Please remember that what follows are my thoughts and feelings and not a judgement on anyone else's life choices. I am certainly not so arrogant to believe that my opinions are the only correct ones. Also, I apologize for how disjointed this post is, but my thoughts aren't coming in a readable order!
My friend Simple Peace Mama is struggling and her post on the compromises she has been making when it comes to her child was heartfelt and pure. However, I was shocked at the comments she received telling her that it was OK to compromise and that her baby would be fine if she decided to give him grains, let him cry it out, use disposable diapers and the like.
Perhaps these well-meaning commenter's sought only to ease my friends suffering and allow her to feel OK about making changes and that it totally fine with me, but it doesn't seem helpful to me to let someone off the hook as it were for making a choice they know to be wrong. Simple Peace Mama is very clear on what she believes to be the right way of doing things, but she is struggling. How about telling her that she can do it, help her find the strength to do the right thing?!??!?!?
Who decides that a baby is OK with something? I once had a friend who smoked all through her pregnancy and when she became pregnant again, I asked her if she planned on quiting smoking. She said that since her first baby was totally fine, she didn't really believe that smoking was damaging. Here is the thing, her child was born with all the right parts in all the right places. No two heads or anything, but she developed asthma when she was about 4 and had ear infections almost constantly as a baby. Now, I don't know if there is a correlation between those illnesses and her mother's smoking during pregnancy, but it sure seems like there is one to me!
My point is this, we have huge numbers of ADHD in our children in this country and almost every child I know has some kind of allergy to food or something else. We have children that are bullies and children that get bullied. We have kids taking guns into their school and shooting up the place. These problems start somewhere!!!
We have a tendency to think of babies as something separate and not little humans with feelings, thoughts, and nerve endings. People say that it doesn't hurt a baby to cry it out - how would they determine that?? A baby left to cry it out doesn't grow two heads, so he or she must be fine with it?!?!?!?
People in this world have issues! Some of them are obvious like they were beaten as children and others are more subtle, like issues of self esteem. Low self worth comes from somewhere - did a person with low self esteem cry out for his or her mama as a baby and no one cared enough to come?? Does the woman who lets her boyfriend walk all over her not feel loved by her parents from birth??
So, instead of telling my friend that her baby will probably be fine if she goes against everything (or some things) that she feels strongly about is not helping her, not empowering her. I say, no! it is not OK to do something you are against. You are the adult and your child is totally dependent on you, so you have to suck it up and make the tough choices to do the very best you can.
It's time we as parents, as adults stopped thinking about all that other stuff, and focus only on what is best for our children. Babies don't come into our lives by their choice, it's by ours. We owe it to them to do the very best we can. That means different things to different people and it doesn't mean that you should be miserable and never compromise on anything, but it does mean that if something is important to you, like breastfeeding, you should move heaven and earth to make it happen. The compromise should be on something that is about you and not about the baby. For example, another friend and her husband had loads and loads saved for retirement when they had their baby. They decided that they didn't want to put the baby in daycare and made a conscious choice for her to stay home with the baby and use that retirement savings to pay for day to day needs. She will have to go back to work when the kids are grown. They know that they will be working well past 65 to build back their retirement, but the sacrifice was on their end and not on that of their children.
When my husband and I decided we wanted to have a baby we talked a lot about what kind of parents we wanted to be and what areas we differed in, such as him being a meat eater and me a vegetarian. We determined what we would not compromise on (breastfeeding) and what we would feel a little give on (cloth vs. disposable). I sat down with our finances and we worked to pay off debt and determined what we could live without in order to allow me to work part time.
We don't contribute to our IRA's anymore - the 401(k) through work yes, but not the IRA's. We don't eat out anymore, we cut the Internet service down to the lowest speed plan. We purchased our home with it in mind that we needed to be able to afford the payments on one and a half incomes. We don't have a lot of stuff and it is going to take me a while to save for the camera I'm lusting after, but we get to be parents and that is better than anything else in the world.
