You know those days when your coming off some kind of high and life hits you smack between the eyes? I just had one of those days today.
Blakey had to go to the doctor this morning because his nebulizer just wasn't clearing up his weazing. (Blake has had a cough for over a month and they finally prescribed a nebulizer, we're currently on our 4th diagnosis. First possibly rsv, then bronchitis, then asthma, now a sinus infection in his lungs...) We got him some antibiotics and a steroid to help him kick it for good, hopefully.
After their nap Blake felt a little warm and just wanted to be held. Therefore Caden thought he had to be held too. Apparently, today mommy's lap was the place to whine and cry and the floor was the place to wail and scream. I can't believe how much Caden was affected by my attentiveness to Blake! He would not be left behind! Even their high chairs were too far away from mommy! So we went in the front room (because change of sceneray always helps) and I started feeding them on my lap while sitting on the floor. You can guess how well that went. But what's a little mess when your babies are inconsolable right?
So I fill Blake up with a particularly large lunch and then give him his medicine. When I tell you his steroid medicine is disgusting it doesn't quite do justice to how bitter, rank, and putrid that stuff tastes. Poor Blakey's sensitive gag reflex was no match for it. Up came his lunch, his snack, and his breakfast. I didn't know a baby's stomach could fit that much!! So as I'm trying to figure out my next move I carelessly put the jar of baby food on the couch. Guess where Caden b-lines straight to? Before I can even find anything to wipe my hands on Caden is finger painting with carrots on our black couch.
I decided to head straight for the tub without cleaning anything up. They don't play very nice in the tub so Caden waited impatiently in a saucer thing while I cleaned up the puke baby. Then I mistakenly thought I could dress Blake while Caden played in the tub. Before I had even finished lotioning the front side of Blake, Caden had fallen over 3 times. He tries to stand up and walk around the tub in circles. I tried to hold him down with one hand and diaper Blake with the other hand but I couldn't quite control that slippery little body of his. He fell again and something in his mouth started bleeding. Again, I have two screaming babies, only now they are naked and one of them is bleeding.
After that it's all a blur, to be honest. I somehow kept Caden on his toush while I got Blake's diaper on. It's one of those moments where you think, "I can't do it any more!" only to keep going and somehow muddle through.
Once they were dressed I went and put them both in their cribs with some books (it wasn't nap time) and I went downstairs, turned on the TV, and ate ice cream straight from the carton. Okay, I cleaned up the throw up first, but THEN I really dropped everything and vegged for at least 45 min.
Getting them their dinner and into bed didn't go much smoother but we all survived. I don't know why I feel better after telling you all this. Probably because I know you'll sympathize and appreciate the lengths I've been pushed to today...
Thanks for being my sounding board, I am grateful to have you guys. I love you all!
Oh Em! What a day! I really can't fathom how you were able to handle such a double crisis! I guess for a woman with boundless patience, you needed such an extreme day to push you to that edge where most of us only need one kid to be pushed that far. I'm sorry! I wish I could play with and babysit Caden while you attend to poor Blakey.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your awful day - it helps me feel closer to you not just knowing all the good but the difficult as well. I think we need to share our challenges (and coping strategies) more, because more often than not someone else will benefit, feel encouraged and learn from our difficulties and how we overcome them. And I think that is a big reason we are given mountains to climb--so that we can turn around and help someone else climb a similar mountain. I, personally, like the TV and ice-cream strategy. Desperate times call for deserving measures. :)
My current challenge? How to lift my 26lb child with a blown-out back. I am currently a crumpled up pretzel, and I turn 30 in just 3 days! There is nothing like welcoming middle age while feeling really old and fragile. :) Maybe some TV and ice cream are just the ticket. Love you Em!!
Haha! Ice cream helps almost any situation! But I agree Lizzy. I like hearing what has been hard for my sisters. It makes me feel like I'm not the only one with struggles.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so sorry about your back!!! Strollers can be your best friend, even in the house!!! Just use your little umbrella stroller when moving from room to room :) My motto is pretty basic: SURVIVE. It doesn't matter how. Just survive! And smell the roses along the way when you have time ;) Love you!
Amanda and I have both done this same thing, but we only had ONE kid to drive us crazy! You're an amazing mom to those boys, and they LOVE their mommy SO much! I know that every mom gets burned out (I probably do MORE than others :)) but it takes a GREAT mom to be ready to go again after taking a 45 minute break! I think I would need a couple hours! Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteLizzy, I'm so sorry about your back! What happened to it? I thought all that yoga you were doing was helping. Maybe that's how it happened, haha. I hope you're feeling better soon, especially since you need to party like it's 1999 this weekend! I hope you have a GREAT weekend with your hubby. I love you and I'm SO excited to see you!!!
Thanks Em - I like the SURVIVE motto. I'm going to have to apply it to my new calling!
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