thetadpoles.com » exhaustion

Toddler travel take 2

Hava — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:00:29 +0000

Its been so long I have to remember where I left off….ah yes puke. Well we were past the puke by that point. Since I have so much to catch up on I’ll make this short.

Tadd in his tux. Loen was in love with the patent leather loafers

Hanging out with Aunt Mary

The twins went to the zoo with Mima and Papa Don while we were at the wedding.

Obviously they were taunting a bear with yummy looking toddler legs.

Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo where Heath and Christine were married. That is such a mouthful I wonder what the abbreviated version is, The Holiest or Queen Bee?

I was horrible with taking pictures so I added a few from Photo Booth Live. At the reception rather than have disposable cameras on the table they had a photo corner with props where you could take self portraits. Since it was digital the picture would come up instantly on a big screen that played a slide show throughout the night. It was such a neat idea. Doesn’t mean the pictures weren’t getting crazy as the night went on but still a great idea.

Christine and Heath

MKM wives with the newly added Christine Maser

All in all the night was a lot of fun. It sounds as the twins also had a wild night as their grandparents took them to the outdoor fashion show in front of the hotel and let them dance on barrels. Loen changed into a more appropriate flapper dress for the occasion. These are the cell phone pictures that were sent to us during the reception.

I was exhausted and we were leaving the next morning. We got to our room and shut the door between our suite and Tamie’s. We checked the kids then quickly fell asleep. I should go into length how Derby woke up and cried (as he does every night) and we tried to let him get himself back to sleep. He ended up in our bed (again). The next thing I knew my mother in law is hovering above my head asking if everything is all right. Now I was dead asleep and a little groggy. I told her yes, the twins are asleep then I went back to sleep. The next morning the questions started to arise like “How did she get in our room?” “Why was she in our room?”. Turns out she woke up when she heard Derby crying and got up to get him. She didn’t realize we were back from the wedding and noticed the adjoining door was shut. She tried calling our cells but since they were on vibrate we didn’t hear them. Then she started to panic thinking the twins were locked in there alone and called the front desk to explain the situation. They let her in hence my awakening to her head over mine. Good times in Ohio!

Here is the part of the story that gets really good. Remember in part 1 I was SO upset over losing Derby’s angel pin? Well in the morning Tadd walked out of the hotel room but came right back in. He had something in his hand. He walked over and handed me Derby’s angel pin. It was on the carpet right in front of room. How had we missed it all the other times? How did it get there? It was amazing. It looks a little more traveled than Loen’s but I’m so happy we got it back. I guess it missed my little man.

Toddler Travel; a new type of terrorism (part 1)

Hava — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:54:14 +0000

Since we are such seasoned travelers with the twins we decided the whole family would fly into Detroit for our friend Maser’s Ohio wedding. Obviously we weren’t thinking clearly. Getting up at 4 am the day of departure wasn’t bad and the drive to LAX was smooth sailing! Then Tadd dropped us off at the skycap with luggage, car seats and stroller while he went to park the car in long term. This is where things started going downhill. Our safe yet incredibly heavy Recaro car seats had to be checked in a special area and the sky cap informed me he couldn’t help me just point me in the right direction. Considering I had twins in a stroller, backpack, carry on and two 25 pound car seats I was going no where when it came to checking things. So we sat on the bench and waited for Tadd. Not bad, just a little blip in the road. Then we got to security. My insulin pump beeped so I was pulled aside along with our cooler full of milk bottles. Tadd had to contend with the other luggage and wait for it…..a child that peed not only through her outfit but the seat of the stroller. How does this happen?? So I get the extra special wand of security then they checked every single bottle of milk. I told her I would take a drink to speed things up but nooooo there was special strips that had to be waved over the open milk bottles checking for fumes then another test involving droppers. I didn’t pay that much attention as I was watching Tadd wrestle 2 screaming kids. We got through and in true dad style Tadd plopped Loen on the floor of LAX to change her. No pad or blanket, just down on the carpet that millions of dirty travelers walk upon. I started to get annoyed then realized it wasn’t worth it. We got to our gate and sat down. Well the adults sat down, the twins took off in opposite directions. Do you know there is no longer special boarding for families? Just one more level of hell when traveling with kids. Lets speed this story up shall we. On the plane, screaming, me wishing they still took binkers, more screaming. Then we resorted to all the things we say we wouldn’t; M&M’s, DVD’s, iPod, stickers, cookies, crayons. I would have given them booze and cigarettes to get them to be quite (not really). Finally after singing the chorus to a Veggie Tales song about a 100 times I got Derby to sleep. Loen my little resilient darling stayed awake the whole time. Did I mention there was a senior citizen trip on the same plane and many were seated next to us? From the looks on some of their faces we did not bode well for them. Finally we landed and got our luggage. After getting our car seats I noticed that one of the pins on Derby’s car seats was missing. Yes, I know it sounds like we put flair on the seats but 1 was the guardian angel pin that they’ve had since their birth. It was on their incubator in the NICU then on their car seats ever since. The other pin was a hummingbird that belonged to Tadd’s grandmama. Well Derby’s angel pin was missing. I had a lump in my throat as I looked all over and Tadd pulled the plastic bags they wrapped the carseat in out of the garbage. The pin that had been through the ups and downs, the surgeries, the periods when he stopped breathing was gone. Now it had been a long trip so far and I think we had eaten half a bagel and maybe an airline cookie so Tadd & I weren’t at our best. Tadd was snappy and asked why I hadn’t sewn on the pin like he told me to weeks ago. You all should be glad that there was no bloodshed at Detroit Metro right then. Remember this scene because it pops up later in the story.

