be, and future mothers - Please read!! You are my target audience for this particular blog. I'd love to hear your comments, thoughts, reflections, etc. as they apply to you and your current/past/future situation.
I've not had a chance to blog about my reflections on sending Layla to daycare and I figured now is an appropriate time to do so as the calendar year is coming to an end. If you've read my past posts about my thoughts/fears/reluctance to head back to work and send Layla to a daycare, it might be interesting for you to read to gain a better understanding of exactly how/what I was feeling. They're found in my posts during July & August.
To put it in a nutshell, I was one huge, emotional basket-case for about a month leading up to Layla's first day at Little Hands. Oddly enough, on that first day, I didn't shed a single tear. It didn't rip me up inside to let her go. I did call once to check up on her, and that was it. I was completely surprised by how I handled the whole situation once it finally arrived.
Four months later, I absolutely LOVE that she's attending daycare!
These thoughts have become more apparent/vivid this past week as I had it off work and was able to spend every moment with Layla. It sounds a little ironic, I know.
It could just be a stage Layla is in, but I truly believe she is simply bored at home with just us and her few toys (yay for Christmas gifts!!). She's very whiny and clingy. If I'm not physically in the room with her, crying ensues! Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter and at times enjoy the clinginess...but my goodness! I can't get anything done! I don't know if I could handle that every day :-)
She 100% knows who mommy & daddy are. She knows when she's home and when she's somewhere else. She always has. Daycare has not prevented/hindered any relationship between us.
I've watched her with her cousins as we're at all our holiday get-togethers and am amazed at how much she enjoys watching & playing with them. It gives me great joy to know that she gets to have that much fun every day with all the kids who attend Little Hands.
I know that she saves all her "firsts" for home based on conversations with the ladies at the daycare. I remember them being so impressed one day on how well she was pulling herself up and I thought to myself "she's been doing that for a week or two now." When Layla begins saying a new word, it seems they have never heard her say it when I mention it at drop-off or pick-up. On the flip-side, I know that she's learned words from daycare that she wouldn't have otherwise learned because we don't (or didn't) use them.
I cherish the first 5.5 months I had with her and hope that I get to spend a fairly equivalent amount of time with any future children we may have...but I don't regret going back to work.
I'm simlpy hoping to encourage you that it's not as bad as it might feel...sending your precious little bundle to a strange house/building every day. A lot of positives can come from it. She's interacting with other kids & learning physical, mental & social skills that couldn't happen at home with just me.
I've actually not had a single negative thought from the moment I dropped her off at her first day of "school."
I may not have the cleanest house because when I'm home I'd rather focus on her than what's around us...but that's just the way it might have to be.
I'm sure this post would have a far different approach had I stayed home, but I don't regret one second of the past 4 months.
If you're at home now struggling with the idea of leaving your little one...pregnant and weighing your options...or know that one day you will start a family of your own...I would love to talk with you, be an ear as you unload your thoughts & feelings, and encourage you as you deal with this emotional war within. I've been there...I know how it feels...and I know you get through it with minimal battle wounds & victory for both you & your child :-)
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
First Fever & What I Learned
It was bound to happen sooner or later. Layla officially has her first fever.
It all started yesterday. Mommy and Daddy got to stay home because of a snow day and Layla decided to be fussy and clingy ALL day. This is not like her at all! She is such a happy baby. However, I didn't think much about it (except the inconvenience of it). As I was nursing her at the end of the day I noticed she kept flapping at her ear. This made me think maybe she was getting an ear infection and that's why she was so fussy all day. I put her down for the night and a few hours later headed to bed myself. I went in to check on her and noticed the humidifier was leaking. Needless to say, I woke her up with all my commotion. I lifted her up and noticed she was very warm. I took her temp. and it showed 99.8. I was slightly concerned. Usually when I take her temp it's 97-something.
I woke up this morning and she still felt warm - her temp. was down to 99.2. I decided to send her to "school" and told the ladies of her behavior yesterday and temp. this morning. I called to check on her mid-morning and she ate breakfast well and had just gone down for a nap. They told me she felt warm and would check her temp. when she woke up and call to let me know the results. As I was enjoying a lunch out with my team to celebrate Christmas I got the call. Layla's temp. was 101.8!!! I couldn't believe it! I was thinking maybe 99 still...but not 102! I left lunch early, made up my plans for the afternoon, made a doctor's appointment and picked her up. She definitely felt hot!
