Sick again

Poor Oliver. He came down with the stomach flu again on Tuesday. The last couple of days he's been miserable - he was OK enough until Thursday, and he continues to be really sick through today. Throwing up less this time around, but it's coming out the other end - his diaper area is enough to make you cry. And he's so gassy. Added to that, he has all four first year molars coming in. Hopefully this passes soon. The poor little guy isn't himself at all. No energy, very fussy and clingy. He's drinking a lot of water, and so far doesn't appear to be dehydrating. Took him to his ped on Thursday just to be sure, and for now we just need to ride this out.

And the icing on the shit cake? In the last week, both cars have cost us a lot of money. Four new tires for Jon's car. I was driving his car to the Minute Clinic last Friday because I missed my doctor's office hours (sinus infection, yay!), and there was something in my lane, to the left. I veered to the right to miss it, and thanks to the truck ahead of me, I didn't see until too late that there was something just ahead to the right of my lane. I almost missed it, but the back tire clipped it (almost looked like rebar). By the time I got to CVS, the tire was flatter than flat. Two other tires were bad = four new ones. Ugh.

Then mine died at Safeway Monday morning. Fortunately, Jon was scheduled to take a later flight that day. But, guess where my cellphone was? Yeah, home charging. Safeway let me call the home phone, but Jon didn't hear it. They wouldn't let me call his cell because his # is long-distance. I didn't go off, but that kind of chapped my ass because I worked for them twice, the last time for 6 years, Jon worked for them (hell, we met there!), and my mom has worked for them for almost 36 years. Not to mention the small fortune I drop there weekly. I wanted to scream "just let me make a freaking 2 minute call and I'll pay you". The CSR took pity on me and let me use her cellphone. Jon got Oliver up from his nap, came over and tried to jump the car. It didn't do anything - just clicked and all the gauges went haywire. Had it towed, Jon took a later flight. As it turns out, my iPod charger/auto kit was draining the battery - I never unplug it (so word to the wise - unplug your iPod chargers every time you turn off your car!) and totally fried it. Since it was a non-standard component, the car repair shop was kind enough not to charge us for the diagnostics, but of course we had to pay for the battery and labor. And the front end was out of alignment, the brakes were at 20%, and the front tires needed to be replaced. We had all the work done - we were told we might get 6 months out of the brakes, but that's not a chance we were willing to take with the kids.

I've been trying to look on the bright side and actually be grateful. At least I was the only one in Jon's car when the tire went. With three bad tires, one of us could very well have had a blow-out on the freeway - you see tire pieces all the time on the road out here. And of course the kids could have been in the car. And with my car, we were told that it could have shut off when I was driving. Again, I do mainly freeway driving, usually with both kids in the car at 70ish MPH - the car shutting down on the freeway could have been a disaster. So I'm grateful that no one was hurt, but it still sucks.

On a brighter note, when Oliver got sick Tuesday (he woke up covered in vomit, but I was hoping it was a one-off thing because of his molars), it was as we were walking into Natalie's school. I was just floored, I couldn't speak, I was afraid I'd start crying, which I did anyway, I kept thinking "Oh God, not again". I was so worried that he'd have to get IV fluids again, Jon's gone, it's hard enough solo parenting when both kids are healthy, etc. etc. I just kind of lost it at school and on the way home (it's been a rough six weeks, it really has). One of the moms at Natalie's school helped me out with cleaning Oliver, myself, and getting hold of myself. The director offered to keep Natalie for the afternoon session so I could have more time at home with Oliver, and of course she lent a lot of moral support as well. I was a wreck driving home, just worn out, and our priest came over and sat with me for an hour and half so I could just get things out, and also get Oliver settled and comfortable, remake his crib. Then my mom came by for a couple of hours. She also picked Natalie up for me that afternoon - and the mom that helped me that morning sent a beautiful, encouraging letter home in N's backpack. I was given a lot of love and support when I needed it most.

Of course now Natalie wants to go to all day school all the time! I sent her all day for the rest of the week - the drive is 30 miles RT each way, and like Kristie said, it would be good to have more time in between the drives for Oliver. Many of her classmates are there, the bigger kids are there, she had lunch with the big kids and her friends. She did SO well - her teachers and Kristie (the director) kept telling me how great she did. She really thrived last week. Tuesday night she had all these stories to tell me about class and the kids - and you could see how happy she was. She really latched on to one of her teacher's son - Neil. He's 2. She kept telling me all about this little boy named Moo Moo that she played with, took down the slide, watched out for him crossing the parking lot (to the big playground). I asked who Moo Moo was, and she said Mrs. S's baby. I said "Neil?". She said "No, Moo Moo". I've attended a parenting class with both Natalie's teachers, and never heard Neil referred to as Moo Moo, but I went with it. The next day, I asked Jen if they call Neil "Moo Moo". She look puzzled, said no, but then told me how sweet Natalie had been with him the day before. I told her that Natalie calls him Moo Moo and we had a good laugh!

I like the afternoon session too - it's pretty much all Biblical - so they have their regular class (which is also Bible based, just not as heavily so) in the morning, then PM preschool (which is how they handle daycare) is different, so it's not a repeat of what Natalie already did that morning. We need to sit down and see if we can afford the extra fee through the end of the school year, it's beyond reasonable, but budget constraints, you all know the drill. I know Natalie won't be happy going back to her shorter day, she's already told me so, and she's doing so well all day, I think it's good. Also, another plus.... Natalie sometimes has a hard time with transitions. And she's already been a little apprehensive about having a new teacher for pre-K next year. Well, the afternoon kids eat lunch in the pre-K room, so Natalie got to spend time with Ms. Agnes (her teacher for next year). The first day, I asked her if she met Ms. Agnes. She said "yes". Before I even got to say "isn't she nice" (she is, the entire staff there is incredible), Natalie yelled "I LOVE HER". I told her Ms. Agnes would be her teacher next year, and she did a happy dance, yelling "Woohoo! That means I'm a big kid!". Part of me feels weird having Natalie in school from 9-2:45, but she loves it, so I need to get over myself I think. :-P

Then Wednesday, after dropping Natalie off, I was hoping to get Oliver down for a morning nap, then nap myself. Got him down, and a half hour later he was up. I was a little disappointed at first, as I was so tired.... Once he got up and got past his grumpies though, we had the nicest morning. First he'd run up to me, kiss my arm, laugh, run away, come back, gnaw on my arm, shake his head no, laugh, run away, repeat. Then he just started running up, throwing himself into my arms for a big hug and a kiss, would go back to playing, come back for hugs and kisses. It was the sweetest morning, and better than any nap. Just what my heart needed.

So highs and lows.