Our First Molecular Monday

Summer camp at home officially started today. It was the regularly scheduled program for Miss Roo and Mike was bedridden again. Isaac and I started the day by making a "bucket list" for the summer. Places to go, things to do and read by the end of summer. We had a full schedule. Breakfast, Clear Table, Lego Challenge, Summer Bridge Workbook, Lunch, Free Time, Science!, Writing, Chores, Dinner, Free Time, Shower and Bed. Most of that is self explanatory, except Lego Challenge.

I discovered this awesome blog called Lego Quest. I'm pretty sure she's taking a break for the summer, but I went back to the beginning of her blog and am giving Isaac one challenge at a time. He earns these with good behavior. I'll photograph each one and take careful notes on his descriptions. I'm going to post them in my blog as he does them. By the end of summer we'll make a book of them. After he does each one we look at what the other kids submitted. It's fun.

LEGO CHALLENGE #1 -Build A Car

In Isaac's Words: It's called the ST6. Driven by imperial guard. Super tran 6. I don't know what super tran means. It's good. Fast. Sometimes it needs good handling. I got the idea from Monster Truck in the Lego idea book,but this one is very different. It didn't have any weapons! Sometimes you drive in on regular roads, but I put on the light so you could drive in the woods. So your guns would come in handy for hunting.

Here's the engine. It is called: Hybrid motor STX, gas & electric. It's all hand pieces! One alien mini figure from space police, both hands from a skeleton from Nijango, three robot hands, and two mini figure hands.

I'm expecting 90mph since of the size. The guns have triple laser fusion cores. They also have 250 energy supplement. It might (or not!) be seaworthy. These are all my best guess without further tests on the vehicle.

We read about atoms loosing and gaining electrons to become positively or negatively charged. Yup, static electricity. We stuck balloons to walls, made hair stand up, repelled the balloons from one another and Isaac's personal favorite we bent water. Side note dispose of balloons promptly after your experiment if you have a puppy (oops!). It was a good day, we both learned something.

Building A Curriculum

Here's the situation if I weren't an actress, writer, stay-at-home mom, event planner I would be teaching. I have survived by teaching acting a few times. I enjoy it. I especially liked working with younger kids. I spent two semesters of college teaching kindergarteners. I think it helps my parenting in general that I have teaching experience. I even considered (when Isaac was having such a tough first grade year) homeschooling him. I knew I could give him the appropriate levels of academics and one on one attention. Aside from not wanting to "give up" on the public education system (how will it ever get better if we all bail?) I knew Isaac needed the forced socialization.

Over the summer we usually enroll Isaac in some sort of science camp. He loves it. He is a creature of routine who very much comes unglued with something at least vaguely familiar. It keeps him around his peers, but better than it's kids his age who enjoy science. It gives Mom a break and keeps us all sane. He usually goes for 9 out 10 weeks during regular school hours (8am-2pm) plus after care. We've always skipped the last one before school starts. The problem is when I began my research this year our best option was the camp he went to last year, but the grades are grouped two years for each set of classes. He's in the 2-3rd group again and the classes are almost identical to last year. There was no way I was going to shell out that kind of money for repeats.

I briefly considered petitioning to bump him up to the 4-5 group since there classes looked amazing (robotics, rocket building, etc), but again Isaac has social issues so an environment full of older kids is asking for trouble. I spent a few weeks looking for an alternative, but everything near us was completely inappropriate, very short term or really expensive. Then I found great stuff hours away, but with a toddler and a puppy there's no way.

I decided we would enroll him in the same science camp he did last year, but only do three weeks. One week in June, one week in July and one in August. Which means a lot of work for me. He's all signed up now. With his spot secure (for the weeks Mike and I hand picked) it was time for me to work on his curriculum at home. A teacher friend recommended Summer Bridge Activities and we'll be using the 4-5th grade book from them. It's set up to span a summer. It breaks up the subjects up nicely and makes suggestions for hands on experiments or physical activities to do. It also has a companion CD. I'm excited. On top of that we found a physics workbook with lots of fun games. It's AP physics, but Mike assures me it's not over Isaac's head at all. I hope it's not over mine and Isaac will certainly think it's a treat.

