Distractions

Behold the cuteness!

2006-08-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Abbot and Nobody

2006-07-27T14:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was trying to tell Brian that I heard a Bjork song that wasn’t weird, and that, in turn, made it weird.

The conversation got silly and confusing, so he threw in “Who’s on first?”

I said “I don’t know.”

And he didn’t say “Third base!”

And he says he didn’t leave me hanging. Which, clearly, he did. Don’t you agree?

Weekend Recap

2006-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

We took Noelle to a birthday party Saturday morning. It was at a place with a room full of those Jupiter Jump things. She had so much fun and completely wore herself out. We’re definitely having her next birthday party there, that place was fantastic! They take care of everything so the parents can actually relax & enjoy the party too. Big pat on the back to whoever thought of opening that place.

I went to a wedding reception for my friend Matt on Saturday afternoon (he’s who I traveled to see take the plunge about three weeks ago) and met up with an old friend from high school there. It was a blast seeing her again & hopefully we’ll keep in touch. It was like there hadn’t been one day since the last time we saw each other. I love those kinds of friends.

Yesterday we went with some friends to eat at the “new Casa Bonita” – Casa Viva. The kids had fun I think. The food was exactly the same. Not stellar, but I didn’t spit it out either. I don’t think that’s the reason people go there anyway. It’s got to be the fake thunderstorm & bird noises coming from behind the blindingly colorful walls. It’s certainly not for the merry-go-round anymore since they took it out. Eh – I could take it or leave it.

After lunch, Noelle & I went to my parents’ house because my favorite sister was in town. We didn’t have a very long visit because she had to get on the road, but we’ll take what we can get when she’s here! We went home at about seven & played for a little while before getting Noelle into bed. Then Brian & I had ice cream for dinner and watched some tv before I started nodding off & had to go to bed myself.

When I got up this morning, Brian had done the dishes, cleaned out the fridge, and put gas in my car. I’ve got to remember to thank him for all of that. He’s the best!

And now here I am back at work. Lovely Monday. But I’ve got drunko tonight to look forward to. Yay!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Humdrum?

2006-06-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

I’m leaving soon for an out of town wedding! Getting on a real plane, to go on a real trip, and out of my house! WOOHOO!!! I’m so excited!

I really must start getting out more. I get so in a rut of going home, eating, playing with Noelle & going to bed shortly after she does. I’m wasting daylight! I don’t know what I should be doing, but I shouldn’t be cooped up in the house all the time, no wonder I’m pasty.

Maybe we should start doing dinner picnics. That sounds like fun, and Noelle would love it. You can only go out to eat or shopping so much before that gets old too.

I don’t want to resign myself to the fact that I’m just boring old Mom now. I shouldn’t have to. But between working all day & trying to keep up with Noelle, the house, bills, etc., etc., I guess that’s what I’ve become. I love being a mom, but I want to be a better one. Are there things I should be doing for/with her that I’m not doing? I don’t want to be boring old Mom in Noelle’s eyes.

If anybody can think of fun (cheap) things for us to do, let me know. Until I come up with something new, I’ll try to think of ways to glamorize what we already do.

Hmmmm….. After we arrive home from our days out in the world, we have fabulous meals in the comfort of our own home, with two dogs playfully begging at our feet. Following that, we play and laugh together in the family room, or out in the sun until the stars just begin to show themselves. Then we all go inside, Noelle has a bath, then it’s time for books, snuggling, and crawling into bed, where sweet dreams and soft dolls await her. Brian and I spend some nice, quality, quiet time together, before we’re ready to drift off to sleep ourselves, resting completely before we repeat the entire thing tomorrow.

Actually that doesn’t sound half bad.

>:-(

2006-06-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

@*&!!&amp;#% )*@#*#^# #)$# &*@#($ tampons!

GRRRRR......

Side note: Why on earth did that one mess of a word make a link?! It opens my email. Does it do that to you?

