Secondary Pneumonia and Up and Down Emotions
It seems like most everyone I know is sick these days, adults and children included, so when Ari woke up one day with a barking cough, I wasn't surprised when the doctor told us it was croup again. Only this time, he didn't want to take his croup medication (the steroids they prescribed him to reduce inflammation in his lungs) and his cough lingered. We tried everything to get that medication into him: "Ari, if you take your medicine you get a cookie!" "NO MEDICINE!" He screamed We attempted to force feed it to him. This resulted in him wearing his medicine on his shirt and all over his face. It was bright pink and slimy, not a good luck. When we force fed him Children's Advil, he was purple-faced; also unattractive.Finally, Wil figured out that the only way to get him to take his medicine was to mix it in chocolate milk. This worked out well. Unfortunately, Ari wasn't getting better. His cough persisted as did his 102 fever. He was also noticeably lethargic. We were really concerned about him and worried about him transmitting his virus to Samara as well, so Wil took him back to the doctor [...]
Thomas, A Grinch, and Wilhelm The Assembly Man
My dear friend Ms. Katie Grinch stopped by to meet Samara the other day. Grinchy and I have known each other for 10 years. Wow! When I type that out it feels rather impressive. She works in publishing, so she came bearing exciting books for both Ari and Samara. She also brought a onesie for the baby with her publishing company's logo on it that read "Future Reader."After she held Samara and hung out with Ari, we decided to go out for a walk, get our eyebrows waxed, and stop in a local toy store to pick up a Thomas Train for Ari. Once we set foot in the store, however, my original plan to purchase one train went out the window. You see, in this particular toy store they have a wooden Thomas train table with an elaborate set up featuring up hill bridges and multiple loop-de-loops.I asked one of the ladies in the store if they sold the Thomas Train table they have on display."Yes, we do! But we also have one from Melissa & Doug which is half the price!" She boasted.Though I just got my tax refund, I liked the idea of spending less money, so [...]
I’ll Just Pick
My parents have a joke about food. The story goes that they went out to eat, my dad ordered something, meanwhile (when asked what she wanted) my mom replied:"I'm not that hungry, I'll just pick."This meant that she would snack on whatever struck her fancy on my dad's plate.Whenever I nurse Samara I think about this anecdote. My daughter could happily snack on my boob all day.She nurses for a minute, then passes out like she's worked an 18 hour shift at a construction site.What a life! The way she eats is so different from the way Ari used to nurse. He was glued to my boobs, and would have stayed latched on to to one breast for hours. Meanwhile, this young lady is having hors d'oeuvres, taking a breather, coming back for the main course minutes later, taking another short interlude and then demanding creme brulee.She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to ask for it. I hope she leaves me at least a 20 % tip.
A Shoeless Day At The Library
I was at the library today with Ari. I'm not quite sure how we managed to get there. It was treacherous outside with sheets of icy rain and streets that were covered with sleet and snow. Despite the weather, we boarded the train and took it to the library. We arrived at the library and read some books. Ari refused to remove his coat or hat, but happily took off his boots. He stood there in wet socks smiling at me."Ari, you have to put your boots on," I said already feeling exhausted."NO!" He retorted glaring at me.Since he was unwilling to put his boots back on by himself, I mentally prepared myself to take matters into my own hands. I grabbed him, while he kicked and screamed, and I attempted to shove his boots onto his feet. But my exhaustion level was so high, that he was easily able to slip out of my grasp. While he was wailing, a mother with her young daughter was sitting next to me on the library floor, staring judgmentally. Meanwhile, I was just trying to clothe my child.There were a few nannies sitting across from me watching as well. I made eye [...]
“I A Baby!”
I was somewhat mentally prepared for Ari to regress once Samara was born. Many people told me tales of how their own children regressed. Some kids used the pacifier after seeing the new baby use one, other children threw tantrums due to the lack of attention being bestowed upon them.Here's how Ari has been behaving since the arrival of his little sister: He throws monster tantrumsHe screams "Goo Goo Ga Ga!" When I say to him "Babies say Goo Goo Ga Ga, you're a big boy." He yells back"NO! I a BABY!" I say "Are you a baby because babies get attention?" "Yeah." He replies with his little head down. I hug and kiss him and cry.He says "I miss you mommy." I say, misty eyed, "I miss you too." It is heart-breaking.I tried to buy him a baby doll. Many people suggested this could help him adjust to the new baby. We were in a toy store and I said to him "Look at this baby! This is Ari's baby. Do you want to take this baby home?" "NO!" He replied firmly. I didn't want to force the issue.He hits me when he wants attention. Sometimes I pretend to [...]