Someone once said that we are never able to be in reality the parents we dreamed of being, but I am (so far) and I am proud of that. I wanted to do spend the first year of my daughters life a certain way and I am doing that - but I believe that I had realistic expectations and the things that I have given up are so worth it to me.
My husband hates working until 7pm every night and I hate getting up at 4 every morning, but those sacrifices allow us to connect with our baby and really be there for her in every way. We are sacrificing our needs not hers and that's the difference.
Bottom line - You can do this Simple Peace Mama!! You can make the tough choices, you can do the best for your child, you can take a hard look at what is not working in your life and see clearly where the changes need to be made. I have faith in you and your love for your child. I empower you. I send you love and strength. Follow your heart and don't let anyone let you off the hook!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Yesterday was much better than Monday. I did not get caught in construction between leaving work and getting to Grandpa's. Smug-Baby slept the whole way there, so she was not hungry or crying or anything. We got in and out quickly at Grandpa's and I made it to my sister's house by 10:47. Smug-Niece was pretty good all day and I took both girls for an hour long walk on the greenway (thus the sore throat seems to be back - oh well) and they both slept a bit.
I took an alternate route to Grandpa's after leaving Smug-Sister's place at 5 and made it there with about 3 minutes to spare before he was heading down to dinner, so that made it a fast visit too. Everyone in the retirement community starts to swarm about Smug-Baby as soon as I walk in and they all love my ring sling and since almost her whole body is contained within, there is less touching of her hands and face. I also think that with her so close and almost like she is part of my chest, people are less inclined to get too close. But the attention is nice and it is helping Grandpa to stand out a bit. People remember that the cute baby comes to see him I guess.
I got about 5:45 and watched 2 1/2 Men while Smug-Baby tried to wake up (she napped again on the 15 minute drive home) then I started making pasta sauce and washed a load of Grandpa's clothes. I cooked the pasta and some french bread and had everything ready when Smug-Hub arrived. We ate dinner and they played while I got most of it cleaned up and packed my diaper bag for the next day and stuff. Then we all rolled around on the floor and tickled and laughed and were a happy family until about 8:15. Smug-Hub had to take a fishing rod to a friend and I got Smug-Baby and I ready for bed. She wasn't really interested in sleeping at first, and my throat had started feeling raw again (it was fine all day, but started feeling bad again as soon as the sun went down), so I had a cup of hot tea and she played. Finally at 9:30 she fell asleep in my arms and off to bed we went.
She woke at midnight and I switched sides, then she woke at 2 and I switched sides again. Then she woke at 2:30 and I had to pee like no tomorrow, so I jumped up to run really fast to the bathroom and she began to scream. Smug-Hub woke up and took her out of bed and bounced her while I tried to make my full bladder empty faster (not possible BTW). When I got back to her, she was too awake and unhappy to sleep.
I asked my darling husband to take her to the rocking chair, but he just looked at me until she was again so upset that I just got up with her. We went to the rocking chair and she nursed and fell back asleep. When I went back into the bedroom, the love of my life had fallen asleep wrapped in all the blankets, with no CPAP machine one, directly in the middle of the bed. I kicked him in the head.
We woke up, but so did Smug-Baby. So I told him to get his ass on his side of the bed, get his machine on and I would be back. We did the rocking chair thing again and by about 3:30 she was finally deeply asleep. I went back to bed, and his ass was still in the middle of the bed. At least the machine was on and we wasn't hogging all the covers. I managed to get Smug-Baby in the bed and us covered and than the jerk had the nerve to rub his feet on me (he likes this as it is kind of a mini foot rub while falling asleep), I kicked him and then for good measure I pinched his arm. He jerked and knocked Smug-Baby in the head with his elbow - so Karma got me on that one - it must not have been hard because she didn't stir, but I felt badly anyway.
I figured that I wouldn't fall back asleep, I would just lay there for a bit and then get up and maybe start a load of diapers or something. The next thing I know the alarm is blaring in my ear. I feel angry at my husband, because he is still sleeping and I am all ready to leave for work. It's not like I can nap during the day with Smug-Baby anymore, he knows this and still let me get up with her while he slept. I want to cause him physical harm when he does this kind of stuff.