The things we do...

2006-06-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Monday night I was at Kohl’s and bought Noelle a little stuffed turtle – Vern, from the movie Over the Hedge. I gave it to her Tuesday morning and she was instantly smitten. We sent him with her to the babysitter, where she gave him food & drinks, covered him up for naps, and carried him everywhere.

When I picked her up that afternoon, I noticed that Vern had a couple of holes in his belly, one where the stuffing was poking out. Then, the string on his mouth started to come out and Noelle was devastated. Apparently I’d bought a defective turtle & I thought I’d just fix the problems when we got him home.

When we did get home she was so upset that I couldn’t have taken him away from her to fix him. (Did I mention the lack of nap that day? I think that may have had just a tiny bit to do with such a big production.)

So – we told her we’d take him to the turtle doctor. Brian, Noelle, Vern, & I loaded up in the car and headed to Kohl’s. She kept saying “Take him to the doptor!”, “Go take him to the doptor!”. And she gave him hugs & kisses. Then she fell asleep. (Thankfully, otherwise I don’t know how I would’ve taken Vern away from her for the turtle trade-out.)

So I went in and inspected five or six other turtles to find perfection. I finally found it and took them both to the “doctor” at the check out counter. This doctor was a guy about 20, who had on more makeup than Boy George out for a night with Beetlejuice. It’s a good thing this turtle was stuffed. We made the switch & I got back out of there.

Noelle woke up when we got home, but she was so sleepy & out of it she had no idea about Vern & the turtle doctor that works at Kohl’s. She did, however, remember when she woke up this morning. She was so happy “Vern is all better!” that she hugged and kissed him, and she nearly had to wear her pjs today because she wouldn’t put him down to change her clothes.

This is, so far, the oddest thing I’ve done as a mom. (Maybe preparing me for a real fish swap later?) It’s also one of my favorite stories ever.

Smiling

2006-05-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

You know what's funny? Watching your kid try to make a weeble lay down and take a nap.

:)

Complaint Department

2006-05-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

My stomach is very sore.

I did not go to sleep last night until 5 AM.

There is nothing on tv between 3 & 5 in the morning.

I am home alone, which, while great in some ways, is quite boring since I can't really do anything.

There is so much to do around the house, and all I can do is sit and look at it. (Yeah, that was kind of a repeat of the last one.)

I didn't get to see Noelle yesterday. Decided it was best to avoid any possibilities of being trampled on, even if it was for a hug. Baby kiss withdrawls!

Ok, that's enough. I'll try to think of some better things to post later.

Filet O'Me

2006-05-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

Can't talk today. Am getting poked, prodded, scraped, sliced, & searched at the outpatient surgery center. Somebody eat something for me. I'm starving!

Twiddling My Thumbs

2006-05-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Today my focus is fuzzy and my motivation stayed home.

I can't seem to concentrate on anything at all today. I keep moving papers back and forth on my desk because I can't stay with any of them long enough to complete the task attached.

Anybody else having a long day? How the heck are you getting through it?

I'm trying to think of something else to post so I'll be busy for a few more minutes, but of course my mind is blank.

I think I need a nap.

FORE!!!!

2006-05-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

I'm playing in a golf tournament today. I just hit a golf ball for the first time on Sunday. I should've sold tickets to this show.

Not Very Deep Thoughts

2006-04-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

I’m really not sure how people update these things daily. I was doing ok there for a while, but lately, not so much. Oh well.

So there have been random thoughts going through my head, but I haven’t thought them through enough to make whole posts about them. Since that’s the case, this is all you get…

--Emily’s birthday was Saturday. Happy Dirtday again, Em! (I’m trying to stretch it out for you.) Go over & tell her yourself!

--How on earth was it 90 degrees last week and today I’m wearing a coat? I love Oklahoma. Really.

