FATHER AND SON BONDING DESPITE MATTHEW'S LIGHT FEVER

The other day, July 29, 2020, Matthew had three vaccinations and in the evening he had experienced light fever.  He kept on crying and barely gave us, too, a sleep.

Today, however, July 30, 2020, his temperature dropped to almost normal level.  Thus, he became playful to his father.   They definitely had a quality time playing together.

At around 3:00 P.M. today, his fever subsided and he was back to normal again.  Thus, he can afford to giggle and play again with me and his father.

6TH VACCINATION AND BEYOND

Administering the third dose for OPV

            His 6th vaccination dated July 29, 2020 was composed of another three vaccines.  The first as shown in the picture above is the third dose of OPV or Oral Polio Vaccine.

Getting ready for the first vaccine injection

             The second vaccine was in a form of injection.  This is the third dose of Pentavalent - Hib vaccine.  Actually, Matthew did not cry when he received the first injection vaccine.

Just finished the first injection vaccine which is the Pentavalent - Hib

                The nurse who administered the injection vaccine knew how to do her job.  She was actually playing first with Matthew and he was responding with a giggle and smile.

Getting ready for the second injection vaccine

                It was flattering that the staff of the barangay health center where the vaccination was administered were so fond of Matthew.  Why not, they were so entertained when he giggles and laughs aloud.  They were so amazed how cute he is.

The nurse playing first with Matthew before she finally gave the injection

              We just wondered why Matthew did not cry on the first administration of the injection vaccine of Pentavalent - Hib and hoped that he would not cry for the second vaccine injection.

No immediate reaction on the second vaccine injection

               We thought that he will not cry as a reaction to the second vaccine injection but he did though it was a delayed reaction.  He did it just shortly.  The third vaccine was the IPV, where it stands for Inactivated Polio Vaccine.

Being weighed at 9.2 kilos

             IPV is the only dosage given after 14 weeks together with OPV 3.  Yes, they were both administered this time.  This vaccine was not actually administered after 14 weeks after birth but rather on the 25th week.  The reason for this was that, vaccination from the barangay health center was suspended for the last half of March until the third week of May due to the ECQ and GCQ.

As a substitute for Kool Fever

             IPV is given by shot in the leg or arm, depending on the patient's age.  CDC recommends that children get four doses for OPV but Matthew is received three OPV doses and the IPV is the fourth dose of polio vaccine.  You see, polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis.  There are two types used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth.  The World Health Organization recommends all children be fully vaccinated against polio.

Having light fever early in the evening

             The fever-prone post vaccination effect kept on improving.  The first time he received a vaccine injection, his fever was too high at 39%, but this time, it was only a light fever.  He is actually given for free Paracetamol and we were advised to give it to him right after the vaccination which was administered at 9:20 A.M.

Nexcare cooling fever patch is a big help

              He got only light fever at around 4:00 P.M. But prior to that he was playing and giggling.  He kept on laughing when his mother gestures to whisper a sound from his ears.

MATTHEW AT 5 MONTHS AND 23 DAYS

The photo above along with the photos below were taken on July 25, 2020 on Matthew's 5 months and 23 days.  I can a see a lot of development on him.

First thing that I noticed was, he can already sit with a support from his back.  Earlier than this, he cannot sit with his back.  He usually drops his body to the front.  

Secondly, he knows already to please and entertain the people around him.  He easily gives a smile with a loud giggle.  

Thirdly, he grabs fast the things with easy reach from him.  Likewise, he has such strong legs that kicks  near with him and even with objects.

Fourthly, he becomes more playful than demands to be cuddled.  He cries less and prefers to be occupied with gripping or grabbing things and other manipulative objects near him.

But one thing I have noticed, he does not want to step his legs as a sign that he is starting to walk.  He legs show a strong anchor when standing but he does not want to move it forward or backward.

Another thing I noticed was, when he is close to his father, he tends to grab the latter's short pants where he used it even make himself closer to him.  And then, he embraces his father's legs.

