Ryker updates

Wow, it's been almost a month since I've posted and a lot has happened, both good and challenging. The most challenging thing that has happened this month is the Ryker got a yucky stomach virus that caused him to have diarrhea and vomiting, but at least there was no fever. I'm pretty sure I had the same stomach bug the day before my Daybreak triathlon. I thought it was just nerves, but then it didn't go away for a few days, and then Ryker got it, but much worse than me. He couldn't keep anything down for a week. He ended up having to go into Primary Children's hospital and be put on an IV. That was the most horrible experience of my life! Watching my poor little baby by pinned down while nurses stuck needles and tubes in him. I had to leave the room while Adam had to hold him down for the horrible experiences. I think I may have cried just as much as Ryker that night.

After the hospital released us from our our awful night (although I have to say the staff was really nice and helpful, but nothing makes my baby suffering seem better) Ryker still was battling dehydration. I had to syringe feed him breast milk and pedialyte every 15 minutes for 2 days. After a week, Ryker finally got over the bug. He lost an entire pound! That may not sound like much, but he was only 13 and half pounds and he got down to 12 and a half pounds. Not so good for a 5 and half month old.

Good news though, Ryker is totally over it and as happy as can be now. The interesting thing is that even though he was sick, he wasn't crying much (maybe because he didn't have enough hydration to produce tears, but who knows). He would still smile at us and he was mostly just lethargic. We knew he was feeling better when he started giggling and playing again.

Anyway, he's had a few new things in the last couple of weeks. First, I started styling his hair; well sometimes. He's so darn cute. Check him out!



Second, I started him on solid foods. He started on rice cereal last week. It was hilarious! The first time he got a spoonful in his mouth he just sat there with his mouth half open starring at me not quite sure what to do. I tried to show him how to eat it, and after a few minutes he started figuring it out. Then he thought he would try blowing bubbles in it, which meant he blew rice cereal all over the place. I tried not to laugh because I didn't want to encourage it, but I couldn't help it. So next spoonful, he looks at me, smirks, and then blows the rice cereal all over the place again. That kid is such a tease! Then Sunday we started adding bananas to his diet. He loved that! In fact, when I would pull the spoon out of his mouth to get another spoonful, he would scream until I put the spoon back in his mouth. He's so funny!

Another thing Ryker has started doing is scooting. He still HATES being on his tummy, so if he doesn't roll over within a few minutes, he scoots himself off of his blanket.

And finally, Ryker has made friends with Shady and Rolo. One day I was holding Ryker on my lap and Rolo came and put her head on my lap. Ryker lunged toward her and grabbed a fistful of fur. Rolo just licked him, which he thought was funny, and Ryker has been mesmerized by the dogs ever since. Every time he gets within arms length of them, he lunges to pet them, or pull their fur. Rolo has started trying to bring him toys to play fetch. Sorry puppy, that' not going to work for a while yet. The only hard part with all of this dog love, is that I'm a little paranoid about the germs. I try to wash Rykers hands as soon as he's finished petting the dog or the dog has licked his hands. But sometimes Ryker gets his hands in his mouth before I can wash them. I guess what doesn't kill him will make him stronger right? I'm still not comfortable with the dog germs, but that's just the paranoid first time mom in me. I'm sure I'll get over it.