Wednesday, August 26, 2015
A good nights rest... What the hell is that?
It took a lot for me to not get up last night and write this out... As you may have read yesterday in the teething baby post, my daughter wakes up in the night still.. Magically, I am automatically the one who gets up to deal with her. We're talking getting formula, changing her diaper or attempting to stand and rock half awake to try to get her to snooze.. It's more than that sadly that keeps me from having a good nights sleep... When I get ready for bed I have a few ritual things I do before I allow myself to drift off to dreamland... Assuming the baby is already in bed, I check on her to make sure her legs are covered up (she sleeps with a blanket that is tucked under the mattress and only makes up to her waist.. calm down.), if I haven't already gotten a shower, I get one. After the shower I get dressed and brush my teeth, plug in my phone after turning off the ringer and checking my alarm, I turn on the fan (yeah, I'm one of those... Even if it's freezing..), check on the baby again, move the pillows I won't be using (because I have ABOUT.. 9 pillows total on my bed..), climb into bed, adjust my pillows, pull up the blanket and close my eyes. If I lay there and am not totally ready to zonk out I'll either turn on the TV quietly, have some time with my husband or play on my phone. Once I go to sleep it's usually anywhere between 10 and 11:30ish.. Aside from the baby getting up (which is usually anywhere between 1 and 4am), I have other things that wake me up... Having to go to the bathroom, a crappy dream, my husband talking in his sleep, my husband getting in MY space on my side of the bed (we're talking more than cuddling.. more like smothering.. thankfully, doesn't happen that often), my husband snoring, having to get a drink, checking on the baby to make sure she hasn't rolled to her belly (most nights she does.. it still scares me..), having to reposition the blanket my husband has taken over, having to adjust the pillows that just aren't working right, trying to figure out if the sound I just heard was in my head or really the house, a child waking me (yes it's ALWAYS ME!) because of a bad dream, a child waking me because they don't feel good or I wake up because of one of those things and I end up THINKING about something that floods my thoughts no matter how hard I try to get rid of it. It's a vicious cycle that usually wins.. Before I know it, it's 7am and my alarm is going off or about to go off so I have to get up and get my kids ready for school. As if by some crazy coincidence (every freaking day...), by the time they are ready to walk out the door, my baby decides it's time for HER to get up... It's hard to be dragging when I look at the smiling face but my god...I don't drink coffee and I don't do energy drinks... Blah.. I kind of wish I had taken more naps while I was pregnant and was in the house by myself through the day... Think of the bits of energy I could have stored... I know it doesn't work that way but STILL! I would love a solid week of full nights sleep... No interruptions whatsoever... No baby stuff.. no dreams from anyone.. no snoring or creepy sounds or needing to pee in the middle of the night at all... Ahhhh.... It would be wonderful.. WONDERFUL! It's too bad that I probably won't know that feeling for a few years still... :( A good nights rest is just another thing for me to dream about. So when you lay your pretty little head down to go to sleep tonight, hopefully you can be thankful that you can lay there knowing you don't have to worry about this kind of stuff interrupting your slumber... And for those of you with similar bed time stories to mine... I am sorry.. I am so so sorry!!! Good luck tonight everyone! Here's hoping for 2 times awake or less and not MORE! :) Good night! -Super Mom
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
The horrific and maddening times of a teething baby... :/
Yes that's right... My once upon a time premie is now a soon to be nine month teething nightmare! The first one came a while back and she was a little fussier than usual but I understood.. "Poor little baby.." I would think. But NOW.. She's up to SIX teeth trying to come in and she's INSANE! I know that it's not her fault and it's just another part of a baby growing but my GOD man! Everything is intensified... Her crying.. her disregard for taking naps.. her mood swings.. her drool puddles. Don't get me wrong, with her little white smile she's very cute there's no denying it! Three little teeth on top and bottom shine bright when she does that little grin that melts my heart... Except.. she did the SAME grin after she leaned down to my arm and BIT ME today! I actually had six tiny impressions from her brief cannibalistic moment! I would've and should've taken a picture if my phone wasn't charging in the other room at that moment.... There is nothing that is safe in reach of that girl these days... toys.. cables.. clothes.. and even though she gets her hands on everything, she never seems to be happy with what she's got! I have bought rings that you put in the fridge, different soft chewy toys, rubber chewy toys and even give her popsicles to help... The whole process of trying to find the perfect thing is exhausting and I have yet discover it. It makes me feel like I'm shopping for my bulldog at the pet store.. That beast only has one toy (after purchasing SEVERAL....) that he hasn't totally destroyed yet and it's a mini TIRE! Hmmm... Now that I think about it.. Would I be considered a crazy person if I went to somewhere like say... PetSmart... and bought a tiny rubber tire like thing from the puppy section... hmmm....Oh I won't actually DO IT! Probably... I honestly can't wait to be able to hand her something delicious and not have to worry about cutting it into nibble sized bites. Like here honey, have a cookie, a cracker, a banana or ANYTHING she can sink her teeth into. Seriously, I am all for the teeth BEING there... But GETTING there...AHHHHHHH!!!! I remember back in the day (I won't tell you how far back... I mean I got bit today.. That's enough...) when I shared a room with my baby brother... I was almost asleep when mom crept in and put him in his crib on the other side of the room. She slowly closed the door behind her and just as I was about to be carried off to dreamland, I hear this loud, piercing SHRIEK coming from the crib. It wasn't stopping... I figured (or HOPED) that she would come right back in to inspect the situation or even take him OUT of the room but as I waited... Nothing... My mom wasn't coming in and my brother wasn't shutting up! I climbed out of my bed and walked over to him.. I looked down and because it was dark, I turned on the flashlight that was on my dresser and held it up enough for me to see without blinding him. As he wiggled and stretched and screamed with his mouth wide open I looked at his mouth and saw a tiny little glimmer of a white line.. His first tooth... I had thought he was so precious.. before that night and discovery... from then on it was like clockwork.. I would try to sleep or play or watch a show and his screams of discomfort (not that I thought that way at that age... but still..) were the only noises I could hear... Very annoying and seemed to go on for a very long time... Then I come back to the here and now... Damn... Six teeth seems like a lot.. but it's really not.. it's only been a few months but it's just going to keep going! Spitting out food and rubbing her face... Rolling all around refusing naps (AND getting up in the night..)