Mom's blinks: It isn't always roses.

Yesterday my poor baby (Alex) puked up everything he ate.  He was doing better, so we went to dinner for Grandpa's birthday and after nursing for not long at all, he puked up everything he had eaten and more all over me, the table, the floor, himself...

Daddy is traveling, and grandma and grandpa were with us for two nights.  After they left, mommy decided it would be best for us (Mommy, toddler, baby) to go to church together.  Colin kept hollering "Something different, home!" Once, after mommy whispered in his ear 'we are praying now' he shouted "No more prayer!"  He then begged over and over again to 'visit Mary' (who told him the statue outside was Mary??).  Meanwhile; baby, who had a major blow out on the way to church (it's like two miles dude, serioulsy??) refused to sleep, despite being super tired and instead just fussed and cried. Mommy tried to juggle both cranky children and debated in her head a million times if she should just leave.

I balanced my babies, as best as I could, while listening and participating as much as I could. I prayed with them when they were quiet and for them when they were not. I bounced, juggled and cajoled, Amazingly, I heard most of the readings and homily. Miracously, we all survived.  And instead of the admonishment I was expecting when I turned around to greet the people behind me, I was met with grace, a compliment that I was doing a great job and a reminder that there presence was important.  (She said something beautiful, and looked as though she would have said more, but alas, Colin started to take off and and I had my hands full again).

As soon as the priest announced that mass was over, and we should go in peace, my trio of chaos slipped out in as much peace as we could muster.  Colin immediately darted to the statue of Mary and found the roses.  I took a second to soothe the baby and Colin found out that roses have thorns... (no blood, but he was a bit upset)

So perhaps my title is wrong.  It is always roese, just not always the flowers.   It felt like the longest few hours, but even now, only a few hours later, with my back still aching and my headache only recently subsided, I already appreciate that these really are the moments I'll treasure forever.

Brag, Beat, Variance

WSOP time is upon us once again and in honor:

Brag: I have a wonderful baby boy and hugely supportive awesomely involved husband.  Beat: My husband is in Vegas playing the WSOP while said baby is suffering his first major illness.  Variance: I've swallowed my parenting pride and learned it's okay vital to ask for help.

Apologies to the poker community if I messed that up. :)

As is summarized above, we had an unfortunate first this week: Colin's first ER visit.  He started seeming unwell mid last week, but Friday night he woke up wheezing and having difficulty breathing.  After calming him down and calling the doctor, we were on our way to the ER.

Colin finally asleep at the ER

 Colin has Croup.  Apparently it's somewhat common, but terrifying.  My pediatrician told me it's the only thing he's ever taken his children to the ER for.  The ER visit was awful, but I can't imagine it could be anything but at 2 am on a Friday night.  It took four hours and of course there was an extremely intoxicated patient in the waiting room.  The past two nights have been hell.  In the middle of the croup, Colin cut his first two teeth.  And while it might be related to teething, he may be starting a growth spurt judging by his sudden increase in milk demand.  Talk about the perfect storm.

It's been the hardest few days we've had since those first difficult days in NICU.  I'm incredibly grateful my mom was here to help me, I don't know how I would have done it alone.  I'm also very lucky that when I thought about what would happen if I were alone, a long list of people I could call for help came to mind.  Parenting is hard, maybe even impossible alone.  I'm so grateful I have so many people around me to help.

Baby is currently napping and I'm hoping he's feeling better soon.  Daddy is due home after his current tournament.