I Think She Ate Poop!

This week I transitioned Hana to one nap a day rather than two. The first day she cried and fussed and then only slept two hours but after than she got better and learned to sleep three hours from 11am-2pm. I have to adjust when I eat as well and plan our art projects and outings around this new schedule.

It was Friday afternoon and I was in my casita listening for Hana on her video monitor. I heard her and saw on the monitor that she was awake. I didn't rush in because I wanted her to be fully awake by the time I went in. I grabbed the monitor and my cell phone and went into the house. I plugged the monitor back in to the kitchen and entered Hana's room. Immediately I could smell poop.

I picked her up and placed her down on the changing table. As I began to change her diaper, Hana said, "I like dirt." I was surprised to hear her say that but I figured she didn't know what she was talking about. (Hana is the type of girl who sees dirt everywhere.) I thought the amount of poop in her diaper was small considering the smell but I ignored it. Hana grabbed the diaper tab and tried to pull it toward her. I pulled it away and said "No".

As I wiped her bottom Hana held up her finger and said "dirt". I grabbed a fresh wipe and went to wipe her finger. That's when I saw her entire left hand was covered in a dry dark green substance. The same color as the poop in her diaper. What??? I wiped and and sanitized her hands. I checked her mouth and her bed. All I saw on her bed was one tiny brown speck which could have been anything.

I was still in shock as we went into the play room. I asked Hana, "Where did you touch dirt? Was the dirt in your diaper?" Hana didn't answer me. I think she was confused. I took her into the bathroom and brushed her teeth. I had my laptop in the house so I looked up the possible dangers of babies eating poop. I was surprised to read how many parents have had a similar experience. The overall consensus seemed to be that since it was the child's own poop that the child would be fine.

I texted her mom to let her know. She replied that Hana was being a toddler.

Did she really eat poop? I know there wasn't anything she ate at lunch that could have stained her hand and besides I wiped her hands after lunch. What else could it have been?

That's not all. Soon after Hana said, "I like dirt." Yikes! If I ever see her eating poop I will vomit!

Update 9/19/2014 I am now convinced that Hana did not eat poop. She has never attempted it since then. I even show her the poop in her diapers to spark her scientific curiosity but she just says ew smiling and that's it.

Hell Hath No Fury...

...like a visit to the dentist!

I went in Saturday morning at 9am for my top fillings. Despite getting the earliest appointment, there were already other patients there and the office was quite busy. I was often left alone in the dental chair.

The dentist gave me a numbing agent called Lidocaine then left me alone for about fifteen minutes to take effect. I could feel it in my lips and it traveled up to the lower part of my nose. He came back and asked me if I had any concerns. I said pain. He said the Lidocaine would keep me from feeling anything but pressure. Turns out he was wrong. turns out my gums required more than the dosage he gave me because when he started drilling me I could feel it! I called out. He injected me again and continued.

He placed something in the side of my mouth to keep my jaw open. I hated it. My jaw hurt and at times I didn't think I could make it without pulling it out. Eventually he took it out and I got to relax my jaw for a few seconds before he placed it in the other side of my mouth.

I was hearing the drill, seeing smoke, tasting something gross in my mouth, and unable to relax. Saliva was being suctioned out or dripping down my face. I had to remind myself to breathe. I tried to close my eyes and imagine myself on a beach. My feet in the ocean water, walking along the shoreline.

He said he was done and I thought it was over as I breathed a sigh of relief. Then he said he would return to place the fillings. Noooo!!!!

A different assistant came in and put metal things in my mouth. She said she was prepping my teeth for the dentist. I felt pressure but no pain. After she left I grabbed my purse with my foot and lifted it to my reach. I pulled out my phone and took two pictures. Here they are:

These may make good Halloween pictures, huh?

The dentist returned at the fillings were placed. I think the Lidocaine was wearing off because I felt pain on one of the teeth he filled. I told him. It felt like an exposed nerve but I don't know for sure. He told me to relax my tongue but I couldn't feel it, let alone control it. The assistant kept suctioning my mouth and twice I had to pull it out because it felt like she was choking me. She wanted me to close my lips around the tool but I couldn't because they were numbed so much. I felt drool drip from my mouth to down the side of my neck. Please be done! Please be done!