... Picking up and throwing down thirty different toys because she can't find the right one (and neither can I!)... and worse... I have a feeling that I need to save my skin every time I see that pearly grinning mouth open because that little nibble she got today HURT! I know it's something every parent (and sibling) has to suffer through and I also know that I have a long way to go until she's at the perfect comfort level (if there even is such a thing for kids..) but having just put my whining teething monster to bed for the first time since 2:30... I just needed a second to vent... Thanks for absorbing all that for me! Have a great rest of your Tuesday night everyone and for the love of your skin, stay away from your baby's mouth! -The truly super TIRED (and apparently snack worthy) Super Mom
Mirena Update!
Good evening everyone... Since my last post I have been getting ready for the start of school, shooting weddings (photography of course..), editing those photos (THOUSANDS) and getting ready for my surgery... A quick recap.. (For the whole scare, read the post marked Mirena scare, beware!) Let's go back to last week.. Monday to be precise...
With the Mirena IUD making it feel like I'm being pinched and stung in my abdomen, I was more than ready to receive that phone call from my doctor saying my surgery was approved. Sure enough, within a few hours, I received a call... It was the surgery scheduler telling me that I was on the docket for Wednesday.. As in, two days later. I started freaking out a little and asked if my doctor had received the approval from my insurance, she said she didn't know but would find out. Friday came and I hadn't heard anything else since I had called my doctor Tuesday afternoon. The weekend came and went and Monday was here. I got the phone call that my surgery was approved and though my nerves were kicking in at the thought of it being real, I was also thankful because I was tired of the annoying, pinching pain! I had to go in Tuesday for my pre-op assessment and work. The first thing I see was a bill for almost $5,000 that I had to sign. My heart stopped for a second because, DAMN! Thankfully it was just what was being billed to my insurance! The doctor checked me out and went over the overall procedure - the time estimate, possible (though improbable) risks, pain management, restrictions... and so on. Then it was off to the actual surgery center for blood work and a round of fifty questions. After everything was said and I was given a stack of knowledgeable (and boring) paperwork and some clinical soap to use for two showers, I went home. That night I got a shower with this red liquid soap the nurse had given me. It smelled like a bad clearance potpourri.. But I had to use IT and nothing else.. Instead of falling asleep soundly and quickly, I did the one thing that you SHOULDN'T do the day before surgery... Think of the BAD things that could happen... During my sit down with the doctor earlier, she was telling me that though it was highly unlikely, there were ALWAYS risks when it comes to surgery. In my case, the small possibilities were then slicing my bowels or scraping my uterus... and so on. So while I lay in my bed NOT sleeping, I couldn't help but think of three possibilities... One.. I wake up with a giant scar because the small incision I was told about wasn't big enough for them to use... Two.. I wake up in the ER because I'm bleeding internally because of a slip or misjudgment with a tool... and three.. I go under.. and I DON'T wake up. All insane and probably irrational fears but, there they were! I kept waking up through the night. Once for my stirring little baby and the rest for crazy dreams.. By the time it was 6:18am, I decided to just get up and take my second shower with the nasty soap. I was still nervous... When I finished with the shower I got dressed in comfy clothes like the doctor told me I should do and attempted to straighten my hair with no product. The thing I don't like about surgery... You can't wear ANYTHING product wise... Nothing in your hair... no makeup.. no perfume.. not even deodorant! :/ There's also the whole "don't eat or drink anything after midnight..." GREAT! So I smell like bad potpourri, I have no makeup whatsoever, I'm starving and I have three hours until my surgery... Wonderful start to a Wednesday... After dealing with the baby, getting the girls up and ready to go and waking my husband up to get ready and go.. It was time. They never told me that my husband had to be inside with me so instead of bringing the whole mob into the hospital, I had him drop me at the door. Of course I make my way upstairs, sign in and then am told that he DOES need to be there... Ahh.. I get in my little prep and recovery room, call him, meet a nurse who takes my vitals, meet the anesthesiologist who gives me papers to sign, listen to his speech, see my husband, get undressed, slip on a gown, take out my piercings (ALL OF THEM!), throw on a hair net, climb into the bed, meet a new nurse who offers a blanket, take the blanket, get my IV and then grab my husbands hand... I had a little prep team come in and give me a little something to calm my nerves and within five minutes of that I was being wheeled through a maze of halls and doors. I even said to the nurse I don't think I could make it back to my room without asking for directions. She smiled and said that they would be taking me back and I didn't need to worry about it. Before long I was in the operating room under bright dome lights and the masked faces of about six different people. They placed a mask over my mouth and nose and told me to take deep breaths... I think I did two deep breaths and I was OUT...
