Out of the Mouths of Moms

The last week has presented certain challenges. There's the trauma of having a child hospitalized. There's the lack of sleep for worrying and cries of, "Mom!" in the night. There's the constant nagging to get fluids into your child.

All that. But none of those begins to touch on the challenges faced by Redding. First, his sister gets loads of attention. She's got mom and dad following her around with bowls, towels, cool cloths for her head... Loads of medicine and tons of sippees of juice, ice water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, anything she will drink. Redding wants a bowl for in his bed. He wants "puffers" like Annabella's. He wants a sippee, which thankfully he can have. He wants whatever she is getting.

So Friday morning, I called the grandparents to enlist assistance in watching Red while I took Annabella to the pediatrician. Poppa was at our house a few hours later and Bel and I were off. Red wanted to see the doctor. I figure, why take a healthy child into the waiting room full of miserable illness?

The doctor briefly examined my normally perky girl. Based on her coloring, lethargy, tender abdomen and the fact that she hadn't kept much down in 2 days, she sent us to the hospital for IV fluids to treat severe dehydration.

So, we stopped home to pick up some necessities. Poppa was out shoveling the driveway and Red was out with him, playing on a sled. I was already weepy over putting Bel into the hospital. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to find Red happy as a clam and my driveway being cleared. Then I had to humbly ask what he had planned for the rest of the afternoon, as I had to go put my girl... And the tears flowed.

Redding winds up spending the rest of the day with Poppa and Gragra at our house, then going to their house for dinner and a sleepover. He gets all the attention of two very doting grandparents. But there's a problem. He doesn't understand why Sissy gets to go to the doctor, to the hospital, gets medicine, etc. Poor guy. Plus he's missing Annabella, Mom and Dad. Poor, poor sweet boy.

Saturday evening Annabella got to come home, but wasn't very interactive with Red. Still she's getting lots of attention and fussing over. Medicine, puffers, all that jazz.

Sunday night at dinner we were discussing how he'd been saying things all weekend like, "I hurt myself, I need to go to the hospital." And, forced, fake cough, cough "I'm sick, I need a puffer."

Annabella hops up from the dinner table with a panicked look on her face, shouting, "I have to go potty, NOW!" She races to the bathroom.

Redding is hot on her heels, "Oh! I have to go potty now, too!" Which is funny because he's not potty trained. He feels using the potty once a day before nap is plenty.

Someone commented that he just wants to have and do everything just like his big sister.

I replied, "Yeah, won't he be surprised when he gets his first period."

Happy Birthday Tammie!

And a Happy Halloween to everyone else!

There's nothing systematic about my desensitization

It seems like at least once a day, for the last two weeks or more, Andrew winds up translating something one of our children said for me. Many times he is just repeating for me, more loudly, what one of them has said.

I was beginning to think that I need to go get a hearing test. But here's the thing... I hear just fine. Seriously, 99% of the time, when I am away from my children, I hear great. I hear the phone ring. I hear knocks at the door. I hear the garage door open. I almost never have to ask and adult or someone on the phone to repeat themselves.

There can be only one logical answer. I've begun blocking out the sound of my children's voices.

When I was but a single gal, auntie, I used to marvel at how mothers could simply ignore their children desperately trying to get their attention. Mommy! Mommy! Mom-meeee!!!!!!! (I'm not naming any names, and I think I managed to keep my mouth shut and not judge. Here's hoping.) But now I totally understand.

There seems to be a limit to what I can or am willing to listen to on a daily basis. In the morning, when we're getting ready for the day, I am mommy-on-the-spot with all kinds of helping hands. By dinner time I am reduced to someone who not only can't hear when one of them is talking to me, can't always distinguish one voice from the three usually going at the time... And I am even sometimes sloppy about responding. Sometimes I respond to what I think I heard and don't bother to clarify.

Fortunately for me, however, I have a built in hearing aide. How so? Each evening Andrew comes home for dinner and steps in to filter whatever important is being said up to me. How can he do it after a full day of work? Perhaps sometimes the voices of small immediate needs are much more enjoyable to hear.

For me, silence is golden. It revives me and charges my batteries. Someday when too much of my time is full of this golden silence, perhaps I'll miss the cacophony. For now, even I have limits.

May Babies

In May I am fully reminded of how bad I am at observing other people's Birthdays.

You know who you are. We're thinking of you all month.

Here's an oldie, but a goodie, to make your birthday month a little more festive.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

We made it down to the beach this afternoon for a sunny, bustling adventure in the sand. Lots of tourists lining our sunny shore, but hardly a wave to bee seen.

Andrew and Bella burried each other's toes in the sand. They're pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.

There's lots more beach pictures over at Flickr.

This weekend also marks the 10th wedding anniversary of Tammie and Joe. Congratulations guys! I'd post more, but I'm still having flashbacks of when Tammie threatened violence if I talked about her at work. :0) No, really, she threatened me. So, whoever you are, and where ever you are this weekend, celebrating that thing that you're celebrating, I hope you're both having a wonderful time. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone on the interenet your deepest darkest secrets, except that you like to threaten me.

We also had a lovely dinner last night with Dennis and Melissa. Bella was already excited to see them, but then they went and brought her a present for her birthday, and now she just can't wait for them to come back. Thank you very much for my present, too! Sorry I neglected to open it. I get all flustered when we have people over, wanting everything to be perfect. Which it never is, but then nothing is ever perfect when people aren't here, so why the hell do I freak out? Hmm... Post traumatic stress from all the threats I've been receiving, I think. Anyway, they were here, they were great, we love them and can't wait to see them again. No pressure.

Hope everyone has loads of fun and sun this weekend.

By the way, Bella insisted on wearing the sunglasses which she got for her first birthday (from Kurt, Erika, & Tom, Christian not yet being born), so that she could be like 'everybody' meaning us, her parents. Second, she would not put down the "52 fun things to do at the beach" cards which Tammie gave me for my 29th birthday, I think. People, our birthday month is over, but we just love our presents. Anyone out there waiting for those thank you cards, they'll be coming this week, I swear.

You're Beautiful

Last week, we had another milestone. I know, by three I should stop looking for these, particularly since I didn't do a baby book for my daughter. As the mother of one, I am deeply ashamed, in small spasmodic doses. Someday, when I come to grips with the fact that I haven't even scrapbooked any of her beautiful baby pictures... Well, then I may just have to publicly flog myself, or something. Regardless of my predilection to avoid the uber-mommy-fad of the moment, I do occasionally mark milestones.

On her own whim, Bella burst into song in the car. This has happened before, but only with the disney song tape we keep for emergencies. We were listening to "The Beach" 101.7, which plays pop and some 80's and 90's 'oldies'. They were playing James Blunt's song "You're Beautiful" and she chimed right in with the chorus, "You're beautiful, you're beautiful. It's true."

For maybe the millionth time in 3 years, my heart filled up to about bursting. This kid has me wrapped. No doubt about it.

Since I have no picture to go with this post, I want to tell my siblings: You're beautiful! (This one is for Elizabeth, too. Thanks for reading.)

Apparently only Lannia got the "See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil." instructions.

Everyone smile, wait, except Dawn. Dawn, look like you're praying. Karen, look at Dawn. Cheese!

Wow. Yes, the fashion of the late 70's and early 80's hit us hard, as a family.

I love you guys! You're all beautiful, Eric, too! :)