Yesterday Jesse's fever briefly dipped below 100 degrees, giving him some extra energy. He got out a songbook and started playing through some old classics - Hey Jude, Puff the Magic Dragon, and most importantly, some of Elton John's masterpieces.
Now, the thing about Elton John is that he's a genius. While some may not welcome him with the respect and adoration due him, I think most of us can appreciate the gift that he is to the world. The other thing about Elton John is that he's coming to Portland - and he's bringing along one William Joel. Can you imagine? Tiny Dancer, Levon, Piano Man?! I haven't seen Baryshnikov perform live, I missed out on Michael Jackson, and Michael Jordan retired, but Sir Elton - live in concert! - could make up for all of that.
Kerri surprised me and bought tickets after I called her, lamenting the expense and Jesse's lack of enthusiasm, thinking I wouldn't be able to go. Unfortunately, she told me this morning the show has been postponed because Elton John has E. coli and the flu. Even if I have to wait a little longer, I'm hanging on to the hope that my night of extremely catchy ballads is close at hand.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Day Three
Alright, Swine Flu, I give up. You win! Now pack up and head out.
Somehow I don't think it's that easy.
Thankfully, Miette and I are still symptom-free, but Jesse's getting his butt kicked and living under the constant threat is taxing. For now it's bedtime, here's hoping the fever's gone tomorrow.
Somehow I don't think it's that easy.
Thankfully, Miette and I are still symptom-free, but Jesse's getting his butt kicked and living under the constant threat is taxing. For now it's bedtime, here's hoping the fever's gone tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
As Boredom Sets In
Day 2 of Swine Flu vs. The Putnams: game still tied, not much new to report.
It's been a boring day of sweatpants, baby care, and keeping Jesse at arms length. He passed the time playing trivia quiz games online and looking up Dean Martin videos on YouTube. At one point this afternoon, tired of talking to the baby and watching the multiple choice questions scroll by on the screen, I asked Jesse to put on a show - meaning something (anything!) on Hulu. He promptly stood up, jazz hands waving, and started to soft-shoe across the carpet while singing in his raspy sick voice, "Hello, my honey! Hello, my baby..." Sensing my surprise and confusion, he asked, "Oh, you mean like something on the computer?"
It's been a boring day of sweatpants, baby care, and keeping Jesse at arms length. He passed the time playing trivia quiz games online and looking up Dean Martin videos on YouTube. At one point this afternoon, tired of talking to the baby and watching the multiple choice questions scroll by on the screen, I asked Jesse to put on a show - meaning something (anything!) on Hulu. He promptly stood up, jazz hands waving, and started to soft-shoe across the carpet while singing in his raspy sick voice, "Hello, my honey! Hello, my baby..." Sensing my surprise and confusion, he asked, "Oh, you mean like something on the computer?"
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Pink Death
It appears that an ominous curtain of swine flu is descending on our household. Jesse woke up feeling a little sick and is now couch-ridden with a substantial fever. I'm going on a cleaning/ disinfecting rampage and pushing fluids and Tylenol. Beyond that, we're just praying the baby doesn't catch it.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Misadventures: The Rain
This morning we had an early doctor appointment to check Miette's weight and get her 2-month immunizations. We got out the door on time and I noticed it was sprinkling as I continued undaunted across the street to grab some coffee before heading to the bus stop. As I exited the coffee shop the increased intensity of the rain concerned me, but I knew I didn't have time to go get an umbrella without missing the bus. Still not too worried, I adjusted my hood and threw a blanket over the baby's head. Within a minute or so, a waterproof changing pad joined that blanket on top of her head - it was really coming down out there! I took the most sheltered path I could find, but once we got to the stop, there was no hiding. I zipped the diaper bag closed and huddled helplessly as sheets and sheets of rain pummeled us. Looking down, I saw several inches of water collected in the outer pocket of the diaper bag, no doubt seeping steadily into the bag, soaking diapers, extra clothes, etc.
