Thursday, October 28, 2010
apologies in advance.
Well, I've decided to do NaBloPoMo for the month of November. Stay tuned for daily ridiculousness.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
weekend recap.
Hi friends!
Sorry I've been so absent. I stage crewed a show this week, Oliver!. If you follow me on Twitter at all, then you got the exciting play-by-play of my week. If not, here it is in a nutshell: I worked on the stage crew with a bunch of teenage boys all week. I learned that teenage boys haven't changed very much in the past 20 years. The set for the show was extremely heavy and hard to move. I got callouses on my hands from rope burn and from picking up heavy stuff. We didn't do a full run-through (in one night) until dress rehearsal. This is a little bit scary from a tech point of view. The shows themselves actually went really well. A lot of people came. I think, in my utter exhaustion yesterday, I agreed to direct the spring show. WTF?? I'm sure you can imagine Greg's excitement when I let him in on that news today.
Yesterday was also my wedding anniversary. Yup, I managed to be out of the house and away from Greg from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. (this morning, post-set strike and cast party). Not the most romantic of anniversaries, but that's how we roll. It was also Jimmy's fifth birthday! Yeah Jimmy! How have we managed not to kill him in frustration during all that time?
Today we went to a one-year-old's birthday party. I am so tired from hell week and this weekend that I could barely keep my eyes open.
I'm thinking of participating in NaBloPoMo next month. Am I crazy?
Sorry I've been so absent. I stage crewed a show this week, Oliver!. If you follow me on Twitter at all, then you got the exciting play-by-play of my week. If not, here it is in a nutshell: I worked on the stage crew with a bunch of teenage boys all week. I learned that teenage boys haven't changed very much in the past 20 years. The set for the show was extremely heavy and hard to move. I got callouses on my hands from rope burn and from picking up heavy stuff. We didn't do a full run-through (in one night) until dress rehearsal. This is a little bit scary from a tech point of view. The shows themselves actually went really well. A lot of people came. I think, in my utter exhaustion yesterday, I agreed to direct the spring show. WTF?? I'm sure you can imagine Greg's excitement when I let him in on that news today.
Yesterday was also my wedding anniversary. Yup, I managed to be out of the house and away from Greg from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. (this morning, post-set strike and cast party). Not the most romantic of anniversaries, but that's how we roll. It was also Jimmy's fifth birthday! Yeah Jimmy! How have we managed not to kill him in frustration during all that time?
Today we went to a one-year-old's birthday party. I am so tired from hell week and this weekend that I could barely keep my eyes open.
I'm thinking of participating in NaBloPoMo next month. Am I crazy?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
house of pain
So our weekend went as planned, but as suspected, I didn't feel much better. Just your general cold-gone-apeshit kind of feeling. By Monday morning, what with my face feeling like it had been smacked with a hammer, I knew I probably had a sinus infection. After sending Jane to school, I went to the walk-in where that was confirmed. I got a prescription for Amoxicillin and went on my merry way. I pretty much just rode around with Greg doing chores all day, and just couldn't wait to go home and go to bed.
My plans were disrupted when Jane woke up at 2:30 a.m. (this is Tuesday now) with croup. This is now the third time she's had it, so as soon as I heard her barky cough and her (very) restricted breathing, I simultaneously had her in the bathroom with the steamy hot water going (to help with the inflammation) and was on the phone with her doctor's service. When I finally spoke to the doctor around 3 a.m., she decided to call in a steroid prescription at the 24-hour pharmacy, because, as we've learned, the second night of croup is usually worse than the first. So if she was this bad now, Tuesday night would be awful.
But here's the thing. Unlike all the other times we've had to give Jane prescription medication, she refused to take it. Sure, she's refused the traditional way (with a syringe or spoon) nearly 100% of the time, but usually when we put it in her milk or juice, or in extreme cases, yogurt or ice cream, she'll take it. Not this time. Nooooo, we spent ALL. DAY. YESTERDAY. trying to get a dose of this stuff in her. She wasn't having it. And there's nothing like pressure to get your kid to take medication when you know she won't be able to breathe without it.
By mid-afternoon yesterday, we were in a panic. We called the doctor's office for the second time (oh wait- third time) and they decided to call in a dissolvable steroid. They told us to just stick it in the back of her mouth, between her tongue and cheek, and by the time she realized what was going on, it would be dissolved! Voila! No problem! Yeah right.
