August 15, 2009

Photo Saturday

Because we’re all running around, trying to get ready for a wedding, and I realize I have to run to Target because Dawson has NO dress pants… Here’s a photo of our little dog, Murphy.  I took this one yesterday while I was photographing our garden.  When I uploaded the photo, I decided it looked much better in black and white, because those are the colors of Murphy’s coat.

This is not just a dog, he’s a best friend.  Don’t you just want to pet and cuddle him?  He is adorable, yes?

August 14, 2009

Just One of Those Weeks

This has been one of the craziest weeks of the year.  Running around to doctor and dentist appointments (and dealing with incompetent receptionists).  Filling out 4K paperwork.  Grocery shopping.  Bill paying.  Cleaning the house.  Laundry. (Oh, the laundry!)  The death of my neighbor.

This morning, my dear friend Lori had a c-section.  She went to the hospital at 5 a.m., her surgery was scheduled for 7 a.m. and now I am waiting patiently for the news.  She decided not to know the gender, as this is her third child and she and her husband did find out with her son and daughter.  I can’t wait to find out if Z & H have a new brother or sister.

Tomorrow we have a wedding to attend.  My cousin is getting married.  Huge Polish wedding.  Polka dancing.  Chicken soup with potatoes.  Yum.

Sunday evening is my neighbor’s wake, and Monday morning is the funeral.

I feel like I’m witnessing the full circle of life; a birth, a wedding and a death.  All in one week.

My day planner is packed with little notes and to-dos and appointments.  With Dawson’s first day of 4K fast approaching, we’re trying to squeeze in as much quality time together as we can.

Doug and I have decided to take a trip to the Dells of the Eau Claire River next week.  It’s been several years since I’ve been there.  I think I was 12 the last time I went.  With my parents of course.

It’s a beautiful park in Marathon County, about 45 minutes Northeast.  I’d like to take some family pictures there, so I’ll be dragging the Canon and the tripod.  Doug isn’t thrilled, he hates pictures, but I think it would be nice to have one last photo of our family of three.

Our first MOPS meeting is in three weeks.  I’m on the steering team, co-chair of the Sunshine Committee.   We have one last team meeting on the 25th to get ready for our club meeting.  I can’t believe our summer break is almost over.  I’m glad to get back into the swing of things, however.  I miss my friends.  We’ve all been so busy this summer.

Monday evening is Moms’ Night Out.  I’m very excited to get out of the house, if only for one evening.  I feel like I’ve been trapped in wife-and-mom mode.  I need time out to talk about anything other than school and laundry and which Transformers cartoon we should watch next.

I’m now 30 weeks pregnant, (and my baby weighs as much as a cabbage…who knew?).  Ten weeks to go.  It still feels like an eternity, but I also feel like the birth of this baby is sneaking up on me.  I know that makes little sense, but if you were in my head right now, you would understand completely.

The other day Doug and I were talking about some invitations we’ve received for events happening in October and November.  It suddenly dawned on me that we may have to decline several due to the fact that I’ll be nursing and it’s very hard for me to leave my babies.  (I didn’t leave Dawson with a babysitter, other than our daycare person, until he was almost six months old, and that’s only because Doug insisted on taking me to dinner for my birthday.)

I had a bit of a panic attack, because I realized I’m starting over again.  Dawson is almost five years old.  He was potty trained at age 3, I haven’t had to change a diaper in two years (still wiping a butt, though).  My son is capable of feeding himself, dressing himself, bathing himself (still have to wash his hair, however) and he knows how to pick up his toys when he’s done playing with them.  Okay, I do have to ask him a few times, but he does it.

In ten short weeks I will be at the beck and call of a tiny, helpless baby, one who depends on me for nourishment, clothing and comfort.  I’ve wanted another child for so long, and I’m so grateful that my wish has finally come true.  I just think I’m finally facing the reality that life will be changing once again.  I’m slowing wrapping my head around that fact.