However, today should be good. Smug-Sister is bringing the baby over to my place so I can wash diapers and Smug-Baby can have some time in her own home with her own toys and hopefully her regular nap schedule. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out and today is an improvement over yesterday which was a great improvement over Monday, and tomorrow will be an improvement over today!!
I took an alternate route to Grandpa's after leaving Smug-Sister's place at 5 and made it there with about 3 minutes to spare before he was heading down to dinner, so that made it a fast visit too. Everyone in the retirement community starts to swarm about Smug-Baby as soon as I walk in and they all love my ring sling and since almost her whole body is contained within, there is less touching of her hands and face. I also think that with her so close and almost like she is part of my chest, people are less inclined to get too close. But the attention is nice and it is helping Grandpa to stand out a bit. People remember that the cute baby comes to see him I guess.
I got about 5:45 and watched 2 1/2 Men while Smug-Baby tried to wake up (she napped again on the 15 minute drive home) then I started making pasta sauce and washed a load of Grandpa's clothes. I cooked the pasta and some french bread and had everything ready when Smug-Hub arrived. We ate dinner and they played while I got most of it cleaned up and packed my diaper bag for the next day and stuff. Then we all rolled around on the floor and tickled and laughed and were a happy family until about 8:15. Smug-Hub had to take a fishing rod to a friend and I got Smug-Baby and I ready for bed. She wasn't really interested in sleeping at first, and my throat had started feeling raw again (it was fine all day, but started feeling bad again as soon as the sun went down), so I had a cup of hot tea and she played. Finally at 9:30 she fell asleep in my arms and off to bed we went.
She woke at midnight and I switched sides, then she woke at 2 and I switched sides again. Then she woke at 2:30 and I had to pee like no tomorrow, so I jumped up to run really fast to the bathroom and she began to scream. Smug-Hub woke up and took her out of bed and bounced her while I tried to make my full bladder empty faster (not possible BTW). When I got back to her, she was too awake and unhappy to sleep.
I asked my darling husband to take her to the rocking chair, but he just looked at me until she was again so upset that I just got up with her. We went to the rocking chair and she nursed and fell back asleep. When I went back into the bedroom, the love of my life had fallen asleep wrapped in all the blankets, with no CPAP machine one, directly in the middle of the bed. I kicked him in the head.
We woke up, but so did Smug-Baby. So I told him to get his ass on his side of the bed, get his machine on and I would be back. We did the rocking chair thing again and by about 3:30 she was finally deeply asleep. I went back to bed, and his ass was still in the middle of the bed. At least the machine was on and we wasn't hogging all the covers. I managed to get Smug-Baby in the bed and us covered and than the jerk had the nerve to rub his feet on me (he likes this as it is kind of a mini foot rub while falling asleep), I kicked him and then for good measure I pinched his arm. He jerked and knocked Smug-Baby in the head with his elbow - so Karma got me on that one - it must not have been hard because she didn't stir, but I felt badly anyway.
I figured that I wouldn't fall back asleep, I would just lay there for a bit and then get up and maybe start a load of diapers or something. The next thing I know the alarm is blaring in my ear. I feel angry at my husband, because he is still sleeping and I am all ready to leave for work. It's not like I can nap during the day with Smug-Baby anymore, he knows this and still let me get up with her while he slept. I want to cause him physical harm when he does this kind of stuff.
However, today should be good. Smug-Sister is bringing the baby over to my place so I can wash diapers and Smug-Baby can have some time in her own home with her own toys and hopefully her regular nap schedule. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out and today is an improvement over yesterday which was a great improvement over Monday, and tomorrow will be an improvement over today!!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
My New Normal
This week is my sister's first full week back at work and my first full week of taking care of her daughter. I am also taking on my grandfather's blood sugar testing and medication distribution. So, in addition to the 4 hours I have at my first job in the mornings, now I am hauling ass over to Grandpa's retirement home to check his blood sugar and give him his morning pills and then racing over to Smug-Sister's place to take care of the baby. I stay at her place until 5 or 6 and then go back to Grandpa's to do evening blood sugar testing and evening medication.
