Kevin can be a little obsessive, to say the least. He’s obsessed with keys already, and in the last few weeks he’s been focusing more of his energy on obsessing about cows. He loves animals (how could he not, growing up in our house?) and particularly farm animals. Maybe he likes cows because it was one of the first animal words he could say clearly enough for us to understand? Who knows.
He has a book of animals that we read many times a day, and he always likes to go to the cow page (also featured: Bull and Piggy, which he loves to say). When we go past the cow page, he keeps his fingers there so he can quickly jump back at any second. Sometimes if he doesn’t hold his place, we’ll be a few pages past the cow page and he’ll have a panic attack and shuffle through the pages to go back and find the cow. When he finds it he always says “cow?” as if he’s very concerned about the cow and wanted to make sure he was still okay.
He still watches Baby Einstein movies sometimes, and his favorite is Baby Shakespeare because it features a cow. He knows when that part comes on and starts saying cow before it comes on. He always wants to go back and keep watching that part, but I try to make him watch the whole thing so as to not become a slave to the DVD remote, constantly jumping forward or back to the cow part.
I was at the movie store the other day and I looked through the whole kids’ section for the best cow movie I could find, and I found Barnyard. We had watched it before with Emily, so I knew it features a cow as the main character and had dancing scenes. He laughs at the movie and likes it, but then of course gets concerned about the cow in the Baby Einsten movie or the cow in the book, so we have to go check on them.
I guess a cow obsession is okay with me. At least he’s not obsessed with fire or throwing golf balls through windows or anything. Yet. I hope we can go to a farm and see and touch a real cow as soon as spring comes - I think he would get a big kick out of that.
In other news, Kevin is doing much better now. He’s done with his steroids and we’re just doing breathing treatments whenever we think he needs them, maybe one a day. He’s still a little whiny and tired, but other than that he’s back to his funny, dancing, book-reading, demanding self. It’s nice to have that boy back.
Before he got sick, we went to a gathering in Iowa City for the Heart Friends group that we are part of. It was in recognition of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Day, which is every Valentines day. It’s just another chance for us to visit with other families of kids born with heart defects - we usually see the same people once or twice a year at gatherings. It’s always good to see kids growing and thriving, and not always being able to pick out the “heart kids” from the “normal kids”.
Kevin had a good time playing in the gym with all the basketballs and the other kids. He spent a lot of the time keeping an eye on the big bird that was roaming around. He never wanted to get close to him, but he did end up giving him five and playing catch from a long distance.
Finally, Kevin had a great time eating the cupcakes and cookies that we had around for Valentines day, so I had to post some of those pictures…
I just wanted to post a quick update. Kevin is doing fine, he is getting his breathing treatments every few hours and his oxygen level is staying in the 90’s so hopefully he will be able to come home in the morning. He is still pretty cranky and keeps pointing to the door because he wants to go home, can’t say I blame him!
Matt is at the hospital with Kevin for the night, I came home with Emily. I have been sick for a few days too, so I came home to sleep and will head back early in the morning.
Kevin was admitted to the hospital today because of his respiratory/asthma issues. We had avoided real sickness all winter, but it seems like everyone is getting sick in the last few weeks, and Kevin was no exception.
He got a cold last week but only had a runny nose and an occasional cough, so we weren’t too worried. But then on Friday night he started coughing more. We debated on whether or not to go to the Heart Friends gathering in Iowa City on Saturday morning, then decided that we would go and just turn around if he was coughing a lot while driving. He did well the whole time, but after we left he really started coughing a lot on the way home and didn’t stop. So we called the doctor on Saturday afternoon and got his steroids and breathing treatment meds refilled in the hopes that he could fight this off before it got too bad.
Unfortunately Saturday night was miserable and he was a coughing, whining, crying mess all day on Sunday. Sunday night was another bad night so we knew we had to bring him in to the doctor Monday morning.
They did a blood test, took his pulsox (92), and did a chest x-ray. They said he could probably go home and do alright, but they were more comfortable with him staying in the hospital so they could monitor him and make sure he doesn’t get worse. Although it’s no fun for him or us to have him there, we also don’t want to be debating tonight at 11:00 at night whether or not we should take him to the emergency room because he’s getting worse. So he was admitted and will probably stay just a night. We hope.
We’ve been getting a lot of snow here lately, and Kevin likes to stand on his stool and look out the front window as it comes down. The other day we got him all bundled up to go out and play (long process) and we thought he would have a great time. We were wrong! He liked standing around in it for a minute or two, but he didn’t want it to touch his gloves and he had no interest in actually playing in it. Emily had a fun time and of course Duke was jumping around as always, but Kevin quickly got tired of it and was okay with coming inside after about 5 minutes.
The other day he also managed to get Emily’s pink cowboy boots on and thought it was the funniest thing ever. I don’t know, I think he really pulls off the look, what do you think?
Kevin is now into the “terrible two’s” and he is getting quite the attitude. He still doesn’t talk all that clearly, but he has perfected the word “no”, using it often, with sassiness, and in the proper context. Is this progress?!
But along with his strong-willed determination and fascination for screaming is a growing sense of adventure and desire to do and try everything. I love this age because there is so much to learn and so many new things to explore. The screaming fits and occasional destruction caused is overshadowed by a boy with a big smile who always seems to be having the best day of his life.
He’s still fascinated with keys and has lost ours several times, leading to last-minute panic when we have to decide to either exhaust all efforts looking for where he hid them, or try to work out an alternate vehicle plan. When I get home from work, Kevin often greets me at the top of the steps with the words “keys?” - sounding like an addict who is desperate to get his next fix.
Another of his loves is the vacuum. He always wants to “help” vacuum and he often will be happy using his toy puppy vacuum, but he’s always obsessed with the real one. If only he could actually do the vacuuming for us…
He also loves to dance. I’m not sure he’s going to win any awards, but he certainly has his own style and isn’t shy about performing with all his heart. You know what they say, dance like nobody’s watching…
We were at the mall yesterday to listen to Dawn’s story-time at the animal shelter, and I took some video of Kevin just walking around. I thought it showed his personality - especially turning around every few seconds to ask “more?” because I had some Reese’s Pieces!
Also, I’m not sure we posted this yet, but Kevin now sleeps all night in his own bed. What a relief! He loves to give kisses and staring/flirting with the ladies, and he still loves reading books. Lots and lots of books. Constantly. Which I guess is a good thing, right?
Now I just have to capture his “other side” on video when he’s mad and screaming and clearing everything off the coffee table with his arm and hitting the dogs. The Terrible Two’s do exist!