Obviously, we'll be doing a lot more than workbooks. There will be field trips, summer reading lists, free time and maybe if I play my cards right some arts and crafts that will engage Riley too. I'm still formulating a daily schedule, but it's already feeling less overwhelming. I'm open to suggestions too. Riley will still go to her school three days a week this summer so I have four days a week for 6-7wks to entertain a 9 & 2yrs old. May the force be with me.

Mischief Managed...er Surgery Scheduled

Harry Potter's been on my mind lately because my cousin-in-law is having a Harry Potter baby shower soon. Don't you love an offbeat theme? Maddy's also going to have a Harry Potter nursery. Fun stuff. So, it seems off topic, but I promise I'm going to tie it all together.

When I spoke to Dr. B on Tuesday he said he thought the soonest we could do the hip surgery was late November maybe early December. He's a busy guy. So, when his office called yesterday with some possible dates I was stunned at how soon they had openings. They offered me Oct 24th, Oct 31st or Nov 7. I think my brain turned off for a moment upon receipt of this information. All this time I'd been worried they wouldn't have a time open that would allow me to heal before the wedding now they were talking a little over a week away?!?

Recovering my wits I decided the 24th was just too soon. Mike wouldn't be able to get off work and it would be difficult to arrange for the kiddos. The 31st is Halloween and regardless of having two kids, I love Halloween so no deal. Which left the 7th the 48hrs after the big family garage sale, the week of Isaac's birthday party and weekend before Maddy's baby shower (see we're back). Lacking wizard magic there just will never be a "perfect time for surgery".

After the 7th they only had December dates. So, the 7th it is. I'll bust my butt purging toys and such for the garage sale which is good because the house will be less cluttered and all the more wheelchair ready. I'll have surgery on that Monday and get discharged Wednesday. Which gives me 48hrs to tie up loose ends for Isaac's party. We really wanted to do it on 11/11/11. If it's too much we'll scrap the party and Mike will take him to Lego Land. Then the baby shower on Saturday.

It also means some descent recovery time before Thanksgiving. I'm also hoping Thanksgiving will help with any surgery/stress weight loss. I want to fit my dress like a glove. So, let's hope my plan chugs along and the surgery works. Dancing without pain at my wedding would be indescribably wonderful.

The Plan on Paper vs Realizing the Plan

This morning...Wait a minute, rewind to last night when from 5:45-7:15am my two year old climbed on me, slept, kicked me, tried to convince "it's morn-ingg, Mommy Moo!" and other fun things of that sort. I was determined not to let it hamper my plan. Ok, so I wasn't staging a complicated bank robbery, but getting through a Monday with kids and housework after a bad pain day on little sleep is always tricky.

I got up and immediately starting working on the plan. Mentally ticking things off as I went. Riley's breakfast-check. Trash got taken out-check. Isaac to school check. And so on. I was doing well. Everything was moving along on schedule. I didn't get my hair or teeth brushed, but that's always a bonus on Mondays. I saw the boys out the door and parked Riley in front of a movie for a few minutes of relative calm. About 30min later my cleaning help arrived.

I let her in and Riley and I were off to the store. The plan was to get Riley out of the way for floors to get done and be back in time to have help unloading a week's worth of groceries. When I got to the store I had my wheelchair, my crutch, and Riley's backpack with me. There was also the option to push a cart or ride on an electric one. Of course I couldn't figure out how to hang on to Riley and the groceries in any way that saved me from walking around the whole store. We ended up with a cart.

When we were done (for like the 4th time in my whole life) I asked for help out. I was really proud of myself. When I got home I had help to unload, YAY plan! After that we ate the easy lunch we picked up at the store (Yay plan some more!). Then it was clearly time for a nap. I met some resistance, but once I put my foot down all was quiet. I cleaned up lunch and laid down too. See, I'm really trying to take care of myself here.

The next part of plan didn't work out. I wanted to return the library books and maybe check out some books for Isaac's gifted topic and refresh the Halloween options for Riley. By the time Riley woke up (I am NOT complaining) it was too late for anything other that meeting Isaac. I don't like to run errands during homework time anymore third grade responsibilities are a lot more rigorous. It also seemed wise to take it easy so I can make dinner rather than pushing it since the books aren't due until tomorrow.

