Hand, foot and mouth disease. Yuck!

According to the CDC hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, blister-like sores in the mouth (herpangina), and a skin rash.  Even typing the definition gives me the creeps- which brings me back to the glorious daycare Lawsen attends.  A couple of weeks ago the Director informs me that 2 kids in the Wobbler class (Lawsen's class) had been diagnosed with HFMD.  She gave me a 1 page print out from the CDC website and told me to keep an eye on the little guy.  Like any sane parent I turned to google, WebMD, CDC and of course trusty Baby Center to begin my research.   BAD IDEA!  AWFUL IDEA.  THE WORSE I'VE EVER HAD.  DO NOT DO THIS!!!!  The images and descriptions that are on the world wide web (do people still call it that?) are some scary ish!  I totally freaked out and begin to imagine my poor son with blisters all over his hands, feet and mouth.  Needless to say, we made it through the weekend with no blisters and dropped him off as usual to daycare on Monday morning.  At exactly 5pm Monday afternoon the daycare calls to tell me they've noticed blisters on Lawsen's feet and hands.  I was back to being a mess.  I rushed to the daycare, called and made a peds appointment on the way, prayed my baby was ok with "strangers" caring for him, called my mom to see if she could fly to FL to care for him (typical recovery is 5-10 days)- oh and did I mention this was all on Eran's birthday?!  As usual my lil guy was just fine!  He was so #unbothered by the whole ordeal.  Eran and I rearranged our schedules to care for him over the next week until his blisters were gone and life went back to normal a week later.  I write this to tell all my inexperienced parents and those who are considering parenthood that 1) we are allowed to have moments of irrational freak outs 2) your kid WILL get sick!  It's unavoidable- it's life.  Move on!!!!! (this was very hard for me to accept) 3) Just because we know our kids will get sick it doesn't mean we can't provide a bulleted list of suggested cleaning protocol for the daycare or facility they attend -_- (don't judge me and thank you Romika for my listening to my contact rants regarding this issue) 4) If you are able to stay home an extra day with your child because they are sick or too contagious to be around other kids don't make it a somber day- find something fun to do around the house and try to make the most out of that extra time.  I'm sure your lil guy or princess would appreciate it more than you'll ever know.  If you need some suggestions check out this post about 10 way to enjoy your child today-happy reading :) XOXO

https://sanctificationandspitup.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/10-ways-to-enjoy-your-child-today/

I got 99 problems, but peeing ain't one -_-

Tonight we are flying to DC for a wedding.  Anyone who knows me knows I am deathly afraid of flying.  I've been agonizing over this flight for weeks!  My usual agony stems from anticipating turbulence, being cramped in a middle seat and the airline losing my luggage.  I can typically override those issues with 2 prescription Xanax and a glass of Pinot at the gate.  However; with my growing belly and having to push a stroller through the masses I'm pretty sure being drunk will not look good on me- not to mention Xanax is bad for the baby (I looked it up just to be sure).  My biggest concern tonight is my bladder!  If the flight is anything like my typical evening routine I've calculated I'll have to pee at least 6-8 times between arriving at the airport in Fort Lauderdale and deplaning in DC.  I'm not quite sure how this will all work since besides flying the only thing I probably hate worse is getting up on the plane and walking!  For some reason I feel like if I'm in my lil seat saying a quiet lil prayer the plane is more likely to stay in the air.  I know it's irrational to think my ??5 weight will bother the steadiness of the plane, but I have a true phobia people and no one ever said phobias are rational!  On top of my issues my son is not the best flyer.  We flew with him in January to a wedding and it was just miserable.  God bless his lil heart.  His ears were popping, he had just conquered saying 'hi' and 'bye' so everyone in the airport and on the plane got to hear him practice it over and over again.  I tried to be prepared with snacks, juice, toys, his paci, and a blanket, but nothing seemed to interest him except crying and talking to strangers.  I foresee this being quite a long and not so peaceful trip this evening.  Any suggestions for traveling with a toddler and a mommy who needs a diaper just as much as he does?  I'm all ears!

Daycare chronicles...just the beginning!

