I'm trying out posting from my phone today, so bear with me. My phone really likes to randomly correct words into strange choices, so if a sentence all of the sudden makes zero sense, now you know why!
We heard from Shriners on Friday, and Miss Sunshine and I head back NEXT WEEK (gulp!) for her ear tube replacement. It will be another up and back trip - nothing like having to fly with a child who literally had surgery that morning. But, as far as surgeries go, this is a fairly minor procedure. And we've done this routine once before, so I'm sure things will be fine. We were also able to space out our flights fairly well, so she will have lots of time to rest and recuperate at the hospital before we head out. Last time, she spiked a fever after the procedure, so I have my fingers crossed that we don't encounter that again. Of course, if we do, what better place to be?
Enrollment for Monster Boy is this week, too. I can't believe he is already in first grade! He is so ready for school to start up again. He has been going stir crazy lately. It has been so hot here that I haven't been able to let the kids play outside, which has been rough for him especially. Hopefully it starts to cool off soon so they can get back to burning energy the good way.
Sometimes an introspection. Sometimes a vent. Maybe entertaining. Maybe thought provoking. Always my life.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Yes, I am a control freak...
I have issues. I know it. I admit it. Heck, sometimes I even embrace them.
I think part of my problem adjusting to Miss Sunshine's cleft was that total out of control feeling. We had no preparation for this - we were thrown into it unarmed, uninformed, and uneducated when she was born. I don't deal well with these kind of situations. I like to be prepared. I was not prepared. I sometimes think that if it was something we had known about before she was born, I would have been better able to deal with it when she was born. It just wasn't the case in our situation.
Once we found out about the cleft, I set about educating myself as best as I could. I researched. I joined support groups (online, since there are none in my city, which I still find shocking, and it is a goal of mine to eventually get one going). I did what I could with the resources I had. It helped me feel better in control. I scheduled every doctors appointment, took her to everything, wrote down questions, tried to write down answers and so on.
Now that Miss Sunshine is older, and our trips are growing (fingers crossed!) less and less frequent for follow up on her cleft, I am finding myself in a position where I have to let go of the reins a bit. See, here's the thing. I did the single parent thing with Monster Boy. Took him to all his doctor's appointments alone. Daddy Mac is an involved parent and now we take turns staying home with sick kiddos (when we were both working full time, that is) and so on. But I still handled the doctors appointments. Daddy Mac just isn't a fan. At my kids' ages, they usually involve shots, and well, Daddy Mac can't stand seeing his kids in pain. So that duty usually falls to me. But, he is pushing for a more active role in her cleft care. He has not gone on a trip to Chicago with us since her surgery - I have handled all post-op and clinic visits on my own. We received word last week that her next clinic visit will be in March. When I mentioned this to Daddy Mac, he informed me that HE would like to take her this time.
Yes, you read that right. He is going to take her to Chicago for her next team visit. Without me. I will be here at home with Monster Boy. I am not sure how I will handle this, but we will deal. I'm having a hard time imagining it right now and it isn't even here yet! But it is time. I have to stop trying to control things so much. And he is an involved Daddy, and he does want to do these things. I have to start letting him.
And hopefully I will manage to get some sleep between now and the time they get back!
I think part of my problem adjusting to Miss Sunshine's cleft was that total out of control feeling. We had no preparation for this - we were thrown into it unarmed, uninformed, and uneducated when she was born. I don't deal well with these kind of situations. I like to be prepared. I was not prepared. I sometimes think that if it was something we had known about before she was born, I would have been better able to deal with it when she was born. It just wasn't the case in our situation.
Once we found out about the cleft, I set about educating myself as best as I could. I researched. I joined support groups (online, since there are none in my city, which I still find shocking, and it is a goal of mine to eventually get one going). I did what I could with the resources I had. It helped me feel better in control. I scheduled every doctors appointment, took her to everything, wrote down questions, tried to write down answers and so on.
Now that Miss Sunshine is older, and our trips are growing (fingers crossed!) less and less frequent for follow up on her cleft, I am finding myself in a position where I have to let go of the reins a bit. See, here's the thing. I did the single parent thing with Monster Boy. Took him to all his doctor's appointments alone. Daddy Mac is an involved parent and now we take turns staying home with sick kiddos (when we were both working full time, that is) and so on. But I still handled the doctors appointments. Daddy Mac just isn't a fan. At my kids' ages, they usually involve shots, and well, Daddy Mac can't stand seeing his kids in pain. So that duty usually falls to me. But, he is pushing for a more active role in her cleft care. He has not gone on a trip to Chicago with us since her surgery - I have handled all post-op and clinic visits on my own. We received word last week that her next clinic visit will be in March. When I mentioned this to Daddy Mac, he informed me that HE would like to take her this time.
