Mystery rash Saturday, Jun 30 2007

Nadia and I spent the afternoon at the pediatrician’s yesterday.

She has had a mysterious rash for over a week now, and I finally decided to take her in for it. I didn’t worry about it too much at first, because it didn’t seem to bother her and there were no other symptoms [no itching, no fever, no lethargy, no crankiness (at least, no more than usual!)]. My Mom (who’s an RN) had looked at the rash last weekend and said she didn’t think it was anything to worry about and it should clear up on its own within a few days. But the darn thing didn’t clear up; it was spreading and that bothered me. The rash is lightly sprinkled over her entire body with it mostly on her lower half and most concentrated on her inner thighs and right foot. So yesterday morning I decided to call the doctor. I was still a little apprehensive that it would turn out to be a wasted visit with nothing more serious than Worried Mommy Syndrome, but better safe than sorry, ya know? But it turns out it’s a good thing I took her in.

We got an appointment for 2:30, which meant I had to wake Nadia up from her nap and then wait around for over an hour and a half to see the doctor. I’ve never seen the office that crowded! But Nadia did great, sharing her doll with another little girl in the waiting room, greeting everyone enthusiastically and obsessing over the babies (as usual!). She had fun climbing around back in the exam room too.

But once the doctor came in, she clung to me crying and didn’t want to let him examine her. Just like the last few times. But once I gave her TedBear, Baby and Cup all was well again. LOL.

So, the verdict. She has scabies. Or maybe it’s contact dermatitis. Or maybe it’s both. The doctor’s not entirely sure. It’s really weird…the rash matches some of the characteristics of both diagnoses but does fit either one completely. Parts of it look a lot like scabies, but no one else has it and it doesn’t seem to bother her which just doesn’t make sense as scabies is isually insanely itchy. Just the term “scabies” freaks me out! I have no idea how/when/where she could have gotten it, and just saying that my child has scabies (maybe!) makes me feel like a bad parent. But it also looks sorta like contact dermatitis…but that’s not a perfect match either, and we can’t figure out where that ould have come from since we haven’t used any new products recently and the way it’s sprinkled over her whole body doesn’t fit. It’s a mystery rash!

Luckily both scabies and contact dermatitis are “no big deal” and easy to treat, so she’s now on treatment courses for both. Hopefully one of those will knock this out, whatever it is. At least the rash doesn’t seem to bother her!

Doctor Nadia.
I gave her a tongue depressor and she proceeded to check out TedBear.
He has a clean bill of health. )

Next time I want to some good indoor natural light pictures, I’m heading to the doctor. Seriously! I couldn’t believe the awesome light there. For months now I’ve been going crazy that I can’t get any decent natural light pictures indoors. Well, evidently the problem is just my house! the light there at the doctor was beautifully soft and creamy, and while I still had to run noise reduction on the pictures (that’s what happens when you have a dinky P&S!) I am quite pleased to *finally* have some decent natural light pictures taken indoors. I’m crossing my fingers that once I has my DSLR I’ll be able to accomplish that at home, too.

Little Miss Curious had to check out all the drawers and all the cabinets….

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A toddler’s world Friday, Jun 29 2007

The world is such a different place with a toddler in tow.

A trip to Kinkos used to be an ordinary, somewhat boring errand. But Nadia and I stopped in there this morning to copy the MOM’s Club newsletter (this was my first month as newsletter editor – it was fun!) and it was quite the adventure.

We had to make friends with everyone there.

We had to explore all the nooks and crannies of the store.

We had to sit backwards on the chairs to watch the cars zooming by on the freeway.

We had to dart back into the “employees only” area – twice.

We had to run in circles around the big table.

We had to pull pens off their hooks and books off the shelves.

We had to shout “byebye!” and blow kisses as we left.

Life really is a non-stop party when you’re one-and-a-half!

On a related note, have you noticed how much friendlier people are when you have a child with you? It strikes me all the time. When I’m out by myself (on that rare occasion!) few people make eye contact, little interaction, no smiles, a few scowls. But when my adorable little girl is at my side, there are friendly people everywhere we turn, everyone at least smiles at us, a lot of people say hi or stop to chat. It’s really amazing how a little person less than 3 feet tall can transform the world around her!

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A toddler’s world Friday, Jun 29 2007

The world is such a different place with a toddler in tow.

A trip to Kinkos used to be an ordinary, somewhat boring errand. But Nadia and I stopped in there this morning to copy the MOM’s Club newsletter (this was my first month as newsletter editor – it was fun!) and it was quite the adventure.

We had to make friends with everyone there.

We had to explore all the nooks and crannies of the store.

