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August 6, 2003
Water, Water Everywhere 8/06/03
Jaida has been crying a lot lately. Ironically, the most tears have been shed over food. One morning last week, I ran out of the gluten-free waffles she normally eats and I opened a box of a different brand. Why they can never stock enough of one kind at the health food store, I will never understand. Anyway, as soon as I opened the plastic wrapping I knew she wouldn’t eat them. The picture on the outside of the box looked like the other brand but they were clearly different. For one thing there were little seeds all over them and flecks of dark brown things. I assume that was brown rice flecks, but why not grind it up more?
Jaida came over and inspected them. She didn’t say anything so I put them in the toaster and hoped for the best. The only way they would get brown enough to hide the spots was if I used a blow torch. I cut them up and put some sugar-free syrup on them. I walked over to the table and set them down. When I tried to give Jaida her fork, she drew her hands back and protested. “These don’t look like the other ones!” Then the water works started. Mom looked at me with that look that says, “Why would you get a different kind? You know how she is!” So I launched into my explanation about how they only had one box of the other kind and I had gotten these thinking they were the same. Obviously, they were not the same.
Another morning, Jaida forgot to bring socks from her room. While I was trying to get Jarod dressed, she had called out that she didn’t have any more socks in her drawer. I thought that was odd but I figured she meant there were no more of her favorite kind. Later when I was trying to pack lunches, Mom asked where her socks were. I explained that Jaida said her drawer was empty and I would have to get some from the basket of unfolded laundry in the chair. Mom went to Jaida’s room and came back with a pair of unrolled socks in her hand. “There were some in there, they just weren’t rolled up.” When Jaida saw the socks in Mom’s hand she flipped out. “I don’t want those socks! Take those back right now, don’t tell me that!” She kept swatting at the socks and trying to rip them out of Mom’s hand. Mom and I looked at each other in shock.
What the…? I told Jaida to stop hitting at Mom and if she didn’t want to wear the socks, she would have to put them on herself. She still has trouble with that and she hates to do it so she calmed down a little. Jarod got into the chair where Jaida normally sits and Mom started putting his socks on. Jaida went off again, “Don’t sit in my chair!” She was trying to pull Jarod out of the chair and Mom was trying to stop her. I had to wipe my hands and go help because Jaida was bucking like a bronco. I don’t know what her problem was last week but I was losing patience with each passing morning. If we had our own show, our ratings would be higher than the Osbournes. A few minutes ago for example, Jaida asked me for some ham slices for dinner. I didn’t know how many she wanted so I put four on her plate. It was pretty thin-sliced ham and she doesn’t eat side dishes with her meals. I put the plate on the table and she started whining. “I didn’t want that many!” Steve and I tried to explain that she didn’t have to eat them all but she burst into tears and would not be consoled. Woe is me. I can’t win with this kid.
Hey, What’s on TV?
So, I was sitting here playing ‘watch the belly’ again and reveling in the fact that I will not be rushing out the door to work on Monday. Ahhh, life is good. Am I the only one that watches 30 Minute Meals and $40 A Day on the Food Network? While I find Rachael Ray mildly annoying, I still feel compelled to tune in. Of course, I feel the same way about Martha Stewart and Ina Garten, the so-called Barefoot Contessa. I like Emeril and Jaime Oliver, the Naked Chef, too. I could live without Sara Molton but Alton Brown is always good for a laugh if I’m bored. Giada DeLaurentiss is usually the subject of much ridicule from Mom and me since she’s so skinny. The one funny thing is, for all the time I spend watching this channel, I don’t cook much. I also like The Restaurant and watching the staff bicker amongst themselves and talk about the chef. “He’s never in the kitchen!” HA!
But I plan to change that while I’m waiting for Lambchop to make his appearance. I’ll need to eat those first postpartum weeks so I’m going to attempt to freeze a few things. I also plan to catch up on movies I haven’t seen and all the other odds and ends that fall by the wayside when one works full time and has multiple responsibilities. Such high hopes, I’m sure I won’t get half of that done. Sigh…it’s nice to plan though. I’ll probably be watching a lot of HGTV and more Food Network. I’m a sucker for Designing for the Sexes and Designer’s Challenge. Then there is Big Brother 4, which I really haven’t gotten into that much but there is nothing else on until the new season starts.
Is Your Mother Home?
Mom decided that she needed a small vacation since I was going on maternity leave. My brother came home Friday night and took her back to GA Saturday. She says she is only staying a week because she wants to be here for Jaida’s first day of school. Although it was strange not having her in the house, I’m sure I will get used to it quickly. (snicker) I don’t miss the constant deafening hum of her oxygen machine or tripping over the damn cord to said machine all the time. There’s nobody bugging me about what the kids are eating for dinner and then cooking something they turn their noses up at. Another pleasant aspect is the silence of the telephone. Nobody ever calls us unless it’s a telemarketer or Steve’s parents. People call Mom all day and night and the break has been lovely.
Jarod Has a New Preschool
Last week, I got a call from one of the schools that Jarod was on the waiting list for. A slot had come open and they wanted to know if I wanted it. I went on my lunch hour to fill out the paperwork and pay the fees. A few weeks before, I called the place that was my first choice to inquire about Jarod’s place on the list. The director had previously told me Jarod was second on the list. Suddenly when I called that day she said he was fourth! I didn’t even bother asking how two more people had managed to jump in front of him; I just thanked her and hung up. I figured it must not be right if I was having this much trouble getting him in. If a placement was out there, I would know when the time was right.
