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Slice-of-life stories about parenthood

5 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 21

5 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 21

April 15, 2011 by Amy, Using Our Words 16 Comments

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UPDATE: Jenn from AT&T responded to my tweet and saved the day. It only took the tech 2-1/2 hours on a Friday night to fix our phone. Guessing he’s heading straight to his watering hole.
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It has been one. long. week. around our house. (But today marks my 34-week pregnancy milestone, so there’s definitely a lot to be thankful for.) Here are some lessons I learned along the way.

Lesson #1: While we obviously couldn’t handle a hermit crab, the salamander Lenny found living in our shed might be right up our alley. The boys are very excited about their new low-maintenance pet that we’ll likely never see again. Works for me.

Lesson #2: Big has fallen in love with the Food Channel. How long before I can put him to work in the kitchen (on his own, of course)?

Lesson #3: Since I don’t get many literal showers these days, a surprise showering of a few friends, dinner and baby girl fun was just what I needed to feel refreshed. (Thanks, girls!)

Lesson #4: My friends have a lot of great parenting experience that I continue to learn from every day. This week on Facebook, it was diaper bag recos and bunk beds. Next up, cars that allow one to tote 3 kids (and a friend or two) around. Pilot? Sienna? Suburban? Please share and discuss… (Note: As the driver, I want something that doesn’t drive like a truck, but has room for kids, strollers, barf bags, you name it. Is that too much to ask?)

Lesson #5: There are days weeks months I think my family’s story is scripted by a dramedy writer. Here’s this week:
• Frumpy mom (FM) enduring week 3 of bed rest. Her “rest” is now accompanied by a hacking cough, a gift of love from sick kid.
• Son’s cough turns into pneumonia. Hard-working dad, (HWD)—who has also been thrust into the role of Mr. Mom—rushes home for doctor’s appointment and pharmacy battles. Antibiotic #1- Causes allergic reaction, hives from head to toe. Antibiotic #2- Dose 1 thrown up all over FM (who’s supposed to be in bed) and kitchen floor. Dose 2 results in, you guessed it, hives.
• Home phone has, apparently, been dead for days. Frumpy (and now grumpy) mom (FGM) realizes this when trying to talk to sick kid’s nurse about all of the above. Since her cell phone doesn’t work in the house, FGM (who, yes, is supposed to be in bed) wanders the street trying to find a connection…and a solution.
• FGM temporarily borrows phone to use since HWD is up to his eyeballs in client presentations (and dishes) and can’t go shopping until the weekend. Turns out it’s not the phone. It’s the phone line. But because no phone works in FGM’s bed, she can’t get any help from AT&T (who happens to be the provider on both lines). The online request for help warns hitting “submit” may result in charges. FGM writes an agitated tweet (leveraging her “power” as an influential mom blogger), gets crickets in return.
• FGM’s mounting frustration and tension broken along the way by friends dropping by with homemade dinners (which are especially welcome since HWD hasn’t been able to get to the grocery store in over a week), non-sick kid doing crazy, entertaining things to make everyone laugh, the anticipation of Friday Night Lights returning and the consumption of so many Cadbury mini eggs the baby may actually turn into the Easter Bunny.
• Scenes from next week: While sick kid is finally healthy enough to return to school (as demonstrated by his bouncing off the walls), it’s Spring Break, so he’ll be home to “cheer up” FGM. All. Week. Long. Fortunately nanny is working overtime to keep the kids busy, but that doesn’t stop young son from only wanting FGM to change poopy diapers. In between doctor’s appointments and work, FGM and HWD continue to live in denial of all that needs to be done by watching bad TV plot house remodel since one toilet can’t be used by 2 3 4 5 people at the same time.

Here’s to a week ahead filled with more comedy than drama!

Photo from Flickr by Vikadaddy.

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Filed Under: Everyday Lessons Tagged With: baby, Big, Everyday Lessons, friends, gratitude, husband, kids, lesson, Little, motherhood, sick

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Comments

  1. Brittany says

    April 15, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Ok, monumental moment……..drum roll….for once EVER I don’t wish to have your life 😉 HA! You take it with grace and humor. No one but you could manage through all of this. Let me know what I can do and I’m there. Take me up on it, will ya??? xoxoxo

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 15, 2011 at 7:56 pm

      Oh, Brittany, I appreciate that you think things are so glamorous around here for the most part (maybe I’m writing fiction?), but I’m thinking you’ve got it pretty darn good too! If I can think of anything, I’ll let you know.