Loen only slept for 10 minutes while waiting to get the rental car and what? Did she just pee though another outfit? This never happens at home! Finally we are off to Ohio. By now I’m starving and Yelp is useless in finding food where we are. I see a sign for an Arby’s. I haven’t had Arby’s in years and I believe there was a reason for that…ugh. I gave the twins a french fry and went back to my ‘meal’. All of a sudden I hear gaging noises so I turn around. Derby is about to puke so I cup my hands under his mouth and catch the most insane amount of vomit I’ve seen come from my kid. I’m disgusted and gross and I have a handful of puke. I’m kneeling backwards in my seat with said handful of puke as Tadd is tearing down the highway weaving between semis trying to get to the exit. We change yet another outfit and realize that a fair amount of puke had gone down the straps and into the lock. That’s fine I already have to wash 3 outfits and a stroller why not a car seat as well. We are off to a great start and it is only the first day. I should stop and say that the trip really went back into an upswing after this. We got to the hotel where Tadd’s mom was waiting to greet us (really just the twins) and we were able to get everyone cleaned up. The hotel had a laundry area so that was a feature. Since Tadd was a groomsman in the wedding he had to leave to get fitted for his tux. We were lucky enough to get a suite and Tadd’s mom had the adjoining room. That made life SOOOOO much easier.

The twins were loved and spoiled and loved some more from their Mima and Papa Don. Tadd and I actually went out to dinner with friends without kids (gasp!). I missed the babies but enjoyed getting out. Tadd was gone a lot due to his obligations in the wedding. Where we stayed in Perrysburg, Ohio was like a citywalk. With the hotel at one end and shops, theater, restaurants, bars all along a long boulevard. So there were things to do once you walked out of the hotel.

Since this post is already ridiculously long I’ll finish part 2 later. Until that time I’ll throw in some pictures of why it took me a day and a half to pack. I wont even get into how they wouldn’t take naps that day or when they decided that taking everything out of the suitcase was a great idea.

“Mom, it was Derby who unfolded all the clothes. NOT me, I swear”

It has been a month since I last posted??

Hava — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:56:29 +0000

I wish I could really capture how wild my kids have become. I love them, they crack me up but sometimes I start checking the clock every five minutes wondering when bedtime will arrive. Our house is in a constant state of destruction and the noise levels have caused tinnitus at times.

Here is a vignette of what I dealt with yesterday. I should start by saying both of the kids have colds, not a big deal except I have to keep cleaning snot off of things. Anyways Derby was in a super destructive eat Daddy’s Clive Cussler books mood. I leaned the kiddie korral up against the bookshelf to stop him but he pulled it over on himself. I picked him up and surveyed for damaged but he just wanted to be put down. Before I could move the korral out of the way I see Loen trying to climb onto the dining room table to get my phone. I get Loen down and turn just in time to see Derby pull the korral on himself AGAIN (he’s a boy they take a little longer to realize something is not a good idea). Derby is screaming his head off but otherwise ok. Again he doesn’t want to be comforted he just wants to be put down to walk. He walks away yelling then chokes on snot and pukes on the stairs. Downstairs is hardwood floors, something that would be relatively easy to clean puke off of, but no he goes and pukes on the bottom CARPETED step. I pick up Derby and take him to the sink to clean him up and he pukes again. Loen decides this is a good time to check out the mess on the stairs. By now I’m ready to pull my hair out. I clean up puke and decide to give them a bath since bedtime is in an hour. Everyone seems calmer and cleaner after a bubble bath. While trying to wrangle Derby into a diaper Loen pees on the carpet. WHY IS THE LORD TESTING ME? Kids are clean, pj’d and ready for their daddy to get home. I give up, turn on a Veggie Tales movie and open a beer because it was that kind of day. It feels like everyday is that kind of day.

Enjoy a movie of them being goofy. Perhaps I’ll get up the tale of our trip to Detroit & Ohio in the next week. Don’t worry that also involves puke and urine.