Sleep is An Urban Legend
When I had Ari, two and a half ago years ago, I told myself I was never going to sleep again. What did I know? I was a new parent, I'd heard babies didn't let you sleep because they constantly needed something or other, to be changed, held, fed and all that jazz.I didn't like being deprived of sleep, but I knew that was part of the deal. Two and a half years later here is my reward for not sleeping:Unfortunately, Ari has had some major sleep issues over the past six months. Read more about his insomnia here.Those sleep issues have just gotten a whole lot worse because of this new arrival:The lady pictured above, Ari's sister Samara (1 week old), fascinates him to no end. Now he doesn't want to sleep because he's afraid to miss out on helping with the baby. When Samara cries Ari says cute things like "Don't worry, Ari's here!"I'm thrilled that Ari wants to be actively involved in his little sister's life, but frustrated by his lack of sleep.Here's where you come in, dear readers:What I know:--Newborns, inherently, have a lack of routine. They may sleep two hours or four hours, depending on [...]
Exciting Event of the Day
How she feels about it:
Behavioral Interpretation Please!
I was checking my email, Samara was napping and Ari was frolicking about playing with his toys. All of a sudden, he zooms by me and I notice that he is completely naked and laughing his head off."Where is your diaper?" - Me"I don't know!" -Ari - Cackles uncontrollably"Did you take it off?" -Me"Yeah!" -AriHe proceeds to run naked throughout the house and refuses to wear a diaper or underwear. I ask him if he wants to use the potty and he confidently spouts "No please!""Mommy!" -Ari"Yes?" - Me"I went poopie." -Ari"Where did you poop?" - Me"Right there!" Ari - points to the hallwayAt this point I check the hallway prepared for the worst. There is a puddle of pee in the hallway. I clean it up.He declines a diaper for the next hour. Eventually, Wil cajoles him into wearing Toy Story pull ups.What does it all mean?
Ari-isms About Samara
Here are some funny/cute things Ari has said about Samara so far. I have no brain right now, and I'm sure in a year or two I'll forget all of this, so why not record it now!1. "Samara's gotta eat you, Mommy!" At first I thought Ari was upset about Samara nursing, but it turns out that she has GOT to "eat me" according to my observant son.2. "I want Samara!" Whenever Samara leaves the room to be changed or take a nap, Ari gets emotional (sad or angry) and wants to be with her. It's very cute.3. "It's okay Samara, Ari's here!" He proclaims as he rubs her head.4. "Samara's crying. HE want Grandma!" Despite the improper pronoun use (he calls Samara "he" all the time) Ari believes that Grandma needs to hold Samara to comfort her.I'm sure there will be more Ari-isms to come!
One Minute At a Time
After I had Samara, and was recovering in the hospital, I started to freak out. How could I love two kids? How could I handle both their needs at the same time. Thoughts were racing through my brain at an uncontrollable pace. My anxiety was compounded by the fact that I wasn't yet producing breast milk, only colostrum, and she was feeding frequently and getting frustrated shortly after latching on. She would eat for a few seconds and then scream. I felt like a failure. I had nursed Ari for a year, what was going on with this baby?At some point, my OB's partner in her practice came to visit me. I told him about my nursing frustration, he said:"Just remember, her stomach is the size of a grape right now, she's not going to starve." I started to use this mantra when I got upset about nursing: size of a grape, size of a grape. I was extremely emotional about Ari. I was afraid if I loved this new baby, Ari would somehow disappear or not love me anymore. I was holding him and crying. Remember much of this was based on the fact that my hormones were throwing [...]
Unintentional Natural Childbirth
On Saturday morning, I knew I'd had enough. I'd been having contractions all week long that led to nowhere. I'd been in constant pain, and sometimes for 6-8 hours at a time. So I called my midwife. I told her I couldn't take it anymore. She said she totally understood, and that she fully supported my decision. I decided to schedule a labor induction with my old OB, the one that delivered Ari.I emailed my OB and told her the situation. She emailed me right back and told me to come to the hospital that day and they would induce me.I got to the hospital and, as it turned out, I was having contractions that were 5-7 minutes apart for 35 seconds long. But the nurses determined they were due to dehydration, not labor. So they tried to send me home."Please, please don't send me home!" I begged them. "I can't take it anymore. Please can you induce my labor? I'm miserable. I can't care for my son properly. I can't sleep. Please.""Sorry, but you're 38 weeks and 4 days, we can't induce you until you're 39 weeks. There are women with four children in your situation," the nurse said [...]