Yesterday was the first day and I was way stressed out by it all. First thing is my own child. I nurse her before I leave for work and then she has decided that she would rather wait for me than take a bottle of pumped milk, so she is pretty hungry by the time I meet Smug-Hub in the parking lot and get her. However, she gets really distracted by new surroundings and will not nurse well in the car, so I have been racing home and just nursing her there. Now, I have to make the morning stop at Grandpa's and then get to my sister's place all before she can nurse. Yesterday, I got stopped by some construction so that made it close to 6 hours between nursings for her and she was really upset about it.
Grandpa wasn't feeling great and I could tell that he was a bit lonely as he kept asking if I wanted an apple or to sit down for a bit, but I knew that my sister was trying to work and care for her baby at the same time, treading water until I got there.
Once there, I was able to nurse and get settled in and it was a nice day. Mom came by and we each took a stroller and took the babies for a walk on the green way for about an hour. It was great and I felt wonderful after being in the sun and fresh air (although, now I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not - more on that later) and the babies loved it and both napped.
This is the other thing, my daughter is an only child and she is at that curious age where every new creak and bang, bump or noise of any kind distracts her. Normally, she takes 2-3 hour long naps a day. Yesterday, she only napped once for less than 1 hour. She dozed in the car on the way to Grandpa's both times, but nothing that could be counted as a nap. She also fell asleep for about 10 minutes before mom arrived in the middle of the day, but the door opening and floor creaking woke her. Last night, after I got home from all my jobs was horrible! It was too late for me to let her nap and still hope that she would sleep during the night and she was fussy and kept tripping over her feet and getting frustrated and didn't want to me to put her down at all. It was better once Smug-Hub arrived home as she had another playmate and I was able to feed myself, but all in all it was a really tough night for us.
Right before I was going to bed last night, I noticed that I felt like I needed to clear my throat and couldn't seem to manage it. I sucked on a halls and figured that all the singing I had done to keep Smug-Niece happy and later to soothe my over-tired baby girl had caught up with me. When I woke this morning, I discovered that I had no voice! After a shower and some throat clearing I am once again vocal, however my throat is feeling raw and I wonder if being outside in the cold weather and wind may have had something to do with it.
So, I was standing in the shower, feeling despair wash over me thinking about doing it all over again today and tomorrow and for the rest of the week, month, year and a thought occurred to me. The first few days of having my wonderful baby girl at home were hard. It was hard to get to know each other and establish routines. It was hard to learn what she liked and didn't like and what I needed to do to help her sleep or whatever. It stands to reason that this week is going to be really hard, but today should be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be easier than today. Next week will be even easier and so on. Routines will get established and my sweet girl will adapt. If she doesn't, I'll quit!
The other thing is that the stuff with Grandpa may be short term. He is seeing new doctors all this week and who knows what they will say or if his blood sugar will need to be tested twice daily or what meds will need to be taken when. It may be that I will only need to go there once a day, or it may be that his needs are so time specific that I will not be able to do it and mom will have to take over. So, no sense getting all worked up about it until I know more.
My family really NEEDS the money that this extra work will provide (especially if there is going to be a camera in my future) and as torn as I am between the need for financial help and smug-baby's needs, I do feel like this will get better if I give it a chance. Either it will get better, or I will cut all ties with everyone I've ever known, take my girl and move to a hut in the forest :)
Yesterday was the first day and I was way stressed out by it all. First thing is my own child. I nurse her before I leave for work and then she has decided that she would rather wait for me than take a bottle of pumped milk, so she is pretty hungry by the time I meet Smug-Hub in the parking lot and get her. However, she gets really distracted by new surroundings and will not nurse well in the car, so I have been racing home and just nursing her there. Now, I have to make the morning stop at Grandpa's and then get to my sister's place all before she can nurse. Yesterday, I got stopped by some construction so that made it close to 6 hours between nursings for her and she was really upset about it.