--Has anyone else noticed that 95% of the people singing children’s songs (on tv, cds, whatever) can NOT sing? At all. They really wanted to be “musicians” but this is the only outlet that would accept them. I’m not saying I could do any better, but I’m not subjecting anyone to any of my screeching. Seriously, some of them are worse than fingernails on a chalkboard.

--Do you think that if I gave my whiny dog some of my happy pills he would stop whining all the freakin’ time? I’m starting to think he’s part of the reason I need the happy pills. Ok, maybe not. But still…STOP ALREADY!

--I’m growing my hair out. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stand it, but I am. I was bored with it & couldn’t think of anything else to do to it, but it’s really starting to feel like an afro with all these curls. Thank goodness I’m going for a trim on Tuesday. It needs help!

--This morning Noelle wanted to put her rain boots on. There is this song she likes that spells out the word boots. Usually it comes out “B-O-O-O-O BOOTS!” or “B-O-O-B-S BOOTS!” Today it was “B-O-B-S RAIN BOOTS!” She’s wearing Bob’s rain boots. I don’t know Bob, but if he saw how cute she was, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.

--Brian is traveling again in a couple of weeks. It’s weird when he’s gone. Once Noelle goes to bed I don’t know what to do with myself. Not that we usually do much of anything once she’s asleep, but there’s no one to talk to when he’s not there.

--I’ve eaten at Ted’s twice since it opened! YAAAY!! Even though the wait was about an hour & a half the first time & 45 minutes the second time I can’t wait to go again.

Ok, maybe I should stop now. I have more thoughts, but this could’ve been a whole week’s worth of posts. Maybe I’ll save the others for that. Hope everybody is having a good week!

Two Years

2006-03-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

Note: I intended to post this on Saturday, but with all the festivities I just didn't. :)

Two years ago today I wasn’t sure what was happening. Two years ago I was scared. Two years ago I was happy. And hopeful. Unprepared and ready.

Two years ago life changed forever.

Two years ago I met her:

6 Days

I don’t have any idea what I was using all my spare time on before she came along. I sang a lot less. Danced a lot less.

3 months

Balanced things on my head a lot less. Played peek-a-boo a lot less.

6 months

I washed less dishes and did less laundry.

9 months

I tickled less and chased less.

1 year

I slept more and saw more movies.

15 months

Now I splash more and clap more.

18 months

I swing more & smile more.

21 months

I laugh more. And worry more (but about more important things).

2 years

I listen more, watch more, hug more, wonder more, kiss more feet, wash more bellies, make more silly faces, teach more, learn more, and love more than two years ago.

I wouldn’t trade one second of the last two years for anything in the world.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Noelle. I love you, sweet pea.

This week's big debate

2006-03-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

Brian has been trying (unsuccessfully) for the last week to convince me that a pair of his socks are dress socks. I insist that he is crazy and that they are not. They are most definitely athletic socks and he does not know what he is talking about.

His argument:

1) They are scratchy inside.
2) They are off white.
3) They just are.

My counter (which is longer, and also right):

1) They are a little scratchy. (If he thinks that all dress socks are scratchy, then we really need to get him some new dress socks.)
2) Dingy is not the new beige.
3) No they are not.
4) They are too thick to be dress socks, therefore, they will not fit into dress shoes.
5) They say Nike across the top. Which is ribbed. Not for my pleasure.
6) Again, no they are not.

Behold the socks in question:

Exhibit A

I think the evidence is clear. You may tell him he’s crazy if you wish. I would find that extremely funny.

Sick in the Head

2006-03-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

Since we haven't been to the ER/Urgent Care enough in the last few weeks we decided to take another trip there this weekend. Me again.

The infamous migraines are back. I got one last Monday night & couldn't get rid of it. It just kept getting worse & worse until I finally couldn't take it anymore. So on Saturday my parents came to get Noelle & Brian took me to get a shot. Lovely. I hadn't had a bad one in so long I was hoping they were just gone forever. Wishful thinking I guess.