Yes, you read that right. He is going to take her to Chicago for her next team visit. Without me. I will be here at home with Monster Boy. I am not sure how I will handle this, but we will deal. I'm having a hard time imagining it right now and it isn't even here yet! But it is time. I have to stop trying to control things so much. And he is an involved Daddy, and he does want to do these things. I have to start letting him.
And hopefully I will manage to get some sleep between now and the time they get back!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Chicago updates, and other such things.
Well, Miss Sunshine and I made the trek back to Shriner's for her post-op check this week. On the positive front, we made the trip there and back relatively in once piece. I had forgotten what an absolute nightmare traveling alone with a small child is. Sheesh.
So, quick summary of the first day of our trip - drive three hours to the airport. Spend nearly half an hour trying to find a parking place that is under cover due to predicted snow. Nearly miss flight. Have to carry baby, backpack and car seat that weighs roughly 3000 pounds (or at least that is how much it FELT like it weighed!) onto the plane. Nice flight attendant carries the car seat down the aisle for me. Miss Sunshine does well on the flight, but the airline only has apple juice that is appropriate for her to drink. Nothing to dilute it with. Wind up giving Miss Sunshine straight apple juice because she is getting fussy and I want to avoid an all out fit. Arrive in Chicago. Take Miss Sunshine out of her car seat to exit the plane and realize she is SOAKED through all of her clothing. Change her into jammies because that is my only option other than her clothes for the next day. Stop in airport to buy one of those little metal wheeled racks to wheel the car seat on because carrying it is SO not working out. Drive to hotel. Check in, get settled in the hotel, change Miss Sunshine because her diaper is on the verge of leaking again. Not 30 seconds after changing her, get AUDIBLE poop. Roll eyes, sigh, and change diaper again. Not a full minute after THAT, yet another round of pooping. Decide I'm going to wait her out for a few minutes so as not to waste any more diapers... Less than five minutes after that decision, we have had countless audible poops, and Miss Sunshine has now leaked POOP onto her jammies - you know, the only other clothing I have for her besides for her clothes for the next day... Give a quick sigh of relief that I had the foresight to rent a car so we could drive to a nearby Target to purchase more jammies for Miss Sunshine, as well as grab dinner. Pick up some jammies, decide last minute to also get a cheap pair of leggings and a t-shirt. Drive back to hotel, feed Miss Sunshine, stick her in travel crib so I can eat, take her out of travel crib and realize she is now soaking wet through her clothes. Say a REAL prayer of thanks that I had the foresight to get that extra outfit so she has clothing to wear to her doctor's appointment. Take Miss Sunshine swimming in the indoor pool. Upon getting back to the room, let her run around naked while I run a bath for her. Miss Sunshine face plants on the HARD hotel room floor and gives herself a bloody nose. Have I mentioned how much it sucks traveling alone with a small child? Finally get her calmed down, give her a cup of milk and get her to sleep. She wakes up several times through the night thanks to sleeping in a strange place. But day two went much better for the most part...
Summary of Day Two: Get up, get dressed, get Miss Sunshine dressed and head to Shriner's for her appointment. She is healing PERFECTLY according to the surgeon (YAY). Speech is going well, they want us to concentrate on B, P and D sounds with her now. Some concern about her weight, they do not feel her weight gain issues are related to her cleft, contrary to pretty much everything I have read, researched or been told about cleft palate. They are going to recommend to our primary care doctor that he refer us to an endocrinologist to test her growth hormone levels. That upset me pretty badly. We then meet up with my cousin's for a late lunch, and head back to the airport. I get turned around in unfamiliar Chicago and have to back track. What took me five minutes to travel in the WRONG direction takes over 20 to travel in the RIGHT one. Not to mention hitting EVERY POSSIBLE traffic delay on the way to the airport. Very nearly missed our flight - thank god it was delayed 20 minutes! (I told the girl at the counter I was probably the only person she ever met who was HAPPY their flight was delayed!). Because I am running so late, I did not have time to put Miss Sunshine in my wrap to walk through the airport. So I am carrying her, my backpack, another bag I bought to contain all the extra clothing I had to purchase thanks to our adventure the day before, and the car seat. Struggle through security. Pick her back up on after reloading and realize - Yep, she has soaked through yet another diaper (have I mentioned how much I hate disposables now that I use cloth?). Luckily, due to the flight delay, I have JUST enough time to stop and change her diaper at least. She's going to have to tough it out in her wet pants because I have nothing else to put her in at this point - she has peed or pooped on every article of clothing I brought and/or bought for her with the exception of a pair of pajama shorts - and its in the teens where we are heading so that won't work. Struggle my way on the plane with the assistance of some VERY nice gentlemen, where Miss Sunshine proceeds to fuss or cry or scream for nearly the entire flight. Said nice gentlemen then help me off the plane with Miss Sunshine (an hour later than scheduled and I am now DRAINED) where I have a three hour drive home. I'm still trying to catch back up!
