I'm digressing a little from my standard blog about all things related to Aedan. I'm also putting you on notice that there will probably start to be more blogs diverging from just "mom" stuff frankly because I'm struggling with juggling all of the hats that I seem to be wearing. I love all of them, the big floppy ones, little fancy ones and even my new black engineer hat. You know I'm not talking about real hats, right? I mean except for the last one. Anyway...stay tuned for some other rambling sorts of posts.
Back to the reason for this post. I never ever thought I'd try it. I thought it would be really gross but I went to Walgreens and bought myself a neti pot. It's the strangest little thing. I have all kinds of allergy crap and basically can't even breathe or smell anything 90% of the time. What's pretty bad for Aedan is that I can't smell when he's got a really dirty diaper. I guess that could be a good thing but not when the little boy is sitting in it.
I'm on an antibiotic as we speak because of a sinus infection that I usually get around this time. My sister suggested I try the neti pot. Apparently her friend swears by it. Then I found out a few of my friends used it - who knew? So, I looked into it a little further, watched these weird videos on YouTube. People make videos about just anything... even pouring water up their nose to wash the snot out. Weird.
The neti pot. It's a little plastic tea pot looking thing that you fill with warm water and salt solution. You tip your head and put the spout in your nostril and pour away. I was expecting globs of gook to pour out. It didn't. The water you pour in comes out the other side. Very strange. Sometimes it goes down your throat but that's when you know you're not tipped enough. When you're done you blow your nose. I didn't expect a miracle but holy crap I could breathe! It was almost like that fresh clean feeling when you brush your teeth in the morning. The neti pot is like a toothbrush for your nose! It's strangely magical. I'm doing it twice a day now and will see how I feel at the end of the week. The neti pot is my new favorite thing. Never thought I'd say that about something that cleans the snot out of your head. But then again, I'm a pretty simple girl.
Reading to my Animals
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Day Six
We're on day six of ten on the super antibiotic and I think little boy is beginning to feel normal again. Pat and I on the other hand aren't there yet. We're tired, sleep deprived again. It's ok though because strange as it is you begin to figure out how to move along through the day in a zombie-like state when you've had days and days of no sleep. I've been told that this goes on for years. Well hooray for that! @$##!!!
The problem we're now finding is that Aedan's getting used to waking up a few times during the night, standing up in his crib (one of his latest tricks), going to end closest to his door and screaming at the top of his lungs...usually for me. I mean, Pat does get up to check on him and everything but he apparently only wants the boob. Come on boy! I'm not a 24-hour service station and you're almost 1! While he was really sick we of course were up with him, brought him into bed, I nursed him VERY frequently. But now, this little boy, has manipulated us into making a habit out of it.
Last night was our first night of trying to "break" him of the habit. We let him CIO which is heart breaking. I don't let it go on for too long b/c then I end up CIO. It worked last night. He was out in just a few minutes. The funny thing is that when he's standing in his crib and finally gives in to his tiredness, he doesn't know how to make his way to the other end and lie down. He basically collapses wherever he is. I went in to check on him after a few minutes of the best silence I've heard in days and there he was curled up in a little ball with his face planted in the side of the crib. After a little chuckle in my head I held my breath and placed him onto his back and stealthily escaped. He didn't wake up until 7:00 the next morning. Hurray! Another battle won.
Oh sleep how I love you. I guess you really don't know what ya got till it's gone.
The problem we're now finding is that Aedan's getting used to waking up a few times during the night, standing up in his crib (one of his latest tricks), going to end closest to his door and screaming at the top of his lungs...usually for me. I mean, Pat does get up to check on him and everything but he apparently only wants the boob. Come on boy! I'm not a 24-hour service station and you're almost 1! While he was really sick we of course were up with him, brought him into bed, I nursed him VERY frequently. But now, this little boy, has manipulated us into making a habit out of it.
Last night was our first night of trying to "break" him of the habit. We let him CIO which is heart breaking. I don't let it go on for too long b/c then I end up CIO. It worked last night. He was out in just a few minutes. The funny thing is that when he's standing in his crib and finally gives in to his tiredness, he doesn't know how to make his way to the other end and lie down. He basically collapses wherever he is. I went in to check on him after a few minutes of the best silence I've heard in days and there he was curled up in a little ball with his face planted in the side of the crib. After a little chuckle in my head I held my breath and placed him onto his back and stealthily escaped. He didn't wake up until 7:00 the next morning. Hurray! Another battle won.