Grandpa wasn't feeling great and I could tell that he was a bit lonely as he kept asking if I wanted an apple or to sit down for a bit, but I knew that my sister was trying to work and care for her baby at the same time, treading water until I got there.
Once there, I was able to nurse and get settled in and it was a nice day. Mom came by and we each took a stroller and took the babies for a walk on the green way for about an hour. It was great and I felt wonderful after being in the sun and fresh air (although, now I'm not sure if it was a good idea or not - more on that later) and the babies loved it and both napped.
This is the other thing, my daughter is an only child and she is at that curious age where every new creak and bang, bump or noise of any kind distracts her. Normally, she takes 2-3 hour long naps a day. Yesterday, she only napped once for less than 1 hour. She dozed in the car on the way to Grandpa's both times, but nothing that could be counted as a nap. She also fell asleep for about 10 minutes before mom arrived in the middle of the day, but the door opening and floor creaking woke her. Last night, after I got home from all my jobs was horrible! It was too late for me to let her nap and still hope that she would sleep during the night and she was fussy and kept tripping over her feet and getting frustrated and didn't want to me to put her down at all. It was better once Smug-Hub arrived home as she had another playmate and I was able to feed myself, but all in all it was a really tough night for us.
Right before I was going to bed last night, I noticed that I felt like I needed to clear my throat and couldn't seem to manage it. I sucked on a halls and figured that all the singing I had done to keep Smug-Niece happy and later to soothe my over-tired baby girl had caught up with me. When I woke this morning, I discovered that I had no voice! After a shower and some throat clearing I am once again vocal, however my throat is feeling raw and I wonder if being outside in the cold weather and wind may have had something to do with it.
So, I was standing in the shower, feeling despair wash over me thinking about doing it all over again today and tomorrow and for the rest of the week, month, year and a thought occurred to me. The first few days of having my wonderful baby girl at home were hard. It was hard to get to know each other and establish routines. It was hard to learn what she liked and didn't like and what I needed to do to help her sleep or whatever. It stands to reason that this week is going to be really hard, but today should be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be easier than today. Next week will be even easier and so on. Routines will get established and my sweet girl will adapt. If she doesn't, I'll quit!
The other thing is that the stuff with Grandpa may be short term. He is seeing new doctors all this week and who knows what they will say or if his blood sugar will need to be tested twice daily or what meds will need to be taken when. It may be that I will only need to go there once a day, or it may be that his needs are so time specific that I will not be able to do it and mom will have to take over. So, no sense getting all worked up about it until I know more.
My family really NEEDS the money that this extra work will provide (especially if there is going to be a camera in my future) and as torn as I am between the need for financial help and smug-baby's needs, I do feel like this will get better if I give it a chance. Either it will get better, or I will cut all ties with everyone I've ever known, take my girl and move to a hut in the forest :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Desire
I am going out of my mind with desire. I have big lust that cannot be quenched. I need it, I have to have it, I can't live without it...
The Canon EOS Rebel - what did you think I was talking about??? I want this camera so much!!! I look at the pictures that I am taking with my point and shoot and am so sad at how they are turning out. My baby girl's first year is passing by and I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures and only a handful are what I would consider good. My current camera has such a slow shutter speed, that whatever cute moment is happening has long past by the time the picture is taken. I'm serious, you press the button to take the picture and a good 3-5 seconds passes before the picture actually takes. It sucks :(
I even tried to convince my husband to apply for a Best Buy credit card in his name alone so that he could build his credit. This is actually true, he doesn't have any credit in his name alone and needs to, but if I'm honest, my reasoning is truly selfish.
The thing that makes it hard to swallow about purchasing a camera that is the better part of $1,000 is that I know next to nothing about photography. I fell in love with my photographers who did my wedding, pregnancy pictures and are doing baby pictures for me, so I know that I love their work, but that is about the extent of my knowledge - liking pictures! I have been looking at books on photography, but most of them need you to actually have a camera before you can apply the lessons.