We knew this wasn't going to work as it was supposed to from the very start. I don't know if Jane is more....willful....than your typical three-year-old, but she wasn't having it. No way. Greg got about a half a dose in her after we picked it up, and she spit out the rest. In the meantime, she was sounding wheezier and wheezier, and we just knew we were going to end up in the ER overnight if we didn't get a full dose in her.
So before bedtime, I popped her up on the counter, and forced a pill in her mouth. You know, like you have to do with a cat or a dog. Oh yes. Held her mouth shut, held her arms down, basically putting her in a hostage situation - or, at least, that was how she reacted. Total and utter fear. I felt like complete and total shit of course, but come on, kid! I need to you to BREATHE!
Although she did manage to push some of it out, some of the dose must've stayed in her, because although her breathing was still crappy last night, she didn't wake up a lot and we didn't end up at the hospital. (Of course, I was awake all night. Making sure she was breathing. I think this is about 85% of parenting in the early years - making sure they're breathing.)
I kept her home again today, because her breathing is still not 100%, and I'm afraid she won't hold back on the running around at daycare, and I don't trust a teacher who is in charge of 20 students to have her eye on my kid all the time (which, really, is fine - I wouldn't expect them to.)
As for me - well, my antibiotics are wreaking havoc on my stomach, my sinuses are better but not great, I missed two days of work and I'm completely exhausted by the past couple of nights. But you don't get to be sick when you're a mom, as it turns out.
My plans were disrupted when Jane woke up at 2:30 a.m. (this is Tuesday now) with croup. This is now the third time she's had it, so as soon as I heard her barky cough and her (very) restricted breathing, I simultaneously had her in the bathroom with the steamy hot water going (to help with the inflammation) and was on the phone with her doctor's service. When I finally spoke to the doctor around 3 a.m., she decided to call in a steroid prescription at the 24-hour pharmacy, because, as we've learned, the second night of croup is usually worse than the first. So if she was this bad now, Tuesday night would be awful.
But here's the thing. Unlike all the other times we've had to give Jane prescription medication, she refused to take it. Sure, she's refused the traditional way (with a syringe or spoon) nearly 100% of the time, but usually when we put it in her milk or juice, or in extreme cases, yogurt or ice cream, she'll take it. Not this time. Nooooo, we spent ALL. DAY. YESTERDAY. trying to get a dose of this stuff in her. She wasn't having it. And there's nothing like pressure to get your kid to take medication when you know she won't be able to breathe without it.
By mid-afternoon yesterday, we were in a panic. We called the doctor's office for the second time (oh wait- third time) and they decided to call in a dissolvable steroid. They told us to just stick it in the back of her mouth, between her tongue and cheek, and by the time she realized what was going on, it would be dissolved! Voila! No problem! Yeah right.
We knew this wasn't going to work as it was supposed to from the very start. I don't know if Jane is more....willful....than your typical three-year-old, but she wasn't having it. No way. Greg got about a half a dose in her after we picked it up, and she spit out the rest. In the meantime, she was sounding wheezier and wheezier, and we just knew we were going to end up in the ER overnight if we didn't get a full dose in her.
So before bedtime, I popped her up on the counter, and forced a pill in her mouth. You know, like you have to do with a cat or a dog. Oh yes. Held her mouth shut, held her arms down, basically putting her in a hostage situation - or, at least, that was how she reacted. Total and utter fear. I felt like complete and total shit of course, but come on, kid! I need to you to BREATHE!
Although she did manage to push some of it out, some of the dose must've stayed in her, because although her breathing was still crappy last night, she didn't wake up a lot and we didn't end up at the hospital. (Of course, I was awake all night. Making sure she was breathing. I think this is about 85% of parenting in the early years - making sure they're breathing.)
I kept her home again today, because her breathing is still not 100%, and I'm afraid she won't hold back on the running around at daycare, and I don't trust a teacher who is in charge of 20 students to have her eye on my kid all the time (which, really, is fine - I wouldn't expect them to.)
As for me - well, my antibiotics are wreaking havoc on my stomach, my sinuses are better but not great, I missed two days of work and I'm completely exhausted by the past couple of nights. But you don't get to be sick when you're a mom, as it turns out.
Friday, October 08, 2010
weekend. update.
Dear Internets,
I feel terrible. This cold is kicking my arse. With that said, I've gone and over-scheduled my weekend. Go me! And here it is:
Tonight: Going to a Tupperware party! Oh yes, the happenin' social life of a suburban 30-something. The stuff of dreams. I have actually never been to a Tuppeware party before. But I hear there will be wine - always a VERY good thing.