Yesterday I dragged a huge Rubbermaid tote of baby clothes out of the closet and started sorting through them.  I made piles by size and did several loads of laundry.  As I was folding the onesies, sleepers and adorable outfits that Dawson once wore, memories of his baby days came flooding back.  I can’t believe how quickly five years has passed.  What happened to that little one, the Doodlebug, who fit in the crook of my arm and looked up at me so adoringly?  Now I’m lucky to get a hug without asking for one. My “baby” is growing up too fast.  I don’t think I like it.

I want to write about our traumatic immunization experience from Wednesday, and I have a few other happenings I think are blog worthy.  It’s just a matter of getting organized around here.  So much to do, so little time.

Thank goodness it’s Friday.  Here’s hoping the weekend isn’t chaotic.  I’m praying next week is less insane.

August 13, 2009

Another Bad Day

August 12th will forever be known as the day of tragedies.

A year ago on that day (which also happens to my late grandfather’s birthday) my father had an accident, and endured severe head and facial injuries requiring major brain surgery.

…And then yesterday, my neighbor died.  She had been battling breast cancer for 3 1/2 years.  Through chemo, the cancer in her breasts disappeared, but it had then spread to her brain and spine.

She was 51 years old.  She leaves behind her husband, her son and her daughter.

I’m absolutely devastated.

I’ve lived next door to The Z’s for nearly 25 years (we bought the house I grew up in when my parents built their dream house) and I consider them family.  I feel like I’ve lost an aunt.  It’s just so hard to think about death and dying and all the suffering Monica endured the last few years.

The neighbor’s house is flooded with visitors this morning.  And then just a few minutes ago a caravan of family members left for the funeral home, I imagine.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

Why are some people taken from this Earth too early?  Why?

August 11, 2009

A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I’ve had a day.  A big FAT horrible day.

Okay.  So maybe I’m exaggerating.  A little.  But honestly, I’ve been a ball of stress and crazy for most of the day.

It started out on the wrong foot because I stayed up too late the night before (because I took a nap yesterday, and it screwed up my sleep schedule), and this morning I had to wake up early because Dawson had his first dentist appointment, scheduled for 9 a.m., which meant waking him up at 7:30 to get him bathed and dressed and his teeth brushed (twice).

When we arrived at Dr. Tim’s office, Dawson was very reluctant.  We opened the door and my shy little boy grabbed my hand and said, “Mom.  I’m scared.”  It nearly broke my heart, because when I looked into his eyes, I saw the fear.  He didn’t know what to expect, even though I prepped him days in advance, saying that Dr. Tim only wanted to count his teeth.

I filled out the required paperwork, and gave the receptionist the school district medical forms for Dr. Tim to fill out (which was the reason for this first visit.  The 4K program requires a dental exam).  The we waited patiently for our turn.

Dawson occupied himself with the kid’s area.  He found the Legos and began constructing weapons of mass destruction.  He’s in a gun phase right now.  Everything in his path can be converted into a gun, and Dawson is all about pretending to be a police officer or FBI agent and arresting and shooting the bad guys.  It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him that guns can be dangerous and that we do not go around shooting anyone, he still makes little gunshot noises and tells me that he had to shoot the bad guy because the bad guy shot first.  I really hope he outgrows this phase soon.  (And my husband tells me this is normal, that it’s a typical 5-year-old boy “thing”…)

The hygienist called us back shortly after that, and she led the way to the exam room with the television in it.  She asked Dawson which cartoons he liked best, and of course, my son tells her Spongebob.  She managed to find an episode for him to watch, and then began warming up to Dawson.  She asked if she could put the dental bib around his neck, and showed him how she fastened the clips.  Then Dr. Tim came in.

Dr. Tim commented on Dawson’s Lightning McQueen shoes and made other kid friendly small talk.  Dawson was still a bit apprehensive, but he agreed to let Dr. Tim count his teeth.  I was so impressed with my son.  He opened his mouth when asked, and listened to what the dentist had to say.  Occasionally he’d put his hands to his face, which is what he does when he’s shy and wants to hide; but he didn’t cry and he didn’t have a meltdown like I expected.  I realized in that moment that I hadn’t given my little boy enough credit.  He was very cooperative.