About 50 minutes later (or so I was told anyway) I was trying like hell to open my eyes and keep them open through the grogginess I was still feeling. A nurse was there trying to ask me questions like who I was.. what did I get done.. that kind of thing. I spent 15 minutes with her and her inquiries before I was rolled back to my room. I was under a sheet and a blanket my initial nurse had given me and was wishing I had taken her up on her offer for a second one.. A few minutes of being alone and then my husband was in there with me. I asked for my purse so I could replace all of my piercings and then attempted to stand so I could get myself dressed. I managed to make it into the bathroom, a little wobbly at first but was able to get in, close the door and pull on my comfy clothes. I was told that everything had gone as planned. They were able to get to the IUD with only making two small incisions and also put in a new Mirena while the camera was still in to ensure proper placement. I had some pain as to be expected but it wasn't the kind I was having thankfully. We made it to the car, stopped by the pharmacy to grab my pain meds and finally headed home. Under orders to take it easy.. I tried to do just that. I wasn't allowed to shower for 24 hours so I figured the next best thing should be done... SLEEP. And I did.. A nice, somewhat long, nap of dreamless sleep. I was very thankful that my husband could take the day from work to help me out (or watch over me says the doctor..) and let me just relax a little.. I'll admit that getting comfortable was a bit of a challenge at first.. It reminded me of being pregnant where I could only achieve comfort on one side with pillows wedged everywhere propping me up every which way. There was also a time that came later that night where the gas they had put in me to help inflate everything made its way up into my shoulders and neck region.. Oh my LORD that hurt more than the cuts! It was a constant pressure that felt like someone was standing on my shoulders grinding their shoes into the sides of my neck or something. Anyway... The rogue IUD is now out, pain is gone, new IUD is in (and working hopefully....) and I go in for a checkup this week. It was a pain in the ass but I'm glad it's all good now! Hopefully you other Mirena users out there never experience the same crap I did! It's a scary situation! Thanks for reading the update! -Super Mom
PS... I had my surgery from this story almost 2 weeks ago... I have been writing this little blurb here and there since then... an 8 month old, school, house crap, 3 weddings and editing over 6,000 (yes THOUSAND) photos..... My writing has definitely been lacking... However... That's about to change!!!! Stay tuned!!! ;)
With the Mirena IUD making it feel like I'm being pinched and stung in my abdomen, I was more than ready to receive that phone call from my doctor saying my surgery was approved. Sure enough, within a few hours, I received a call... It was the surgery scheduler telling me that I was on the docket for Wednesday.. As in, two days later. I started freaking out a little and asked if my doctor had received the approval from my insurance, she said she didn't know but would find out. Friday came and I hadn't heard anything else since I had called my doctor Tuesday afternoon. The weekend came and went and Monday was here. I got the phone call that my surgery was approved and though my nerves were kicking in at the thought of it being real, I was also thankful because I was tired of the annoying, pinching pain! I had to go in Tuesday for my pre-op assessment and work. The first thing I see was a bill for almost $5,000 that I had to sign. My heart stopped for a second because, DAMN! Thankfully it was just what was being billed to my insurance! The doctor checked me out and went over the overall procedure - the time estimate, possible (though improbable) risks, pain management, restrictions... and so on. Then it was off to the actual surgery center for blood work and a round of fifty questions. After everything was said and I was given a stack of knowledgeable (and boring) paperwork and some clinical soap to use for two showers, I went home. That night I got a shower with this red liquid soap the nurse had given me. It smelled like a bad clearance potpourri.. But I had to use IT and nothing else.. Instead of falling asleep soundly and quickly, I did the one thing that you SHOULDN'T do the day before surgery... Think of the BAD things that could happen... During my sit down with the doctor earlier, she was telling me that though it was highly unlikely, there were ALWAYS risks when it comes to surgery. In my case, the small possibilities were then slicing my bowels or scraping my uterus... and so on. So while I lay in my bed NOT sleeping, I couldn't help but think of three possibilities... One.. I wake up with a giant scar because the small incision I was told about wasn't big enough for them to use... Two.. I wake up in the ER because I'm bleeding internally because of a slip or