We had to sit backwards on the chairs to watch the cars zooming by on the freeway.

We had to dart back into the “employees only” area – twice.

We had to run in circles around the big table.

We had to pull pens off their hooks and books off the shelves.

We had to shout “byebye!” and blow kisses as we left.

Life really is a non-stop party when you’re one-and-a-half!

On a related note, have you noticed how much friendlier people are when you have a child with you? It strikes me all the time. When I’m out by myself (on that rare occasion!) few people make eye contact, little interaction, no smiles, a few scowls. But when my adorable little girl is at my side, there are friendly people everywhere we turn, everyone at least smiles at us, a lot of people say hi or stop to chat. It’s really amazing how a little person less than 3 feet tall can transform the world around her!

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Rain, Rain Go Away! Thursday, Jun 28 2007

I usually like rain.

A huge storm with lightning flashing and thunder crashing is quite thrilling to me. A soft misting drizzle is cozy and comforting.

But there can be too much of a good thing.

This year has been one of the wettest on record for Texas. Except for a few brief dry periods, it has rained nearly every. single. day for months on end. T

his time of year in Texas is usually characterized by triple digit temps, water rationing and cracks in the bone-dry ground as we beg for rain…any rain. So, in a way the rain is good. It means we’re not in a drought. It means were not suffering from heat stroke merely walking to the car (it’s been mid-80s most days). It means lush green everywhere I look.

But it also means that my little girl stands at the back door watching the rain and begging to go outside. It means humidity so dense that stepping outside feels like stepping into a sauna. It means watching the weather channel and seeing forecast filled with nothing but rain. It means no work for my husband, since he works outside. And it means flash flooding.

That flooding has brought death for 11 people across North Texas in the last few days. Hundreds of families have had to evacuate their homes.

Every time I drive to work, I pass the Trinity River. This river is nicknamed the “Trinity Trickle” because that’s what it looks like most of the time. But when I drove by it yesterday it was far from dry, as you can see in the photo below. I was a gushing torrent. In fact, at roughly 38 feet deep it’s barely 1.5′ away from flood levels.

Last evening I placed a wide, flat-bottomed bowl out in the rain to serve as a rain gauge. I pulled it back in a mere 15 minutes later, and I measured 1.5 inches of rainfall.

That’s a lot of rain!

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Thursday’s Theme – Beginnings Thursday, Jun 28 2007

Once upon a time, I took this picture of my baby girl:

Of course I took lots of pictures of my baby girl, but this one was special. It was, in my mind, the first GOOD picture I had ever taken. I had long appreciated photography but I didn’t feel that I had any real talent for it. But as this image downloaded onto my computer, I was thrilled to discover a quality portrait from my hands.

This was the beginning of my love affair with photography. It inspired me to explore my hidden talents.

Now it’s one year later, and I look back on this picture with pleasure. I see plenty of flaws within it, but that doesn’t matter – I love it for what it is: my inspiration. I am pleased to see that I have improved in the last year, and I hope that in another year’s time I will look back on the pictures I take today and again say “I have improved.”

My journey towards photographic excellence will never have an end, but this was its beginning.

Today is a day full of glorious new beginnings. Come explore them with me at Picture This.

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Thursday’s Theme – Beginnings Thursday, Jun 28 2007

Once upon a time, I took this picture of my baby girl:

Of course I took lots of pictures of my baby girl, but this one was special. It was, in my mind, the first GOOD picture I had ever taken. I had long appreciated photography but I didn’t feel that I had any real talent for it. But as this image downloaded onto my computer, I was thrilled to discover a quality portrait from my hands.

This was the beginning of my love affair with photography. It inspired me to explore my hidden talents.

Now it’s one year later, and I look back on this picture with pleasure. I see plenty of flaws within it, but that doesn’t matter – I love it for what it is: my inspiration. I am pleased to see that I have improved in the last year, and I hope that in another year’s time I will look back on the pictures I take today and again say “I have improved.”

My journey towards photographic excellence will never have an end, but this was its beginning.

Today is a day full of glorious new beginnings. Come explore them with me at Picture This.

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Wordless Wednesday – China Doll Wednesday, Jun 27 2007

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Fotographic Frustrations Tuesday, Jun 26 2007

Some days I can get pretty decent pictures without much effort….other times, I try and try and still come out empty handed. Today was one of those days.

Nadia was chasing the cat around the house this morning and he darted under the bed to evade her. Usually when he does this, she accepts that the game is over and leaves him alone. But not today….she laid down and crawled halfway under the bed, waving and calling “hi kitty” to Smudge. He just sat there, smugly out of reach (she has not yet discovered how to crawl all the way under there). At first I looked on only with Mommy pleasure, but I couldn’t help but notice the perfect light. The camera was already in my hand (what a surprise!) so I plopped myself down to capture the shot.