Dr. Tim and I went to high school together, so I felt very calm and comfortable with the procedure because I’ve known him for several years.  He told me he would try to clean Dawson’s teeth, but then he changed his mind when he saw that Dawson had four (yes, four!) cavities.  I felt so awful because I help Dawson brush his teeth every morning and every night.

But Dr. Tim assured me the cavities weren’t due to eating excess sugars or sweets, and that each cavity only had “limited decay” meaning they weren’t as bad as some of the cavities he’s seen in his practice.  He explained that children have weaker enamel than adults, and they eat more frequently at that age, which means more sugars are deposited on the teeth.  Also, he said, Dawson has tighter spacing between teeth making it harder to floss and the cavities he had were between his teeth.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him we don’t push the flossing unless we want to lose a finger.  Dawson is not so keen on fingers in his mouth.

Our dentist referred us to a pediatric dentist to fix the cavities, because he didn’t feel that Dawson was ready for convential dentistry just yet, and because kids remember traumatic events, he didn’t want to make the experience a negative one.  A pediatric dentis would meet with our son first, and then decided which method was best for our son’s personality.  That was very reassuring.  Our next appointment is in three weeks with the new dentist.  Once Dawson is more confortable with going to the dentist, Dr. Tim would be happy to have him as a patient.

Our dentist visit was easy compared to the rest of the day.  Dawson has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow afternoon (also required before he can go to school) and when I was looking in his medical file, I noticed he is due for his 5-year-old immunizations this September 16th (his birthday).

Since the school district requires that these be completed before he can attend his first day of school, I called the doctor’s office and asked if they could give him the shots at tomorrow’s appointment instead of making me wait until after his birthday.

The receptionist was a pain in the ass.  She told me they may or may not be able to immunize, that it depends on several factors.  I asked what those factors might be.

“Well, some of the vaccines can only be given after the child has turned five years old,” she told me.

I explained that Dawson would be five in less than 21 days, and asked if it was really going to be that big of a deal to give him the four required shots early.

“You’ll have to speak to the doctor about that,” she said.

I asked to speak to Dr. Reed or her nurse and was told she was unavailable.  I asked for a call-back and was told they may not be able to call me until tomorrow.  His appointment is tomorrow, I told her, and she didn’t seem to care.  Then I asked if she could at least write in his medical chart that I preferred to have immunizations done at tomorrow’s appointment.  She sighed and told me she’d have to order the file from upstairs and because I was calling in the middle of the day, it might not get down to the office in time.  I was starting to get really frustrated.

I just don’t understand what the big fat deal is.  All this run-around over 21 days?  For the love of Earth, he needs four simple vaccinations!

When I told Doug what happened he was miffed.  We agreed they were probably trying to make one appointment into two appointments so that they could bill more money to our insurance.  It’s a freaking crock.  I am so upset.  I think I may call again first thing tomorrow morning to try this again.  I refused to come back next month when they can damn well complete everything tomorrow.

The rest of the day was just nuts.  Dawson was very demanding while I was trying to get work done.  He wouldn’t stop talking, whining, running, jumping, yelling, and harrassing the dog.  I cannot tell you how many times I said the words, “Leave! The Dog! Alone!”

The boy just wouldn’t listen.  And then!  THEN! He spilled water on my laptop when he was running around the living room like a screaming banshee. I freaked out, yelled at him and then realized the laptop was closed, so no real damage was done.  But seriously?  I was pissed.  More mad than ever, especially because I told him to settle down several times.

Dawson was crying.  I was crying.  Then he told me he didn’t think I loved him anymore.  I cried harder.  I told him I loved him more than he would ever know, and that sometimes mommies get mad when little boys don’t listen, and that doesn’t mean we don’t love our little boys.  He said he was sorry.  I said I was sorry.  Then we hugged.

It was just one of those insane days.  I really hope tomorrow is better.