Sometimes I decide things and end up with deadline that don't make sense when plans change. So the plan went out the window after lunch, oh well. I also just realized I hadn't thought tomorrow out very well and an added to do (emergency field trip money drop off) has shaken things up a bit. That is how it goes, I suppose. Excuse I need to start prepping dinner and checking on homework progress.

It Looked Good on Paper

I do this to myself all the time. I start plugging things into the calendar and puffing up with pride about how I'm going to get it all done. Then I step back when it's time to actually go to all the appointments and freak out. I don't ask "what was I thinking?". Like Isaac and the squares on his lunch tray if a calendar square is empty I am driven to fill it.

This week I have 1-2appointments every day and some major events happening this weekend. Ugh. I'm also at a disadvantage because the inclement weather has rendered my left hip pretty useless and my car is not yet fixed. It's going to be a busy, busy week.

It looks like this:
Monday-House cleaning!! Homework to prepare for class video chat 9pm.
Tuesday- Lunch break cake tasting appointment with Mike (and Riley?)
Wednesday-Cake tasting appointment in Tampa with Lara (fingers crossed about my car being ready)I didn't have a lot of options so It's happening right at Isaac's dismissal time, but I've made arrangements for Grandma to walk him home. Riley will be at Boo's house. At 5pm we have a confrence with Isaac's teacher and at 6pm it's open house.
Thursday (Sept 1st)-Second opinion from another Ortho about my dad gum hip. I'm absolutely, completely stressed out. There's no good news here. It'll be nothing to be done or hip surgery before the wedding. Pray for this one. Grandma's going to keep any eye on the kids while go have all the fun.
Friday-As if anything could be less fun, I'm going to the GYN for a repeat on my abnormal pap. For those of you who have been following the saga, it's back. Not happy. I have refused any further biopsies at this point (it's been almost 6yrs of them), but I have to at least go for 3 paps a year. At least until they decide to something besides watch it. That may be another fun pre-wedding procedure. Spray tan and teeth bleaching? Nah, hip replacement and hysterectomy. Ok, I'm being a touch over-dramatic, but it's stressful none the less.
On the bright side my sister flies in Friday. Yay! So that day won't be all bad. It will be intensely busy because it's our last day to be ready for company and...Riley's 2nd Birthday Party!

Saturday- Riley's party is post nap. We'll get any remaining food items in the morning and tidy up. Hopefully, her present will be ready for presentation (which involves rearranging the living room furniture). After the party I have nothing scheduled for 48hrs, phew.

Ready, set, overwhelming week! At least we're on the right foot. It's 8:20am Monday morning and the kids are dropped off, Mike's on his way to work on time and laundry is underway. I'll attempt to do one thing at a time and eventually the week will end.

Eeeeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe

When I was single most of my decisions were based on impulse.  If I wanted to do something I did it. I'm hungry I'll have _____ for dinner. I feel like going out/staying in. If it was something big like changing jobs, having surgery or dating/breaking up with someone I still only had to consider what was best for me. Parenthood changes everything.

Sometimes the choices are exhausting. Wake up and start deciding, because who has the energy to plan farther ahead than a few hours? Even if you did toddlers enjoy nothing better than to thwart Mommy's best laid plans. What will the baby wear, what will she have for breakfast, is she distracted/contained enough for some tidying up, is she teething or just fussy, Tylenol?, nap?, what to give her for another snack, put in a DVD or read a book, which sippy, water or milk, color or paint, piggy or frog, swing in the yard or go to the park...on and on into infinity and that's just the day to day.

On any given day there will be an event to go to. It feels alot like traveling out of the country. There's so much to do to prepare. What if you forget something who knows if they'll have it where you're going? To go or not to go which will change at least ten times before it's final based on the baby's mood and mommy's exhaustion. What the baby should wear is a big decision based on temperature, mobility level, festiveness, and what's clean. What to bring beyond diapers and wipes is a whole logistical exercise in itself. Spare cloths have to swapped based on what she's already wearing so if you only change half the outfit (which is quicker and less of a fight) she doesn't look like a clown, etc. Whether to bring snacks and what snacks. Fruit is popular but doesn't last long in the hot car or less perishable less exciting stuff like crackers. Individually wrapped things like Gerber breakfast bars or my favorite baby food pouches. Do you pack enough to share? Do you feed her right before you depart so you hopefully won't need a snack while you're out.