While he keeps his body rolling most of the time or flips his body oftentimes, he does not know how to carry his body to crawl forward.

Indeed, Matthew is an everyday treat to us in the house.  He is the joy of everybody.  It is worth to take care of him every minute.  His angelic smile is more than enough to compensate my sacrifices as a mother.

ENJOYING GIVING A BATH TO MATTHEW

Being a mother, I just love to give bath to Matthew everyday. Today, July 19, 2020, I documented my routine of giving bath to him. He seemed to enjoy it. And he is just smiling as a pour him water on his body.



Unlike before, he does not like to scrubbed nor to be poured water on his head. As time goes by, he willingly submits himself in taking a refreshing bath everyday.



Another thing that I noticed, he used to show his tongue out. According to the mothers or elders, it is an indication that his teeth is almost coming out or is starting to grow. This might be surely another milestone in his babyhood. I just feel so excited about it.

HE CAN SIT WITH MINIMAL ASSISTANCE

Sitting alone is another milestone of Matthew.  I am sure, he already has strong bones to resist the force of gravity.   At this point, he still needs assistance to keep him seated.  My darling baby, you continue to give us joy just by merely looking at your face and body.

SOMETIMES AT SWEETNESS OVERLOAD

There are times that even if he is inside the crib, he tends to be sweet, no crying just plying by himself.  I like he does this, where he can flexibly touch his feet and start playing.

Look at how he entertains us reaching and holding his legs by his bare hands.  What a joy seeing him like that.  I am excited to continuously share my observations  of him.

PLAYING AND SEEKING ATTENTION INSIDE HIS CRIB

It consoles me to watch that my son can play alone inside his crib without crying.  His crib is an improvised play pen for his satisfaction.

There are instances that he does not like to be left alone at the crib.  Maybe, it depends on his mood.  However, I observed that when he sees no one in sight, he tends to play alone without crying.  But when he hears voices nearby, that is the time he would crying.

At his age, he flip his body and return to his original position.  This is the most visible physical development I can observe.

This is what he looks like when after flipping, he will return to his original position without asking for assistance to do it.  Before when he flips, he would cry because, he can not go back to his original position by himself.

Sometimes if I am busy in the kitchen, my husband would will take charge of Matthew.  However, when he does this, he would work closely with the crib.  Remember, that my husband is on a work from home mode. But Matthew is naughty, he would kick the laptop.

CONFIDENTLY STRONG AT 5 MONTHS

He has manifested few physical development at his age of five months on July 2, 2020.  It is obvious in the picture above.  He is sporting a confident smile.  I can't wait to see him grow.  Day by day, he is becoming an adorable baby.  I love you, Matthew.  You are my life and you made more meaning of my life when you came into my life.

The father and son on Matthew's 5th month.  He is gaining more weight.  It is a proof that we are being taken cared well by the father of the family.

THE USUAL FAMILY BONDING

Matthew loves it when he is in the middle of my husband and me.  This is the type of bonding we usually do in an afternoon nap and before bed time.  He plays with us.  He usually show to us that he already knew how to crawl.  Then, he keeps on laughing.  He knows he is being watched by us.

FIRST TIME IN A CRIB

June 30, 2020, was his first to rest in a crib.  He was not really comfortable inside a crib.  He was continuously wondering inside.  For almost an hour, he remained silent.

He was silent but at the back of his eyes, he was asking for rescue.  He still prefer to be cuddled and feel the warmth of either his mother or father.  After an hour, he cried.  We have no choice but to give him what he wanted. 

HIS FIFTH VACCINATION

This was his fifth vaccination dated June 24, 2020 compose of another three vaccines.  Firstly, the second dose for the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).  Another one, was the second dose for both Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) and Pentavalent - Hib.  As usual, his father assisted the vaccination and I was left outside, because only one at the barangay health center is allowed to enter.

This was his first time to wear a face mask.  We were instructed by the building administration that Matthew should also wear face mask for safety reason.

