The Beffa Family: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

RSV has hit our house

RSV has struck the Beffa house! What a sickness filled 9 days it has been. First, Jacob had croup last week and was home for 5 straight days. Then on Tuesday Brenna started to have a cough. I assumed it was a small touch of what Jacob had and didn't think too much of it. On Saturday we grew a little more concerned and asked Nonna to come listen to her chest. She suggested we see the doctor. Saturday morning we called Dr. Bob and he met us at the office to see her personally. He heard the wheezing in her lungs too and wanted to test for RSV. The test came back immediately as positive and minutes later she was getting her first breathing treatment. After a little scolding from Dr. Bob about how I should have brought her in sooner, we were on our way home with a nebulizer machine for breathing treatments every 4 hours. We are continuing to watch her very closely and are doing our best to stay out of the hospital .. so far so good but no promises from Miss Brenna. Please say a little prayer for her!

Here are a few pictures of the kids the past few days...

They LOVE their Anywhere chairs from Pottery Barn. Brenna got a sneak peak at hers since Jacob found her 1st birthday present. This was when Jacob was just getting over croup and Brenna was just getting her cough. I believe this was Brenna's 3rd outfit of the day as well (in case you were wondering why it doesn't match at all).. ha, ha

Brenna getting a breathing treatment at home... doing well here but she hates them!

Breathing treatment at home

Taking a nap on the couch today

Mommy's angel

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Jacob & Brenna 3 months

Here are comparison pictures between the kids.. do they look alike? I see it for sure..

There is a very big difference in their personalities . Brenna is extremely laid-back and a very easy baby. Jacob was more high-maintenance but has grown into a very independent little boy. Honestly, it's likely the difference in parenting between our first and second child. We followed all the books exactly with Jacob and are much more relaxed with Brenna and that has likely impacted her behavior. We are very lucky parents to have such awesome kids!

Brenna 3 months

Jacob 3 months - in Husker gear!

Brenna 3 months

Jacob 3 months

Next month Brenna goes for her 4 month check-up. It will be interesting to see how she falls on the charts compared to Jacob. Jacob was always off the charts for height and petite Brenna is lucky to even be on them!

Random January

Here are some random January pictures.. Brenna 3 months and Jacob 2 years

Tummy time for Brenna - Trying to ignore Jacob who is likely bothering her

Jacob is being a ham here - this is the night after we got their formal pictures taken and he is now doing what the photographer wanted him to do the day before.

Again being a ham.. Betsy wanted him to kick his feet for pictures the day before while laying like this and he refused.. during this picture he was saying "mommy kick, mommy kick".. little stinker!

Peaking out of his tent.. he loves to play in here

Brenna sleeping like the angel she is..

Jacob and Daddy - Matt was very sick at the end of December and beginning of Jan so Jacob was very Daddy-deprived. He couldn't wait to spend time with him again.

Baby Sister smiling

This picture just cracks me up.. look at those cheeks!

Last Thursday we got a lot of snow in St. Louis. Official measurements in our area were 9.6 inches. When I picked Jacob up after work I was warned that he didn't feel very good. We were home about 2 minutes and he threw up all over. Over the course of the night he got progressively worse. Around 1am, Matt woke me up and told me that Jacob's cough was sounding odd. It sure was! I immediately got him up and tried to figure out why my little boy was barking like a dog when trying to cough, keeping in mind he is allergic to pertussis so he is not vaccinated against whooping cough.

We made it through the night and Nonna took him to the dr the next morning. Turns out he has his first round of croup (thank goodness it was not whooping cough). He has been sick ever since with fever, throwing up, a horrible cough, runny nose, etc. The worst part is he has suddenly developed a horrible fear of medicine and when we force him to take it he throws up all over. It's been a real joy the last 4 days and to top it all off I'm feeling sick now too. We are hoping to all get well soon. Below are a few pictures of Jacob falling asleep while watching the Cars movie in front of the fire place. He was one tired little boy as he has not been sleeping well at night.

Once we realized he had moved his chair so close to the fireplace (where he couldn't see the movie) we knew he had to be sleeping over there. Such a pitiful little guy when he's sick. Mom loves the cuddle time though!

Jacob Turns Two!

Happy Birthday Jacob! We celebrated in style with a truck party! Lots of family and friends were able to join us and Jacob has the best time! He had so much fun over two days it was truly amazing !

Just woke up from a nap and was surprised by the balloons and hard hats. He wanted to get into the hats before his friends arrived. Sure, why not? After all, it's Jacob's birthday!

Ready to go .. balloons in hand and hard hat on (even if it is on backward).

Jacob and his best buddy Daniel waiting for the party to start!

Opening presents with his cousins.. he really liked the firetruck as you can tell.. he wouldn't even let it go to see what the next present was (by this point his older cousin Ella was helping).

Brenna - eying Jacob's presents!

Opening his favorite present of all time - a VACUUM!!

Jacob vacuuming with his cousin Anthony

Home-made Truck Birthday cake... this stretched my expertise a little but turned out pretty good.

Cupcakes with hard hats and tools

Blowing out his #2 candle

At the end of the night and wouldn't let go of that vacuum!

The next morning and the vacuum is still here! YAY!!

Jacob's actual birthday (the day after his party). We celebrated at home with cupcakes and he got to blow out the candle again.

Eating a cupcake on his actual second birthday!!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Milestone Pictures

Jacob and Brenna got their pictures professionally taken and they turned out fabulous. We were celebrating Jacob turning 2 and Brenna being 3 months old. Jacob really doesn't like getting his pictures taken but we opted for a private photographer which worked out so much better. Here are the final shots.

Jacob 2 years old!