What about Daycare? Should I send some books or toys from home? Did I send a sippy? Should I give her a sweatshirt to keep there? What needs to come home and what can stay until next week? Do I send Riley's "too small" clothes to daycare first and then to consignment or vise versa? Do I know anyone with a baby smaller than Riley? Should she being going to daycare more of the week?

Major life decisions although less frequent are so much more complicated than they used to be. Because I have to decide with the whole family in mind. It's one thing to change my life, but how can I persume to change theirs? Have your spine fused into a solid column of bone? I don't weigh pros and cons for me I immediately think "what will that mean for Riley?" I ponder my loss of range of motion's meaning not to me, but  to her. Asking myself "what will Riley's mom's fused back do to her?"

Just like my day to day I get her dressed and looking smashing and then think "um, the sweatpants I'm wearing that I slept in are nice enough to wear out" I am an after thought in my decisions.  I need things for her more often than I need them for me. I had surgery because I needed to be able to take care of my baby and oh yeah, there were selfish reasons too, but only as after thoughts.

Please don't mistake this for whining. I sometimes enjoy not having to think about about me, I had 27yrs of that already. I like that for a little while longer I can pick Riley's clothes and control her diet. I love knowing how well taken care of she is. Soon enough she'll have opinions about everything and a life separate from me and I'll miss this, or some of this.

The (Proposed) Timeline

First there's Halloween and make no mistake it's a really big deal in this house. Everyone has a costume, picks a pumpkin and trick or treats here. Phew, I won't be post-op for that, but wait treat or tricking will be short lived between my pain and Riley's mobility/tolerance. Huh..um...At least I'll have candy to drown my stresses in.

Then we have Mike's cousin's wedding on a week long cruise to Mexico the following weekend. I am in dire need of a vacation and completely relieved the surgery didn't mean we couldn't go. I was so afraid there would be nothing to look forward to but more surgery. That being said the logistics of a very large boat, lots of pain, a fearless toddler, etc are starting to dawn on (and scare me).

As soon we get back (within 48hrs) Isaac turns 8. I hope I'm not the only one who feels old thinking about that. Anyone who's been to one of our birthday parties knows we like to do it up. Isaac requested a "Back to the Future" theme this year. Mike and I had loads of ideas and once upon a time before many surgery reschedules it was going to be in our very own back yard. No back yard, no time, no idea what we're going to do. In light of his sister's bash last month I feel the need to make it special, but how..

Three days (Yup 72hrs) after that I am supposed to FINALLY have this hip replacement. Just in time to be fresh from surgery for the holidays. We decided to have Thanksgiving here. I just felt like I needed something familiar. Something to look forward to. It's always rough to keep the weight on post op so this will help. I've been lonely and alienated too long.

Then there will be Christmas. How am I going to shop? Better start now I guess.
Dearest Santa,
I would love the pain to stop. The procedure to be complete on the 18th and my recovery to be well on it's way by the time you visit. Also, a break would be lovely.
Love your former elf.

After January 1st we're supposed to finally move into a house that fits us better. Beyond that there's the very real possibility of more surgery. I hope it's all done on the 18th, but I don't have alot of faith as everything connected to relieving my pain has dragged out so much.

Holy, full plate, Batman.

De-railed?!?

Last night was horrendous! She was up every hour. She went down easy at 8:20p and got up at 11, 12:45, 2, 3:20, 4:50, 6. I'm taking notes during our 10day plan. Night one went so well and then last night was horrible.

Mike pointed out that kids are always making progress and then regressing. I started wondering if Riley was missing nursing during the day so much she was getting up every hour because she knows I nurse her at night. I started letting her nurse every other time by the 3rd time. It was a victory in that Mike and I worked as a team and did not give up and bring her to our bed.

I was very tired by the time her first nap rolled around and anxious that she wouldn't go down and everything would get increasingly difficult all day. She went down rubbing her eyes at 9:02 and screamed for 30min. I changed her, nursed her and rocked her and put her back down. She slept 9:40-11:08 which is pretty respectable.

