Quick update

This is just a quick note to let you know that Jeremiah is on the mend. I took him to the doctor on Thursday when his fever was still elevated. She ordered a chest x-ray, for which he was a trooper even after the tech pinched him with the claspe on the lead skirt, and diagnosed him with border-line pneumonia.

He's been really good about taking an antibiotic and steroid orally and, as usual, very agreeable for his nebulizer treatments. He went back to daycare on Friday.

However, he has been a little whiny. This mommy will be ready for him to get totally back to his normal schedule this week. I think he spent a little too much time with me for our good.

He shared some of his toys and book time with Grandma and Grandpa Schnitzler this weekend. She also showed them how much he likes sausage when we took them out for German food on Friday night.

We're hoping this week holds much less excitement than last week.

Not feeling so hot

Jeremiah has not been feeling so hot the past couple of days. He stayed home from daycare today with a 102 fever that's gone up and down with Motrin doses all day. Hopefully he can get some rest tonight and start to feel better. The fever is accompanied by a lovely cough and runny nose. Just a couple weeks ago I was noting how lucky we had been regarding his health this winter. Shame on me for saying anything.

It's been a while since we've updated you on his antics so here are a few highlights.

- Jeremiah went to the theater for the first time on Friday. The sitter took him and the other kids (the older ones had been out of school and stuck inside for too many days in a row!) She reports that he sat pretty well but will need to work on not talking in the movie.

- Since Christmas he has been asking to see Owen St. P so we had Owen and his parents over on Saturday night for pizza. Jeremiah so badly wanted Owen to play with him, even offering him toys, but Owen isn't quite ready to play with Jeremiah's toys. They did read a book together though.

- We've also had a few teary-eyed incidents of asking for Grandma and Grandpa (both sets). We're trying to explain that they live far away and we can't see them in an instant. However, we have called a few times. We're really having to explain that Aunt Carrie lives VERY far away. He asked for her once last week too and he doesn't it in such a pitiful voice that you can't help but be sympathetic.

- He continues to love to help in the kitchen. He likes to mix things, wash dishes, unload the dishwasher and put things in and take things out of the refrigerator. (Thank goodness he can't open the door himself yet!)

- We did get out over the weekend to enjoy a little fun in the snow. Our flat yard doesn't leave many options for sledding, but he was partially more interested in throwing the snow anyways. We pulled him in the sled and then sent him moving across the yard, which was sufficient for him.

- Finally, we've decided it may be time to be careful what we tell him. Last week he very succinctly informed Shelly that Daddy was going to the doctor, Mommy was at work and Mommy and Daddy are talking. (I'm glad he didn't tell her anything else...yikes!) The comical moment came on Sunday when he was conducting on of his marathon "What are you doing?" question session, in which he asks about 20 times in a 30 minute trip what we are doing. I responded that Daddy and I were talking and he chimed in "about something." Hmmm....perhaps he's hear that one out of my mouth before.

Photos we owe

Here are just a few photos from the past few weeks that we didn't get posted earlier but that I wanted to be sure to share.

Jeremiah wanted to sport an apron tonight while he helped make dinner. We thought Grandma Todd would be proud.

This is Jeremiah reading the day after Thanksgiving ads with Great Grandma Z. This was after she was big enough to read a Cardinals book to him. That's big for a die-hard cubs fan.

Jeremiah and his cousin Karl tok a bath together at Grandma Schnitzler's house during Thanksgiving weekend. This is one to show the girlfriends some day.

Christmas Recap

Although we avoided hazardous driving weather for our Christmas travels, our trip wasn't uneventful. About an hour from Grandma and Grandpa Todd's house, Jeremiah got car sick and threw up. The irony was that as he was intently reading his second book, John made a comment about how he was relieved that he didn't get car sick. That's karma! This facilitated a quick pit stop to clean him up and a second bath for that day when we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Todd's house. We enjoyed dinner and socializing with family. We read the Christmas story from the Bible and then kept Jeremiah up to go to 11 p.m. service. It was important for us to be in church together on Christmas eve and the other services didn't work for our schedule. He lasted until the second or third verse of "Joy to the World" and crashed on my shoulder just before the sermon.


Here is shot of him supervising Grandpa building a fire on Christmas eve.


Among other goodies, Santa brought a table and chairs for him.



We opened gifts with the Todd clan on Christmas morning. He helped Aunt Carrie hand out presents.



Later that day, we all relaxed and enjoyed snacking. G&G Schnitzler came over that evening to play games and spend time with us too.


The next morning we headed out for the initiation of his sled, a Christmas present from Aunt Carrie. The adults joined in the fun, and quickly taught Jeremiah about making and throwing snowballs. He proceeded to repeat that action the next day with his Schnitzler cousins.



This is Grandpa pulling the sled to the park with Jeremiah in it.

Friday afternoon we headed for Elizabeth to spend time with the other side of the family. We had a nice dinner, the cousins played, and we enjoyed all being together (a rare occasion anymore). Jeremiah received some great presents that he can wear, play with and treasure!

Each year, the family celebration involves the kids putting their Christmas balls on the tree after Grandma shares a special moment talking about it being Jesus' birthday and the reason we give presents. Here is Jeremiah listening intently.

After gobbling down some pancakes on Saturday morning, Jeremiah joined his cousins for fun in the snow. He also visited the sheep and cows at Papa's farm. Then, it was time for more play at Grandma's house and a visit to the local pizza joint that night.

Sunday brought time with the extended Schnitzler family and the loooong drive back home. We've spent the week playing with new toys, unpacking bags, and trying to remember that he's not this age for long.

Here he is playing with some of his new Fisher Price Little People toys. Front and center is J.V. Todd International Airport and the train station is to the left. These are sure to see much more action in the years to come!