I would be happy with a refurbished one I think, but I don't know of any reputable dealers online and don't know of dealers locally, so I'm researching on that too. I am also thinking that I will look for a local class on photography, but again, I sort of need to have a camera before I can attend.
I was hoping to maybe ask for cash for Christmas and be able to get it then, but I don't want Smug-Baby's first Christmas to pass with crap pictures!! I want to get it now, have a bit of time to learn how to use it and then be a full on pro by Christmas! A bit ambitious you say?? Well, that's why I need to get it NOW!!!!
The Canon EOS Rebel - what did you think I was talking about??? I want this camera so much!!! I look at the pictures that I am taking with my point and shoot and am so sad at how they are turning out. My baby girl's first year is passing by and I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures and only a handful are what I would consider good. My current camera has such a slow shutter speed, that whatever cute moment is happening has long past by the time the picture is taken. I'm serious, you press the button to take the picture and a good 3-5 seconds passes before the picture actually takes. It sucks :(
I even tried to convince my husband to apply for a Best Buy credit card in his name alone so that he could build his credit. This is actually true, he doesn't have any credit in his name alone and needs to, but if I'm honest, my reasoning is truly selfish.
The thing that makes it hard to swallow about purchasing a camera that is the better part of $1,000 is that I know next to nothing about photography. I fell in love with my photographers who did my wedding, pregnancy pictures and are doing baby pictures for me, so I know that I love their work, but that is about the extent of my knowledge - liking pictures! I have been looking at books on photography, but most of them need you to actually have a camera before you can apply the lessons.
I would be happy with a refurbished one I think, but I don't know of any reputable dealers online and don't know of dealers locally, so I'm researching on that too. I am also thinking that I will look for a local class on photography, but again, I sort of need to have a camera before I can attend.
I was hoping to maybe ask for cash for Christmas and be able to get it then, but I don't want Smug-Baby's first Christmas to pass with crap pictures!! I want to get it now, have a bit of time to learn how to use it and then be a full on pro by Christmas! A bit ambitious you say?? Well, that's why I need to get it NOW!!!!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Way Too Early
My baby girl is sleeping. Now... We all went to bed last night about 9:30, cause we were all tired and still getting over being sick. My sweet baby girl nursed all night long and switched sides like four times (normally, she wakes once about 3 and I switch then). Finally, about 2:30 this morning she was done with sleep and was ready to play.
Since I had to get up in a few hours Smug-Hub took her into the living room so I could sleep. About 10 minutes later he brought her back to bed where she promptly woke right back up. We decided that since he was still coming out of being sick and I probably wouldn't be able to fall back asleep anyway I would take over and let him get some more sleep.
She and I played with her toys and she nursed some more and then she climbed up into my lap in the rocking chair and fell asleep. Now it wasn’t a deep sleep, so I kept rocking and singing softly to her and finally I was able to lay her down in the bed. It was 4:15, exactly 15 minutes before I needed to get into the shower. I was totally sleepy and her warm, soft body was so nice in my arms, it was really hard to leave her sleeping and go get into the shower, but I knew that if I lay down with her, I would never get back up and go to work.
Since I had to get up in a few hours Smug-Hub took her into the living room so I could sleep. About 10 minutes later he brought her back to bed where she promptly woke right back up. We decided that since he was still coming out of being sick and I probably wouldn't be able to fall back asleep anyway I would take over and let him get some more sleep.
She and I played with her toys and she nursed some more and then she climbed up into my lap in the rocking chair and fell asleep. Now it wasn’t a deep sleep, so I kept rocking and singing softly to her and finally I was able to lay her down in the bed. It was 4:15, exactly 15 minutes before I needed to get into the shower. I was totally sleepy and her warm, soft body was so nice in my arms, it was really hard to leave her sleeping and go get into the shower, but I knew that if I lay down with her, I would never get back up and go to work.
