Trent's First Trip To The ER

We've just returned from Trent's first trip to the emergency room. Trent was having difficulty retaining fluids and was becoming dehydrated, so his pediatrician recommended taking him in to the ER to receive intravenous fluids. So, Trent had an IV put in his arm and we had to keep him calm and still for a couple of hours while he took on fluid. He seems much better now, and we've been able to get some oral hydration solution into him without him bringing it back up. On bad news side, Tina appears to be coming down with the stomach flu now.

Trent's First Illness

Trent has gotten through his first eight months of life without an illness. Now in his eighth month he's come down with some sort of stomach flu. He's been suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. To his credit, he's been a real trooper. He's been mostly cheerful despite spewing formula all over himself on several occasions. The main challenge now is to find some way to keep him hydrated until the virus runs its course.

Trent's Progress

Trent seems to be on the verge of crawling. He can already go pretty much anywhere he wants by crawling on his stomach. He gets up into the crawling position and tries to take that first move forward and collapses back onto his stomach and crawls from there. He also is so close to being able to get himself into a sitting position. He can jack himself up onto one arm. If he could just get an inch or two higher, he'd fall into a sitting position. If I stand him up against the Superyard, he can grab a hold and stand up by himself for brief periods of time. Trent has also shown signs of playing Peek-a-boo. When given a cloth, he will sometimes cover his face with it and then pull it back quickly while laughing hilariously. It's hard to tell whether he's doing it as part of a game or not, but he does repeat the behavior, which seems like an indication. One last new behavior to mention, Trent now guestures with his arms to indicate that he'd like to be handed off to someone he sees nearby.

Eve, Epidurals, and Evangelicals

Given the evidence that epidurals are effective and that they have no known downside, I favor women having the option to use epidurals to manage labor pain. During the Terri Schiavo incident and the following discussion about society flouting the will of God, it occurred to me that epidurals should be a real problem for anyone who felt God's will was being flouted. Genesis 3:16 says, "To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children." This is part of Eve's punishment for that incident with the apple. An epidural will surely reduce your pain in childbearing. Well, in most cases at least. So, wouldn't seem that in a strict interpretation sort of way that using one would be directly flouting the will of God? Luckily, I'm not a strict interpretation sort of guy, so my advice is go right ahead and manage the pain. But, if you are a strict interpretationist and you use an epidural, I reserve the right to call you a hypocrite.