Easter ’11: Part One

This was Daniel LAST Easter.  (Please note the enormous blue and purple Easter egg bump on his forehead.)

And this was Daniel THIS Easter.

 

Please note the ginormous laceration across his cute forehead.  It’s the annual Daniel Easter curse.  This was the THIRD Easter we took Daniel to the ER.  The first time was when he was 7 months old and we were visiting my parents in Maryland.  It was Easter morning and we were all getting ready for church service.  I was changing Daniel’s diaper on the bed.  I turned around to grab his Easter outfit from the dresser and in that one, two, three seconds, BAM, he rolled off the bed and fell on the floor.  Luckily it was a short twin bed and there was a carpet, but I was a first time Mama. I panicked and so did Hubbie.  I had images of scrambled egg brain in my head.   I told my husband if Daniel ended up with a learning disability I would never forgive myself. That was an extreme reaction, yes, but I could not believe this was happening to ME.  I mean, I was not that Mama who let her kid just roll off a bed onto the floor.  And here I was.

We took Daniel to the ER.  I think one of the scariest moments was when the doctor separated us to get the story of how Daniel hit his head.  It was to rule out child abuse and I found out later that it’s standard procedure.  I was crying pretty hard so Hubbie handled most of the questions and the examination.  They felt Daniel’s head and checked his eyes and all the other vitals.  He was fine.  He was just a tired little baby that wanted to take a nap.  We felt justified taking him to the ER because we had to board a plane back to Florida that afternoon and what if he passed out while were were miles in the air?  I held him in my arms the entire flight.  He slept with a smile on his face.  I fought back tears the entire 2 and 1/2 hours.  It traumatized me for about a month.

I guess we were in the clear in 2008 and 2009.  Then it happened again in 2010.  Daniel was running around and fell on our hard kitchen tile.  I don’t think he put his hands out because there was just a slip and a fall and a cry and it was so fast.  When we ran to him I just saw the giant blue bump form before my eyes.  I had never seen something like that in my life.  We grabbed ice and asked him a million questions to ensure he knew who he was and where he was.  Hubbie took him right to the ER. The doctors checked him out and said he was fine and he came home in time for Easter dinner.  But then I had to stare at that yucky bump for over a week.

Last Friday was Good Friday and Daniel had off from school.  He was invited to a play date at a friend’s house.  I dropped Annabel off at her GG’s so I could have some girl chat with the ladies. We took a quick tour of the beautiful home and then the three boys went to play.  The moms camped out with drinks in the living room.  The boys moved from the living room to the bedroom playing with all the cool toys.  There were stairs.  Daniel refused to take off his Crocs.  I always insist “no shoes in the house” but the nice Mom said it was OKAY.  LET HIM BE.  HE’S HAVING FUN.  LET HIM BE.  Sometimes I don’t trust my gut.

I don’t know if the Crocs were to blame, but on the way down the stairs for the third time that morning Daniel missed the last step.  I didn’t see this, but that is what he told me.  I heard someone fall on the hard tile and then I heard Daniel’s cry.  I felt like I was moving in slow motion and then I saw it. Blood.  All over his face.  His hands.  Down the front of his shirt.  My heart fell to my stomach.  We thought he broke his nose.  But after wiping him down with wet paper towels and baby wipes we found out it was a big cut on his forehead.  We took him to the ER.  AGAIN.  I know this wasn’t exactly EASTER, but close enough for me.  I could not believe it was happening AGAIN.

Hubbie met us there and I did the hand off.  He’s better than me with this stuff.  He’s calmer.  I really was proud of myself though. I was pretty calm.  I was urgent, but I was calm too.  The ER doctor put Daniel’s forehead back together with skin glue.  It’s pretty amazing stuff.  Daniel was ready to leave the moment we got there.  He kept saying, “I’m FINE.”  He’s a brave kid.  And he has a very high tolerance for pain. He just wanted to go home.  He said it didn’t hurt.  Well, I sure felt a little broken inside.

