Walk before you can run

In my combination of busy, tired and now Lymes excitement, I neglected to post about a BIG milestone for our little (big) Bean! For just over 2 weeks now, he's been officially walking!


Just after he turned 15 months, something clicked. Now he walks everywhere, cruising over tall grass, rocks and hills! The first day he figured it out, we were all up till 10:30, watching the gleeful demonstration. I got a few choppy videos, but no official pictures... but it's hard to tell the new motion in a picture, eh? He impressed his daycare provider the next day, weaving through the room around the other kids.

He's quite confident by now, but he did take his time working up to this... like all his earlier milestones. An email I got from Babycenter said 90% of kids walk by 15 months, but I wasn't worried. Apparently I walked at 15 months. He's been walking with help for a long time. He took his first solo steps about a month earlier, but mostly stuck with crawling; a much faster way to get around if you plop down on your diaper-padded backside every few steps. I took short videos of the crawling, because I knew it wouldn't last. So now, he walks. 2 weeks later, we're even quite used to it. He's even started walking and drumming; it's old hat by now!


Welcome to the walking world, Bean. Now that you're upright with the rest of us, you seem so much more grown up. Adulthood, here we come!

Ticked Off

So. We had an interesting day yesterday. Can't remember the last time I was in an emergency room (maybe it was when I was 3 and stuck that raisin up my nose? I've been lucky). Sure didn't think I'd end up there yesterday because of a simple tick bite!

I first found a little bump and perhaps rash on my leg on Sunday; never saw a tick. But it was just on the top of my sock line; a suspicious place. By Monday is was bigger, so I brought myself to Urgent Care to get it looked at; really seemed like a bit of a Lyme rash and if so I wanted to start treatment right away. I've know a couple people who have suffered terribly from Lyme. Dr. said hmmm, maybe, here's a prescription if you want to fill it later if it spreads, or after the not-so-accurate tests come back in a week or so. It spread and began to hurt, so I started the antibiotics on Tuesday on the way to the big Women's Gathering in WI with Bean. The normal Lyme antibiotic treatment is not compatible with nursing, so I ended up with a not-so-strong type, hoping for the best.

Didn't feel better, felt worse and worse. The rash grew and grew, swelled up and stung like crazy. In hindsight, camping in a COLD tent with Bean (he was fine, I was cold) wasn't the greatest way to deal with this, but I really just thought it would be fine. Showed it to a doctor who was present at the gathering, and she said "Ooooh." And started mentioning MRSA, stronger antibiotics, etc. Most people agreed that it looked worse than Lyme, now. By the time my lips started to feel hot and I was limping, I decided to go back to Urgent Care.

At Urgent Care, the triage nurse took one look at it and also said "Oooooh!". And started mentioning the Emergency Room and intravenous antibiotics. So, me and my little tick bite were essentially admitted to the hospital, where we waited. Doctors finally came, said WOW and began conferring with each other. I had to correct one about an antiobiotic that's not safe for nursing, but to their credit they didn't give me trouble about nursing a young toddler, who is nowhere near ready to wean. We settled on a shot of a stronger antibiotic (which is considered safe with nursing, I told them where to look it up) and MORE amoxicillin. Just sitting with it up on bed for a couple hours made it feel better, and they pronounced it just a heck of a case of Lyme Disease, not MRSA or anything else ickier.

Not that Lyme isn't icky. I still feel sore, tired, a bit feverish. Took a 3 hour nap today with Bean. I guess the lesson is to LOOK FOR TICKS a bit more carefully after being in the woods. This one was likely very tiny, probably picked up on the South Shore near Spiral Earth (where we hope to live someday). I guess the one thing I'm grateful for is that Bean didn't get the tick. I had the same experience a couple weeks ago, when I got stung by a yellowjacket (OUCH!) in the grass where I was going to set Bean down. The thing that scared me the most was that he might have gotten the sting instead. I knew that Lyme was serious out East, but I didn't realize that Wisconsin is also an infection hot spot. Ug.



I've had requests for pictures of the exciting rash, so here it is, in all it's erythema migrans glory. The circle was from yesterday's doctor, so we could see if it was growing or shrinking. I don't think it's grown, but it hasn't shrunk yet, either. We're doing OK, just a few expected, ah, intestinal effects upon Bean, who is essentially taking the antibiotics along with me. We are pushing the probiotics. Rooting for the good microbes, not the bad! Onward...

Stylin'!

