Fever

Dear Aidan,

You have a fever of 38.1 degrees right now. The thermometer had a sad symbol when I took your temperature. I'm worried sick. You were so lethargic too. I think daddy has to take another day off tomorrow to take care of you. I'm sorry I can't be there more for you! I think you realize that because you are now calling out for daddy more than me. It breaks my heart to see that, but then I'm glad you and daddy are bonding in a special way. Even when mommy was trying to hold you you were crying out for daddy and pointing to the direction daddy went.

Daddy took you to the doctors today to get your 16th month check-up. The doctor said that your skin was pretty bad so she upped the dosage for your hydra cortisone cream. Sigh. Then she mentioned how you should be saying more words at this age. She gave us a chart of what you should be doing now:

- Follow simple one-step directions (Sit down)? Yes

- Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? Yes

- Consistently use three to five words? No. Right now, you consistently say 'daddy'.

- Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? Yes

- Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? Yes. You get our attention by being more physical than verbal. You slap us or wave at us.

- Bring you toys to show you? Yes

- Perform for social attention and praise? Yes. You dance when music is on now.

- Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? Yes. Actually you do this a lot.

- Show an interest in simple picture books? Yes. You love books. Every time I grab a book you immediately sit down on my lap to be read to.

It's actually what you should be doing by 12 months so you're a little behind. I'm not sure what we can do more, but I'm going to read you consistently every night and talk a lot to you.

Anyways, I hope you break your fever and wake up a little refreshed.