Easter Sunday was actually really nice and drama free.  I’ll post photos and notes tomorrow.  Unfortunately, yesterday, Daniel had an allergic reaction to that glue adhesive.  The cut became puffy and red so last night at 8 PM we went back to the ER.  The same doctor took off the glue and replaced it with four steri strips across his forehead.   The doctor said he was healing well.  Now we just have to watch for the scar.

SO, Easter 2012?  I’m considering a three day movie fest.  On the couch.  All day long.  No one moves.  No one gets hurt.  I’m breaking this curse, darn it.

Living in the Moment

I just told my husband that the past couple of weeks have been the perfect crossroads of  home, family, and LIFE stress.  We moved.  My son got a stomach virus for the very first time.  (I’m not really great with “sick.”)  Then I got sick.  My crazy dog is losing his mind in this new house and won’t sleep.  There are stairs.  There are boxes.  There are Christmas cards to send out.  More presents to buy.  Christmas cookies to bake.  Teacher gifts.  And on and on and on.

I really am living hour to hour.  This is so unlike me.  I am a planner.  I’m super organized all the time. But I just can’t catch up.  I take it one box at a time.  I take it one school obligation at a time.  I’ve been to the store almost every single day to buy something I forgot when I went yesterday.  I haven’t even had time to make a proper list!

When I was sick I abandoned coffee and wine for the entire week and I swear that sent me a little out of whack too.

I also just colored my hair back to its original dark blond.  (Isn’t there a rule NOT to mess with your hair when you are in the middle of life change and are all stressed out?  Yes?  Well, I really just wanted the 2 hours of alone time at the salon.)

One thing I have realized is that living hour to hour is basically LIVING IN THE MOMENT which is actually a good thing for me.  It’s something that I needed to work on and I’m working on it without even thinking about it.

Last weekend our new neighborhood had a holiday party in the clubhouse followed by trolley rides to look at all the lights.  It was Saturday evening and there was SO much to do around the house but we just had to forget it all and go.  I mean, it’s Christmas time!  The kids were so excited.  We had hot chocolate and cookies.  They sat with Santa.  They made a craft.  We rode the trolley and looked at all the awesome decorations.  We sang Christmas carols in unison.  We met our new neighbors.  The kids met new friends.

We lived in the moment.

It was awesome.

Crazy Times and Giving Thanks

I have not had a moment to post some photos from our Thanksgiving celebration, because here is a quick list of what has been going on in my life since I last posted something on this here blog:

  – I got sick and was surviving on Dayquil, Nyquil, and lots of bad food.

 - We moved out of our rental home into a brand new home that we bought – Yay!  It was an amazing deal (a foreclosure that needed a little love) and we have been renovating the place for over a month.  It was done Friday night and we moved in Saturday morning.  It was a LONG day.

- Once we moved in, Bean got sick with a stomach virus.  Poor guy is still recovering, but on the upswing.

 - I am now basically in a state of physical and emotional disarray.  There are boxes all over the place.  Downstairs AND upstairs.  We have STAIRS now.  I was seriously nervous about them with the kiddies, but it has been going very well.  Annabel still goes down on her bum, but she stopped asking me to carry her, so that’s a huge win.  My emotional disarray is from being overwhelmed with the entire process.  Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and we still need to decorate, get a tree, send out the cards, etc.  I’m taking it one  HOUR at a time.

And so I wanted to post some Thanksgiving photos.  For two reasons: One, because they feature the final photos of our last home, and two, because I need to give thanks for these awesome people in my life.  THEY are the ones who ground me through all of life’s crazy transitions. 

PS – I also must give a really big thanks to my hubbie for setting up our cable the day we moved into our new home.  He knows I need my must-see TV shows to make me smile.  AND my internet.  Thanks, Baby!

Feeling Better

It was a really long week.  Everyone was sick.  First, Bean got it.  Then, my husband.  Then, me.  And finally, Annabel.  It was a yucky, germy, summer cold. It meant saline drops and Infant Tylenol for the kiddies and NyQuil and rum filled tea for Mama and Daddy.  The week also included ALOT of INDOOR activities.  There was an excessive amount of television watching (Sesame Street, Little Bear, and various Baby Einstein videos) while we all relaxed on the couch or floor pillows. 