Having the opportunity to spend 15 months at home with my son was AMAZING!  I quickly realized that the control freak in me loved the fact that I was in charge of every aspect of his little life and schedule.  When I was offered my current position I immediately became anxious about choosing a daycare.  I already knew that no matter how clean or safe a place seemed, no one could care for Lawsen the way I did at home.  Eran and I begin touring daycares and narrowed it to 2 places.  Our top choice of course had a waiting list so we had to go with choice b- which was really only a contender based on availability and location.  When I did the initial tour I didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the Director, but I shrugged it off and figured I was probably overanalyzing our interaction.  Fast forward to present day and although Lawsen seems fine in his current situation I haven't been too impressed.  His second week the assistant Director called me to ask if someone could pick him up because he had a "laceration in his private area and what appeared to be a rash AND they were worried about infection."  Seeing as how I was also on my second week of a new job, Eran leaves work to pick him up and I call and make a pediatrician appointment.  Once Eran gets Lawsen home he looks him over and doesn't see a "laceration" but what appears to be the beginning of a diaper rash.  With hesitation he takes him to the pediatrician- she diagnoses him with a diaper rash and sends them on their way.  So basically we paid a $25 co-pay for a damn diaper rash!  The next day I pick him up from daycare and his teacher tells me he got in an altercation with another child because he didn't want to share a toy.  The other kid scratched Lawsen under his eye and on his neck.  Trying not to sound like a mom who promotes violence, I asked if Lawsen got in a scratch as well.  She said he did and without her noticing I gave my baby a lil extra squeeze.  I be damn if somebody gonna scratch my baby all up and he doesn't defend himself!  She then went on to explain to me that Lawsen doesn't understand the concept of sharing because he doesn't have siblings with him and this is something we should work on explaining to him.  I looked at her like she had lost her mind and said, "no he doesn't understand the concept of sharing because he is 15 MONTHS."  Now I don't believe in kids hitting or biting or even being little brats and not sharing; however at 15 months they barely know how to walk without tripping over their own feet so they sure as heck are going to have trouble with the concept of sharing!  I was so annoyed!  What annoyed me even further was the fact that the day before he had a diaper rash and they called to report, but the day he gets in an altercation and his scratched all up I don't hear a thing from anybody!  Fast forward to two weeks later.  Lawsen develops a high fever on a Friday evening.  We give him Tylenol and attempt to make him comfortable.  He insists on sleeping with us and laying sideways with his feet on Eran and his head on my belly!  As you can imagine we didn't get much sleep.  By Sunday his fever had not broken so we took him to the pediatrician and he was diagnosed with an ear infection and given antibiotics.  I really wanted to blame the daycare, but I knew it wasn't their fault, but instead just a common issue for a growing toddler.  I've decided to let go and let God when it comes to the daycare.  I know that I would be happier if I arrived to pick him up and his nose wasn't snotty, his shirt wasn't covered in yogurt from lunch and his hair wasn't all over his head BUT I also know he is getting good care and his teacher Ms. Kathy is a nice lil Hatian lady that enjoys speaking French to him just to make him giggle.  I think the real issue is that I'm jealous that the staff at the daycare get to spend so much time with him and I feel guilty for missing so many precious moments with him each day.  I'm so blessed to have been home with him for as long as I was.  I know that when my baby girl arrives it will be an even bigger struggle to leave her with strangers.  And while being a stay at home mom was certainly the hardest job I've ever had, I know that my children will be proud of me no matter if I'm home with them or watching the clock at a 9 to 5.  And lets be honest- all those student loans will not repay themselves! My mama didn't raise no fool :)

I hope the Lord has a blind eye!

Well it's been a minute---or a year or so since I've actually had the time to type my thoughts down, pee with the door closed or sleep like a baby (pun intended).  To say my life has changed is truly an understatement.  Having Lawsen has been the most challenging, yet rewarding hurdle I've ever attempted to jump.  I literally learn something new about him, being a mom, my husband's tolerance level and how to survive with little to no sleep and minimal privacy every single day.  Now that Lawsen has reached the ripe old age of 16 months I'm starting to feel like a pro at this motherhood thing.  Just a little recap.  We moved from VA to FL when Lawsen was 5 weeks!  I think I'm still in shock that we managed to pack up our house and our newborn and drive in the midst of winter without killing one another and with Lawsen still in tact!  When we arrived in FL we lived in a nice lil apartment for the first 9 months before buying a fixer upper in our ideal neighborhood.  Having a baby that is learning to walk and babble all while renovating your home is well- dumb!  We didn't have finished floors for over a month, there was (and still is) boxes everywhere that Lawsen would bump into or dig into (I'm not sure which is worse).   We've learned a lot and I thought we had reached a high point.  I hadn't really worked since we left VA which meant I was home caring for Lawsen and getting him on my perfect little schedule and I felt like we were finally not just surviving, but actually living and enjoying life.  Well as usual God has very different plans and just like not using a condom or being on birth control he can shake your life up real quick!  So here we are with a 16 month old and....I'm pregnant!  My friend, Nada and I were pregnant at the same time with our first babies and coincidentally are pregnant again at the same time.  I asked her recently if we'd lost our damn minds to do it all over again when things were finally starting to feel like the new normal.  Quite frankly I think we are nuts.  While I'm thrilled to be having another baby, finding out we are having a girl has literally scared the crap out of me.  I love little girls and dressing my daughter up in frilly little outfits and huge ass bows has always been a dream BUT girls are difficult.  I think back to my endless attitudes, obnoxious pre-teen days and bad boy obsession and I want to hide under a rock and say 50 Hail Mary's all at the same time.  I just hope and PRAY (Lord I hope you can read this) that my daughter doesn't have the bad attitude gene and thinks I'm the best mom in the whole wide world. BAHAHAHAHAHA I can't even type that without laughing at myself.   I'm sure she'll give me a run for my money and my mom will have some moments where she sits back, shakes her head and thinks "ha now you see what I had to go through and I hope you enjoy it."  I know this is going to be a different and at times difficult journey, but I think I'm ready.  I mean I don't have a choice we are at t-minus 19 weeks.  So wish me luck, stay along for the ride (if you have nothing better to do) and send me all your best advice on dealing with smart mouthed, but ridiculously adorable little girlies! XO