"...she has four teeth now."

Wed. Oct. 2, 1991

     Daddy went home yesterday. He called last night to let us know he'd gotten back ok. I really am glad he got to come and spend some time getting to know Elizabeth. We took a roll of pictures on Guy's old 110 camera for Daddy to take home & have developed. We took some pictures on our camera & the video camera. I hope she'll come to treasure them someday the way I treasure the pictures of me & Papa. 

     Meanwhile, Friday night my throat started hurting. It bothered me off & on all weekend & my nose has been a little clogged. But I think I'm over it. Guy started feeling bad Monday. He took a Drixoral that night & last night but he just tossed & turned all night. He took some Dimetapp tonight & seems to be resting better so far. But Elizabeth was congested a little this morning. I suctioned some stuff out of her nose. It was all clear & white so I wasn't too worried. And she didn't feel like she had a fever. I did call the ped. & talked to a nurse (Barbara). She said I could give her 1/4 t. of Dimetapp and if the congestion was too thick to use some saline drops made to loosen it up so you can suction it out. She also said to give her more clear liquids. So I had to go to the store cause we didn't have any of that. I also got some more baby Tylenol cause they don't have that at the commissary.

     I went to the dentist yesterday & had no cavities. I'd made my appt. with Dr. Pearle, the woman, at the office at the corner of Providence & Indian River cause it's closer than Green Run. I forgot to ask why afterwards - I saw Dr. Mendelson instead. He's the one I used to see before Dr. Pearle joined them but I saw her the last time and liked her & I just prefer women dr's anyway. I asked him about Elizabeth's teeth. He had the hygienist give me a children's toothbrush & show me how to put the toothpaste down into the bristles. She said I could also use gauze pads for awhile. We need to clean her teeth after every bottle of formula or juice, something we haven't been doing. Since Guy went to bed early tonight I gave her some water after she finished her formula to rinse her mouth out. He usually just lets her fall asleep with the formula & doesn't try to do anything to clean her teeth. I need to get Charlie to talk to Guy about it because I think Jason had problems with his teeth because of going to sleep with a bottle. Anyway, the hygienist said to just use a tiny bit of bubble gum flavored toothpaste because she'll probably swallow most of it. She's so stubborn about putting anything in her mouth besides a bottle or pacifier that I may put the toothpaste on the gauze for awhile & once she gets used to the taste switch to the toothbrush. I probably haven't written about it - she has four teeth now. Front top & bottom. It's been one a week for a month. It's been fairly easy from what I've heard of other mothers say. It really was a shock to find the first one at 4 & 1/2 mo. though.

     I'm really jumping around. Elizabeth was doing better by mid morning. It seems like she gets clogged up when she's sleeping though. We're using the humidifier in her room tonight, another suggestion from the nurse. I'm feeling better, just one side of my nose is clogged at a time. I'm surprised Guy has it worse than me.