      Reply
  2. linda says

    April 15, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Phone calls, grocery runs, playing with the boys, laundry…..you know where to find me. I’m there! Love your sense of humor through all of this!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 15, 2011 at 7:56 pm

      My sense of humor is definitely being challenged, but I’m managing to find it most of the time. Thanks for the kind offers!

      Reply
  3. CameSawShopped says

    April 15, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    Sounds like a “Murphy’s Law” kind of week. Next week, things can only
    get better!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 15, 2011 at 7:57 pm

      Knocking on all kinds of wood right now. Thanks!

      Reply
  4. jodie hoffman says

    April 15, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    I don’t mean to laugh, but I’m picturing you in a wagon (because you’re supposed to be resting), being pulled around the neighborhood by a hive-covered Big and a poopy-diaper-ed Little, holding your cell phone in the air trying to get a connection with a bag of Easter candy resting on your belly…

    hope next week is better… 🙂 xxoo

    Reply
    • jodie hoffman says

      April 15, 2011 at 5:08 pm

      OH, and if you haven’t already, check out Rage Against the Minivan’s last couple of weeks… no bed rest, but she’s all sorts of losin’ her mind, too!

      http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2011/04/fuzzy-on-details.html

      Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 15, 2011 at 7:57 pm

      Laugh away my friend. I’m afraid you’re closer to the truth than you think…

      Reply
  5. Cathi Fortner says

    April 16, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    omg – i’m so glad that i’m not the only one who sees the return of friday night lights as a sort of beacon of hope. watched last night’s episode while feeding at 3am this morning…and yes, seeing tim riggins sort of made it all better.

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 16, 2011 at 2:28 pm

      It true Cathi, Tim Riggins tends to make everything better. I hope you’re enjoying motherhood…even through those 3am feedings. Guess I better start loading up our DVR too!

      Reply
  6. Bridget says

    April 17, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Hey Amy-
    Great sense of humor! Keep it up!
    I totally feel your pain with the car decision. We are/were in the same boat. Our #3 is due to arrive in less than 7 weeks. We were torn between the Sienna and the Pilot. We went with the Sienna. (over all cost, comfort, and push of a button ease) So did not want a mini van but after serious consideration that’s what we went with. Pilot is great- love that all 3 car seats fit in one row BUT there is little cargo room when the 3 row is up. Not a big deal for around town but you are hard press to fit a stroller in the back. (which is a big deal for us since our kids are 2 years apart and will be needing our double stroller.) But as a friend put it, fun until all 3 can punch, kick and pull hair- go for the 3rd row. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 18, 2011 at 1:31 pm

      Congrats Bridget! And thanks for sharing your experience. We will definitely need a 3rd row too. Hopefully I can get out of bed to test drive in a few weeks.

      Reply
  7. gay says

    April 17, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    your life…. is a sitcom. my life…. is boring. not sure either of us would want to necessarily switch lives with the other, but your life makes for entertaining reading for me! 🙂

    on a serious note, though, i think i work near where you live and i’m more than happy to pick anything up for you on my way home (or even during lunch)! seriously!

    take care of yourself and next time something goes haywire, just remember, it makes for good stories. 😉

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 18, 2011 at 1:34 pm

      Um, gorgeous pictures of your Hawaiian adventures and local beaches hardly seem boring to me. You keep the photos coming and I’ll keep the stories coming!

      I’d love to have you swing by for lunch sometime if you get out. I’ll send you a note on FB.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. …And Baby Makes 5 | Using Our Words says:
    July 19, 2011 at 9:59 am

    […] this little girl did not come into the world quietly. There was the mistaken gender prediction. Preterm labor. Bed rest. Cankles (which were more like “thankles” since they were closer in size to […]

    Reply

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I’m Amy, the girl next door. I’m your average obsessive mom/ happy wife/ freelance copywriter/ slice-of-life blogger/ social media addict/ chocolate lovin’ wino. Read More…

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