FYI

I just noticed that it has been a whole week since my last blog. If only I didn't sit around eating bonbons reading US Weekly all day, I could have more time for blogging....

Just to catch you readers up on life here at the Phillips' casa, here are some important events/thoughts from the last week:

1. Isaac has his first cold/Upper Respiratory Infection. Pretty sad, huh? I knew it was going to happen eventually, especially since this is the child who mysteriously caught the stomach bug twice in two weeks. Monday night he woke up crying around 9:30pm (he didn't know that the cast of LOST was going up on stage at that exact moment to accept their much-deserved Golden Globe). This quickly caught our attention, because he never wakes up crying at night. As I leaned over his crib to see what the fuss was about, I soon realized that my poor child's nasal cavities were so jammed with mucus that he could not breathe. Unfortunately, the rest of Monday night was him sleeping some and him waking just enough to cry out because he could not breathe. Fun times. Around 6:15am, Isaac and I went on a scenic drive of early-morning Grapevine to let him fall asleep in his car seat and get some good rest and ease his congestion (we did resist the urge to stop at the Main Street Baking Company for a delicious cinnamon twist--by "we" I really mean me). Yesterday it was off to the pediatrician office to confirm that yes he does have a cold and to get the cheery news that this infection will likely last 10-14 days. However, I have decided that Isaac will tend to be more like his mother and have a faster-than-normal recovery time. Now, we have the humidifier going, temperature checks every two hours, and a pillow stuffed under the crib mattress to keep Isaac's sweet head elevated (although when I came into his nursery this morning, he had managed to get himself flipped all around so that his legs were elevated instead. This does not help the mucus situation, but perhaps he was more worried about vericose veins rather than breathing at the time.)

2. We believe that Isaac can now roll from his back to his tummy. He has not done this major feat yet, but gets so close to rolling over before he throws himself onto his back again. It's like he remembers that being on the tummy isn't so grand and then stops himself from rolling over. He is starting to scoot backwards some when he is on is tummy. I have decided that this does not mean that he is going to crawl backwards. Hopefully this is not simply wishful thinking....

3. My mom was in a car accident last week, where she rear-ended an accident that had happened ten minutes before she came upon the scene (No ticket was issued, however, she did get a citation for "following too close"--only in rural Arkansas). Thankfully, everyone involved is okay. I had a picture to post of her van, but blogger just ate it. Ugh.

4. Love Monkey premiered last night, starring Tom Cavenaugh (sp? I am too lazy to google it to see if I am correct) formerly of the beloved Ed television show. We watched a bit of it, curious to see what it was like. Seemed to follow the whole story line of a famous Tom Cruise movie a little too much (take out sport scout, insert music scout), but Tom had the same cherished qualities that made Ed such a hit. For those old 90210 fans (let's be honest, who isn't a 90210 fan?), Brandon Walsh is in this program. We are all so thankful that Jason Priestly survived his horrible car accident a few years ago, but one would think that such a life-altering event would make him reconsider his hairstyle. Nope. He stills sports the "Brandon."

5. This weekend, Tobe and I watched the film, "The Constant Gardner." We love Focus Features and this one was no exception. I especially loved it because it is based in Kenya and they actually shot the movie there, rather than in South Africa (most movies based in Africa are filmed in South Africa, now that it is open to do so). For my fellow Kenya people, parts of this film are actually shot in Kibera, the other major slum in Nairobi (we were in Mathari--the slum on the other side of town, one of the largest slums in the world. I was so hoping to see a shot of the Mathari River, so I could once again retell the story of one of our team members falling in. Tobe has only heard this story 28 times already.) It was cool for me to be able to show Tobe some of the actual things I have seen while in Kenya. Of course, the cameras did not really show "slum-life" as it truly is, as I am sure the Kenyon government restricted such things, but it did provide a decent overview. Makes you wonder when we as a county are going to focus on the places that really need our help, despite what they do/do not contribute to us. Hmmm. I do recommend "The Constant Gardner"--again it is a film for adults and not children or young teens. And, if you have yet to sign The One document, please do so.

6. Isaac's list of church friends has rapidly expanded in the last week. We are so excited about the arrival of Andrew, Emaline, and Emily. We can't wait for Baby James to show up on the scene. These births are exciting for several reasons, but mainly because these children will be Isaac's Sunday School classmates. I still am in contact with friends whom I sat next to in Cradle Roll.

7. Isaac has become fascinated with the television remote control and the telephone. When we put the phone up to his ear, he now listens intently rather than trying to stuff the whole thing in his mouth. Here is a picture of him talking to his daddy on the phone at work last week:

8. Isaac has yet to begin eating rice cereal. The doctor gave us the green light to do so at his four month appointment. Because I had food allergies as a child and because we were traveling over the holidays, I put this off. However, we are going to start the cereal anyday now because Isaac is showing signs that he is ready for something else besides the bottle. I plan on making his baby food and am currently reading the book "Super Baby Food". This is the main literary work for those interested in making baby food. The author is a bit ecentric at times, but has some great tips and ideas for making your baby's food. My favorite part of the whole book was a list of possible signs of allergic reactions. You have to slowly introduce solid foods to your baby, so you can determine if there are any food allergies. Anyway, on this list of signs of reactions the author has the standard: swelling of face, watery eyes, rash, etc. Then at the very end of the list, she has "death" as a sign of allergic reaction. You think? Can you really consider "death" to be a sign of a food allergy in your child? I know that people do have horrible food allergies that can cause death, but I didn't think this "allergic sign" really needed to be put in the same list as itchy skin and runny nose.

oops, I hear coughing and crying in the next room. I am off to tend to my patient!