We came home for a bit and she took a little nap before her appointment. By the time we finally got called back to get her temp. checked by the nurse it was about 3 hours after the child care initially called me. The nurse's thermometer read 99.6. I was a bit relieved, but curious as to the big difference in temps.
The doctor comes in and is at first excited to see that Layla has gained 5 oz. since her last appointment! Then we get to business. She checks her ears - no infection. She tells me that their thermometer is pretty accurate because it's some high-tech silver thing and that 100.3 constitutes a fever. She's curious as to how Layla's temp. dropped so quickly with no fever reducer and asks how they took her temperature at child care. At the time I didn't know, but I later found out it's under the arm. We're not sure why there's such a difference and the doctor prescribes an antibiotic in case she gets worse or starts showing other symptoms over the weekend/holidays.
We leave with not much resolution to the reason for the fever and therefore my mind isn't at peace. I know my daughter is not her usual self and has temp. readings around 2 degrees higher than her "average."
I call the child care to tell them that nothing contagious was determined and asked about the possibility of her returning tomorrow since she doesn't technically have a fever. It turns out that 2 other kids were sent home with fevers...one being Layla's friend Macy. So maybe there really is something to this.
I take her temp. around 4:30 or so and my thermometer reads 101.8! Now I'm just confused! I check it later in the evening and it's about 100.8. I'm not sure why her temp. didn't read higher at the doctor's office.
Regardless, she's still fairly happy and is showing no other signs...and I hope she doesn't! I'm not looking forward to our first vomiting episode or exploding diarrhea!!
***
What I learned:
1.) You do not need to add a degree when you take a temp. with a digital thermometer under the arm (the child care & a couple other people told me this which would have made her temp. near 103)
2.) Check at least 3 times under the arms to get an accurate idea of temp. (rectal is best...no thank you!)
3.) You do not need to rush to the doctor at the first sign of fever - I think I always knew this...but I wasn't necessarily thinking rationally with the knowledge that my first child has her first fever.
4.) Going to the doctor too early might result in missing the true cause of the fever
5.) Although fevers aren't good, it allows for a bit more cuddle time than usual. :-)
On a lighter note...Layla kept saying "uh-oh" when the doctor was in the room. In fact, the doctor noticed it before I did...I think I was too intent on listening to what she had to tell me. She was very impressed with Layla saying this at 9 months. It looks like we're going to have quite the talker on our hands.
It all started yesterday. Mommy and Daddy got to stay home because of a snow day and Layla decided to be fussy and clingy ALL day. This is not like her at all! She is such a happy baby. However, I didn't think much about it (except the inconvenience of it). As I was nursing her at the end of the day I noticed she kept flapping at her ear. This made me think maybe she was getting an ear infection and that's why she was so fussy all day. I put her down for the night and a few hours later headed to bed myself. I went in to check on her and noticed the humidifier was leaking. Needless to say, I woke her up with all my commotion. I lifted her up and noticed she was very warm. I took her temp. and it showed 99.8. I was slightly concerned. Usually when I take her temp it's 97-something.
I woke up this morning and she still felt warm - her temp. was down to 99.2. I decided to send her to "school" and told the ladies of her behavior yesterday and temp. this morning. I called to check on her mid-morning and she ate breakfast well and had just gone down for a nap. They told me she felt warm and would check her temp. when she woke up and call to let me know the results. As I was enjoying a lunch out with my team to celebrate Christmas I got the call. Layla's temp. was 101.8!!! I couldn't believe it! I was thinking maybe 99 still...but not 102! I left lunch early, made up my plans for the afternoon, made a doctor's appointment and picked her up. She definitely felt hot!
We came home for a bit and she took a little nap before her appointment. By the time we finally got called back to get her temp. checked by the nurse it was about 3 hours after the child care initially called me. The nurse's thermometer read 99.6. I was a bit relieved, but curious as to the big difference in temps.
The doctor comes in and is at first excited to see that Layla has gained 5 oz. since her last appointment! Then we get to business. She checks her ears - no infection. She tells me that their thermometer is pretty accurate because it's some high-tech silver thing and that 100.3 constitutes a fever. She's curious as to how Layla's temp. dropped so quickly with no fever reducer and asks how they took her temperature at child care. At the time I didn't know, but I later found out it's under the arm. We're not sure why there's such a difference and the doctor prescribes an antibiotic in case she gets worse or starts showing other symptoms over the weekend/holidays.