That is the worst thing about working; leaving her in the mornings when she is all soft and cuddly and happy. I love the weekends when we all wake up together and she smiles at first daddy and then me, like she is so happy to see us both and she keeps looking from one to the other like she can’t believe her luck to have us both there to play with.
I look forward now to the day, because in a few hours I will be back home and have her back in my arms and because tomorrow we will all wake up together!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Crazy Continues
So, Sunday night Smug-Baby was restless and nursing a lot. Then suddenly she threw up about a gallon all over herself, me, the bed - everything! I got her up and in the shower to clean us off while Smug-Hub changed the sheets and we all went back to bed. I felt dread thinking that perhaps we had picked up the bug that my poor friend had been struck with on Friday and every time Smug-Baby moved or made a sound the rest of the night I was awake. Needless to say, when morning rolled around and I had not slept any I decided not to go to work. By this time I was feeling queasy and was worried that I too was coming down with the bug.
Smug-Baby however seemed fine and was her normal self. I was supposed to start my new job, which is that I am going to be caring for my 12 week old niece while Smug-Sister goes back to work. I called and explained the situation and Smug-Sister said that if I felt up to it she wanted to take the chance and still have me come over. I did and it was really hard to keep both babies happy. Smug-Baby is not used to my sister’s house or sharing her mama and Smug-Niece wanted her mama and not me. I did end up taking them for a long walk, Smug-Niece in the wrap and Smug-Baby in the stroller and they napped and I got some exercise.
Smug-Sister was only working a half day and after she was finished, I went home and Smug-Baby and I slept some more. By the end of the day, I was feeling more normal and Monday night we all slept fine.
Tuesday morning I went into work for my 4 hours and then to my sisters to watch the babies again. Tuesday was much better, Smug-Baby seemed to be getting used to being around the other baby and not having her own toys and such to play with. I again, took them for a walk, but noticed that I was really tired and the walk was super hard. I thought that this might has been because I was wearing my shape up shoes, and because it was also kind of windy, cut the walk short.
After Smug-Sister finished with her half day, Smug-Baby and I went home and she went down for a nap and I had some lunch. After I ate, I started feeling really sick. I know it wasn't the food since it was pasta that I had just made the night before. I decided to lie down, but almost immediately had to get up and use the bathroom. It was then that I knew I was sick. I called Smug-Hub, but got no answer. I called my mom and she headed over. Then I got a text from my husband and could only text "sick" back to him before I started throwing up.
I was worried that Smug-Baby would be upset to see her mama in distress, but with each heave, she would laugh so I guess she wasn't all that traumatized! It wasn't until after when I was trying to clean myself up that she seemed to pick up on my distress and cried and cried. I was too weak to pick her up and so I just lay on the bathroom floor and tried to nurse her and calm her as best as I could.
When my mom arrived, she and Smug-Baby played while I brushed my teeth and went to the bathroom again and again. When Smug-Hub arrived home with Ginger Ale in tow, he put me to bed and took over with the baby. It was a restless night by all and all day Wednesday I was weak and kept having to use the bathroom, but I didn't throw up again which was nice.
Now it is Thursday morning and I am up and on my way to work. I feel like a normal person who was just beaten up with a bat. I am just really weak and sore, but I know that the virus has left my system and I am on the mend.
Now, Smug-Hub is complaining of cold and soreness and feeling weak. The good news is that by this weekend, we should all be threw it and be feeling better :)
Smug-Baby however seemed fine and was her normal self. I was supposed to start my new job, which is that I am going to be caring for my 12 week old niece while Smug-Sister goes back to work. I called and explained the situation and Smug-Sister said that if I felt up to it she wanted to take the chance and still have me come over. I did and it was really hard to keep both babies happy. Smug-Baby is not used to my sister’s house or sharing her mama and Smug-Niece wanted her mama and not me. I did end up taking them for a long walk, Smug-Niece in the wrap and Smug-Baby in the stroller and they napped and I got some exercise.