I know one bad one doesn't mean that they're back to the same frequency and intensity that they were before, but right now, still somewhat coming out of the drug induced haze, I don't have high hopes. I have kind of missed the neurologist, she's a very nice lady, but I would rather run into her at a restaurant or something. I'm not going to see her yet, but I'm not ruling out a future visit either.

I'm just frustrated. How can I go so long without having one to having such a bad one out of the blue? I don't want to have to get on all the preventative medicines & pain pills again. Yeah, yeah, it helps, but they add up too. $$

I know, I'm thinking of the worst case scenario, it's what I do.

Ok, enough about that. How was everyone else's weekend?

=====================================================

OH!! I forgot to tell you! I'm SOOO EXCITED!! I just found out that they're building a Ted's Cafe Esconditos in Broken Arrow & it may be open pretty soon! If you've never eaten there, it's only the best Mexican food in the whole wide world. Ok, Oklahoma anyway. The tortillas are like little pieces of heaven! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Dead Rabbits

2006-03-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

Rabbit Test

The term rabbit test dates to 1949 and is a reference to an early form or pregnancy test. In the 1920s, researchers discovered a hormone dubbed human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that could be found in the urine of pregnant women. Unable to test for this hormone directly, they discovered in 1927 that if a female rabbit was injected with urine containing hCG (don't ask me who first thought of doing this, I don't think I want to know), the rabbit's ovaries would display distinct changes after a few days. Hence, the rabbit test was born, the term following a couple of decades later.

A common misconception is that that the rabbit died if the woman was pregnant. Actually, the rabbit always died as the laboratory had to kill the animal to examine the ovaries (later on techniques were developed to spare the life of the rabbit--after which the rabbit never died). But because of this misconception the phrase the rabbit died entered the vocabulary as a euphemism for a positive pregnancy test.

Modern pregnancy tests still operate on the same principle, testing for hCG. But the use of a rabbit is no longer required.

Source: http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorr.htm

I’d never heard that expression before in my life until I got pregnant. At my first doctor’s appointment he came in accusing us of killing a rabbit. We looked at him like he was Marvin the Martian.

I heard Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion this morning. I’ve heard it a gazillion times before, but for some reason that just clicked this morning. “Can’t catch me ‘cause the rabbit done died.” Sounds to me like someone was trying to run from their responsibilities.

Then there’s Elmer Fudd. All that time spent hunting that wabbit. All he really ever wanted was an heiw to his thwone.

And Glenn Close? That rabbit died alright, but she was just psychocrazycruel.

Croup

2006-02-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

We can now add this to the list of milestones passed. Or passing soon. Hopefully...

Turning Japanese

2006-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Joan Jett is turning Japanese, I really think so.

The other night we ate dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Overhead came a song that sent me into fits of laughter. It was a male version of "I Hate Myself for Loving You", sung in Japanese. I had visions of a Japanese, male Joan Jett in my head and found it uproariously funny.

I wish I could share the picture with you, I think you'd laugh too.

P.S. Sorry if the Turning Japanese song is stuck in your head now. If it's any consolation I can't get it out of mine either. Try to think of that other one up there, it's slightly less annoying.

February has not been good to me so far....

2006-02-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

First off, I have to say that we got our Christmas tree down on Jan. 31st. That’s one day later than last year. I was sure hoping it had been earlier so I could say it was a new record. Only I wanted to say it was a new record for how early we took it down, not how late.

Anyway…on with February…

On the first I started getting a cold. Not the end of the world, but certainly not welcomed.

On the second I went to the doctor and started taking a new anxiety pill. I hadn’t taken anything for a while, but I just couldn’t stand the anxious feeling anymore. This pill made me feel so sick I could hardly sit up. So, not only do I have a cold, and that nervous-butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling, I also now want to throw up for three solid days.