I was ready to jump out of my skin when he finally said he was all done. I thanked him even though I hated him for hurting me. I paid to be tortured and I thanked him for it! Well, he was nice overall.

I scheduled my next appointment for two weeks later. At least it will be less teeth next time. On the drive home my mouth began to hurt. Later I ate lunch, took pain killers, and took a nap. 

I am NOT looking forward to my next visit!

Trains, Coffee, Books, & Church

Hana isn't your typical girly girl. At age one she was given v tech cars and now she has Thomas Trains. She even watches episodes of Thomas. Hana is obsessed with her trains! She puts them together (they have a magnet on each end), pushes them along, and then separates them. She makes train sounds. She knows most of their names. Friday morning I couldn't get her to go outside unless I allowed her to take a couple of trains with us. It's fun to see her taking an interest in trains.

I bought her Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You Hear? book and she loves it. I got it because it was the first book my sister, Katie read/memorized. She also has a Spot the dog book where Spot's mom is looking around the house for Spot. I make the animal sounds for each animal she finds. She's learning hippo and alligator.

So I've gone a week without drinking coffee and limiting my juice and sugar intake. I was really tired. I'm drinking flavored water and plain water. I bought a Pure water filter for my casita. I also ordered some water supplement drops recommended by my friend, Alison. I look forward to seeing how they help improve my health.

I've been feeling the urge to read scriptures and go to the LDS church. I wanted to go today but I couldn't get a car. I haven't read anything yet but I plan on doing so.

I mentioned before that I met a nice guy at church in SLC back in June. What I didn't mention was how significant it was for me. Honesty I haven't been attracted to anyone in years. I've missed obsessing whether the guy I like likes me too. It makes me feel like a member of the human race again. I'm looking forward to visiting in August. I get lonely here.

Dentist Woes

I bought a Groupon to see a local dentist and left work a half hour early yesterday to get a cleaning, x ray, and exam. After enduring a train crossing and 5pm traffic, I ended up late to the wrong location. I went in and there was a hispanic couple and the spanish news on, no receptionist. I looked at the door and that's when I realized I went to the wrong location. I was 25 minutes late by the time I arrived to the right location.

The x ray was first and it was my least favorite. I always gag on those things they make you bite down on and hold while they take the picture. The first one actually felt like it pierced my gums. I was relieved when that was over and I could rest in a chair and find something to watch.

The dentist came in and we chatted for a bit. He was easy to talk to which was great. Then he looked at the x rays while I said, "I hope I don't have cavities again" followed by something to the effect of "too bad". He counted and showed me 8 cavities! Then as he cleaned my teeth he found two more!

We discussed brushing teeth softly and in a rounded motion and using floss to scrape each side of each tooth as well as flossing the end teeth in the very back. He scraped my teeth and I had some sensitivity there. He finished by giving me an antiseptic syringe applied directly to the teeth and said I couldn't eat for 30 minutes.

I was a bit disoriented after leaving the office and it took me at least five minutes to find the car. I actually forgot if I drove Angie's car or Jeff's car to the dentist. I looked for Jeff's car and then saw a woman getting into a white car like Angie's and eventually found the car.

So now I have to spend $1300 on fillings in two more visits! From this experience I am re-thinking my diet. This morning I didn't drink coffee as I usually do. I had an Emergen-C instead. I brushed and flossed. I drank water throughout the day. In was very tired. I tried napping while Hana napped but I couldn't fall asleep so I just laid there with my eyes closed. I eventually felt more awake. I don't know if it was the lack of caffeine or if I'm coming down with something. I was also cold.

I'm going to try to like water again and cut sugar as much as possible out of my diet. Wish me luck!

Week Highlights with Hana

July 4th I had dinner with Hana's family. We ate hot dogs, deviled eggs, chips, beans, and had root beer floats for dessert. Later I returned to my room and waited to hear fire crackers but the night wore on in silence. I kind of liked it.