Finally the bus arrived and as I pulled out soggy dollar bills to pay, the bus driver said, "This bus is not in service, wait for the next one." During the next seven minutes the rain soaked through my coat sleeves and seams, and a substantial pool of water that had somehow collected on my shoulder/hood cascaded down my front, soaking my shirt and the baby's front side. Given that the bus was about 8 minutes late, it was a true miracle we made the connection to the second bus and arrived at the doctor's on time. My sister came to our rescue and drove to the doctor's office to get my keys, over to our apartment to get the car seat, back to pick us up, and then back to our apartment again so that poor baby didn't have to get wet again. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kerri! I promise next time it's at all cloudy, I'll bring an umbrella, rain coat & rain boots - or just take a zipcar. Lesson learned.
Currently we are wonderfully warm and cozy, Miette is sleeping off her shots, and all the wet clothes are hanging up to dry. Soup for dinner, anyone?
Finally the bus arrived and as I pulled out soggy dollar bills to pay, the bus driver said, "This bus is not in service, wait for the next one." During the next seven minutes the rain soaked through my coat sleeves and seams, and a substantial pool of water that had somehow collected on my shoulder/hood cascaded down my front, soaking my shirt and the baby's front side. Given that the bus was about 8 minutes late, it was a true miracle we made the connection to the second bus and arrived at the doctor's on time. My sister came to our rescue and drove to the doctor's office to get my keys, over to our apartment to get the car seat, back to pick us up, and then back to our apartment again so that poor baby didn't have to get wet again. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kerri! I promise next time it's at all cloudy, I'll bring an umbrella, rain coat & rain boots - or just take a zipcar. Lesson learned.
Currently we are wonderfully warm and cozy, Miette is sleeping off her shots, and all the wet clothes are hanging up to dry. Soup for dinner, anyone?
Misadventures: The Stove
Several nights ago I was washing and steam-sterilizing bottles and breast pump components while Jesse got Miette ready for bed. We were watching an episode of "WKRP in Cincinatti" on Hulu, and after an hour and a half, the baby was finally asleep and ready to put down. I got up to take the final round of bottles, etc. off the stove and noticed that the pot seemed alarmingly more dry than usual. Over the next half-second I simultaneously 1) realized that all the water had evaporated; 2) saw that the plastic parts had started to melt and were destroyed; 3) smelled the burning plastic; and 4) ran some cold water in the pot. When the water hit the pan it predictably sizzled ferociously and smoke and steam came billowing up. The loud sound startled the baby and she promptly punched herself in the face and woke up crying. Just one more incident lending credence to the fact that I am a disaster in the kitchen. See also: That time with the potholder.
Misadventures: Introduction
The last few weeks have been a little on the rough side. For starters, the baby had some kind of little stomach bug and a cold. She was spewing fluids from all orifices with alarming regularity, and her nickname shifted from stupid baby to stinky baby. The doctor was worried about her slow weight gain and we were on high alert, but now she seems to be chubbing up just fine. Sadly, her little cousin spent a day or two in the hospital, but is now doing wonderfully, as well. Jesse interviewed for a job - yay! - but later found out they will probably have to rehire someone who was previously laid off - boo. And I went back to work. (Also 'boo' in case you were wondering.)
Last Sunday morning we ended up missing the bus to church, so Jesse rode his bike and I waited for a later bus. After a very late, long shift at work the night before I was running on about 2 hours of sleep. In the middle of the service Miette had an impressive blowout and soiled all her clothes, so after church I hurried to catch the first bus home. I saw the number 73 trundling down the road and broke into a run. Jesse ran alongside me as I desperately fished his keys out of my pocket to give back to him, losing my sweater on the sidewalk somewhere along the way. Once I finally got back to the apartment, I was feeding her when she decided to drop Round 2. Within seconds I was looking down at my lap, my precious baby dressed in mismatched spare clothes, still wearing her little hat and missing a sock. Poop had shot out of her diaper and was smeared down her leg and on the nursing pillow as spit up started to flow from her lips. Milk was trickling down my torso and I hardly knew where to begin. So I sat there for a few minutes and called my sister, who helped me to laugh it off. I can always count on her for that, and with a baby, that's often the best place to start.
