Clara and the Pink Eye

Just when it seemed we'd finally endured the worst of cold and flu season, Greg came down with an icky infection, then Clara got it, and then it was passed on to me. The first day I came down with it, I simply spent most of the day in bed. I awoke the next day feeling a little better. I went into Clara's room to wake her, and there she was, sitting in bed, winking at me. Or rather, she was looking at me through her slightly less infected eye, while the other was sealed shut by icky goop. So, back to the doctor we went, and with a little amoxycilin, her eyes cleared right up. She was a good sport about the whole thing, though she screamed bloody murder while having her ears examined. She's been taking her medicine without a fuss, and has gone back to work full-time at standing alone, and pulling all the toys out of the toy bin.

I have been washing everything we have ever touched. So far Greg and I seem in the clear where conjuctivitis is concerned, but our ear, nose, throat infections just seem to linger on. Clara's Mema Bamford came over yesterday, and allowed me a very welcome afternoon nap, while she made a big pot of soup, which Clara hungrily devoured along with a sweet potato, corn bread, and yogurt. She is a very hungry caterpillar. This weekend we hope to catch up on rest and graze our way through the rest of the soup and bread. We're so glad to have her back from California. We were falling apart while she was gone!

Last but hardly least: Big ups to Danielle Troy for taking these great shots of Clara!

Willowy

Clara had her one-year well-baby visit to her much-in-the-news-lately pediatrician Dr. Danielson last week, and the results are in: She is 32.5 inches tall and 20 lbs. 9 oz. For those of you not up on your baby statistical charts, that translates as 95th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight. Willowy, I think, describes Clara's particular height-weight proportion. With a little speed and coordination, there's a good shot our girl will be a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. Know any basketball scouts? Send 'em our way. Clara's currently eating her way through her college fund.

Speaking of food, Clara continues to eat a wide variety of foods, but we continue to find that she has more food allergies than we thought. It appears that too much soy can cause her to break out in a rash--sometimes on her back but more often on her bum. It's too bad because she really likes tofu, soy milk, and edamame. And because her butt--sans rash--is perfectly cute. Small doses of soy seem to be tolerable, but large doses (which is all she would eat if she had her druthers) do her in. She likes dairy, too, but I'm reticent to give her too much because she's had so many colds and ear infections--we have no shortage of mucus, believe me! She's allergic to peanuts, so that leaves beans as a protein source, and good thing too, because she can really pack 'em away. And we've got the diapers to prove it! Well, the good news is that she's still just a one year-old, and there's plenty of time for her digestive system to learn to handle different foods. Until then, we watch her closely for any signs of allergic reactions. And we really push the beans!

Our Michigan Visit

We had a nice visit with Clara's great-grandparents, great-aunt and -uncle, grandparents, uncle and aunties back in Michigan despite some not so pleasant weather. Clara's, Auntie Sarah's, and Great-Granny B's birthdays were all celebrated. Russ and Judy even provided a "1"-shaped pinata to commemorate the occasion. We look forward to seeing everyone again when we head back east in June for the Beckmann's (count 'em!) 60th anniversary!