On the third, I had to go back to the doctor’s office for some labwork I hadn’t planned on and therefore hadn’t fasted for the day before. That afternoon I called the doctor to say I could NOT take that medicine she prescribed, could I PLEASE go back to the old one that used to work for me? They’ll get samples and a prescription, but the doctor is not in on Fridays.

On the sixth, the doctor’s office calls, we don’t have samples – wait – yes we do. But we don’t have a prescription ready for you. We’ll call you.

On the seventh, haven’t heard from the doctor’s office so call to check on things myself. Yes! It’s here! You can come pick it up any time. Go to pick it up – its samples – no prescription. Wait for several minutes in the waiting room for office person to talk to doctor. It’s not ready yet, sorry for the inconvenience, blah, blah, blah, you’ll have to come back. Stop at Sonic on the way back to work. While I’m eating, the doctor’s office calls. Your prescription is ready! Cannot leave work twice in one day for a little jaunt across town. Maybe I can make it tomorrow.

On the ninth, finally make it back to the doctor’s office to get the prescription. Hopefully that’s the last trip to the doctor this week.

That same night at about 8:30 we were just hanging around the house, playing with Noelle. She likes to play on our bed & pretend she’s asleep and she likes to flop on the pillows. We also pretend we’re asleep and she wakes us up. Cheap entertainment that produces many, many baby giggles.

So we’re playing this game and I’m pretending to be asleep. Next thing that happens – CRACK!! She had decided instead of waking me up, to flop on the pillows. Only she missed the pillows and landed on my face. That crack? Was my nose.

I’m just laying there holding my nose. Brian had grabbed Noelle off of me and was trying to see if I was ok. I’d started crying because my nose HURT! I jumped up off the bed because I was afraid I was getting blood everywhere. Ran to the bathroom to look. Strangely there was no blood, but a huge bump on the side of my nose. A huge hard bump. Was that my crooked nose staring back at me?

Brian is saying we need to go to the ER and I’m still wandering around the house trying to figure out what just happened. He gets me a bag of ice & I’m now walking blindly around the house trying to see around the bag and the towel. I decide the ER is probably a good idea. I call my parents to see if they can meet us and take Noelle home with them. Of course they can, they’ll meet us there.

We get there and all go in together. Go to the check in desk. Yeah, your nose looks a little crooked. Yes, thank you, that’s why I’m here. Go sit down to wait for our turn behind the bajillions of people who have beaten us there. It’s true. The freaks DO come out at night.

So I go back, they get vitals, I come back out. They come get me for X-rays, I go back out. Finally I go back to see the doctor. Yes, it’s broken. We will not, however, have to torture you and put it back where it belongs, it should heal just fine on its own. But just in case it doesn’t, here is the number of an ear, nose & throat doctor who will be able to fix you later. Oh, and here is a prescription for an illegal substance.

So at 2 am, we finally get home, I take my illegal substance and crawl into bed.

And now? I have a very sore nose, and a cold, which I probably got from stewing in the infestation that was the ER waiting room.

What else could February possibly have in store for me? I’m really not sure if I want to know.

Stolen fun

2006-01-25T06:42:00.000-08:00

I stole this from Rude Cactus.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Melissa!

Only one person in two billion will live to be Melissa.
Only 55 percent of Americans know that the sun is made of Melissa.
There is actually no danger in swimming right after you eat Melissa, though it may feel uncomfortable.
If you cut Melissa in half and count the number of seeds inside, you will know how many children you are going to have.
If you toss Melissa 10000 times, she will not land heads 5000 times, but more like 4950, because her head weighs more and thus ends up on the bottom.
Japan provides over thirty percent of the world's Melissa supply.
Melissa is the world's smallest mammal!
Melissa is worth her weight in gold - literally.
Melissa is black with white stripes, not white with black stripes.
If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn into Melissa.

Go ahead and steal it from me!

(I entered my last name, just edited it out when I posted my results.)

The exciting reveal...

