Disclaimer: Totally thought I posted this last week. Totally. did. not. Sorry! Here's my late V-Day post! Enjoy!
Is Valentine's Day your favorite holiday? It's not mine. It's not my least favorite holiday, just not my favorite. It's cute, the kids have a lot of fun, and it's a good excuse to eat some chocolate, for sure! Maybe I don't like it because it's so close to my birthday, or maybe because I am over the winter months, or maybe because I fantasize about a perfect romantic evening with my husband, that would really never happen. Not in the "perfect" way I think about it. You always think back to the beginning of your relationship. For us, that was high school.
There wasn't a whole lot going on then in the romance department, but I remember as soon as I moved to Minneapolis in 2001 the romance was kicked up a million notches. I received letters from him a lot, with sweet words that I won't mention because I don't want to embarrass him. He visited as much as he could, he rode his motorcycle through the rain once for 6 hours (one way!) just to see me for 2 days. He brought me Rosie's Pizza (my favorite from home). He brought me my favorite cereal. He bought me a sno-cone machine so I could have "Rainbow Snow" in Minneapolis. He moved to Minneapolis to be with me in September, only 3 months after I left. That said a lot to me about how he felt. He transferred stores, dropped out of school (with the promise that he would finish, and he did.) and changed his entire life so that we could be together. At such a young age, I know everyone thought we were crazy. And I would say the same thing to Callie if she told me she was going to move in with her boyfriend right out of high school. If Tanner quit college for some girl, I would NOT be happy, and I am sure that is how my now mother in law felt. But he did go back. He did finish. He kept his promise. And I remember being so proud of him, and I still am.
We moved into a one bedroom townhouse style apartment. Our rent was $800 a month for a tiny apartment. Looking back now, I don't know how we did it. We were poor. I was going to school for 25 hours a week, working 30-40 hours a week, and he was working full time. We were living off of love and ramen noodles! We didn't have cable. Our favorite show? Supermarket Sweep, of course. I wish that was still on. We always said we would kick butt if we ever went on that show, and I still believe it!
After I finished school, we moved back to his hometown. Our rent was only $450 for a two bedroom, much bigger apartment! We spent a few years there before getting married and moving to Omaha in 2005. We had Callie in 2007, bought our first house in 2009, and had Tanner in 2010! No babies for us in 2011! 2012.... maybe :)
So here we are today, two beautiful children, our own home, both working and not living paycheck to paycheck anymore. I always dreamed of this day. But part of me does miss the spontaneity that comes when you don't have children to take care of and a mortgage to pay. And the long distance notes that truly came from the heart, the thoughtfulness of Rosie's pizza that is 6 hours old, and Supermarket Sweep. But I wouldn't change my life for anything. Our romance is scheduled dates every few months where we talk about the kids, "luv u" in a text message, and quick kiss before work. I cuddle with my kids a lot more than I cuddle with my husband. But neither of us would have it any other way.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Whew! Part 2!
I expected to do a blog all about my birthday and how great it was, and of course, the awesome cake that Callie, Craig, and Tanner would make for me. So, we'll start there :)
They did a great job, the cake was super delicious. I even had some for breakfast the next day (which was my actual Birthday!) We did the cake the night before this year. And what did Craig and the kids get me? Something I've wanted for a while now, a Flip HD video recorder. Are we still supposed to call them "video recorders" since there's not an actual VHS tape? I always get confused by that. Anyway, I love it, and have already used it a lot.
Right after we blew out the candles, Tanner vomited all over the place! It was not very appetizing. But, Callie really wanted to eat cake so after we cleaned up the mess, we ate some cake.
What was wrong with Tanner? Teething, I assumed. He is getting his two middle top teeth, thank goodness because he looked a little funny with teeth on the side but not in the middle. No big deal, I thought. He has no fever, no cough, no other symptoms. The next day, Wednesday (my bday!) he didn't vomit much, but towards the evening some diarrhea had set in. LOTS of it. I closed my in home daycare on Thursday because of the vomiting and diarrhea. The entire day, Tanner didn't wet a single diaper. He was wet when he woke up, but none after that. He became very sleepy and lethargic. When he cried, there were no tears, he had no drool, and I was starting to get worried. I decided to call the nurse line at my Dr.'s office. They directed me to take him to the hospital as soon as I could. We got to the hospital, waited for about an hour (the ER and Pediatric Express is on the same floor, and it was very busy that night.) We finally got in. The Dr. was very nice and did the "clinical" dehydration test and she thought he maybe slightly dehydrated, but nothing too serious. However, she wanted to do a blood test to check his PH balance and glucose level. We waited and about 15 minutes later she came back with a worried look on her face. She told us she had some bad news. That Tanner's balance is way off, his number was 13 and it should be 25 for a healthy child, and 18 for a sick child. She thought we were points away from respiratory problems and wait... there's more. His glucose level came back as a 3. Yup, a 3. Dangerously low. The Dr. told us it's a great thing we brought him in when we did, because he wouldn't have gotten better on his own, and we could have been in ICU or worse.