As luck would have it, this new school can take him the week after his old one closes. I met his teacher and she seems really nice. The security is excellent and there is no chance of strangers wandering in. Still, I am a little sad. I know this is not his first time being cared for by someone other than family but going for a full day seems so grown-up. When I look at him, I still see the fragile baby that was always sick. He is far from that now and even in the 10th percentile on the charts but he is still my baby. Speaking of which, we saw his ped GI for a follow up today. Of course Jaida came with us since she is out of school this week. Let’s review, shall we?
First of all, it was raining cats and dogs when we got up this morning. I managed to get us all ready and out of the house on time but parking at that place is always terrible. You have to turn in a ticket before you leave the office to get the free tokens. Can you see where this is going? Jaida was off the chain today too. She was talking a mile a minute and bossing everybody. When the nurse took Jarod’s temp, she told her to do it in the other ear too. We get in the room and she says she has to use the bathroom. I send her across the hall while I watch from the door. I hear her flush once, a pause and then another flush. Suddenly I hear water gushing onto the floor and Jaida is yelling for me. Great! The nurse says they have been having trouble with the toilet but why did it have to be my kid to go in there and flood the bathroom?
Finally, Dr. Ogunbi comes in and Jaida is off like a shot. Interrupting while we try to talk, pulling at Dr. O’s pager and stethoscope. Dr. O lets her hold the pager briefly, thinking it will satisfy her curiosity. HA! Jaida is just getting warmed up! Even though I asked her several times to sit down and let us talk, she kept standing between Dr. O and me. While I am trying to get her attention, she ignores me in favor of a conversation of her own with the good doctor. Dr. O even tried to tell her to let us talk but she would not be deterred. When we decided to ignore her, she started singing as loudly as she could so that we had to raise our voices to hear each other. What’s worse is that Dr. O was curious about Jaida’s reason for seeing Dr. Corbier (she and Dr. Corbier used to be at the same office), so I had to answer all these questions about the diet and her diagnosis. The appointment took almost an hour with all the talking and interruptions. Then Jaida couldn’t understand that they didn’t have any stickers when we were finally ready to leave. She just kept asking over and over.
Thankfully the rain that started while we were waiting had paused briefly as we were leaving the building but it was still sprinkling slightly. I was walking across the parking lot quickly with the roof of my van in sight when I realized I had not gotten my free parking tokens! I had to fork over FIVE dollars to get out of the lot and I was not happy. Dr. O’s office is on the sixth floor and there was no way I could make it up there and back with two kids in tow before the humungous cloud overhead unleashed a downpour and trapped us in the lobby. I had my umbrella but it wasn’t big enough for us all. Plus Jarod was fighting a cold and he didn’t need to get wet. Most days I just do the best I can, you know?
35 Weeks: Ninth Month Anxiety and Bad Moods
Okay, I’m starting to get a little worried about the impending birth. I mean, I knew it was going to happen and I am so ready to meet this baby but I’m nervous too. Everything is ready, my bag is partially packed and we have every supply you could think of. But I don’t know if I’m ready. I’m sure you must be thinking, ‘it’s a little late for that’. And you would be right. I’m 35 weeks and when I looked at my BabyCenter calendar last night, it hit me for the first time. Only five weeks to go, give or take. I had a Home Alone moment, ahhhhhhhhh. But it will all be okay, right?
My back pain has been much better since I don’t spend all day in that second-hand office chair at work. The day we get new furniture that didn’t come from an auction or a surplus sale, I’ll eat my hat. Anyway, my other parts have taken up where my back left off. If there was any more pressure on my bowels, I’d be wearing Depends. Lambchop acts like he’s sparring with Mike Tyson! I sit down at night after dinner and I swear it looks like he is trying to claw his way out through my belly button. Then there is the sensation of what feels like having my cervix checked from the inside. I really hope he has turned and if he has, he is probably still posterior. There are too many kicks, punches and prods for his limbs to be facing my back. As a result, I am very grumpy.
I miss being able to get up in less than a minute and not having to test out the old hip before I take a step. I miss being able to pick Jarod up for a cuddle if he’s being compliant. I miss eating whatever I want and not worrying that later I will be dying from heartburn. I miss getting into my van without feeling like my crotch is going to split open. I miss closeness and intimacy with my husband, although not as much as he does I’m sure. I know that all of this will pass and soon I’ll be joyfully telling everybody how it was all worth it. Snort. (Insert eye-rolling here.) I know it’s just the fear of the unknown about the possibility of a C-section and the whole idea of surgery. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.
Dr. D was covering Labor & Delivery every morning this week so he was almost double booked for the afternoons. They asked if I minded seeing someone else and I said no. Dr. G is new to the practice and this was the first time I had met him. Since Dr. D wanted to skip the group B swab last week because of the diarrhea, Dr. G got the honor. There’s nothing like meeting someone for the first time and then getting naked. Ah, the joys of pregnancy. As another little surprise, Dr. G wanted to check my cervix for any change. Uh, I did not plan on that. He said I was not dilated but there was some softening. The amazing thing was that Lambchop was so cooperative with the monitoring today. Shelly put it right on the lump that I told her to and picked the heartbeat up on the first try. We didn’t lose him like last time either. Is it possible that he has turned? Next week’s ultrasound will tell us for sure. Other than that, my B/P was perfect at 120/80 and Dr. G said I was doing great. Now if the cramping from the cervix check would stop, I’d be doing even better.
Until next week,
Kim, Jaida, Jarod & Lambchop (The Tae-Bo expert)
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