Comet

Although I am not sure the source, I absolutely love Robby's enthusiasm for science. Given the opportunity, he would habitually pick watching the Science Channel and various educational documentaries over cartoons. Needless to say, yesterday's landing on the comet really sent my little guy into a tailspin.

We have had the comet landing marked on our calendar for weeks. Yesterday morning he woke up grinning from ear to ear, proudly exclaiming that today he was going to witness history. He was especially impressed with the fact that landing on a comet was something that has never been achieved, hence it was "rare."  (Have I mentioned that he is into anything dubbed "rare" at the moment.) Robby walked into his school like a trumpeter heralding the comet landing. I was relieved to learn that his teacher had already rearranged the lessons for the day so that Robby and his class could watch the event.

After dropping him off I drove home and began working.  My phone rang at 10:45 and although I looked at the caller ID out of habit, I knew it was Robby's school.  Somehow my little guy convinced his teacher to grant him a phone call so that he could remind me of the landing. I assured him that I was watching, listened to him yammer about the "super duper rare event" that was about to occur before telling him to go back to class.

I have to admit that I have never been into astronomy, but I found myself excited and squealing when contact was established and the landing was confirmed. The fact that a small vehicle could intersect with a moving comet, 4 billion miles away, is simply awe inspiring. I cannot even fathom the intellect required to tackle such an seemingly unattainable goal. The engineers' mothers must be so proud of their sons and daughters!

Within minutes of the landing my phone rang again. Robby's teacher was laughing on the other end of the receiver. She explained that Robby had worked the class into a near frenzy state as the expected landing time approached.  According to his teacher, Robby erupted with cheers and fist bumps when communication was established.  Within moments the rest of the students followed suit, participating in Robby's comet celebration.  (Note to self: make the teacher another batch of brownies. She deserves them!)

Robby was simply gleeful when his teacher handed him the phone. I had no doubt that he was genuinely excited about what has been accomplished. I'm so happy that science, engineering and math excite him. Who knows, perhaps someday he will be overseeing his own rocket exploration missions. 

Vacation Day

Yesterday was nice but chaotic. I have come to rely upon my routine, and the disruption of having everybody at home on a Tuesday sent everything into a tailspin. I enjoy having a full house, but it certainly complicates things on my end.

After struggling against the constant interruptions, I finally surrendered to the fact that I wasn't going to get much work done. I shut off my computer and resolved myself to an early morning to catch up on my projects. In the meantime, I vowed to make the most of having everybody home. 

Before going to breakfast, Robby asked if he could post on my Facebook page. I allowed him access with the caveat that I would immediately delete anything inappropriate. The little guy worked for about 10 minutes until he deemed it perfect.  "Hi. This is Robby. Today is momoms walking day. Momom is a good mom. Walking with a prosthetic is rare. That makes her special. I am lucky since she is rare. We are going to eat at ihop. bye"  Needless to say, I allowed it to stay on my wall. 

I love that Robby is proud of me. He is at an age where he is beginning to appreciate my prosthetic use and the difficulties I have encountered. He is also in a phase where he is impressed by anything that he deems rare.  I am happy that, in this situation, I fit the bill!

My impromptu vacation day was wonderful. I was able to go for a long walk through the neighborhood with Robby and Timmy before going out for a nice dinner. I know that I'll have to work twice as hard today to catch up, but it will be worth it.  Sometimes, everybody needs to unplug- including this "rare" Momom. 

Walking Day!

Life is full of somber remembrances. From the day of my original accident to the final amputation, try as I might I can't forget the dates. It is nice to finally have a date to celebrate. Today is my Walking Day!

Eleven years ago I took my first steps (literally and figuratively) into my new life as an amputee. I was unsure about everything, from how my body moved and looked to how the prosthetic felt and worked. Somehow in that small little room, I managed to summon my courage, put down the crutches and put my first foot forward.

Within mere minutes I was walking again. It wasn't pretty, but it was functional and without crutches. I felt like WonderWoman overpowering the fiercest foe. I've had a few setbacks in the past eleven years, but despite everything I have kept moving forward.

Today I celebrate everything that I have accomplished. Learning to walk with a prosthesis is an empowering experience. No matter what life throws at me, I simply need to remember the uncertainty that I felt and I am reminded about the depth of my strength. Eleven years ago today I have learned that I am stronger than I realized, and that I am a fighter. 

Happy Walking Day to me!

Another Poop Blog (of sorts)

Well, my weekend aspirations of rest, recuperation and rejuvenation never materialized. Although I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with my Mom, I ended up being busier and more stressed than I had anticipated. My sister's three children were home from school and I love them all dearly, but wow they can be a handful! They weren't necessarily bad, they just produce a whirlwind of constant commotion that is foreign for me. I honestly don't know how my Mom is able to do it!

In the middle off the kid tornado, Timmy acquired a tummy bug. He was producing copious amounts of diarrhea, habitually soaking through his diapers and clothing every two hours. When he wasn't experiencing a fecal explosion, he was happy and content, but everything changed when the cramping returned. 

Although dealing with the mess (and there was a lot of it) was frustrating, I felt horrible for my little Timmy. As the issue crept into the third day I began to worry. Once prolific vomiting entered the mix, I knew that dehydration was a real danger. I called his pediatrician who encouraged me to take him to the ER.  I packed up Robby and his bum sore little brother and began what turned into an extremely long drive back to VA. Thankfully we didn't hit traffic, but we did have to stop several times for baby wardrobe changes.