Oh sleep how I love you. I guess you really don't know what ya got till it's gone.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Seems as though
Little boy has his first ear infection. I thought he was just teething. He's still teething but now with an ear infection. This does not make for a happy boy. Also, symptom of the ear infection is runny nose which little boy rubs and then rubs his eyes. Next comes conjunctivitis in his eyes. That's really gross. Now he has yellow snot dripping from his nose and eyes and I'm chasing him around every couple of minutes trying to clean the boogers off of him. He wakes up in the morning with caked on boogers all over his face.
He's on a strong antibiotic that should clear everything up...in ten days. What?
Other than the gross fluid coming from everywhere he's ok, well, aside from not sleeping and at 4 am running around the living room like a lunatic. I think he's delirious. I don't think he's getting enough oxygen to his brain because he can't breathe.
He's on a strong antibiotic that should clear everything up...in ten days. What?
Other than the gross fluid coming from everywhere he's ok, well, aside from not sleeping and at 4 am running around the living room like a lunatic. I think he's delirious. I don't think he's getting enough oxygen to his brain because he can't breathe.
Friday, March 20, 2009
I'm good with the 1
Ever since Pat and I even thought about trying to get pregnant for little boy we had many talks about how many kid(s) we'd like to have. It was 1 for a long time. Then maybe 2. Then back to 1. Definitely never more than 2. Then little boy was born and we had our 1.
Occasionally Pat or I will say randomly that we'd like to go for two. Many of you have heard about our 2 year re-evaluate plan. When Aedan turns 2 we'll re-evaluate the whole sibling to-do or not to-do. If it's a to-do, then we're giving ourselves a year to get pregnant, then another 9 months to have the baby. That way, Aedan will only be about 3 1/2 years older and just about ready for Pre-K. Daycare expenses will not be an issue b/c Aedan will be in school.
If it's the not to-do then something surgical will occur to either Pat or I (but I really think he should do it since I had my abdomen sliced open once already). I've been pretty solid on the 1 for quite some time now. Every once in awhile Pat will put a wrench in that thinking.
Here are a few of his wrenching scenarios:
Little boy is acting all sweet, giving us gooey kisses and hugs, laughing at us hysterically, chasing the dog. Pat chimes in..."We should probably have just one more. This is so much fun! He is so much fun!" I say, "Maybe. Let's re-evaluate in 2 years."
I'm in the kitchen, Pat walks in and says,
"So I was thinking...once we're dead and gone little boy won't have any siblings to be with. He'll be all alone. That is so sad. We should probably have another baby so he can have a sibling close to his age." I say, "That is sad. But hopefully, he'll be married with kids of his own so he won't be lonely." And, "Let's not plan for our death too soon, ok?"
The scenario that changes it all:
I put little boy to bed at 7:30. He wakes up at 9:00 SCREAMING bloody murder. I can't console him. He's screaming at me! His teeth are throbbing, he has a runny nose and is drooling everywhere. I am sick myself and tired. My nose is running on him. Pat comes downstairs, tries to help. He can't help. No one can help. He's helpless. Pat goes back upstairs.
I don't know if little boy has spoiled us with his good sleeping habits but every time we go through a night like that the thought of having a number 2 isn't even a possibility. I refuse to entertain the thought. I can't imagine that the end of teething marks the end of sleepless nights. With each new stage there's got to be another reason not to sleep, right? So, how do you forget about the exhaustion, sleep deprivation, frustration, feelings of inadequacy, worry, and get to, LET'S DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? I mean, the Dugger's on TLC did it like 18 times. WTH? That's lunacy! I just don't know that I have it in me. I mean, I give over 100% to the little human already. I think I might die if there were two of them and then...there would be two kids motherless! They'd be together but without a mother because I'd be dead. It goes back up to Pat's scenario about being alone without parents. "At least they'll have each other." ach!
(For today) I'm certain that 1 is good enough for us. I'm pretty sure I'm up for another bad night tonight so tomorrow my answer will be the same barring gooey kisses and snuggles in bed. Check back with me in a month or two (maybe by then his teeth will be in).
Disclaimer: this is all subject to change this afternoon, tomorrow or next week given I get proper sleep. I'm trying to work it out in my head.
Occasionally Pat or I will say randomly that we'd like to go for two. Many of you have heard about our 2 year re-evaluate plan. When Aedan turns 2 we'll re-evaluate the whole sibling to-do or not to-do. If it's a to-do, then we're giving ourselves a year to get pregnant, then another 9 months to have the baby. That way, Aedan will only be about 3 1/2 years older and just about ready for Pre-K. Daycare expenses will not be an issue b/c Aedan will be in school.
