Lessons I’ve Learned This Week
- It is a good idea to avoid all potentially emotionally charged discussions when you’re suffering from sleep deprivation. Since exhaustion makes my emotions very fragile, I have made sure to use a wide berth when considering whether a discussion has the potential to get me emotional. Someone asked me the other day what type of detergent I used for AndyZ’s sensitive skin. I answered the question and then changed the subject because thinking about his sensitive skin got me thinking about the problems LilZ has had with his skin and the guilt I feel over passing on the Crappy Skin genes to my kids and that guilt had me starting to tear up a little before I even had a chance to say, “Cheer Free.”
- Being a Mother for 13 years now had me answer a question at the Doctor’s before it was even finished being asked. She said the strep test was positive and then said, “We can either give her a prescription for an antibiotic she’ll take for 10 days or…” at which point I interrupted her while holding my screaming child (who was screaming because of the strep test), “GIVE HER THE SHOT.” I have learned that the pain/misery from that shot pales in comparison to the ease in having to skip 10 days of medicines. Bring on the needles!
- Of course, being a mother for 13 years does not make having to be part of the team to hold your child down while they get the shot any easier. We had her on her belly and one nurse essentially sat on NikkiZ’s legs while I held her upper body down tight. Have I mentioned my daughter has unusual strength? She does. She almost broke free from us before the 2nd nurse had a chance to give the shot. Holding your daughter down while she screams bloody murder is about the most awesome feeling in the world. I didn’t feel guilty at all about that. Nope. Not at all.
- I would not trade living close to family for all of the riches in the world. It took so long at the Doctor’s office that I worried I’d need someone to pick up AndyZ from daycare. That was fine since we have so much family near by. When it turned out I didn’t need that, but I did need someone to meet me at daycare to sit with NikkiZ while I got AndyZ, I only had to make one phone call. MrZ’s Mom dropped everything to come to my aid. I don’t make friends easily…so living close to family gives me a constant support group when we need it. I’d be lost without them.
- Now I’m crying again. Maybe I should have avoided talking about how awesome my family is? I obviously didn’t think about that first lesson before discussing that last one.
now – i have tears flashing back to the *hold down* days.
You are doing right, so hang in there and treat yourself to something you enjoy!!
Awww. You sound like you’re on the edge. I hope you get the sleep you need soon!
Oh Kim, I really hope your week starts looking up soon. You’ve certainly had a rough go of it lately.
*big hug* Hang in there, hon. That was great of MrZ’s mom to help out – having family close definitely rules. My family all moved away
Still, I try to be “family” to my friends and help out when I can, and they return the favour 
Awwww. It will be OK. I turn into a crazy emotional wreck when I’ve dealt with sickness for over two days – so yeah, you’re entitled to be emotional.
Poor NikkiZ. I’ve done the hold down thing before. Hated it. However, you do what you need to in order to get that child better. I remember once after making three trips to the dr, we went in and I demanded he give her a shot. Within 24 hours she was much better. That’s when I wanted to stick my tongue out at the dr and say “see, I told you this two trips ago” but anyway……..
Hope you get some rest soon. It can only get better from here, right? Hang in there.
BROWNIES. Quick!
I too wouldn’t trade my living near my family and friends for the world. Especially, right now w/ my kids so young.
You’ve had a rough week. I think you deserve some cheese. Everything is better with cheese.
oh man. I hope she starts feeling better soon. That has to be so hard!!! Family close by helps. A family of friends helps as well.
You’re lucky to have family so close. It’s something I truly miss.
You don’t make friends easily??? I DO NOT believe it.
I’d go pick up the mini-Z’s if I lived nearby…we have the inlaws nearby about half the year but I have friends who would help out too. Friends are good!!!
i hear you on being really emotional when you’re tired. if someone holds the door for me at a store and i’m on fewer than five hours of sleep, i will weep with gratitude at the kindness.
i have an unusually strong baby also. a nurse at our pediatrician’s office got crappy with me on the phone once when i explained that i couldn’t tell her what my son’s temperature was because he wouldn’t hold still for me to do the armpit thermometer. “you’re an adult, he’s just a baby, hold him down,” was what she said. “he’s all MUSCLE, is off the charts for height, already outweighs most babies TWICE his age, and i’m trying to wrestle him by myself” was my answer. i left off “b*tch!” at the end of that response to her, but it was *heavily* implied.
hate that nurse.
I’m a mess when sleep deprived.
And I think there is something seriously twisted about asking a mom to hold her child down while they hurt her (even if it is for the greater good).
I hate that we moved away from family (and friends) 3 weeks after bringing Sabrina home. Not only do they miss out on the joy of our children, I don’t have that support system.
Sounds like you’re having a rough week, Zoot. Give yourself a hug – you’re a great mom and a wonderful person! {{{hughughug}}} God bless!
I have a 7 year old that has been like that with shots. It took me, a nurse, and the doctor to hold her down while the doctor was giving a shot when she was 4. She pulled away and got scratched by the needle. Good times…let me tell you. They still talk about it when we go in for other things. The first thing my daughter always asks is if she will have to get a shot. Thank goodness her next shots aren’t until she’s 10 or 11!
When I was something like 5 it once took 4 nurses and my mother to restrain me for a blood draw (I wound up getting strapped down). I specifically remember it because it was after I had taken off down the hall and escaped via elevator once.
I was in the hospital a lot as a child. I was not a fan of needles.
When I had my appendix out in the 3rd grade I slapped the doctor trying to take my blood on my last day of hospitalization and yanked the IV out of my hand. He made a smart ass comment about getting what I deserved and I stuck my tongue out at him.
I was a very, very bad patient. And the youngest of 6. If it helps, think about my mom when stuff like this happens and breathe a sigh of relief that you’re not my her. My siblings do it a lot when they have a rough family week with their kids.
Wow what a lovely day you had today. Hopefully NikkiZ will be feeling better very soon and it will be all worth it.