Dashing out the door, but wanted to post these! We're zooming around in style these days! Bean seems to enjoy himself in his little "pod", but it's extra fun when we bike to a berry patch! Yum!



And this picture gives you a realistic glimpse of our usual, rural life. Ratty garage, random chickens (behind me), friendly cat, and happy boy ready for outdoor adventures!

Basket Case and a Bike

Hey! I know I've been slacking, but we are busybusybusy. I'm still absorbed with trying to figure out what the heck to do for work, and we're getting more serious about selling our house (getting it ready for showing will be a MONUMENTAL task, indeed). More on that later, I'm sure.

Bean is doing well, teething on and off, growing, eating, exploring. He's not QUITE walking yet, but there have been a few steps. Usually it's a few steps and then a lunge, but he's getting pretty good balance just standing up.I'll try to post a few pictures. The camera was full, then I downloaded everything at home, now I'm at work, finishing up with a second pumping for more milk. Multitasking, momma style, eh.

But here's a few of him discovering baskets; not really a basket case! Very cute, eh?




I also have some fun news of my OWN: I got brave and bought a new bike! Yep, brand new, just for me. Just saying those words feels fun; I'm not sure why it brings out the kid in me. It feels somewhat extravagant, but I've been thinking about it since last summer, and finally just got it together to go look at bikes, find one that fits, and manage to get it ordered and purchased, Bean on hip for some of that. Being a busy working mom, I've only gotten to ride it a couple times for a few minutes so far, but it makes me happy, and hopefully will get me out for exercise a bit more often.




And Bean will soon be able to ride along; we've also made the leap and ordered a Chariot; a super extravagance for us, really. But it will be a good investment in getting around without a car (we're down to one car right now). Someday sooner than later we hope to live within bikeable distance of the Lake, and this will be great. It will also be a jogging stroller; Bean is actually outgrowing our current nice stroller. Friends who have this system (even can use it for XC skiing!) swear by it, and are still using it with their 4 year old. So, also a good investment, with resale value, I'm told!

Whew. I NEVER buy new gear; I always buy used cars, I have a funky ugly used kayak, my lifejacket clashes with the boat because I bought it used, even my wetsuit is used (ewww). I don't buy new clothes or books, even, that often. But to get a bike that FITS me, and is my first choice is fun, and I feel like it's a good investment. This bike is a good fit for our bumpy gravel roads; shocks! Amazing! Such technology didn't exist the last time I looked at bikes, seriously.

I've never been THAT into biking, but that's perhaps because of my checkered bike-owning past. My current bike was purchased for $50 about 15 years ago. It's rusty, and the brakes don't completely let off (and I've been told they are unfixable). The last and only other bike I have purchased new (when I was 19!) was way too big for me; I ended up giving it to my Dad. Other bikes before that included a neighbor's purple super-heavy 10 speed Schwinn and an uncle's banana seat bike without brakes. That made learning to ride interesting!

But this is MY bike, and I hope to have many good riding times with it and my family. Back to our regularly scheduled crazy schedule...

Beach 'n Chicks

Oh, no time to be clever right now. Just some quick pics to show you what we've been up to. I'm afraid my posting has been dwindling as I turn more toward Facebook for snippets and Shutterfly for our pictures. Email me if you want to see those.

But some updates here: Bean's been to his first Island, Madeline (not even part of the National Lakeshore, a shame to my NPS days, but much more doable right now). He LOVES the beach! Cold water and all. He can definitely say "Hat!" now, based on all our discussions about the need to wear sun hats. And he probably said "Cold!" when we got into the water.




He also loves strawberries... we had a bit of trouble getting him back into the carseat after visiting the Northwind Organic Farm. He didn't want to leave the "coos" (chickens) or the lovely dirt fields. Much like a beach, I guess!



When we got home, there were new "coos" to look at: chicks! We had broody hens again this year, so with a minimum of fanfare, we have more chicks around the place. Poor chickens don't get nearly as much attention here (or in real life) as they used to, but maybe that's OK with them. They know what they are doing.



So far, we have 9 new babies on the place, and the young hens (who were babies here last year) are doing a good job. The cycle continues, even if it's not posted on Youtube anymore!

Now it's July

Wow. Where does time go? We are here.

With steer-able baskets...


And giant rhubarb...

And Alaska shirts courtesty of the grandparents...

And even a little jealousy.


But all is well and we're just keeping up with summer. More later!