February 17, 2010

OF ALL THE TIMES

At SpouseBUZZ we like to joke about "deployment gremlins," all the little things that go wrong as soon as your husband leaves for deployment.  Well, I have been having bed rest gremlins.

It started with a broken garage door.  Two days before bed rest started, the garage door decided it likes going up but not down.  And then I ended up in bed before I could fix it.  Luckily I haven't needed my car in two weeks.  Unluckily, the door is still busted.

Then my mom arrived to help me.  My mom with the broken foot who moves at half her normal speed and has trouble getting up and down stairs, which is the whole reason I needed her help.  She's still doing it, bless her.  I am not picking on her, just stating a fact.  Of all the times for her to break her foot...

And then the dog.  The first day my mom was here, the dog ate her meds.  She had to induce vomiting.  And now, the dog is mysteriously sick.  We can't for the life of us figure out what could've made him sick, but he has had diarrhea and vomiting for three days.  The first night, I tried to take care of him, but after going up and down the stairs six times to let him out, I knew I had to relinquish the chore to my mother or else the baby was gonna fall out on the stairs.  So now the dog wakes me and then I wake my mother so she can let him into the backyard.  And he probably needs to go to the vet by now, but that means sending my mom with him.  Of all the times for him to get sick...

And you know, I don't remember having any moral qualms about letting my mom take care of me when I had my wisdom teeth out at 18.  She fetched and comforted.  But it's a whole different game for me as an adult.  I hate asking her for help.  I hate it.  I hate waking her in the middle of the night so she can wipe my dog's bottom with toilet paper to make sure he doesn't soil my bedspread again...since it's had to get washed twice already in the past two days.  It's one thing to have her go make me a sandwich -- and believe me, I don't like asking her to do that either -- but it's a whole nother thing to make her take care of my dog's vomit and poop.

We're both exhausted and stressed out.  And unfortunately, this story won't end with a nice vacation and a long nap; it will end with a crying baby who needs even more attention than the dog.

I can't believe this is how I'm spending the end of my pregnancy.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:16 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 478 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Wow. Sounds like Murphy has moved right in with you! I agree it is very stressful. BUT - it won't end with a crying baby that needs more attention. It will BEGIN your life as a mom, and after the birth you will be MOBILE again which will change everything.

I would think the dog's affliction is from the meds he ate (or did you see them come out WHOLE when he vomited them?). Our dog ate a whole plate of Christmas cookies (never knew she could get things off the table!) and had stomach 'issues' for days. It was awful, and our comforter went through the laundry a few times too! I'd give it a few more days. Or call the vet and ask their opinion. Maybe they will be able to check a stool sample and that would be easier for your mom to drive over there than actually bringing the dog with her.
Good luck Sarah. You are on the home stretch now. The blogosphere is cheering you on!

Posted by: Amy at February 17, 2010 10:31 AM (Cy1WK)

2

Yes, but hearing the baby cry is so much better than NOT hearing that sound.  You are almost there, Sarah!!

Bad things come in three's.... and you've already had your three, so it's smooth sailing now!!

Posted by: AFSister at February 17, 2010 11:08 AM (HoMeG)

3 Does your vet have boarding?  Forgive me for sounding callous, but seriously sometimes there's only so much you can take.  I am one of those rotten people that loves her dog a whole lot less since my kids were born, but with vomit/poo and bedrest, I'd be inclined to drop him for a doggie vacation at the vet!

Posted by: Lane at February 17, 2010 01:59 PM (DWrpt)

4 Aw, I 'm so sorry.  I wish I could come over and take care of your dog and make you a sandwich, and bring you a new book to read and pop in a good DVD and try to keep you entertained.  I am really proud of you.  Someday she will read all of this and realize how much her mom loves her AND how much you love her DAD and she will realize what a special gift she is!  