Smug-Sister was only working a half day and after she was finished, I went home and Smug-Baby and I slept some more. By the end of the day, I was feeling more normal and Monday night we all slept fine.
Tuesday morning I went into work for my 4 hours and then to my sisters to watch the babies again. Tuesday was much better, Smug-Baby seemed to be getting used to being around the other baby and not having her own toys and such to play with. I again, took them for a walk, but noticed that I was really tired and the walk was super hard. I thought that this might has been because I was wearing my shape up shoes, and because it was also kind of windy, cut the walk short.
After Smug-Sister finished with her half day, Smug-Baby and I went home and she went down for a nap and I had some lunch. After I ate, I started feeling really sick. I know it wasn't the food since it was pasta that I had just made the night before. I decided to lie down, but almost immediately had to get up and use the bathroom. It was then that I knew I was sick. I called Smug-Hub, but got no answer. I called my mom and she headed over. Then I got a text from my husband and could only text "sick" back to him before I started throwing up.
I was worried that Smug-Baby would be upset to see her mama in distress, but with each heave, she would laugh so I guess she wasn't all that traumatized! It wasn't until after when I was trying to clean myself up that she seemed to pick up on my distress and cried and cried. I was too weak to pick her up and so I just lay on the bathroom floor and tried to nurse her and calm her as best as I could.
When my mom arrived, she and Smug-Baby played while I brushed my teeth and went to the bathroom again and again. When Smug-Hub arrived home with Ginger Ale in tow, he put me to bed and took over with the baby. It was a restless night by all and all day Wednesday I was weak and kept having to use the bathroom, but I didn't throw up again which was nice.
Now it is Thursday morning and I am up and on my way to work. I feel like a normal person who was just beaten up with a bat. I am just really weak and sore, but I know that the virus has left my system and I am on the mend.
Now, Smug-Hub is complaining of cold and soreness and feeling weak. The good news is that by this weekend, we should all be threw it and be feeling better :)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wild and Wacky Weekend
My weekend started with a phone call from my friend. She has in the hospital with dehydration from a stomach bug and needed help with her son, who is a few days younger than Smug-Baby. I drove over to the hospital and picked the little guy up and got them both home and upstairs, but then T-Man started to be really upset. My guess is that he doesn't know me very well and he knew something was up with his mama. I finally got him happy with some apple sauce and when Smug-Hub got home from work, he took on the task of getting T-Man to sleep. I took Smug-Baby and got her ready bed and by about 10 both babies were sleeping soundly.
It was decided that my friend and her husband should stay with us upon her release rather than get the baby up and into the car at 1am, but that involved running around at midnight getting fresh sheets on the guest bed and finding clean towels and something for them to sleep in. In the process, T-Man woke up and Smug-Hub rocked and bounced the little guy for a couple of hours until he was finally back to a deep sleep. His parents arrived about 2 and everyone finally got to bed.
Saturday morning, we left the poor sickly family sleeping to went out to visit with some friends who were in town for a visit and had a nice lunch. I loved all the men playing video games, talking and playing with all the kids, while us women folk sat around and talked about our birth experiences and child rearing. I have been wanting to be part of these talks for about a thousand years!
Saturday night, my parents and my aunt and uncle came over and I made the Pioneer Woman's Braised Short Ribs and they were a huge hit! It was nice to be with family, but the sleep deprivation of Friday night caught up to me and I went to bed with Smug-Baby about 10!
Sunday morning we went to the local armory to await my cousin's arrival. He has been in Afghanistan for the last 6-7 months and recently was injured (concussion), so the whole family has been on pins and needles to get him home. My aunt and uncle drove in, my parents were there, his girlfriend was there along with her parents and Smug-Baby, Smug-Hub and I made up the welcoming party.
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That evening was Smug-Baby's first Halloween and we got her dressed up and went door-to-door with her cousins. She seemed beat by all the excitement and we went home and got her to bed early!!
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It was a great weekend all in all. I am sorry that my friend is still feeling badly, but I am so happy that my cousin is home and it was a perfect first Halloween!!
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