By second nap I was running on fumes. I tried to put her down at her usual 1:30 and she cried off and on until 1:58. I was so relieved when she fell asleep, but it only lasted 30min. According to the book anything under an hour doesn't count. I went in and rocked and nursed her and put her back in the crib. I stood next to the crib stroking her hair for 10min. Nothing worked. I gave up. At this point I felt like a failure and was completely homicidal because of sleep deprivation and frustration. I kept thinking if I have to disconnect the doorbell and make the boys spend the day in a tent in the yard to get a descent nap out of this baby, so help me...At that point Mike asked me if I was "giving up" on Riley's nap and I burst into tears and told him I needed a break.

I went into the bedroom and shut the door and cried myself to sleep. I laid there crying about what a miserable failure I was and how Riley would never sleep through the night again and all the while I worried Mike would forget to give Riley a snack or to read with Isaac. When I woke up 2hrs later poor Mike was juggling both kids and a work call. I opened the door and heard him said "Oh, good she's awake!"

Everything got done in my absence and although I continue to be hard on myself at least my resolve to stick it out with the plan was back.

Good Sleeps, Less Moo

Today was "Day One" of our sleeping and weaning plan. We put it in writting and discussed and committed as a team, yesterday. It involes keeping to a flexible schedule, earlier bedtime, lots of snacks and distractions instead of nursing, and sleeping only in the crib.

She slept well last night. She went to bed at 8:20p and woke up at 11p for 5min and 3a for 30min. I was able to get into her room before she stirred at 7:30a. It was super encouraging. I changed her and brought her right to the highcahir because I am only nursing before naps and bedtimes. We did rock, nurse and read before she went down for her 9:30a nap with sleep music playing. She cried for 30min. When I went in to check on her she had a big poopy diaper. She was back asleep by 10:10am. I heard a fuss and 10:50, but she put herself back to sleep (hurray). She woke up at 11:30.

After snack, play, lunch, and more play it's nap time again. This time we nursed and rocked and read a book and then I put her in the crib and read another one. I really want to break the negative association with crib and the nursing/falling asleep association as well and this seemed like a simple way to do it. She slept 1:10-2:40 and woke up making happy sounds! I've been waiting for the day when she would stop screaming to signal she was awake.

She was thrilled about her bedtime routine tonight. I suggested daddy give her bath after dinner since her earlier bedtime ate into his quality time. When she got out of the highchair she went right to the bathroom and yelled "BATH!" After bath we nursed and rocked, but she decided she was done and pointed to the crib I laid her down and stroked her hair for less than a minute and she was out. Not a single tear. Amazing.

Getting Prepared, if possible

It's coming, it's actually going to happen. It's not some distant date in the future it's next Thursday. Which means I have adapted my usual defense against the relentless marching forward of time, super duper get prepared mode.

Last time waaaaaaaay back in May after at least two false alarms and a last minute change in the type of precedure I was able to "get ready" in stages. This time denial and terror have caused me to fight the urge. I've done some cleaning and organizing, etc but the big deal is getting Riley sleeping on her own and weaning. I am filled with dread of abdoning my baby unprepared.

I go tomorrow for labwork and then the next day to the Ortho to sign consent forms it's so much reality. I keep hearing how much easier a hip replacement is than a spinal fusion. I don't think easy enters into this. Also I can't think of a damn thing that wouldn't be easier than spinal fusion surgery and I've survived being hit by a bus, 13 other orthopedic surgeries and labor. Let's change the pep talk stategy, folks.

On my relentless quest to be prepared I picked up a book that someone recommended after reading my blog The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night Let me digress and say I have never had the need to read a sleep book before I had back surgery and took my 9mo old (who was sleeping through the night in her crib) to bed with me for 3mos. I haven't read any before this one and only know other theroys on getting babies to sleep from word of mouth or internet mommy boards. This book is fantastic.

You can always tell when you're hearing the voice of experience. This book didn't judge me or throw always or never at me because it's wrtten by a mom. She gave me lots of chioces and backed her ideas up with provable facts. As a result I feel validated that I was doing alot of the right things already and that I'm not all alone transitioning a one year old to the crib. I feel like I have a better understanding of how Riley see's bedtime and I can therefore be more sensitive to making her feel secure.

I don't have the time or physical ability to for it 100%, but this book was written with a take what works and leave the rest approach. So, I press on towards next Thursday.