During the administration of the OPV,  Matthew was even smiling.  For the first vaccine injection he did not bother at all with the needle.  But after it was removed, he cried so loud, but shortly stopped.

In the picture above, he was being prepared for the next injection.  He was closely looking at the needle, but he has no reaction.

When the needle was inserted, he was shortly silent, but at the middle of the injection, he shouted with loud cry.  He really felt the pain.

All these vaccines were given for free.  In fact, we were even given free paracetamol for fever which will be taken by him every four hours as long as the fever exist.  

Yes, he got fever but not that high like the first one.  The fourth and this fifth one, he was given two injection vaccinations in both of his legs.

To counter act the fever, we bought Kool Fever and placed it on his forehead.  But still, he was restless.  You can feel, that in his eyes, he is asking for mercy.  His cries are so weak.  He really had fever for 2 days, but this time, it was milder.

SIMPLY HE WAS 4 MONTHS AND 2 DAYS

In just a matter of 2 days, he looks different, since this has been taken June 4, 2020.  He obviously had gained considerable weight.  He is really a sight to behold.  Such blessing for my family.  I love my son.  He is so adorable.

REACHING THE AGE OF 4 MONTHS

June 2, 2020 is Matthew's 4th month.  We simply had nothing for a party.  After all, we are only four in the house.  We had the usual food for the day.

Matthew's mood easily shifts from being smiley, irritated and his behavior is just unpredictable.  There is a time that he giggles and laughs aloud, but suddenly, he would cry.

So, in the afternoon of the same day, we again had our routine of sunset viewing at the rooftop.  At least there, Matthew is entertained with some kids around playing with him, as well as the adults, who would greet him with a smile.

HIS FOURTH VACCINE AND FIRST USE OF BABY STROLLER

May 28, 2020 was his first day to use a baby stroller.  We just bought almost across our residence at SM Hypermarket Shaw Boulevard opposite Jose Rizal University (JRU).  Our residence is just at the back of JRU.

On the other hand, his fourth vaccine was dated May 27, 2020 composed of three vaccines.  This was held in our barangay health center where his father brought him for administration.  Firstly, the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for its first dose.  OPV is two-pronged. OPV produces antibodies in the blood ('humoral' or serum immunity) to all three types of poliovirus, and in the event of infection, this protects the individual against polio paralysis by preventing the spread of poliovirus to the nervous system. The World Health Organization recommends all children be fully vaccinated against polio. The second one was the Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) also for first dose. PCV is consist of two, namely: the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) where both protect against pneumococcal infections.  The bacteria that cause these infections  spread through person-to-person contact.  They can lead to serious infections like pneumonia, blood infections, and bacterial meningitis.   The third one is  Pentavalent – Hib which is another first dose. This immunization is designed to prevent diseases caused by Haemophilus influenza type B  (Hib), a bacteria responsible for a range of serious "invasive" diseases including meningitis with potential brain damage and epiglottitis with airway obstruction. 

JUST ONE OF THE SUNSET VIEWING ROUTINE

This day, May 25, 2020 is just one of our sunset viewing routine in our residence rooftop.  Summer has really perfect afternoons coupled with amazing sunsets.  I usually do not want to have pictures.  I rather prefer to be the photographer of my husband and Matthew.

The above picture was a random picture taken by a fellow resident of our building who works in ABS-CBN.  When she saw that I was taking pictures of my husband and son, she volunteered to take some photos using her professional digital camera.

Matthew at his tender, innocent and young age, loves to be grinding in the camera.  Even if he is crying and busy for something, he will stop if he sees somebody is aiming at him a camera shot.

The rooftop also have our drying cage.  It also serve as a park for the building residents.  Thus, it is busy during afternoons if the weather is good, even during the pandemic time.

The picture above is the Ortigas side as captured from our rooftop.  This was how it looks during the pandemic time.  The skies are clear.

The above picture is the Makati side as captured from the same location.  As you see, the skies are clear and obviously the weather is perfect with such a magnificent sunset.