It's been a while

We had a wonderful Christmas break which has been over for a while now, and we are very busy, but life with Phoebe is great!  We did not go anywhere special on vacation, but we did try to take Phoebe on several outings.  We went to the zoo to see the lights and the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Christmas tree display and Shedd Aquarium.  Phoebe was healthy which was so nice to see because she hadn't been for a long time.  She just kept getting one illness after another, but a few days into break, she got better and stayed better the whole time.  Unfortunately, she went back to school on January 8 and is sick again--coughing and runny nose.  She has an insane number of teeth coming in as well.  First she didn't have any, now she is getting them all.  She's a trooper.  Despite all of her illnesses and growing pains, she has a great personality and is learning new stuff every day.  She is more and more fun to watch--she is becoming a little bossy, actually. She spent last evening taking my hand and leading me to what she wanted to do and telling me what to do. She would grab my hand and say "walk." Then we would walk to wherever she wanted to go and then she would say what she wanted to do--mostly either "dance," "book," or "tent." Her cousin Sydney seems to be the first thing on her mind for much of the day.  She'll see something in the house and say "it's Sydney's"  or she'll ask "where's Sydney?"  I'll post the rest of the new pictures as soon as I get a chance--I started a grad class last week, so now I will have even less time!  But I will try because it is important to me to document her development.  I wish I had more time to think about what I am writing, however, because it isn't very interesting to read a list of events.  I would like to post in a more narrative form, but for that I would need more time.  "had we but world enough, and time..."  **sigh**

Santa Breakfast

Phoebe all dressed up and ready to see Santa!

Putting on a happy face

She was still sick here, but she remained in good spirits and had a great time exploring the house in Daddy's shoes.

Sick Phoebe

Phoebe had a fever for a week starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. This is how she looked everyday. Henry loved it because there was a lot of cuddling and lying around. But poor little Phoebe was not herself at all. She was so sad and sick. She started off with some crusty stuff in her eyes and the whites were slightly discolored. That was apparently some sort of virus which led to a double ear infection and a very sore throat with big red bumps. She took antibiotics for the ear infection, but nothing could help her throat except time. She couldn't eat very well because of all of the pain. It was the saddest thing to watch. I'm sure I seemed like a lunatic, but I called the doctor every day because I didn't know how long she was supposed to have a fever or not eat, etc. She got better, but not completely. She didn't start feeling totally better until after she was home for a few days during Christmas break because although the sore throat and ear infection eventually went away, she had this lingering cough and congestion that it turns out was a sinus infection. We went to the doctor for that on Dec. 20 and she got another antibiotic, and it seemed to clear up within a few days. Now, however, she seems like she is getting another cold--so she had about a week illness-free.

Christmas Tree Exploration