Posted by: Stacy at February 17, 2010 04:21 PM (7FV6m)

5 Charlie will be okay.  Dogs just take longer to get meds out of their system.  It's why people drugs are usually the wrong dosage for doggie drugs.  His body's doing its best to get rid of the meds. 

Just a thought, but one of those cute little diapers with a tail-hole cut out would probably work out okay--we used to use them when our female pekingese was in season (when I was a kid.) 

Don't worry about the garage door.  Add it to the honey-do list.  Park the car in the driveway and get the door closed, then forget about it.

Finally, your mom is going to be your mom.  If she didn't want to help any way she could, she wouldn't be there, broken foot and all.  You don't feel like you need to be waited on, to have someone take care of things for you, but that's why she came, and believe it or not, you need her to be doing exactly what she is doing, because you are unable.  It's a parenting thing.  You'll understand soon enough when you are picking boogers out of noses with your fingers, not getting grossed out by having a little vomit on your shirt, and playing "what the hell is THAT!?" when changing diapers.

In 20something years, repay the favor.  Or if you want to assuage your guilt, feel free (when you are up and about) to fetch me a sandwich.  I have no trouble with being waited upon.

Posted by: Chuck at February 17, 2010 04:39 PM (bMH2g)

6 Sarah, I'm here for you because you're my daughter and I'd do anything for you!  I'll always be your mom no matter what age you are, and not only now, but in the future, when you need help, I will be here for you.  I know we've had a crazy set of circumstances with the dog, my foot, your little dancing baby wanting to be born and waiting for her daddy to come home.  Yes, I'm not as fast as I was when you were growing up, and this darn foot doesn't help matters, but I hope you will look back someday and be glad we had this time together.  You are my precious daughter, and I love you very much.

Your Mama

Posted by: Nancy at February 17, 2010 11:56 PM (gWUle)

7

Sarah:  you and your mom are making me cry and laugh all at the same time!  I'm so glad you are documenting all this craziness in your blog, because you are building great memories.  These stories will be told around the Christmas tree, and at the Thanksgiving dinner table for years to come!  Try the plain white rice and boiled chicken for Charlie; definitely put the sheet over your bedspread for a few more days, and forget the darn garage door for now.  Know that we are praying for your whole family.  Just hang in there for a little while longer...

Love and hugs,

Mary

Posted by: Mary at February 18, 2010 12:08 AM (MZGTX)

8 Sarah,

The baby is fine, Dad is on his way home, your Mom is there to look after you, Charlie will be OK, the garage door will get fixed. Life...it's strange, but, wow are there ever compensations. When you and your hubby hold that sweet baby girl in your arms all of this will seem not quite so awful.

Oh and let me tell you what will make up to your Mom for everything she is doing now: a hug and a kiss and a quiet heartfelt "I love you Mom, I don't know how I would have made it without you here." That's all a Mom needs to keep her going, that and to be allowed to rub as much of the new off the baby as she can before she goes home.

Posted by: Pamela at February 18, 2010 03:53 AM (dlFxI)

9 I won't repeat what's been said above...they're right, you know. However, I will focus on one thing you put in your post, "the end of my pregnancy." This is it! Baby Grok will be here healthy and happy before you know it. Continue taking care of yourself. Moms totally rock and yours is no different.

Posted by: Susan at February 18, 2010 09:44 AM (4aKG6)

10 Yup, you are definitely living in a sitcom, way too real to be reality TV.  I can assure you, your mom's foot may hurt but she is there for you, she said so. And I have been in much the same situation. Only the pregnant one matters.
Dog's can have Pepto bismol.  Don't try giving him the liquid, use the pills.  I learned that from some really dumb experience. I had a pink Yorkie. Ask the vet how much.
As for the garage door, the little thingy that sends the little signal across the bottom of the door probably got off kilter. That happened to ours.  If you live  long enough you kind of know a lot of solutions. Not guaranteed, though. ;D
Still waiting for baby news, and do you have a Target nearby?

Posted by: Ruth H at February 18, 2010 01:53 PM (JCV5R)

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