Please Explain This "According to Plan"

Even though it's Sunday and that is supposed to mean I sleep in and Mike gets up with kids, he did not. Even though the plan was for Riley to stay in her own bed come hell or high water last night, she did not. Even though my computer was supposed to be fixed and ready for me to complete my current photo project for my online mommy group (that I have to finish before my surgery), it is not. Even though I thought (probably assumed without asking) that maybe my mom would stay the night again tonight and be here for my dreaded Monday morning, she isn't. Even though every reason I have for not weaning sounds perfectly logical to me and Mike should understand, he does not.

Today dragged from the first moment I opened my eyes. I tried to enjoy the quiet Sunday morning with the kids and my mom, but I was just so darn tired. Around 11:30 my sleepy, but peaceful attitude was shattered by a malfunctioning VCR (you heard me! I have 20+ years of kids movies built up from my childhood so we have a VCR). It was suddenly infuriating that Mike was still in bed. So, even though the plan was to cook at home until Mike's next paycheck, I decided not to. After the VCR was fixed, the movie over and Riley had napped I had to get out. Mom, Riley and I ran out to grab lunch at McDonalds for everybody so I could regroup.

After lunch Mom left and Riley took another nap. I was antsy and tired of being home so even though it was a school night I jumped at a chance to take Riley to her friend's house to play at 5pm. I knew they would feed us so I instructed Mike to make the pizza in the freezer for Isaac and himself. Again, that plan did not happen.

Riley and I had a great time visiting our friends, but at dinner my usually amazing eater, wasn't. She screamed and screeched and threw food back at me. She has never done that before. When we investigated we found she had one of countless poopy diapers that day, but more disturbing that was her bright red, swollen skin. Even though I had just told the pediatrician with unimaginable relief that she'd been all clear down there for a while, now she wasn't. I could have cried.

When Mike came to pick us up I found myself in the Taco Bell drive through at 9pm with a screaming, tired, rashy baby in the back seat because the boys lost track of time and never ate the pizza. So not the plan.

In the end everyone was fed and in bed by 9:30. There's pizza for another night. The world did not end as a result of not a single thing going according to plan. I was tired, but what's new?

Deep Breath, no time to dwell not today. We can't it's Rex Manning Day...er tomorrow's Monday.

PS-added 9/14: As I sat editing this Miss Roo was happily having naked time to air out the rash and won herself an early bath by pooping all over herself. It was defiantly not in the plan for the evening, nor did it fit in our bedtime routine. Babies!!

Progress is Measured in Inches

I have been insisting Riley nap in her crib. Even though we always nurse first and I always give her lots of affection when telling her it's nap time she still objects to sleeping in her own bed. Which meant it was finally "cry it out" time. I remember the first day napping in the crib she cried for 45min before she went down. Aside from that she took a half nap (30-45min) both times that day. It was gut wrenching for me. I had to go outside and call a friend for support. I stuck to it though.

Today it paid off. The first nap she took Riley cried for a mere 10minutes and then slept her customary hour and a half. Hallelujah! I was so excited to have built up some momentum and also completely terrified it would never - happen - again. When I put her down for her next nap that day it was only 12minutes of crying and an acceptable 1hr nap.

We've conquered naps, but the battle over sleeping in her crib at night rages on. It's partially because it's linked to the wean or don't wean debate. We have a night time routine of dinner, bath with relaxing Johnson's Bedtime Bath, pajamas, story time (The Going to Bed Book), nursing and then into the crib. She usually sleeps from 9 or 10 until midnight or 1am before she's up crying. At this point she's old enough that she shouldn't need to eat at night and for a few months before the surgery she wasn't. It's habit now from sleeping with me and a good way to get back to mommy's bed.

I have to admit I'm not holding up as well at night. I sleep soundly for the first 3hours and wake up in a panic because she's crying. I lay there anxious trying to focus on tv, but it's alot harder than ignoring her crying when I'm busy during the day. I try not to go in at all after bedtime. Mike will sometimes rock her and sing to her or bring her a sippy of cow's milk.

That is a current point of contention because I don't think replacing breast feeding with a cup of milk is going to break the habit, but I digress. Sometimes daddy prevails and she settles in until 4am, but at that point after 15-30minutes of crying I always cave. Sometimes midnight goes badly and we give up at that point.

So, will tonight be the night we really stick to our guns and let her cry it out all night? I know I have to be tough, but talk about easier said than done. Also, I'm just not sure about weening before my surgery or not. Everything is so complicated and intricate...