There was also an overwhelming amount of hours spent tinkering with the GEOTrax train set.  Setting it up.  Breaking it down.  Setting it up.  Breaking it down.  You get the idea.  I really did love the extra book reading moments, sticker fun, and, of course, the cuddle time.  But, by Saturday morning we were all ready for a little Vitamin D on our bodies.  I was also personally ready for some retail therapy.

We went to one of my FAVORITE stores: HomeGoods.  I SO LOVE this store and I rarely get to go there anymore.  It’s really hard to maneuver around the place with a double stroller and I am terrified of steering into the ceramic bowls and glassware.  There are too many awesome things to buy at HomeGoods.  I can’t always control myself.  Don’t even get me started on the holiday items.  On Saturday, there were already two long aisles and one front store display of just HALLOWEEN decorations.  I picked up a front door welcome sign and a cute ghost plaque.  Then, we all cruised to the kids section.  I really wanted this train step stool and some picture frames, but we managed to leave with just an adorable pink princess growth chart for Annabel and a fun fishing game for Bean.

I have been looking for a growth chart for both kids that was wooden and stable. I also wanted something that was unique.  This is the wooden growth chart we bought for Annabel’s room:

My husband laughs because “why does everything girlie have to have a unicorn on it?”  (Hee).

There wasn’t a “boy” growth chart version for Daniel, but the cashier said to definitely check back again because they get new stuff on the shelves every week.  “Come back again??”  “No problem, lady!”

Bean loved his new Melissa & Doug magnetic fishing game.  He even shared with his sister.  Everyone is FINALLY feeling better.  Amen.

Being Wanted

Bean is sick.  It’s the worst.  It’s probably worse for ME because I have this “sick phobia thing.”  I know.  I’m a Mommy now and I need to get over it.  I’m working on it.

Poor little Bean is just feeling awful. He’s had these colds and snots many times before.  But because he is almost three years old, he can really articulate the awfulness of it all.  “Daniel’s sick, Mama.” “Blow my nose please, Mama.”  “More water please, Mama.” “Daniel going to lay down, Mama.”

I know he REALLY wasn’t feeling well when he only ate HALF of his dinosaur PB&J sandwich and then he asked to take a nap.  His naps have been super sporadic lately.  It’s usually one day on and FOUR days off.  But today at 12:15 PM, he was out like a light.

Two hours later, he started to scream!  I ran to his room. He was standing up by his bed and crying through a fountain of snots and trying to tell me something at the same time. I could not, for the life of me, understand what he wanted.

“Bean, what do you want?  Do you want a tissue??” 

“Noo….”  (Sniff, Sniff.)

“Daniel, do you want some water??”

“Noo….” (Sniff, Sniff.)

“Bean, I can’t understand you. PLEASE calm down and tell me what you want.  PLEASE.”

“Daniel want…Mama.” (Sniff) ”Daniel want…Mama!” (Sniff. Sniff)

He wanted me to hold him and rock him in the chair next to his big boy bed.  He curled up in my arms and just looked at me with his watery eyes.  He smiled.  He closed his eyes and relaxed. We rocked.

He just wanted his Mama.  It was a good day after all.

Change O’ Plans

So tonight’s blog was going to be, “Woohoo!  I’m going out!  I’m leaving the house!  I’m going out on a date night with my husband and get this…we are going DANCING! Something I’ve been dying to do FOREVER.  I think the last time I went dancing at a club was four years ago.   I bought a super cute new outfit and here is a picture of me in it!”

Well, none of this is happening.  Why?  Because my back went out.  AGAIN.

The first time my back went out was when I was seven months pregnant with Annabel.  I was trying to hoist Bean up on the changing table and I just felt “click, click, click” down my lower back and BAM!  I was on the floor.  I was helpless.  My wonderful (amazing, incredible, I could go on and on and on) husband had to CARRY ME to the bedroom.  It would have been romantic expect I was SCREAMING IN PAIN.  I had to spend a week , mostly in bed, recovering.  The worst part?  My husband bought me this:

It was so helpful, but so depressing.  I’m not even forty years old and I’m wobbling around the house with a cane.  It was awful.  My mother-in-law (God Bless Her) had to come over every day for a week to help me take care of Bean while the hubbie was at work.    Everyday I felt a little better until FINALLY I was back to normal (no pun intended – Ha.)