Saturday: Going to a craft fair with my mother at the ass-crack of dawn. OK, at 9:30, but that still feels early. I plan on getting more delicious apple fritters while I'm there. No Dwayne, I'm not getting any for you. While I am there, shoveling fritters in my food hole, I will be thinking of my friends who are running in the Hartford Marathon tomorrow. Suckers! Tomorrow afternoon we are going to a chili cook-off. Our friends do this every year. I am hoping that all that chili will help clear my sinuses. I will not be entering the contest. I am so pathetic that I just bought cookies from Trader Joe's to bring with me. Don't worry - I will arrange them to make it look like I made them myself.
Sunday: Going to the boat for perhaps one of the final rides of the year. My friends Mark, Des, Rich and Beth will be coming along, with assorted children. At night I have to do some theater stuff. I am in charge of set decoration for a production of Oliver! that is coming up in two weeks. Yikes!
Monday (bonus weekend day): Installing a sign on the town green advertising aforementioned production of Oliver!. After that - no plans.
Alternate possible plans: If Jane gets what I have, this weekend's plans may change. I plan on sending her into daycare on Monday because it's open so I see a very rare opportunity for delicious Amanda time, but if she's sick, I won't send her in (I expect my Mother of the Year award any day now).
What are you doing this weekend? I demand comments!
I feel terrible. This cold is kicking my arse. With that said, I've gone and over-scheduled my weekend. Go me! And here it is:
Tonight: Going to a Tupperware party! Oh yes, the happenin' social life of a suburban 30-something. The stuff of dreams. I have actually never been to a Tuppeware party before. But I hear there will be wine - always a VERY good thing.
Saturday: Going to a craft fair with my mother at the ass-crack of dawn. OK, at 9:30, but that still feels early. I plan on getting more delicious apple fritters while I'm there. No Dwayne, I'm not getting any for you. While I am there, shoveling fritters in my food hole, I will be thinking of my friends who are running in the Hartford Marathon tomorrow. Suckers! Tomorrow afternoon we are going to a chili cook-off. Our friends do this every year. I am hoping that all that chili will help clear my sinuses. I will not be entering the contest. I am so pathetic that I just bought cookies from Trader Joe's to bring with me. Don't worry - I will arrange them to make it look like I made them myself.
Sunday: Going to the boat for perhaps one of the final rides of the year. My friends Mark, Des, Rich and Beth will be coming along, with assorted children. At night I have to do some theater stuff. I am in charge of set decoration for a production of Oliver! that is coming up in two weeks. Yikes!
Monday (bonus weekend day): Installing a sign on the town green advertising aforementioned production of Oliver!. After that - no plans.
Alternate possible plans: If Jane gets what I have, this weekend's plans may change. I plan on sending her into daycare on Monday because it's open so I see a very rare opportunity for delicious Amanda time, but if she's sick, I won't send her in (I expect my Mother of the Year award any day now).
What are you doing this weekend? I demand comments!
Thursday, October 07, 2010
oh, hi.
Sorry that I have been a crappy blogger (yet again) this week. This has not been the most fantastic of weeks. I have a cold that tonight is making me very achy and miserable. I am trying desperately not to get Jane sick, but what are the odds? This is the same girl who comes into our bed every night and stuffs her face in my pillow.
Adding to my pain might be the fact that, despite the fact that I'm miserable, I did my power-walking thing (I HATE HATE HATE the phrase "power walking" - but if I just say "walking," people think I'm taking a nice stroll - when in fact, I'm walking really fast - or at least trying to) for a few miles tonight after work. I have these few extra pounds I want to get rid of (story of my life) and I have been on a good roll of exercise lately, and I wanted to stick to it - but I think it might have been a mistake today.
Of course, above and beyond all my petty woes, we've got some family issues going on - Greg's grandmother is really not doing well at all and his parents are out of the country on a cruise and we are all so scared that she may pass before his parents get back. I truly can't even think about it, which is why I am focusing on the fact that I have a STUFFY NOSE WOE IS ME.
I'm heading for the finish line of what has been a hectic and not-so-hot week. Three day weekend ahead.....
Adding to my pain might be the fact that, despite the fact that I'm miserable, I did my power-walking thing (I HATE HATE HATE the phrase "power walking" - but if I just say "walking," people think I'm taking a nice stroll - when in fact, I'm walking really fast - or at least trying to) for a few miles tonight after work. I have these few extra pounds I want to get rid of (story of my life) and I have been on a good roll of exercise lately, and I wanted to stick to it - but I think it might have been a mistake today.