Morning Off

Last week I negotiated a morning off. I asked Mike to get up with Riley on Sundays. I wanted him to physically get out of bed with her and give her breakfast and hang out with her so I could sleep in. The first time we tried it Progress Energy was having issues and after about 15min of the bed to myself the power was off and a drowsy Mike and concerned Riley were back in bed. Today it worked out much better. Mike got up with Riley at about 8am and fed her. When I woke up at 11 (WooHoo!) they were just comming home from Joanne's where they got some more supplies for the party. It was a really pleasant day after I got up. I felt really productive. I'm gonna like Sundays.

Interrupting the Regularly Scheduled Program

Interrupting the Regularly Scheduled Program will be years of back and hip pain coming to a climax followed by multiple surgeries... Before everything got bad I wrote about what our day to day was like, to re-read it now makes me a little sad. On the plus side I have recognized at this point in my recovery that we actually have a routine again, even if it's not the one I'd choose. We wake up on weekdays between 7-7:30am Riley's been sleeping with me. Between her being sick so long and not being able to go get her from the crib myself it's easier. I will say for the record we started re-transitioning her back to the crib. Sorry about the tangent, so my little alarm clock wakes me up and we watch "Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse" in bed until Daddy has to be up. After we're sure he's up Riley and I go out to the living room. I make sure Isaac is getting ready and scare up Riley's breakfast. Once she's confined and happily eating I take a rest and check in on the boys. They leave at 8:30am and Riley and I watch more Mickey or talk until our favorite "Jack's Big Music Show" is on at 9am. After Jack we do a wipe down and get Riley dressed. There's 1.5-2hrs of playing in the living room before she usually snuggles up with me on the couch for her morning nap. Sometime between 11:30-12 she's up and ready for lunch. She plays in her room or the living room until 3:30-4p when she curls up with Mommy for the unpredictable and often nonexistent 2nd nap. Usually the boys come home around 5:30-6pm. Riley usually demands some quality time with Daddy right away. Dinner varies wildly depending on what we're having because after working all day it's still up to Mike to cook, but once there's a plan Riley either eats and then we have a bath or occasionally the reverse. I make sure Isaac's ready for bed and then Riley and I lay down about 9-9:30p and once she's asleep I'm usually done for the day. I try to fold laundry, pick up the living room or work on something productive, but it doesn't always happen. Thank goodness for our cleaning lady! I can take care of Riley alone with no anxiety although it's not easy. It's been baby steps, first diapers, changing clothes, in and out of the high chair and finally baths. Soon I hope to be cooking and driving again

What do you DO all day?

The short answer is nothing that can't be interupted, the kids see to that.

Riley is at this point an amazing sleeper we're talking between 8-10hrs a night (In general there's phases of teething, illness and separation aniexty that pervent this). Please don't despair new moms it was a long road of sleepless nights to get here, but it does happen. We start our weekdays between 6 and 7:30am. She signals she's up and ready to eat and I feed her. After she's fed I change her diaper and put her in daytime clothes. Only after she's completely ready to I scramble into something clean (hopefully). Mike and I take turns dropping Isaac at school at 8:15-8:20. Here's where it varies by day:

Monday= Grocery Day and cleanup from the weekend.
Tuesday= Mommy Group (New Mom's Support Group).
Wednesday= Girl's Coffee and Story time.
Thursday= Appointment and errand day.
Friday= Weekend prep.

There's always feedings (6-8 a day) and those are all breast milk, one "feeding" a day of baby food, bath time for Riley after she has her fruits or veggies, diapers (8-10 a day), laundry (about 3-5 loads a week), dishes (run the dishwasher 2-3 times a week), feeding myself, dinner prep, homework supervision, child entertaining, errand running, car circle (and the bane of my existence Weds early release day every week), getting kids ready of bed (usually they're both down by 10-11 these days) and lots of picking up the house.

This of course precludes any special events during the week, school days off, illnesses, injury, time to myself, growth spurts, car troubles, spending time with Mike not taking care of kids (or unconscious) or weeks leading up to trips of any kind.

I usually build up momentum for a few weeks and then break down and spend a week in pain doing the bare minimum. Hopefully a hip replacement will break the cycle...