Head to head with croup

Jan.4, 2013

I'm going to say that there is a glitch in Blogger (not me) and it isn't downloading pictures at this moment. So, I bought Paul Simon Graceland  and will type away hoping the glitch will be fixed before I log out.

Today is my Dad, Papa Bruces' birthday. He is 59;) He and Lala and Papa came to town last weekend to join us watching Autumn and Dana in 'The Nutcracker All Spiced Up'. Dana was a great sport as he always is and all the little ones did great. It was an amazing show! Our friends, Dale and Sherry were kind enough to come over for the evening and watch Dominic so that all the Papas could enjoy the entire thing without having to walk a restless boy up and down the high school lobby, like last year. It truly was an amazing weekend with my family here. I don't know what happened this time around but it was perfect. On Sunday, I made the family breakfast. Nothing fancy, tortillas, eggs and bacon.There was something calming about the smells and the sounds of familiar voices. I looked around a few times and just had a great feeling that my parents were at our house and I was cooking for them for once.It felt nice to be giving back just a minuscule amount of comfort they have given me my entire life. After bellies were full and there was nothing for Lala to clean, Dana took Dom to the back for a nap and Lala sat with Autumn and learned the addiction to Angry Birds. By the time she left she was downloading it to their kindle. Well done Autumn, well done! While they spent time in the living room I sat at our table with both of my Dads. It was like so many times when I was young...younger;) I sat in the middle of two men that mean so much to me and I was so proud to be involved in the visit. When I was little I know they humored me and my silly questions. This time it was like we were buddies. Like we had survived something together and we had finally come together not to talk about the survival but to sigh a breath of relief and to embrace the odd family dynamics that we are. We laughed until our breath was gone and dug in for another inhale for the next one. We teared up talking about Autumn. I think my Dads teared up for the simple fact that I am a mother and in reality I don't think any of us thought my life as it is, was ever possible. We just sat and enjoyed each other and there was no uncomfortable silence and nothing was forced. It was just perfect. I was sad to see them go but even in that we found humor. Dana came out of the bedroom, "I think Autumn has the flu". Or did he say Dominic? I can't remember. Anyway, the parents jumped like a tac had stuck them in the back and within 20 or 30 mins they were gone. We were all laughing as they gathered their things and Dad Mark carried it out to the car. "Say flu and we are gone!" Lala wasn't kidding!
So, our Sunday went very relaxed. Autumn woke from her nap with the infamous croup bark and we knew we were in for a ride. We kept hopeful that Dom wouldn't get it, but seriously, how often does another child avoid sickness when they sleep next to it? On Monday, Dom woke from his nap with the bark. By this time Dana had run to ShopKo for a 4 man tent since our monster 12 man won't fit in the living room. We had a humidifier going, oils aromaing, oils on the feet, chest, back, temples, and in water. We were oiled! Unfortunately it didn't stop the sickness. I do think it has shortened the ride. Thankfully, Dana had the all clear to stay home and get the family better so I wasn't going at it alone. We napped when we could and walked around like zombies. Yesterday morning around 4, Dom barked awake after hardly any sleep. We sat, exhausted, Dana on his phone online and me on the lap top. We googled croup until all our memory only had croup in the bars. My statement "HE IS GOING TO THE DOCTOR TODAY, THIS IS RIDICULOUS", was nulified by all the articles that there isn't much they do but occasionally give a steroid. We aren't into steroids so that wasn't an option. At 5a.m we bundled up the boy and I loaded the two of us up and said "we are going for a drive". I had no idea which direction to go, how far to go, how long to go and how far to roll down the windows (another tidbit from webmd and all the online info we could find). So, I aimed north. At least I think I was going North. I rolled down my window so that he wouldn't get the brunt of the breeze and I turned on the heat. I froze the left side of my body but my feet were nice and warm. I decided once I got to Hilger, MT that I have never been to Winifred so let's start there. It was only 23 more miles which made it about 38 miles from Lewistown. It is pitch black out there city friends. I do believe Dana and I have terrible night vision from being spoiled by lit highways and never ever being in the dark living in AZ. That or I am just a bad night driver. Either way, it was dark. Dom fell asleep 10 mins into our trip but I was determined to give him a couple hours. The radio went out, I realized I didn't have my phone, and I hadn't told Dana which way I was going. Amazing the tricks your mind will play on you when you go to the dark side. It was no concern as I had an "escape" plan. I made sure to be aware of each farm house in case we went off the road and I had to walk for help. THEN, I started to think of all the dumb horror movies I have watched where the farm house is really not always your safest bet. Jeez. Get some sleep Summer. We drove on, we didn't go off the road, except for me to jungle squat before a school bus came up on us, and we made it home safe and sound. By the time I walked in the door I realized that it really had not been that long and that if we were lucky we only had a couple more days of sick kiddos. Long enough that we had to cancel Doms birthday party but short enough that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.:)