During our trip, Miss Sunshine developed a slight cough, which turned into a ridiculously runny nose, wet cough and low-grade fever yesterday, so now we get to have antibiotics on top of everything else!
We have many other happenings in our house as well, but since this took so much space, I'm going to leave them for another time!
So, quick summary of the first day of our trip - drive three hours to the airport. Spend nearly half an hour trying to find a parking place that is under cover due to predicted snow. Nearly miss flight. Have to carry baby, backpack and car seat that weighs roughly 3000 pounds (or at least that is how much it FELT like it weighed!) onto the plane. Nice flight attendant carries the car seat down the aisle for me. Miss Sunshine does well on the flight, but the airline only has apple juice that is appropriate for her to drink. Nothing to dilute it with. Wind up giving Miss Sunshine straight apple juice because she is getting fussy and I want to avoid an all out fit. Arrive in Chicago. Take Miss Sunshine out of her car seat to exit the plane and realize she is SOAKED through all of her clothing. Change her into jammies because that is my only option other than her clothes for the next day. Stop in airport to buy one of those little metal wheeled racks to wheel the car seat on because carrying it is SO not working out. Drive to hotel. Check in, get settled in the hotel, change Miss Sunshine because her diaper is on the verge of leaking again. Not 30 seconds after changing her, get AUDIBLE poop. Roll eyes, sigh, and change diaper again. Not a full minute after THAT, yet another round of pooping. Decide I'm going to wait her out for a few minutes so as not to waste any more diapers... Less than five minutes after that decision, we have had countless audible poops, and Miss Sunshine has now leaked POOP onto her jammies - you know, the only other clothing I have for her besides for her clothes for the next day... Give a quick sigh of relief that I had the foresight to rent a car so we could drive to a nearby Target to purchase more jammies for Miss Sunshine, as well as grab dinner. Pick up some jammies, decide last minute to also get a cheap pair of leggings and a t-shirt. Drive back to hotel, feed Miss Sunshine, stick her in travel crib so I can eat, take her out of travel crib and realize she is now soaking wet through her clothes. Say a REAL prayer of thanks that I had the foresight to get that extra outfit so she has clothing to wear to her doctor's appointment. Take Miss Sunshine swimming in the indoor pool. Upon getting back to the room, let her run around naked while I run a bath for her. Miss Sunshine face plants on the HARD hotel room floor and gives herself a bloody nose. Have I mentioned how much it sucks traveling alone with a small child? Finally get her calmed down, give her a cup of milk and get her to sleep. She wakes up several times through the night thanks to sleeping in a strange place. But day two went much better for the most part...
Summary of Day Two: Get up, get dressed, get Miss Sunshine dressed and head to Shriner's for her appointment. She is healing PERFECTLY according to the surgeon (YAY). Speech is going well, they want us to concentrate on B, P and D sounds with her now. Some concern about her weight, they do not feel her weight gain issues are related to her cleft, contrary to pretty much everything I have read, researched or been told about cleft palate. They are going to recommend to our primary care doctor that he refer us to an endocrinologist to test her growth hormone levels. That upset me pretty badly. We then meet up with my cousin's for a late lunch, and head back to the airport. I get turned around in unfamiliar Chicago and have to back track. What took me five minutes to travel in the WRONG direction takes over 20 to travel in the RIGHT one. Not to mention hitting EVERY POSSIBLE traffic delay on the way to the airport. Very nearly missed our flight - thank god it was delayed 20 minutes! (I told the girl at the counter I was probably the only person she ever met who was HAPPY their flight was delayed!). Because I am running so late, I did not have time to put Miss Sunshine in my wrap to walk through the airport. So I am carrying her, my backpack, another bag I bought to contain all the extra clothing I had to purchase thanks to our adventure the day before, and the car seat. Struggle through security. Pick her back up on after reloading and realize - Yep, she has soaked through yet another diaper (have I mentioned how much I hate disposables now that I use cloth?). Luckily, due to the flight delay, I have JUST enough time to stop and change her diaper at least. She's going to have to tough it out in her wet pants because I have nothing else to put her in at this point - she has peed or pooped on every article of clothing I brought and/or bought for her with the exception of a pair of pajama shorts - and its in the teens where we are heading so that won't work. Struggle my way on the plane with the assistance of some VERY nice gentlemen, where Miss Sunshine proceeds to fuss or cry or scream for nearly the entire flight. Said nice gentlemen then help me off the plane with Miss Sunshine (an hour later than scheduled and I am now DRAINED) where I have a three hour drive home. I'm still trying to catch back up!
During our trip, Miss Sunshine developed a slight cough, which turned into a ridiculously runny nose, wet cough and low-grade fever yesterday, so now we get to have antibiotics on top of everything else!
We have many other happenings in our house as well, but since this took so much space, I'm going to leave them for another time!
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