If it's the not to-do then something surgical will occur to either Pat or I (but I really think he should do it since I had my abdomen sliced open once already). I've been pretty solid on the 1 for quite some time now. Every once in awhile Pat will put a wrench in that thinking.
Here are a few of his wrenching scenarios:
Little boy is acting all sweet, giving us gooey kisses and hugs, laughing at us hysterically, chasing the dog. Pat chimes in..."We should probably have just one more. This is so much fun! He is so much fun!" I say, "Maybe. Let's re-evaluate in 2 years."
I'm in the kitchen, Pat walks in and says,
"So I was thinking...once we're dead and gone little boy won't have any siblings to be with. He'll be all alone. That is so sad. We should probably have another baby so he can have a sibling close to his age." I say, "That is sad. But hopefully, he'll be married with kids of his own so he won't be lonely." And, "Let's not plan for our death too soon, ok?"
The scenario that changes it all:
I put little boy to bed at 7:30. He wakes up at 9:00 SCREAMING bloody murder. I can't console him. He's screaming at me! His teeth are throbbing, he has a runny nose and is drooling everywhere. I am sick myself and tired. My nose is running on him. Pat comes downstairs, tries to help. He can't help. No one can help. He's helpless. Pat goes back upstairs.
I don't know if little boy has spoiled us with his good sleeping habits but every time we go through a night like that the thought of having a number 2 isn't even a possibility. I refuse to entertain the thought. I can't imagine that the end of teething marks the end of sleepless nights. With each new stage there's got to be another reason not to sleep, right? So, how do you forget about the exhaustion, sleep deprivation, frustration, feelings of inadequacy, worry, and get to, LET'S DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? I mean, the Dugger's on TLC did it like 18 times. WTH? That's lunacy! I just don't know that I have it in me. I mean, I give over 100% to the little human already. I think I might die if there were two of them and then...there would be two kids motherless! They'd be together but without a mother because I'd be dead. It goes back up to Pat's scenario about being alone without parents. "At least they'll have each other." ach!
(For today) I'm certain that 1 is good enough for us. I'm pretty sure I'm up for another bad night tonight so tomorrow my answer will be the same barring gooey kisses and snuggles in bed. Check back with me in a month or two (maybe by then his teeth will be in).
Disclaimer: this is all subject to change this afternoon, tomorrow or next week given I get proper sleep. I'm trying to work it out in my head.
duh
I just added the "followers" widget on my blog. I became a follower of myself. Is that narcissistic?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Closing in on 1
We're nearly there. Almost made it. Phew!
In just a few weeks little boy will be 1. I can't believe how this year has flown by. It's unimaginable how fast time travels. As much as I try to savor every milestone I can't seem to beat the clock. It is forever ticking away life's memories.
I think we can officially say that we are the parents of a toddler (right?) and are trying to adapt to all that toddlerhood brings with it. In our case these things are: consistantly chasing after the short human who loves to play in the toilet, cat and dog water bowl, yell in our faces and then run giggling away just because he can, throw fits of disdain when he's unsatisfied with our dinner menu, say yum-yum when dinner involves some sort of curry dish (weird, right?), and shower us with spontaneous hugs and kisses that neither of us can get enough of.
It's been the best year of our lives. Full of surprise and lessons in patience. I'm certain we do things that "experts" would turn their noses up at. But frankly, if we're able to create a human who loves his family and friends, who tries to do the "right" thing, and is kind, then I'm pretty sure we've done our job. Gosh I love this boy.
In just a few weeks little boy will be 1. I can't believe how this year has flown by. It's unimaginable how fast time travels. As much as I try to savor every milestone I can't seem to beat the clock. It is forever ticking away life's memories.
I think we can officially say that we are the parents of a toddler (right?) and are trying to adapt to all that toddlerhood brings with it. In our case these things are: consistantly chasing after the short human who loves to play in the toilet, cat and dog water bowl, yell in our faces and then run giggling away just because he can, throw fits of disdain when he's unsatisfied with our dinner menu, say yum-yum when dinner involves some sort of curry dish (weird, right?), and shower us with spontaneous hugs and kisses that neither of us can get enough of.
It's been the best year of our lives. Full of surprise and lessons in patience. I'm certain we do things that "experts" would turn their noses up at. But frankly, if we're able to create a human who loves his family and friends, who tries to do the "right" thing, and is kind, then I'm pretty sure we've done our job. Gosh I love this boy.
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