We leave with not much resolution to the reason for the fever and therefore my mind isn't at peace. I know my daughter is not her usual self and has temp. readings around 2 degrees higher than her "average."
I call the child care to tell them that nothing contagious was determined and asked about the possibility of her returning tomorrow since she doesn't technically have a fever. It turns out that 2 other kids were sent home with fevers...one being Layla's friend Macy. So maybe there really is something to this.
I take her temp. around 4:30 or so and my thermometer reads 101.8! Now I'm just confused! I check it later in the evening and it's about 100.8. I'm not sure why her temp. didn't read higher at the doctor's office.
Regardless, she's still fairly happy and is showing no other signs...and I hope she doesn't! I'm not looking forward to our first vomiting episode or exploding diarrhea!!
***
What I learned:
1.) You do not need to add a degree when you take a temp. with a digital thermometer under the arm (the child care & a couple other people told me this which would have made her temp. near 103)
2.) Check at least 3 times under the arms to get an accurate idea of temp. (rectal is best...no thank you!)
3.) You do not need to rush to the doctor at the first sign of fever - I think I always knew this...but I wasn't necessarily thinking rationally with the knowledge that my first child has her first fever.
4.) Going to the doctor too early might result in missing the true cause of the fever
5.) Although fevers aren't good, it allows for a bit more cuddle time than usual. :-)
On a lighter note...Layla kept saying "uh-oh" when the doctor was in the room. In fact, the doctor noticed it before I did...I think I was too intent on listening to what she had to tell me. She was very impressed with Layla saying this at 9 months. It looks like we're going to have quite the talker on our hands.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
hips & more
A couple of nights ago I noticed Layla swaying her hips to music instead of just bobbing up and down. Where does she learn this stuf?!?! I'm hoping to get a video of it and post it on facebook...be on the lookout.
That same night she also decided to start pushing things and walking with them! It was her first night crawling around on our hardwood dining room floor. I'm not sure if it was an accident at first, but she did very well! One foot in front of the other like it was the thousandth time she's done it. Later that night she was pushing her learning table across the carpet and walked across the room! She's getting so big!
Two new teeth have popped through, too. That puts the count up to six - four on top and two on bottom. She has a nice gap between her two front teeth...hopefully these two that just poked through will push them together a little. I might add we noticed that they popped through the same day as her swaying & walking. It all seems to come in bursts.
She's changed her crying, too. She frowns and contorts her face in this pitiful little expression and keeps her lips together more, making a new sound.
She also aparently does not like getting in her carseat after school anymore. She cries/screams all the way home. Luckily we don't live too far from there. I like to think that she misses me so much that it's just torture for me to let go and put her in the carseat right away. It's probably more because she's been free and wild all day having fun and doesn't like being restrained. I'm hoping the behavior doesn't spread to every time we put her in the car.
LOL...I was sitting here with Layla as she ate some Cheerios off a lid. When she finished them, she put the lid up to her mouth as if to lick every last crumb! So cute!!! She is now growlin at it...
Did I ever blog that she also gives us fives?? I keep it plural because she doesn't know to only do it once and stop...it turns out to be more like giving us a "fifteen."
That same night she also decided to start pushing things and walking with them! It was her first night crawling around on our hardwood dining room floor. I'm not sure if it was an accident at first, but she did very well! One foot in front of the other like it was the thousandth time she's done it. Later that night she was pushing her learning table across the carpet and walked across the room! She's getting so big!
Two new teeth have popped through, too. That puts the count up to six - four on top and two on bottom. She has a nice gap between her two front teeth...hopefully these two that just poked through will push them together a little. I might add we noticed that they popped through the same day as her swaying & walking. It all seems to come in bursts.
She's changed her crying, too. She frowns and contorts her face in this pitiful little expression and keeps her lips together more, making a new sound.
She also aparently does not like getting in her carseat after school anymore. She cries/screams all the way home. Luckily we don't live too far from there. I like to think that she misses me so much that it's just torture for me to let go and put her in the carseat right away. It's probably more because she's been free and wild all day having fun and doesn't like being restrained. I'm hoping the behavior doesn't spread to every time we put her in the car.
LOL...I was sitting here with Layla as she ate some Cheerios off a lid. When she finished them, she put the lid up to her mouth as if to lick every last crumb! So cute!!! She is now growlin at it...
Did I ever blog that she also gives us fives?? I keep it plural because she doesn't know to only do it once and stop...it turns out to be more like giving us a "fifteen."
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