This week Hana has learned the phrase, "Thank you". For me, it started Monday when I put a safari hat on her head and a bug collector around her neck with a net in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other and took her on a bug safari in the front yard. Hana said, "Thank you, Erie!" several times. I had previously placed 10 plastic cute bugs from Amazon in the yard and helped her find them like we were on an Easter Egg hunt. Then we moved into the shade to examine the bugs. There were two of each: ladybug, ant, centipede, and roach. We were only in the sun a few minutes but I was already dripping with sweat. Hana didn't understand the magnifying glass right away but she enjoyed the activity.

It's been so hot this week. Both Monday and Tuesday I had to change into a new shirt before 11am because I was sweating so much. Wednesday I had to change my shirt again but that was due to a coffee stain. I shower at night except when I'm too tired because morning showers seem so pointless.

The thank you's continue even until today while we were at the grocery store. I grabbed a bag of romaine lettuce to go with dinner and let her hold it. "Thank you, Erie." Silly kid. (She thanks her parents too.)

I also learned that Hana knows the word freckle. We were sitting side by side on the couch and she touched my arm where there was a large freckle and said "freckle". She is also opting to sit on the big potty with an adjustment seat over her little potty right on the floor. She's not afraid of the potty!

Hana is not a perfect angel though I do describe her as one. Like any other child she does have temper tantrums. This afternoon for example, I saw her wake up on the monitor. I didn't rush to get her because I wanted her to finish waking up. I turned the monitor off, left my casita, went into the house, and entered her room. She was lying down. At first I thought she was pretending. She softly said my name as I rubbed her back. I opened the curtains and opened the blinds and all of the sudden she starts crying.

You know that Snickers commercial that says, "You aren't you when you're hungry"? Well it's like that for her but when she's still sleepy. She starts off by not wanting you to pick her up but she will cry if you leave her alone in her crib. Then I do pick her up and she continues to cry and shake her legs and say "down". She doesn't really want to be down so once she is on the ground she will say "up". This game of up and down continued for about five minutes. I took her into the living room where her gee gees (blankets) were lying on the couch. She wasn't ready to be put down yet but said "gee gee" so I grabbed one and held her as she held and stroked it. After a minute she calms down enough to say "Tygee" which means Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, her favorite show. Now I can put her down on the couch, wrap her in gee gee love, choose a Daniel Tiger episode from the DVR, give her juice, and relax. It usually takes the entire episode before she becomes Hana again.

I bought dinner at Safeway for all of us. Angie and Jeff have provided me with enough dinners that it was time for me to return the favor. It was just fried chicken and side dishes from the deli but they appreciated it. I like eating dinner like part of the family instead of alone in my room.

Tomorrow I am getting a massage via a Groupon. Cheers for the weekend!

Splat!

This morning while Angie was getting ready for work, I was playing toys with Hana. Hana looked at me and said, "Poop". She is potty training so I took her to the bathroom, removed her diaper and pants, and put her on her little potty. There was pee in her diaper so I threw it away. She had me sit on the big potty. We sang the ABC song and read an Elmo book.

Nothing happened in the potty and Hana stood up so I picked her up and began walking her to her room to put on a new diaper. I walked maybe two steps and heard a SPLAT! I turned and saw poop on the floor! I turned the other way and saw more poop!

I wasn't sure if I stepped in it. I called Angie and told her to keep the dogs away. I rushed Hana to the changing table and put a new diaper on her. Hana was concerned about what she did. I told her it was okay and that I would clean it up. Actually, Angie volunteered to clean it up. She had paper towels and clorox wipes in hand. I looked at my socks and saw a big brown spot on one sock so I took it off.

Hana and I kept playing while Angie cleaned up. I asked her if the smell was worse because she was pregnant but she said no. Angie is big on cleaning. She placed my dirty sock in a plastic bag.

I'm glad Angie was home when it happened. I can't imagine trying to keep Hana and the dogs out of the poop while trying to clean it. I'm also glad that I didn't hold Hana under her bum when it happened! I've learned my lesson. I will put her back in her current diaper or change her diaper in the bathroom.