Metal Meredith

Puking Kid and Dust Clouds

Phil and I walk up the steps to Vivienne�s room. We put her jammies on without struggle, tuck her cuteness into bed, read a quick yet uplifting story, stand on either side as we kiss her on the cheek, �I love you Vivienne� we say. �I love you mother and father� she returns. Then we all crack up laughing at the absurdity.

Since getting Vivienne into her own bed, we have learned a few things about toddler stubbornness. Vivienne is quick to offer to get into bed and read a book. But after all is said and done, she is up and playing on the floor as soon as she hears the click of the doorknob. I will go back in and put her back into bed, when her most recent Golden Globes performance of �Best Defeated Napper by an Infant or Toddler� comes into play. Oh, how I love these moments of parenthood.

This past week, we have had people in to fix our big hole. It is a mess, although I know the inconvenience is well worth the current dust filled cave we have going on right now. But on top of this all, we had our first Vivienne sickness scare. I was not prepared for the helplessness and hurt I could feel for sickness other than my own.

She has had colds in the past; don�t mistake what I am saying. This was the first time we felt that there was nothing more we could offer her and we reluctantly took her to Patient First. There, after Phil walked her around for 5 minutes and I gave all of our information, Vivienne curled up on her mom�s lap and let out about 3 cups of barf right on to my sweater. After she got sick, everyone was trying to help me get clean and I could have cared less. I was sitting wet, smelly and more concerned for my poor, sick child.

Come to find out that she not only had a cold, but a stomach virus and an ear infection. Over two years without a major illness and she throws all that at us at once. Super. In her sickened and exhausted stupor, she managed to wave and say a frail �good-bye� to each and every person at the clinic. Then, on the way home, she sang �Itsy Bitsy Spider� in and out of consciousness all the way home and up the stairs to her bed. Then, and only then did Phil and I lie on either side of her and watch her quickly fall asleep.

We dodged a bullet with no more puking, but she still isn�t feeling 100%. Last night, to get out of the house and give us all a little break from routine, we treated ourselves each to one present from the Dollar Store. Vivienne bought a Play-doh set, Phil bought a bag of those gross chalky sweetheart candies and I bought Vivienne a Get Well Soon balloon. Glad to be leaving the store (where they now sell meat, for a dollar. MEAT for one dollar�ugh), we called it a night.

Lastly, I was flattered all over myself for this post on BloggingBaby.com. One of my favorite bloggers, SuburbanBliss, visited my site and gave it a mention. I was giggling with glee which clearly shows that I need some adult interaction and very soon.