T-I-G-E-R-S

Every year, the rowing alumni plans a weekend to get together.  Last year, after the Georgia game was a disaster with Abby, I opted out.  But this year, I was determined to go, and show her off.

I worried leading up to the day that she wouldn't be able to handle it.  Its a long day for anyone, and I couldn't imagine how it would be for a toddler.  The game was a 3:30, so that meant she probably wouldn't take a nap.

She did sleep some on the ride there.  It took us just under an hour to get there, so she did get some sleep in.  Thankfully this year, the weather was nicer to us.  It was cool and breezy.  We were able to get by with pants and long sleeves and be comfortable.

Abby learned quickly where all the sweet snacks were at the tailgate.  She ate more cookies, cupcakes, and brownies that day, but she was being content, so I let it go.

She travelled well from tailgate to tailgate.  She looked so cute in her cheerleader outfit.  She got many comments from many fans.

I was worried that she wouldn't like the noise in the stadium.  But, she did very well.  She even started to dance to the music of the band.  She would clap along and jump up and down.

I could tell she was tired, but she was holding on.  She would put her head down every once in a while, but the noise would start up and she would perk up.

We ended up leaving around 8, and she was asleep before we even got off campus. 

I couldn't have been happier at how good she was and how easy she made it.  Joejee was also there to help and that made it easier too.  Abby really enjoyed having Bubbie along for the adventure.

It makes me thankful that I have the ability to do something like this.  It isn't that far for us so its easy to get up and go.  And we have many friends who are there, so we can spend the day travelling around and not feel tied down to one place.

I'm already looking forward to next year!

HFM

We have been doing so good about not getting sick.  But, its getting to be that time of year.

Two of Abby's classmates had been out, so I knew something was up.  And we would most likely catch it.

And, we did. 

I got a call Friday morning that Abby wasn't well and I needed to come get her.  They said she was fussy and had several sores in her mouth.

Ewww...

So I knew it was probably Hand, Foot, and Mouth. 

I left work.  Called the pediatrician on the way and left a message, wanting to know does she need to come in, or what should we do.

I have to say that I'm very pleased with the pediatricians office.  They are always very good about returning your phone calls.  It takes me 20 minutes to get from work to the daycare and she called me back before I got there.

She told me, it sounded like HFM, and at that point there wasn't anything we could do except let it run its course.  Since the blisters had already shown up, the virus was out of her system.  We just needed to make sure she was drinking and wetting.  She could have ibuprofen as needed for discomfort. 

I picked Abby up and she seemed herself.  She was excited to be going home with Mommy.  She had been drooling a lot, but she's cutting her eye teeth, so I suspected that's what it was.  I never looked around her gums, but sure enough there were several red spots. She was a little warm, but no fever.

She ate lunch at home and took a good nap.  She was peppy and perky the rest of the weekend.  She didn't show any signs of blisters on her hands or feet.  Although they say it could take a few days to appear, so I keep checking. 

She didn't like eating her pizza or ketchup, but everything else seemed ok to her.  She did show me she had a new ulcer on the side of her mouth.  I encouraged her to drink her milk to soothe it and try to chew on the other side.

Its just one more thing we can mark off that we've gotten.  And that we've survived.

Biological Warfare

Gene and I were at an event Saturday night.  A friend of ours came up to talk to us.  We are in several  circles together, we see each other often, we've even vacationed together.  But, we aren't BFF's, but good friends. 

He, of course, thinks Abby is an angel.  And asks about her all the time.  So he asked when we were going to have another one. I tell him we seem kinda busy with the two that we have.  He then tries to say that doesn't count.  Abby needs a sibling.  And I tell him, she has one. 

And then he says it...

You need to have another biological child.

***record screeches***

Excuse me?

I look at Gene and he is just as dumbfounded as me.  So he can see I'm upset.  That this man thinks that Joejee isn't MY son. So Gene tries to smooth things over  and he repeats the same thing to Gene. 

WTF!

Just because Joejee isn't genetically Gene's, he is still his son 100%.  And this educated douchebag should know better.

But wait.. it gets better.

So then he starts joking with us say, "It wasn't that bad was it?"  Suggesting maybe my reasoning for not bearing more children was related to Abby being a bad baby.

At that point Gene walked away.  Making an excuse for something.  Just to get away.  I needed to too.

No, Abby was not a terrible baby.  But getting there was a terrible experience.  One I'm not willing to do again.  Or even get on and "see what happens".  And there are several other reasons on why we are choosing not to have more.  And it's none of anyones business. 

I know his wife would be appalled if she knew what she said.  She couldn't have biological children herself.  They went down the fertility road, but never went past the front gate because it was decided that her step children were enough for her.  I know this because she's shared it openly with a group of women years ago. 

Not many friends know of our struggles, and that's something that will change as time goes on.  Those wounds are healing, so I'm getting more comfortable with sharing. But it still hurts to be reminded of it.

Accidental Poop

We are in the beginning phases of potty training.  I think she is really ready, but I'm having a hard time finding a weekend where we can commit to it.  I think she will be quick, but I want the freedom to not have a commitment at all to deter us.

But, we practice on the potty a lot.  She knows she gets a treat if she pee pees.  And she is learning that she doesn't get the treat if she doesn't pee pee.  Before and after bath, we practice on the potty.  Sometimes she goes, sometimes she just plays.  Tuesday was a play day.  Before the bath, no success.  After the bath, she was a little more focused.  I could tell she was trying hard.  She would bear down and then pop up and exclaim she pee peed, only to show me an empty potty.

Then it happened....

I could see her pushing hard and I heard it.  She popped up and looked at the potty.  What she saw was frightening to her.  But I was overly excited.  Abby pooped in the potty!  And, she had no idea what that brown stuff was.  She was genuinely scared of it.  But I continued to do the potty dance and get excited.  I told her she gets two treats (M&M's) for going poopy on the potty.  She gladly took those without further question.

I thought about it after she went to bed.  Why would she be scared of poop?  I realized, she had never seen it before.  She poops in her diaper.  We lay her down, clean up her bum, and toss the diaper away.  We don't show her the poop.  She's never played with her poop (knock on wood).  So I guess I would be startled too if I saw a little brown squishy thing in the potty when I was expecting liquid. 

I'm hoping she won't be scared it anymore and this will make potty training even easier.