Stopgap

Hava — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:52:49 +0000

As usual I have many posts in the works. Lil Iain’s birthday party in Oakdale, Mima & Grandpa Dons visit, tricycles, etc, etc etc. Until all the pictures get adjusted and I actually do the writing here is a little snippet of our day today. I should add that I am tired since we went to a neighbors “Wine Wednesday” last night and I didn’t eat beforehand (bad idea on my part).

The twins are a wonderful case for nature in the nature vs nurture debate. Loen has been acting very girly, down right prissy, prima donna and dare I say it a drama queen. Derby only has to look like he is going to crawl her way and she will start this annoying fake wail. I have seen her hold her own with older kids but she just gives up with Derby. She will actually lie her head in his lap to let him pull her hair. Perhaps it is an attention thing I don’t know. Rather than rescuing her every time I tell Derby to let go of her hair and for her to stand up. She can walk away for goodness sakes but she seems to forget that. Loen loves her baby doll and gives it a big hug and will feed it a bottle. I gave Derby the doll and he proceeded to beat it over the head with the bottle. He loves trucks, hammers and the wooden knife that came in our Melissa and Doug chopping veggie set. He will actually throw the veggies out of the box till he gets to the knife then crawl around with it in his mouth like a little Jack Sparrow. Speaking of throwing the child loves to chuck toys, balls, shoes, bottles and food behind him.

Loen wants to put on hats and tie scarfs around her waist. I pulled out her Halloween pixie costume and she doesn’t want to part with it. She wore it for a couple of hours last night then it got left on the floor. This morning I took off her PJ’s to dress her and she ran to get the tutu. I put it on her and she immediately did her “so cute” pose (where she puts her hands on either side of her face and smiles) then she ran to our room to look at herself in all of the mirrors. Where did this little girl come from??

She had to check herself in ALL the mirrors

Trying to wear the ball on her head

We also have been climbing on everything just to give their mother a heart attack. I have no clue how Derby gets himself into precarious little spots sometimes. Before lunch Loen decided to climb the high chair which unfortunately fell on her. I am going to have to pad my kids in bubble wrap the amount of times they have gotten hurt lately.

High chair tray mark on Loen’s forehead

God forbid Derby is left out from the bruised forehead club, he went over to the wall and started banging his head and laughing. It was like a scene from the movie Parenthood except he didn’t have a bucket over his head.

Perhaps he was looking for studs?

They are SO BUSY and SO MESSY lately. We have been getting out more with other moms which I love. I get adult conversation and the twins get to play with other kids but man I am tired and OVERWHELMED at times. Yet all I have to do is look over and see them trying to kiss each other through the kiddie korral to make it all worthwhile.

I apologize for the terrible quality of the pictures but they were taken on a cell phone

One last note, the painting my younger brother Souther made for the twins birthday was featured on the cover of the Portland Mercury. You can see the twins likeness on the back of the dino/dragon. Very exciting!

Perhaps I need more adult interaction

Hava — Sat, 17 May 2008 01:37:19 +0000

It is like Stuff on my Cat but the baby version. Rather than doing the things I should be doing (like folding the laundry that is thrown into Derby’s crib) I am taking dorky pictures of the twins. They like it….they told me so. At least they did before they started screaming.

Man, mom don’t you have any Tupac on your iPod?!

Hey esse, wuz up

Even gangstas need a binker sometimes

I finally let Derby just chill with his silky and baby doll

Then he likes to suck on the satin edge

Loen under the silky

Pondering Proust

Super cuteness

I’m trying to decide if this is more South Florida Retirement Chic, Rhoda or “Papa can you hear me” Thoughts?

Oy vey, the price of potatoes these days

Ok Mom I’m done. D-O-N-E got it?

Speaking of screaming. I went on a walk with Jeni and Grady yesterday. The weather reports said it would be a high of 75. I thought it would be so nice, but I noticed as I was packing the car it was starting to feel really warm. I asked Jeni if she wanted to walk or drive to the mall. She wanted to walk (it is a pleasant 1.2 mile walk). It was all well and good before the weather turned MOLTEN LAVA HOT. It was way warmer than 75. We made it down to the mall (the malls are open air in Santa Barbara) and we both had some errands to do there. I made a quick detour to Baby Gap since the twins have been growing out of their clothes so fast, now I am getting 3-6 month outfits! We got stopped (again) by someone commenting on the twins. The usual conversation goes like this when I have them both in the double stroller:

“Oh, you have TWINS?!”

“yes”

“A boy AND a girl. You are so lucky!”

“Thank you. We are lucky”

“Ohhhh, how old are they?”