Then it happened again after Annabel was born.  We were wandering around some garage sales in our neighborhood when I twisted down to look at a baby swing and BAM!  The same exact thing happened.  This time, since I wasn’t preggers and carrying around all that extra belly weight, I was only “down for the count” for a couple days.  But it was enough to make me schedule an appointment with a physical therapist.  She told me to exercise and do back strengthening exercises.  That was it.  (I was really, really hoping she was going to give me an open ended prescription for some PAIN killers, because back PAIN is just SO PAINFUL,  but NO.)  

I was given an exercise ball and instructions.

I was REALLY GOOD with those relegated exercises…for about a month.  Then, LIFE just got in the way. 

I’m a stay-at-home Mom with two kids under the age of three. THAT is my exercise.  I was also super careful to always lift Daniel and Annabel with my arm muscles, NOT my back muscles.  It’s really hard.  There is just so much lifting in and out of car seats, cribs, beds, etc.   And  just recently I have been leaning over half the day holding onto the hand of a 16 month old who wants to run, but usually just falls.

When I put the kids down for a nap today, I was SO excited to get ready for my night out.  I was waiting for the hubbie to come home so I could go out for my pedicure.  I had my outfit already hanging in my closet.  I went to check on Bean one more time in his new big boy bed.  He was still awake so I sat on the edge of the bed to talk him into napping. (Please!) And when I stood up to leave the room..BAM.  THE SAME THING HAPPENED.  AGAIN.  WORST TIMING EVER.

So here I am now, blogging instead of dancing.  Boo Hoo.  Oh well, everything happens for a reason..right? Someone must think I need to stay home and rest in bed tonight.  I really should NOT be out enjoying a wonderful, uninterrupted meal or having some lovely cocktails and conversations with ADULTS or dancing and partying.  NONE of that should be happening. Got it.  Thanks.

PS: Please comment if you have any back pain solutions, suggestions, good pain killer advice. I could use it.  Seriously.

Sick Days

I’m really BLESSED because my children have NEVER had a major illness.  They both have also managed to avoid the common baby ear infections and baby fevers.  I’ve never had to take them to the pediatrician for any medical scare.

(Do you hear me LOUDLY KNOCKING ON WOOD??)

But they DO get COLDS.  Blech.

The snots, the drips, the little coughs.  Lots of mucus.  Everywhere.  And I totally hate it.

I know I completely overreact, but when one of my kiddies wakes up in the morning and I am greeted with a runny nose, I start to panic.  “Oh, no! Where is the Vitamin C?!  Keep them away from the other kid!  Where are the tissues? Where is the Little Noses bottle and the nose squeegee?  Ugh!”

I’ve always been this way.  I hated to be around sick people at school and at work.  I would walk around them.  I would avoid their personal space.  My husband thinks I’m crazy because I run around with Clorox Wipes and the Lysol can when someone sneezes.  I don’t know whether I am really turned off by the cold symptoms or if I really don’t want to catch a cold. 

I think it’s both.

And with kids, you can’t avoid colds entering your home.  It happens.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics most children have eight to ten colds during their first two years of life.

Right now both Daniel and Annabel have a cold.  I’m really glad that it’s JUST a cold, but I still hate it.  They’ve been through five boxes of tissue in 48 hours.  There are damp washcloths sitting around my house in strategic locations ready to wipe their noses, cheeks, and arms. I always have to change their shirts and bed sheets because of the snot.  They want to watch TV.  They whine a lot more.  They sleep a little less. 

“BUT, after 7-10 days they will be better!”  (I have to keep telling myself this.)

Uh oh, I think I feel a scratchy throat coming on.  I need to go make some tea and relax. (And watch So You Think You Can Dance…)