As it turns out, instead of chilling out with my Mom, my Saturday night was spent with Timmy as he experienced his first ER visit. I hated that he was at the hospital, but his lips were already becoming chapped and no home remedies were providing relief. After demonstrating the viciousness of his ailment by thoroughly dousing the doctor (and her assistant) while they were trying to take a rectal temperature, the examination and treatment moved quickly. He was given something to calm his little tummy, fluids to replenish what was lost and we were sent home with the warning that the diarrhea could persist for another 2-5 days. 

So, the next few days I will continue to delve into the not so glamorous side of motherhood as I contend with vomit and poop simultaneously.  He has a fever but continues to remain relatively happy. Seeing him smile through his diaper changes certainly helps to soften the disgust element of the task at hand.  Fingers crossed that this doesn't spread to anybody else in the family.

Mom's House

Robby doesn't have school today because of teacher in-service meetings. In the absence of looming appointments, I decided to pack up the boys and head to my Mom's for the weekend. Robby was over-the-moon to be able to visit his Nana and play with his cousins for a few days. My Mom seemed happy to see him and Timmy, while I reveling in the anticipation of a solid night sleep. 

I am not sure my Mom truly understands how much I appreciate her assuming nighttime Timmy duty when I visit. Sleeping for more than three hours feels like an absolute luxury. I no longer dream of going to a spa to relax. Since having the baby, my definition of relaxation has been redefined to mean not waking up every few hours to change diapers and prepare bottles. 

The next few days will be spent running a few errands, but primarily just relaxing and talking. I have a long list of things that need to be done at home and, lacking the energy to tackle them, it seemed prudent to just leave for awhile so I don't stress and worry. I need a few days to just rest and recover from the ear infections and strep throat. I have no doubt that in another day or two I'll be back to my normal self. Until then, I think I just need my Mom. 

Feeding Time

Little Timmy has hit another milestone.  In addition to being able to sit independently (with the help of his shell from the turtle costume), he is starting to eat some solid foods. Unlike Robby, who was a fabulous eater from the beginning, Timmy seems to be struggling with this new skill. While he doesn't cooperate when the spoon is coming towards his mouth, the jaw strength that he demonstrates by refusing to open his lips is impressive. 

Timmy's first eating experience was a full blown event in our house. To my surprise Robby even paused his Xbox game so that he could participate. He asked to be the first one to feed Timmy and thinking it would help fortify the brotherly bond, we agreed. 

It turns out that we were far more excited about Timmy's first spoonful than he. Oblivious to the monumental occasion, he cheerfully smiled in the bouncy seat while his big brother prepared to feed him. Actually, feed is probably not the best descriptor. Robby's vision of feeding his brother entailed simply shoving the spoon into his mouth when he cracked a smile. 

Although Timmy seemed to love his first meal of smashed bananas, the other feedings have not been nearly as successful. He has begun clamping down his lips as soon as I place him in the chair for his meal. He refuses to open his little mouth and my working the spoon between his lips only results in the food being spit out with great prejudice.  How could such a little baby spit pureed carrots 4 feet, squarely hitting the wall behind me?  He is young, but certainly stubborn and doesn't shy away from demonstrating his wishes!

After an unsuccessful and incredibly messy battle over carrots, I broke down and called the pediatrician. I knew that mealtime should not be stressful, especially at this young age. She agreed that perhaps a break is in order, allowing him a little bit more time to mature and me an opportunity to regroup. Hopefully when we resume he will be a little more receptive to the meals.  If not, I am going to need to buy a lot more bibs.

Sick and Lonely

Despite opening my computer yesterday morning to be greeted by a busy schedule, I knew that most of the items on tap would be rescheduled. I have fought it for a week, but was finally rendered with little doubt that I was sick.

My sore throat, only a mild inconvenience, had morphed into being moderately painful. More of an annoyance than my sore throat, for some reason my uvula (the dangling thing in the back of the throat) had swollen to nearly three times its normal size turning each swallow into a deliberate and uncomfortable event.  Although I didn't have a fever, my telltale sign for taking it easy, I am beginning to appreciate the other signals my body sends. I guess learning to listen to my body is a skill that comes with age. A physician's diagnosis of strep throat and double ear infection confirmed my fears: I was sick.

I cancelled my external meetings for the day with the intention of resting as much as Timmy would allow. Unfortunately, babies don't understand (or perhaps they simply don't care) if Momom needs a sick day. He was happy and active, demanding my full (albeit dwindling) energy. Yesterday was one of those days where I wish I had friends or family who lived close enough for me to call for help. Lacking any extra hands, I began to feel not only sick but also very much alone. 

I don't live on a street lined with neighbors and friends. While I'm on friendly terms with the few individuals with whom we share our little road, especially Mr. Bill, I'm not able to call them for help when I'm sick. Mr. Bill, who has helped us immensely over the years, has made it clear that he does not feel comfortable caring for babies. I will always respect his wishes by never asking him to help with Timmy. 

I have a lot of friends, but none of them live in my geographical area. It's strange. They never feel far away until I am in a situation where I could benefit from proximity.  Sometimes, talking on the phone or communicating via internet isn't enough. Yesterday, in addition to feeling yucky, I began to really miss my friends!

Feeling sick and lonely, I surrendered myself to a "feel bad" day. I entertained Timmy when possible, and allowed him to play by himself when I needed to rest. We did a lot of sitting and rocking, but he didn't complain. I streamed Christmas movies and tried to put the feelings of isolation out of my mind. I only managed to achieve a festively depressed state. 

Although I didn't want to spend the day resting and feeling sad, I think it was necessary. My body was crying out for a break, and perhaps my psyche was just as needy. Either way, my little sick day pity party was just what I needed. Some more rest, additional fluids and a few more doses of antibiotics should bring me back to my normally exhausted self.