“Almost 7 months”

“Hmmmm, they are kinda small”

“They were preemies”

“My (insert the following: friend, sister, neighbor, pastor) had a preemie. They were (5 pounds, 2 weeks early, spent 3 days in the NICU…etc) now they are (25, 6′, top of their class……)”

“Oh that is good to hear.” (I don’t tell them that is NOTHING like the twins) Then I attempt to leave before random strangers feel the need to touch them.

Yesterday was a little different because a 4 year old bent down, looked at them and wrinkled up her nose. “It smells like poop, I bet he did it.” She looked at me a moment more and added “But they are cute though”. A well mannered child throws in a compliment after telling you that your kids stink. I thought I would run into Bath and Body Shop (they have great deals on antibacterial soap) before walking to the other end of the mall to Nordstrom. All moms know that Nordstrom has the nicest diaper changing areas. As I was checking out Derby started his new air raid cry. It starts off quiet then escalates till the hair on the back of your neck stands up. I knew I had to get to the changing area fast. Derby’s wails set off Loen who started to scream. I’m hustling to the other end of the mall while the twins turn up the screaming to an 11. People are moving out of my way and throwing me the pity look. I’m starting to sweat because it was so hot. I finally got them changed and rearranged. They slept the whole walk back to Jeni’s house. I was exhausted for the rest of the day. I kept thinking how much nicer it would be if Tadd was there to help me load them up and get our behemoth double stroller in the back. It is an awesome stroller except it weighs 34 pounds. That was my excursion for the week.

Maybe I’m not crazy

Hava — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:08:52 +0000

Lately I’ve been wondering what the hell I was thinking when I decided to become a nurse. The floor has been SO busy with constant admits and discharges, everyday there is 5 patients to a nurse (legally that is the most you can be assigned). I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. I seem to have to stay an hour after my shift is over to catch up on charting and doing one last check to be sure I don’t miss anything. Yesterday a nurse on our floor told me “I’ve been a nurse for 30 years and this is the worst month I have seen”. Later that evening a couple of other nurses said similar things, that it has been insane on our floor. So now I’m starting to feel better, it wasn’t just me being slow. It is partially the floor to blame. They were short staffed last night so when the charge nurse asked if anyone wanted to stay till 11 pm I said sure. I figured I was already on the floor and I would keep my same patients, how hard can it be? I had a busy day but managed to keep on top of it. I had 2 admits, a discharge and a transfer, so lots of paperwork. Tadd came and brought me dinner, mmmmm Taco Bell. Then at 1030 pm I had to give a blood transfusion to one of my patients. He was an older gentlemen and I had to take my time when explaining what was going to happen. When you give someone blood you do a lot of patient education, especially if they have never gotten a transfusion before. You explain the signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction and tell them to call you if they feel different in any way so you can stop the transfusion. This old man took the “feel different in any way” to heart. Even before I started the blood he was telling me he felt something. As it would take 2 hours for the transfusion I left him hooked up to a vital sign machine (checks blood pressure, heart rate, O2 saturation), well the wire for the O2 saturation monitor must have come loose because he called again. The monitor shows a question mark when it cant get a reading, so he was worried he wasn’t getting any oxygen. I did my best to reassure him but was looking forward to going home. I was doing great until 1130 when I sat down to give report to a float nurse who was going to take my patients. I kinda lost my steam and was just a big puddle of mumbling nonsense. I apologized and she was very sweet and patient as I stumbled through report. I didn’t leave until 1230 this morning. Yeah, I don’t think I will be doing the 17 hour shift again anytime soon. I came home and there was a package on the counter from my mother-in-law Tamie. She had sent me a care package from L’Occitane, the most exciting looking product was the Verbena cooling mousse for tired legs. I will be using that later when I finally get my butt out of bed. THANKS TAMIE!!!

In other exciting news as I was sitting down yesterday to chart one of the babes gave a good swift kick. I have been feeling little movements for almost 2 weeks but this was by far the strongest. I just sat there with a dumb grin on my face, people probably thought I was losin it.

My life is now a Jackson Browne song:

I’m going to pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I’ll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I’ll get up and do it again
Amen

Nursing is HARD

Hava — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:06:12 +0000

I sometimes wonder how I am going to make it. 12 hours shifts, on your feet most of the day. I see older, more experienced nurses and they are sitting and chatting. All of their work is done in a timely manner and their charting is up to date. I on the other hand am always running and trying to go over things in my head. Am I missing something? Which wound did I just look at? I had an admit and discharge before 11 am. That sounds easy but you would be surprised with all the paperwork that goes along with that. I was so exhausted when I got home at 8pm. Tadd had cleaned the house and made dinner. I got half way through dinner and was so tired that I thought about spitting out the food in my mouth because I didn’t think I had enough energy to chew it. Maternity leave is looking mighty fine right now.