2006-01-23T08:39:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I took forever to come back and tell you what was in that picture. Sorry about that. I didn't figure anyone was too excited about it though. You would think it was chicken wouldn't you? But no, strangely it was not...

I know you could read that package without me pointing at it. I just wanted you to see how itty bitty they were. I was eating these one day, my father-in-law had gotten them on a flight, and thought they looked exactly like sesame chicken. So much so, that I called Emily and told her I had to take a picture so she could see them. Yes, my life is that dull.

So here they are Em. Well, and on that last post too. Geez...I have now had two posts, my only two posts in two weeks, devoted to funny looking walnuts. I must get out more.

Guess?

2006-01-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Do exactly that. Guess what this is and if anyone actually tries, then I'll let you know what it is.

Sorry Em. You're disqualified, you already know.

???

Just so I have a new post

2006-01-12T13:35:00.000-08:00

So I've heard that it's delurking week around the blogging world. I'd ask for my lurkers to speak up, except that I think that the four people who have ever been to this site commented on my last post, so that would be kind of silly.

Seems that I'm one of a jillion that loves to read what other people have to say, but don't have much to say back. I'm alright with that, but I think the delurking thing is cool. You might get a chance to meet some really cool people who you would never come in contact with otherwise.

I'm not very good at posting regularly, so I don't think I'd ever have a following like so many others do. I'm alright with that too. As long as you don't mind me lurking on your site, feel free to hang around here on the off chance I might update once in a while.

War Stories

2006-01-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

My worst day as a parent yet. The Saturday after Thanksgiving. Noelle was going to spend the day with her grandparents while Brian & I went to the OU-OSU game in Norman. Fun, right? Well, her grandpa ended up getting sick, so I decided to stay home with her because I didn’t want her to get what he had. I convinced Brian to go without me, we’d be fine, we’d just stay home and play. So off he went and play we did.

Until about 12:30. She got up and wandered into the other room and closed the door like she often does. I went to see what she was getting into and found her lying on her stomach on the floor. Weird. But I thought she was just tired, so I picked her up and took her to her room and told her she’d be more comfy in her bed. I left her there and had time to walk down the hall and sit on the couch before the blood-curdling screams started.

This wasn’t an “I don’t want to go to sleep now!” scream. I thought she had bashed her head open on the side of the crib or something. It was an urgent, painful, scary cry. I went back in there to see what was wrong and she had thrown up all over herself and the crib. She was so freaked out and didn’t know what was going on, then it happened again. She was scared to death and I was trying to figure out how that much liquid came out of such a tiny person. I ripped her shirt off and got her out of the soup and she just kept screaming and screaming. I pulled off all her sheet & blanket and went to throw them in the washing machine, just to get them out of her room. In the meantime she’s wandering around the house screaming. I think she must’ve been looking for Brian, she’s a daddy’s girl.

I ran after her & scooped her up and told her it was ok. She finally calmed down, I got her some clean clothes & we sat down to watch one of her shows. I thought that might help her feel better. It did for about half and hour when she got sick again. And then the screaming started again.

I called Brian I think right after the game started and asked him if he could come home right after the game. Of course that would still be over two hours afterward, probably a lot longer considering the traffic they’d run into getting out of Norman. So pretty much I asked him if he could come right home about six hours from then. My parents were in Texas still for the holiday and Brian’s dad was sick and I figured his mom was taking care of him, so I tried to stick it out by myself with my poor sick baby. I had a stack of towels waiting close by for the next wave of sickness, we’d be fine. I could do this, I’m the mom!

A couple of hours later I called Brian’s parents to see if one of them could come over. She was throwing up twice every half hour and all of the towels were in the washing machine. I couldn’t get the load started because every time I’d get out of the floor it seemed like an immediate signal for her stomach to explode. I hadn’t eaten since early that morning because I just couldn’t get up and leave her. Also…I really had to pee.

I must’ve sounded crazy because they both came over. Even though his dad was sick too. I think they kept me from going completely bonkers. I had been calling my mom all day, “Mom, she threw up again.” That’s all I had to tell her, I guess I just wanted her in on my misery. But with them there now I at least had someone to talk to in between the eruptions. Brian’s mom tried to help and hold her for a while, but Noelle wouldn’t get more than a couple of feet away from me for the rest of the day. Especially right before she got sick. She’d run over to me crying and make it just in time for me to get a towel out. She also started to recognize what getting the towel meant and was a little afraid of them I think.

I had called the doctor earlier and left a message on their service, it being a HOLIDAY WEEKEND and all. (Why do these thing always happen at the worst possible times?) But at 7:00 she was still throwing up every half hour. She couldn’t keep the tiniest sip of water down and I was afraid she was getting dehydrated. She’d gotten rid of the last bits of her lunch a long, long time ago. I called the doctor service back and asked for the doctors to please call me. I love Noelle’s doctors. They are so, so nice. They had the same concern I did about the dehydration and told me to call the Pediatric Urgent Care at St. Francis Hospital and get her in as soon as I could.

I called at 7:30 and we were out the door. Brian’s parents were wonderful and drove us there and stayed the entire time. At 8:00 when we pulled into the parking lot she threw up again. There were only two other kids in the whole place so we got in pretty quickly. They weighed Noelle and we went in to wait for the doctor. This one was just as great as the ones we usually see. He decided she’d need an IV and fluids since she’d been throwing up for so long.

Two nurses came in and wrapped her up in a blanket (burrito style, like when she was just born) to hold her right arm and legs in while they put an IV in her left hand. I held her head & right arm while one nurse held her legs and the other nurse put in the needle. It was horrible. She was so exhausted from being so sick all day, but she used her last bit of strength to scream and squirm all through that awful experience.

They moved us into another room & allowed Brian’s parents to come with us. They hooked her up to the IV (with something extra in it to stop the vomiting) & I sat with her in my lap in the rocking chair in there. I think she went through two bags of fluid and three or four popsicles before she started getting her color back and being Noelle again.

Brian finally got there at about 10:45, shortly before the last bag of fluid emptied. We were all exhausted and starving since we hadn’t had time for dinner. We stopped for McDonald’s & all went back to our house to eat. Noelle had fallen asleep on the way home but I couldn’t stand to have her in those clothes she’d pretty much trashed throughout the day. I laid her in the floor and got her pjs on. She barely even moved. I think it was about 12:30. We laid her in bed and after that I guess we crashed too. That part I don’t remember.

The next day we had to take her back to the urgent care because they thought they’d want to draw more blood. When the doctor checked her out he decided she was a-ok and let us go. We went home and were all still pretty worn out. And for the first time since Noelle could roll/crawl/walk/run away from us, she let us sit and hold her. We laid on the couch all day and watched movies. We all needed to recover, and I was still a little jumpy with the towels, which she didn’t appreciate.

But I felt like I was a good mom. I’d weathered the first real sickness and she was fine. I was there when she needed me and I took care of her. Throughout that entire day I kept thinking “I can’t do this, I can’t do this!” But I did. And I’m sure I’ll think the same thing next time because there is nothing worse than watching your baby be sick.

For a few days after all of this Noelle wouldn’t use her left arm for anything. She had a bruise on her left hand from the needle, and I’m sure it hurt but it was kind of funny. She would hold it up in the air and away from everything. She was like a baby bird with a wounded wing.

I know I didn’t know what all I’d signed up for when we decided to have a baby, and sure, there are things I’d really like to fast forward through. And I’m terrified of what all lies ahead. But it sure makes me proud of us when I think of what all we’ve already been through, if I do say so myself.

Quick note

2006-01-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a post, I swear. It's a long one, something you may not care about, but something I don't want to forget. I'll get it on here eventually!