And you will know us by the trail of snot

Last weekend was great fun for BD -- we traveled to see my mom, sister and her family, ate lots of good Chinese food (which she eventually ate thanks to Mom) and also went trick-or-treating for the first time.

However, once we came home, the gods decided to play a little trick on us and give us the treat of BD's first cold.

It started yesterday with more snot and coughing than usual. Which is hard for me to notice because really, BD has a lot of snot -- so much snot that we also call her Snorty McSnortsalot -- and does cough a bit now that her salivary glands have decided to start working.

Then the fever hit at about 9 p.m. And all was not right at home. She screamed, she wailed, she fussed. She refused to be put down. Sideline nursing (so I could sleep) failed. Making a steam room in our bathroom by blasting a hot water shower was a temporary solution. We wound up watching two episodes ofCSI : Miami (during which Jeff was like "The acting is hideous on this show! But I can't stop watching!") as I bounced on the yoga ball to placate her during the midnight hour. I can't remember a time when I was up at 1:30 a.m. voluntarily since BD came.

Like all new parents, we called the after-hours pediatrician who gave permission to use Children's Tylenol, which was given to her. The fever broke and we managed to get a little bit of sleep.

Today, her fever is gone (knock wood) and the only thing left is a lot of snot. Rivers of snot. And coughing. The blue sucker bulb used to draw the snot out makes a terrific sound, but little else. Frankly, I'm not sure I'm sucking out snot. Part of me is afraid I'm sucking out part of her brain.

Oh, and I'm covered in snot and saliva because BD doesn't know how to use tissues when she sneezes or that it's polite to cover your mouth while coughing. Used tissues also litter wherever I am because I'm busy wiping her nose and drool

Today's also been pretty quiet for us. No going out. None of that. Just rest. We tried watching Vh-1 (more for Mommy than baby), but I started feeling ill realizing that she was enraptured, watching Britney Spear's Gimme More. Then I switched the channel to Wonderpets on Nick Jr. Still entranced.

Whew. It wasn't Britney's boobs that got my girl's attention. Just the bright shiny of TV. She is her mother's daughter.

ETA: OK. I did it last year, I'll try it again this year. NaBloPoMo, here I come. Wish me luck -- or give me writing ideas.