It should have been easy. I had the perfect light and the perfect subject. But for half an hour I struggled to capture the image I had in my mind. It simply would not happen.

Every time I framed the shot, Nadia moved. I just wasn’t quick enough. Flash totally ruined the atmosphere of the scene, so I had to rely on natural light. My camera never performs well with natural light indoors and today was no exception.

Out of at least two dozen pictures, I finally got one that’s acceptable…but it’s really not the image I had imagined.

Between a photographer with limited skills and a camera with limited abilities…well, we have a lot of shortcomings. I like to think that will all change once I get my fancy-schmancy new camera. I hope so. But just as likely, I will be devastated to realize that my poor little Kodak has been falsely accused, and I myself am to blame for all those shortcomings.

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BSM – The Daddy-Daughter Bond Monday, Jun 25 2007

This is the man that “didn’t want a daughter.” This is also the man that adores his little girl…the man whom I catch standing by the crib gazing upon her sleeping form with a tender expression and suspiciously moist eyes…the man that simply cannot tell her “no”…the man that persuades me to let her stay up “just a few more minutes”…the man that now plays with baby dolls…

Ahh, the sweet and tender bond of a Daddy and his Daughter.

What is your favorite picture of the week? Come share it at Picture This and be inspired by all the other amazing pictures!

Now, another camera question for my brilliant photographer friends. My quest for a dSLR has ended with the decision to get a Canon XTi – I am SO excited and while it’ll still be awhile before I make the actual purchase, it’s a relief to have the decision made. But now I need help with lenses. So my question to those of you with DSLRs and specifically those of you with Canons: which lens(es) would you recommend? Which lens is on your camera most of the time? Have you bought Sigma or Tamron, and if so are you happy with them? I’m thinking I’ll get the kit lens and probably the 50mm 1.8 that everyone gushes over. I am a zoom gal and I would really love a good IS telephoto lens, but those are pretty pricy so I may have to hold off on that while I save my pennies (lots and lots of pennies!). Thanks for any input!

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Tidbits Sunday, Jun 24 2007

This is going to be another random post….just little bits and pieces.

That post from a couple weeks ago about Nadia’s vocabulary? Yeah, that has been pretty much rendered obsolete. Her speech has suddenly *exploded!* The biggest thing to me is that she is starting to whine less and talk more! She actually uses her words to tell me what she wants or what she’s thinking. This makes for a very happy Mama. ) Every day brings several new words, just casually dropped into conversation like she’s been saying them all along. My favorites from this week were “cute” and “round” (as in, the fan goes round & round. She likes to lie spread-eagle on the floor beneath the fan, hand up in the air tracing its movement and saying “round, round, round”)

Along with the explosion of speech has come an explosion of understanding. She’s suddenly making all these intuitive leaps and I’m left looking at her in open-mouthed wonder thinking “how did you know that?!” All this time of soaking in the world around her like a little sponge, and now she’s showing me just how much she’s absorbed. We drove by the grocery store a couple days ago, and she started saying “store, car, whee!” She recognized the store and remembered that this store has carts with cars for the kids to drive!

The little pink dress in these pictures from the other day was chosen by Nadia herself. We stopped by Target and since I only had to pick up a couple things I decided we’d try letting her walk. Well, that was an interesting experiment…one that we won’t be repeating for quite some time! Of course we had the look at little girl clothes, and Nadia pulled out that dress. Seeing as it is so freakin’ adorable, and it was on clearance, and it was the only one left, and it’s her size….how could I not buy it?! I’m so proud…the girl’s got style and shopping smarts!

Nadia now puts TedBear and Baby to bed just like we put her to bed. She dances with him and sings “la-la-la” then kisses him, lays him down, tucks him in and says “night-night, later!” It makes a Mommy’s heart sing to see that. ) She has quite the entourage these days…TedBear *and* Baby *and* The Cup must come everywhere with her.

I did have a cute bathroom story to share…but then I though 16 year old Nadia probably wouldn’t be too thrilled about Mommy (No, that would be Mom. She won’t be calling me “Mommy” anymore at that point) sharing it with virtual strangers.

So instead I’ll tell you that this kid is driving me crazy lately. Lots of good times…but plenty of frustrating times too. Lots of whining. Lots of fits. Lots of demands. Lots of clingyness. Lots of doing the same thing over and over when she’s been told no a hundred times. Hey, she’s 1 1/2, right?

But the good times more than makes up for it. )

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