misjudgment with a tool... and three.. I go under.. and I DON'T wake up. All insane and probably irrational fears but, there they were! I kept waking up through the night. Once for my stirring little baby and the rest for crazy dreams.. By the time it was 6:18am, I decided to just get up and take my second shower with the nasty soap. I was still nervous... When I finished with the shower I got dressed in comfy clothes like the doctor told me I should do and attempted to straighten my hair with no product. The thing I don't like about surgery... You can't wear ANYTHING product wise... Nothing in your hair... no makeup.. no perfume.. not even deodorant! :/ There's also the whole "don't eat or drink anything after midnight..." GREAT! So I smell like bad potpourri, I have no makeup whatsoever, I'm starving and I have three hours until my surgery... Wonderful start to a Wednesday... After dealing with the baby, getting the girls up and ready to go and waking my husband up to get ready and go.. It was time. They never told me that my husband had to be inside with me so instead of bringing the whole mob into the hospital, I had him drop me at the door. Of course I make my way upstairs, sign in and then am told that he DOES need to be there... Ahh.. I get in my little prep and recovery room, call him, meet a nurse who takes my vitals, meet the anesthesiologist who gives me papers to sign, listen to his speech, see my husband, get undressed, slip on a gown, take out my piercings (ALL OF THEM!), throw on a hair net, climb into the bed, meet a new nurse who offers a blanket, take the blanket, get my IV and then grab my husbands hand... I had a little prep team come in and give me a little something to calm my nerves and within five minutes of that I was being wheeled through a maze of halls and doors. I even said to the nurse I don't think I could make it back to my room without asking for directions. She smiled and said that they would be taking me back and I didn't need to worry about it. Before long I was in the operating room under bright dome lights and the masked faces of about six different people. They placed a mask over my mouth and nose and told me to take deep breaths... I think I did two deep breaths and I was OUT...
About 50 minutes later (or so I was told anyway) I was trying like hell to open my eyes and keep them open through the grogginess I was still feeling. A nurse was there trying to ask me questions like who I was.. what did I get done.. that kind of thing. I spent 15 minutes with her and her inquiries before I was rolled back to my room. I was under a sheet and a blanket my initial nurse had given me and was wishing I had taken her up on her offer for a second one.. A few minutes of being alone and then my husband was in there with me. I asked for my purse so I could replace all of my piercings and then attempted to stand so I could get myself dressed. I managed to make it into the bathroom, a little wobbly at first but was able to get in, close the door and pull on my comfy clothes. I was told that everything had gone as planned. They were able to get to the IUD with only making two small incisions and also put in a new Mirena while the camera was still in to ensure proper placement. I had some pain as to be expected but it wasn't the kind I was having thankfully. We made it to the car, stopped by the pharmacy to grab my pain meds and finally headed home. Under orders to take it easy.. I tried to do just that. I wasn't allowed to shower for 24 hours so I figured the next best thing should be done... SLEEP. And I did.. A nice, somewhat long, nap of dreamless sleep. I was very thankful that my husband could take the day from work to help me out (or watch over me says the doctor..) and let me just relax a little.. I'll admit that getting comfortable was a bit of a challenge at first.. It reminded me of being pregnant where I could only achieve comfort on one side with pillows wedged everywhere propping me up every which way. There was also a time that came later that night where the gas they had put in me to help inflate everything made its way up into my shoulders and neck region.. Oh my LORD that hurt more than the cuts! It was a constant pressure that felt like someone was standing on my shoulders grinding their shoes into the sides of my neck or something. Anyway... The rogue IUD is now out, pain is gone, new IUD is in (and working hopefully....) and I go in for a checkup this week. It was a pain in the ass but I'm glad it's all good now! Hopefully you other Mirena users out there never experience the same crap I did! It's a scary situation! Thanks for reading the update! -Super Mom
PS... I had my surgery from this story almost 2 weeks ago... I have been writing this little blurb here and there since then... an 8 month old, school, house crap, 3 weddings and editing over 6,000 (yes THOUSAND) photos..... My writing has definitely been lacking... However... That's about to change!!!! Stay tuned!!! ;)
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