She ordered the ER nurses to come do an IV right away, she didn't want to wait until we were admitted upstairs. Three nurses came in, and the one who was doing the IV said, "I've never done this on a baby before." And after she was done (she did a great job) she asked the Dr. to make sure she didn't hit an artery. Hmm okay, but yes, she did a great job. Within a half an hour his glucose went up to 26. We went upstairs got admitted and settled in for the night.
They did more blood tests the next day and everything was so much better. He was still very lethargic but was keeping down pedialyte. We were discharged Friday at about 5:00. It was so nice to be home. But it was such a scary experience.
Now we are home, Tanner's doing well, and Callie is feeling attention-deprived. Which she was. It was hard on her to be home and know that I was at the hospital with Tanner, and when we got home Tanner just wanted to be held. She's not really talking to me a lot today.
But we will go have a girls night tonight, just her and I. I am looking forward to it. Callie said to me today, "Tanner always shares Daddy with me but he never shares you with me, Mommy. I want him to share you, I am sick of Daddy." lol Maybe my next blog will be about our girls night :)
I also want to thank everyone for the messages of encouragement, thoughts, and prayers. We have the best friends and family. Thanks to Marcus and Darci for taking Callie when we needed, and Caity for bringing lunch and offering to take Callie. And of course, Grammy also offered to take Callie for us. Honestly, thank you all so much!!
They did a great job, the cake was super delicious. I even had some for breakfast the next day (which was my actual Birthday!) We did the cake the night before this year. And what did Craig and the kids get me? Something I've wanted for a while now, a Flip HD video recorder. Are we still supposed to call them "video recorders" since there's not an actual VHS tape? I always get confused by that. Anyway, I love it, and have already used it a lot.
Right after we blew out the candles, Tanner vomited all over the place! It was not very appetizing. But, Callie really wanted to eat cake so after we cleaned up the mess, we ate some cake.
What was wrong with Tanner? Teething, I assumed. He is getting his two middle top teeth, thank goodness because he looked a little funny with teeth on the side but not in the middle. No big deal, I thought. He has no fever, no cough, no other symptoms. The next day, Wednesday (my bday!) he didn't vomit much, but towards the evening some diarrhea had set in. LOTS of it. I closed my in home daycare on Thursday because of the vomiting and diarrhea. The entire day, Tanner didn't wet a single diaper. He was wet when he woke up, but none after that. He became very sleepy and lethargic. When he cried, there were no tears, he had no drool, and I was starting to get worried. I decided to call the nurse line at my Dr.'s office. They directed me to take him to the hospital as soon as I could. We got to the hospital, waited for about an hour (the ER and Pediatric Express is on the same floor, and it was very busy that night.) We finally got in. The Dr. was very nice and did the "clinical" dehydration test and she thought he maybe slightly dehydrated, but nothing too serious. However, she wanted to do a blood test to check his PH balance and glucose level. We waited and about 15 minutes later she came back with a worried look on her face. She told us she had some bad news. That Tanner's balance is way off, his number was 13 and it should be 25 for a healthy child, and 18 for a sick child. She thought we were points away from respiratory problems and wait... there's more. His glucose level came back as a 3. Yup, a 3. Dangerously low. The Dr. told us it's a great thing we brought him in when we did, because he wouldn't have gotten better on his own, and we could have been in ICU or worse.
 |
| Glad that's over! |
She ordered the ER nurses to come do an IV right away, she didn't want to wait until we were admitted upstairs. Three nurses came in, and the one who was doing the IV said, "I've never done this on a baby before." And after she was done (she did a great job) she asked the Dr. to make sure she didn't hit an artery. Hmm okay, but yes, she did a great job. Within a half an hour his glucose went up to 26. We went upstairs got admitted and settled in for the night.
 |
| Finally settled in. Even got a little smile! |
They did more blood tests the next day and everything was so much better. He was still very lethargic but was keeping down pedialyte. We were discharged Friday at about 5:00. It was so nice to be home. But it was such a scary experience.
Now we are home, Tanner's doing well, and Callie is feeling attention-deprived. Which she was. It was hard on her to be home and know that I was at the hospital with Tanner, and when we got home Tanner just wanted to be held. She's not really talking to me a lot today.
 |
| She's under there. Ignoring me. |
But we will go have a girls night tonight, just her and I. I am looking forward to it. Callie said to me today, "Tanner always shares Daddy with me but he never shares you with me, Mommy. I want him to share you, I am sick of Daddy." lol Maybe my next blog will be about our girls night :)
I also want to thank everyone for the messages of encouragement, thoughts, and prayers. We have the best friends and family. Thanks to Marcus and Darci for taking Callie when we needed, and Caity for bringing lunch and offering to take Callie. And of course, Grammy also offered to take Callie for us. Honestly, thank you all so much!!
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