Jenny Ford, owner of Monkey-Toes.com, Baby Week 6

Week 6 –

Well I found out this week that Tim is going to Haiti for 8 days to volunteer.  He is an EMT and is able to offer assistance to the tons of people hurt from the massive earthquake a little over a month ago.  I’m so proud of him and the group he is going with.  It is going to be the trip of a lifetime.  So I am single-mommin’ it for 8 days – should be interesting.  Brings back memories of a not-so-distant past life where I was the single mom to my two daughters.  It was rough back then, but this time around I know that Tim is coming home to me (at least I’m hoping, praying, and crossing my fingers he will).  On one hand things are a little easier when I am on my own simply because I can follow my own schedule.  On the other it can be harder because there is no relief.  I’ve also got plenty of family right at my fingertips that would rush over to hold the little guy if I need a break.  But thankfully, my girls (ages 7 & 9) are soooo independent that they really aren’t much work, in fact most of the time they are uber helpful.  They’ve got full day school and then homework and bedtime, piece of cake (why thank you, I think I will).  It’s the little man Oscar that is going to be needing the constant care.  I have complete faith in myself that I can do it.

While I’ve been documenting my life over almost an entire year, week by week, I have noticed that I take pleasure in a lot of things, in excess – desserts, cheese, cherry coke, chocolate, coffee, etc. This week I made a major amateur breastfeeding mistake – overdosed our son on caffeine.  Back in the day when I breastfed both my girls I didn’t drink coffee and on occasion had a can of coke, so caffeine wasn’t an issue.  Now however, I live on the stuff.  LOVE my morning cup of joe topped off with vanilla hazelnut creamer, mmm my mouth is watering now.  Well, Friday I had my usual cup of coffee in the morning, then mom called and said she was stopping at Starbucks so she’d pick me up a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte (to my defense I only drank half).  Later that day I met a friend for a movie – my fave theater in which for the price $9 includes the ticket and all you can eat popcorn and soda (fountain Cherry Coke soda – pretty much the best thing EVER) – oh so healthy too.  So I proceeded to suck down a Cherry Coke.  I’m sure somewhere in there I had some chocolate too, what day isn’t complete with chocolate? Knowing I was drinking so many caffeinated beverages I did try to drink a bunch of water, but I am guessing that didn’t help at all.  Saturday he was not his usual sweet, smiley self as he was pretty fussy, and woke up a lot that night. Sunday rolls around and our little guy is W-I-R-E-D.  I kept trying to put him down for a nap and he wouldn’t go – you can only imagine the amount of “Pacicizing” I was doing that day (read week 5 for your instructions).  Yes folks, Oscar stayed up for an ENTIRE day, I felt horribly guilty.  His poor little eyes were so red.  He finally went to sleep that night, but it took him a WEEK to get back to a good schedule – ugh.  I am trying decaf but I am a little paranoid about that too, it has a small amount of my wonder drug in it, darn it!

I’m not sure if I’ve told you or not (or maybe you didn’t believe me), but I put myself to bed at 8.  Basically I tuck the kiddos into bed and then head to bed myself.  I’m almost worse than the dog, I said ALMOST.  I don’t always go right to sleep.  Some nights I will lay in bed and read, others I will watch a little boob tube – some I’ve been caught having a little dessert in bed as well (gasp!).  Anyway, by the end of the day I am just physically exhausted.  Between the feedings every 2-3 hours (depending on if our kid has been doped up my breast milk latte or not) and the dog keeping me up for hours barking and trying to sneak into our room – I swear the dog knows how to tip-toe (he’s now afraid of our dish washer), I get very little sleep.  One night I told the girls I’d be going to bed early, they snickered and thought that was funny.  They had a late start for school the next day so I told them they could stay up til 9, but that they had to tuck me into bed at 8 – a little role reversal?  They actually did put themselves to bed at 9! I was surprised and proud.

Well this portion of single-mommyhood has gone well so far – aside from the caffeine overdose.  I promise I have learned my lesson and of course my heart aches for doing that to him.  Poor, poor cute little WIRED Oscar.