Dominic turned 2 yesterday. He celebrated with a Thomas the train balloon (sister got a butterfly balloon) and each a new lizard toy. I even bought them a bag of gluten free chocolate chip cookies. What does that even mean. Gluten free. Obviously the kids aren't gluten sensitive (whatever that is too) but it sounds better than "double chocolate, extra sugar, throw me on your hips" cookies. He had a few cards and treasures that came in the mail and Grammie came over in the evening to give them both a gift. It was a good day anyway and I am thankful that he won't remember that two years in a row he has been under the weather on his birthday.
I have always heard that the construction of a new home is stressful on a marriage. That the little things are such a big deal, like how many outlets do you want in this room or that, and what size trim do you want. I'm going to go ahead and say I am sure that is the pits. Knowing you are getting a brand new home designed just for you and in time you will be the very first people to sleep in a brand spanking new home (we loved our newbie in AZ, just wish in was in MT it was made and move in ready, we didn't decide anything...except later when I chose poor colors for the walls). I'm going to say I am sure that is such a really hard thing for marriage. I'm also going to say I think TWO things are hard on a marriage. Construction on a house you currently live in with babies, and sick kids. There is no out unless one of you leave. Two babies, two parents. Someone is wiping something, ooohhh and ahhhing someone, oil down a foot, running a bath, gooogling a hail mary, telling the other one how tired you are, making three different breakfasts just in case they might like one and omg they haven't eaten in two days. I could go on but I know you have all been there so this is me saying poor us to us;) I also have no idea how parents of more than two do it and I know I could handle it if Dana had to go to work but I am so so so thankful that he didn't. Yesterday we took turns napping and that I do believe helped us 100%. We also took the kids outside for the first time since Saturday. I think that gave them some hope that we haven't taken them prisoner.
Tonight, I was making a new cuncoction for dinner. Spaghetti squash layered with turkey burger, red sauce, and cheese. Nothing fancy. Something I hoped the kids would eat and something fast. As I was throwing this thing together Dana just stood and watched me. "Are you just making this up as you go", "yes, I hope it turns out". "Do you enjoy being a homemaker?" Hmmm. What is this question? Is it because I look ridiculous doing what I am doing? Did I forget to do something like brush my teeth today, is he making fun of me? Is this just fun banter before he says I have toilet paper hanging out of my pants? "Yes, I do". What I am really thinking and what I thought silently as I did dishes, "It's an honor to make YOU a home Dana. I hope I am at least improving as the years go by". I should have stopped and told him this but instead we laughed together and joined the kiddos in the dining room. Autumn refused my creation and Dom liked it enough he climbed into Danas' chair when he got up for something and polished off his. We haven't sat together in a few days and it was nice to just sit and enjoy a meal. I have also learned the kids don't graze on my food when I am only eating salad with veggies. (Just a three day thing, don't think me healthy or anything!)
doTerra is treating us great and my little side business was quite busy the first month of building. I was invited to a training convention in Salt Lake (you have to make a certain level to get the invite) and Dana is going to join me in March. We have talked with Grammie and Papa and they are going to help me out with a couple test sleep overs to see if I can really do it. Even as I race away to GreatFalls somedays with the music blaring and my best singing voice at full volume glad to be free free free, with in a few hours I am ready to go home and see my family. Our sweet little babes. They are something I tell you.  So, in the next couple months Dana and I will get a couple mini vacations. It will be CRAZY!
Dominic's hair is quite cute by the way. Dana ended up buying new clippers and he fixed it up perfect. Our little man looks so grown up. Miss Autumn has decided she needs another birthday since she "needs" more presents. She forgot about it when brother asked her to help him open a gift from Auntie Raquel. Wait till you see the pumas!!!
Happy New Years friends and family! I hope this finds you awesome!
Cheers
(no pictures tonight, sorry)