Jenny On the Spot

Tuesday started out to be a fairly normal, even GOOD day. At some point I started feeling sharp pains at the front, left of my head. I searched online and self-diagnosed: headache. However, none I had ever experienced before… But still, the day is not “bad”.

Lunch time is good and nap time comes. I am sooo ready. The 2 oldest head on in without peep or weep. Yippee! I settle on the couch with Lucy to feed her and get her sleepin’. This was the beginning of the “bad”. I only needed a nap because I only get 4 to 6 hours of sleep a night - usually. I only needed a nap, a hour, maybe 2… However, Lucy would have none of that nonsense! She wanted to visit, to interact. Her swing and bouncer seat did not provide the kind of company Mommy could…

Imagine: the middle of the desert. Picture a worn, dirty, desperate being clawing the groud as he pulls his body toward the mirage — in his hope of quenching his grwoing thirst. In the desert, the mirage is water. In my living room, the mirage is sleep. I’m the desperate being.

No nap.

The house is slowly falling apart, emotionally and otherwise. Joel and Olivia awaken to a zombie (Mom) who can hardly speak and can’t see through her tears of exhaustion. Mercifully, they agree to play nicely outside… And in recognition of the sweet hearts they have, both hug me. Joel says, “I’m sorry you’re tired Mommy.”

The saga continues…

We (me and the kids) eat dinner. By the way, hubby has a long day in the city — meetings. Out until late evening… Reinforcements are a long way off. I made Olivia finish her chicken dinosaurs. I decided to make up for an awkward afternoon with Mom and make the kids chocolate milkshakes. I’m all about comfort food (bad mom, bad mom…).

Did I mention Lucy decided this day would be her most unhappy to date? My easy baby threw me for a loop - crying, crying, crying… nearly no sleep most of the afternoon. NOT so natural for a 5 week old…

The kids are giddy about the milkshakes and 5 cherries they each get to eat. I made myself a healthy sized chocolate malt - comfort food. It helped distract me from the sharp pains in my head that finally grew to what I think might have been a migraine…??? It was close to the worst-ever headache I\’ve known…

It gets better… Stop reading if you have a weak stomach…

Livi gets up from her seat. She comes up to me with a panicked look. Then she grabs her stomach and cries, “Mommy, my stomach hurts!” Do I need to say it? Vomit. Right there at my feet. Chicken, carrots, cherries (my light carpet is lovin’ that), and hues of the popsicle she had that afternoon…

I finally call my hubby for reinforcements, but the most recent ferry just left. It would be 1.5 hours until, until… I can do it. I am strong. The waves come erratically. Count them - Vomit. Vomit. Vomit. Vomit. Vomit. One caught in toilet, the rest on towels. My floor escaped further harm.

Compassion woman! Compassion! Poor Olivia. Really, poor little thing handled it like a trooper and faced the right direction:)

During all this Joel handled it all very well too — checking out the hue and consistence of each new “release” of his sister’s stomach contents. Meanwhile, my “happy” baby continued to cry. She cried harder each time I had to put her down so I could hold back Olivia’s hair or scoot her to a vomit “safe zone”.

Finally, daddy’s home! Praise the Lord — I so mean that in the most sincere and honored way it is supposed to be proclaimed. My husband swooped in as I found a blank space on the wall to focus on. He broke out the steam cleaner and sanitized the “first vomit” area. Any mother knows the “first vomit” is always the most horrible. I took Lucy, he handled the other two. He slept on the couch in the living room with Olivia — in case anything “came up” — ha:)

Alrighty. The honeymoon is over. I never gagged. I managed to forget about the headache as I focused on protecting my carpet:) I actually thought about calling a friend for help — big step for me. I didn’t actually call anyone - who wants to come near MY house under those circumstances! Goodness no! I couldn’t do that to another human:) Besides, where’s the glory if I didn’t brave through it and take it on alone?? Just kidding. There is not glory in vomit.

Peace out and good night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz……