Toddler Pneumonia

My 18 month old son was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. I was 2.5 hours away doing a sales call and my husband was just under an hour away. I immediately called the doctor when our daycare provider (that baby whisperer) said his fever was back. This would have been the 3rd day that I had thought the fever was gone. We had 30 minutes to get to the Doctors office before the doctor was gone and I had his health card. Talk about a stressful situation. I knew if the pediatrician didn't see him the walk in clinic would require his health card.

Although, I didn't know it was toddler pneumonia at the time, I knew it was serious with a fever back again!

My husband arrived at the doctor's office and she was kind enough to wait in order to see my son. She quickly diagnosed him and sent us down for an x-ray confirming the infection in his lungs. Mild pneumonia, confirmed.

I was feeling really guilty about not catching it sooner. I thought he just had a cold because he was acting his normal self. Playing lots, running around. I knew he was sick because he wasn't sleeping well and he was coughing a little.

The Doctor prescribed him Amoxicillin 3mls 3 times a day and already the mucous is starting to come up. His nose if running more and I can hear it come up when he coughs.

My homemade remedies to sooth and help the antibiotics are:

steaming the bathroom for 10 minutes and clapping his chest and back with my hands for another 5 minutes 3-4 times a day. Including honey and cinnamon into his cereal before bedtime at night. Warm air humidifier in the bedroom during all sleep times.

Here is a helpful website I referred to when learning more on the illness: Dr. Sears  I also check this website for many other questions I have about the golden boy.

First Family Christmas

We started off small. Still no decorations, no tree, no stockings. But, at least we had our own intimate Christmas celebration.

The week before Christmas I decided I was going to have a private dinner for us, just the three of us. Being on a tight budget I thought about what I could make for dinner. I remembered the whole duck I had sitting in the freezer, he was there for the perfect meal. I get so sick of turkey after celebrating both US and Canadian Thanksgiving so I was relieved to have something different. I paired it with a double baked mash potatoes that I roasted in the duck drippings, smothered them in balderson white cheddar cheese for a delicious dish that will keep me happy for years. I think the rest of the fam liked it too.

We kept it small, no dessert. Duck, double mash potatoes and some veg. It was a perfect start to a new family tradition.

For Christmas morning I wanted to have a new tradition too. Lattes, a breakfast casserole and fresh, hot sourdough bread. Another hit that will remain our family tradition for years to come.

I am looking forward to adding something to the festivities every year. Next year we'll get adventurous and pick out a tree. Hopefully our delightful kitties will resist the temptation to get it horizontal too early and we'll enjoy it for a month. Maybe I'll even throw in a from scratch pumpkin pie, my babe will never get sick of that number.

What are your favourite things during the holidays that make it special and create cherished memories?