Last Sunday morning we ended up missing the bus to church, so Jesse rode his bike and I waited for a later bus. After a very late, long shift at work the night before I was running on about 2 hours of sleep. In the middle of the service Miette had an impressive blowout and soiled all her clothes, so after church I hurried to catch the first bus home. I saw the number 73 trundling down the road and broke into a run. Jesse ran alongside me as I desperately fished his keys out of my pocket to give back to him, losing my sweater on the sidewalk somewhere along the way. Once I finally got back to the apartment, I was feeding her when she decided to drop Round 2. Within seconds I was looking down at my lap, my precious baby dressed in mismatched spare clothes, still wearing her little hat and missing a sock. Poop had shot out of her diaper and was smeared down her leg and on the nursing pillow as spit up started to flow from her lips. Milk was trickling down my torso and I hardly knew where to begin. So I sat there for a few minutes and called my sister, who helped me to laugh it off. I can always count on her for that, and with a baby, that's often the best place to start.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Settling In
In the hospital when we were first figuring out nursing, Miette would become frantic and screamy - usually in the middle of the night. I called her my little Rabid Squirrel. This picture almost captures it:
We're mainly past that, but she still reminds me of some kind of woodland creature. She hasn't really started purposefully smiling yet, but there are hints of it and she seems so close. About a week ago she was sleeping and had this wonderful wide grin, then she started sleep-laughing - this great, infectious little squeaky chuckle. It was so cute I almost died.
We're learning more about her day by day, but it's an unconscious process. Most of the time we're dealing with the problem at hand, whatever that may be, or trying to use the lack of a problem-at-hand to get something done. Usually it involves cleaning up spit-up. Our lives are covered in spit-up these days. Great volumes of spit-up, in all flavors and varieties. On the floor, furniture, clothes, blankets, etc. But I digress. It can be frustrating to have to work so hard to get the basics done, and often fail even at that. It's amazing to me that even when Jesse and I are double-teaming her, she still comes out on top! I think I can safely say I absolutely don't have what it would take to be a single mom, and I truly wonder how life works when younger siblings come along.
Truthfully, I think she's a pretty easy baby. Even so, there are ups and downs and in-betweens and it is all very tiring. I think I call her 'stupid baby' more often than I call her by her name. But I'm working on that. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember, and it is not at all a disappointment. I just don't know how long it will take to get back to normal. Actually, I already know it probably won't, and that's okay, too.
We're mainly past that, but she still reminds me of some kind of woodland creature. She hasn't really started purposefully smiling yet, but there are hints of it and she seems so close. About a week ago she was sleeping and had this wonderful wide grin, then she started sleep-laughing - this great, infectious little squeaky chuckle. It was so cute I almost died.
We're learning more about her day by day, but it's an unconscious process. Most of the time we're dealing with the problem at hand, whatever that may be, or trying to use the lack of a problem-at-hand to get something done. Usually it involves cleaning up spit-up. Our lives are covered in spit-up these days. Great volumes of spit-up, in all flavors and varieties. On the floor, furniture, clothes, blankets, etc. But I digress. It can be frustrating to have to work so hard to get the basics done, and often fail even at that. It's amazing to me that even when Jesse and I are double-teaming her, she still comes out on top! I think I can safely say I absolutely don't have what it would take to be a single mom, and I truly wonder how life works when younger siblings come along.
Truthfully, I think she's a pretty easy baby. Even so, there are ups and downs and in-betweens and it is all very tiring. I think I call her 'stupid baby' more often than I call her by her name. But I'm working on that. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember, and it is not at all a disappointment. I just don't know how long it will take to get back to normal. Actually, I already know it probably won't, and that's okay, too.
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