Splotchy Tree Dweller

The rash is moving around, but obviously still there. Meanwhile, Aletheia seems to be pointing to something, but I'm not sure what.

8 Months, 23 Days

Scene From a Hospital Waiting Room

Cast of Characters: Older Woman, Younger Woman, Aletheia's Mom

OW: [Yelling across the room] A-lee-thea! Come back here!
AM: [To YW] Your daughter's name is Alethea?
YW: Yes.
AM: My baby girl has almost the same name- Aletheia! How'd you choose that name?
YM: She's named after my friend's grandmother.
AM: You know it's Greek?
YM: Yeah. It means 'faith.'
AM: [Awkward pause.] Um, I think it actually means 'truth.'
YM: [Confused look.] How did you say you pronounce your daughter's name?
AM: A-lay-thea.
OW: Why do you say it like that?
AM: It's the more authentic Greek pronunciation. My husband studied Greek in college and when he learned the word he thought it was beautiful and he chose it as a potential name for a daughter. But, um, A-lee-thea is good, too. It's very pretty.

AM: [later, to me] You know, looking back on it, I think I basically just told those people that we're better than them in every way.

Allergic Reaction

Yesterday morning we noticed a rash on Aletheia's neck and belly. At first we thought it was chicken pox starting because we knew she had been exposed. But as the rash spread over her torso, it became clear that it was something else entirely. So we took her to an afterhours clinic to try to get some answers.

The doctor took one look at her, his eyes got big and he said, "I've never seen anything like this, but it looks terrible." To put it mildly, not exactly what we were hoping to hear. "Take her to the emergency room."

So, off we went. After hours of testing and waiting, the doctor there tentatively decided that Aletheia probably had pityriasis, but he couldn't be sure, and said to come back if the symptoms changed.

Overnight, the symptoms changed. The rash spread to her face (ruling out pityriasis, which rarely affects the face), and her hands and feet swelled. We called a pediatrician and he said, "Go back to the E.R. Now." So, back we went.

This time the doctor was certain. "This child can never have amoxicillin again. That's a definite allergic reaction." They gave her a steroid shot and sent us home with a prescription for an oral steroid to give her this week.

It's kind of hard to look at your baby girl and see her all splotchy and swollen, especially when a series of doctors can't come up with a clear answer. Nice to finally know what's going on.

Cinderella Audition

8 Months, 4 Days

Video: The Many Sounds of Aletheia

8 Months, 15 Days

Aletheia and Her Friend Jack

Aletheia is seriously teething now. One of her bottom teeth has broken through. Yeah, there's baby Orajel, but a little swab of Jack Daniels seems to work much better. And ounce per ounce, it's tons cheaper. Besides, Orajel doesn't mix well with Coke.

8 Months, 10 Days

Aletheia and Grammy

Grammy? Grammie? Grammi? I don't know. Judges, can we get a ruling?

However you spell it, Grammy is Aletheia's paternal grandmother, who flew out for a visit this week, and even accompanied us on our trip to see our friends in Juarez. (Something a lot of grandmothers probably wouldn't feel comfortable doing.) Thanks for making the effort to come out, Grammy!

8 Months, 13 Days