Of course, above and beyond all my petty woes, we've got some family issues going on - Greg's grandmother is really not doing well at all and his parents are out of the country on a cruise and we are all so scared that she may pass before his parents get back. I truly can't even think about it, which is why I am focusing on the fact that I have a STUFFY NOSE WOE IS ME.
I'm heading for the finish line of what has been a hectic and not-so-hot week. Three day weekend ahead.....
Saturday, October 02, 2010
one minute review
Just a quick note to say we ended up going to the movies yesterday afternoon - it was awesome, because I truly cannot remember the last time I was at a movie in the middle of a work day - and we saw The Social Network. I'm a total Facebook junkie and to see the scandal behind the creation (well - Aaron Sorkin's version of the scandal, anyway) was very cool. Of course, I had forgotten it was a Sorkin-scripted movie until the first scene, when the words were coming so fast out of the characters' mouths that my brain had to work to keep up (kind of how you have to get used to Shakespeare's language when you first start reading one of his plays, and then after a while, it all seems normal. Not that I am comparing Sorkin to Shakespeare, because, good English major that I am, I would never do that.)
Anyway, rant over. Go see it. And write a way more detailed review than this.
PS The movies! In the middle of the day! With popcorn! How decadant!
Anyway, rant over. Go see it. And write a way more detailed review than this.
PS The movies! In the middle of the day! With popcorn! How decadant!
Friday, October 01, 2010
weekend. update.
OK, this has to be a quickie because I have a house full of sleeping people who will soon be waking up...here's what's on tap for this weekend:
Today (Friday): This work week was sooo crazy that I worked enough hours to be able to take today off - which was great, because our friends Jackie and Dimitry (Dimitry is Greg's old college roommate) are visiting from New Jersey and it's much easier to spend time with them if I don't have to be at the office. : ) We were going to go down to the boat (they've never seen it) but with this tropical storm-like weather we have, we may stick closer to home. Even if we end up at the mall, I know we'll have a great time. Tonight my niece is babysitting so we actually get to go out like real adults! You know, after the sun sets and everything! Wahooo!
Saturday: I believe our friends are heading home tomorrow morning, so I am hoping after we will head to the Apple Harvest Festival, which is happening in my hometown this weekend and next. I love it because a) the apple fritters are amazing, seriously; b) I see lots of people I haven't seen in a long time; c) there's lots of other good food and rides and fair stuff and I obviously am a big fan of that; d) the apple fritters are amazing. (Truly worth two mentions.)
Sunday: We may head to the parade at the fair. However, I haven't run this by Greg so it may take some convincing. A LOT of convincing. It's a huge parade and, like, 200,000 people attend. Greg doesn't love crowds like this. Or parades. So we'll see. Otherwise, we will probably go to the boat - quickly running out of weekends for that!
What are you up to this weekend - you know how much I love comments! : )
PS Had the opportunity to see Blue Man Group in Boston this week. Holy crap. I had no interest in seeing this show (I went for work purposes) - but I LOVED IT. And want to see it again. IMMEDIATELY. So hilarious and great!
Today (Friday): This work week was sooo crazy that I worked enough hours to be able to take today off - which was great, because our friends Jackie and Dimitry (Dimitry is Greg's old college roommate) are visiting from New Jersey and it's much easier to spend time with them if I don't have to be at the office. : ) We were going to go down to the boat (they've never seen it) but with this tropical storm-like weather we have, we may stick closer to home. Even if we end up at the mall, I know we'll have a great time. Tonight my niece is babysitting so we actually get to go out like real adults! You know, after the sun sets and everything! Wahooo!
Saturday: I believe our friends are heading home tomorrow morning, so I am hoping after we will head to the Apple Harvest Festival, which is happening in my hometown this weekend and next. I love it because a) the apple fritters are amazing, seriously; b) I see lots of people I haven't seen in a long time; c) there's lots of other good food and rides and fair stuff and I obviously am a big fan of that; d) the apple fritters are amazing. (Truly worth two mentions.)
Sunday: We may head to the parade at the fair. However, I haven't run this by Greg so it may take some convincing. A LOT of convincing. It's a huge parade and, like, 200,000 people attend. Greg doesn't love crowds like this. Or parades. So we'll see. Otherwise, we will probably go to the boat - quickly running out of weekends for that!
What are you up to this weekend - you know how much I love comments! : )
PS Had the opportunity to see Blue Man Group in Boston this week. Holy crap. I had no interest in seeing this show (I went for work purposes) - but I LOVED IT. And want to see it again. IMMEDIATELY. So hilarious and great!
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