Tales from the Mommy Trenches

They say that the heyday of the mommy blogger has passed. Not sure what the kids are into these days instead. Snapchat? Youtube channels? Posts communicated entirely by GIFs? Video killed the blogging star? Well, here I still sit, plugging away at posts that probably contributed to killing this medium. Because there was never a party I wasn’t a day late and a dollar short for.

Yesterday, I had an appointment with the high risk OB, so I actually had to put on real pants, makeup, and do something with my hair other than knot it up in the back and pretend it doesn’t exist. I’m not as adept at doing all this since I’m carrying around this watermelon and I’m out of practice. Also, I have a hard time finding clothing that doesn’t make me want to die. Jeans give me contractions and underwire bras are like the seventh circle of hell since I always carry so high. Leggings don’t really count as pants, so I have to find a top long enough to cover some expansive real estate in the rear. And I’m always behind on the laundry. And the girls have all had colds. My standards are low, but not venturing out in public covered in snot stains low. Needless to say, getting dressed was taking me longer than expected as the three older girls were downstairs presumably eating their breakfasts and watching Daniel Tiger.

Here is what they were really up to:

Why yes, that is sharpie marker. On their faces, and their legs, and their feet, and on their fingernails and toe nails like nail polish except a nightmare to get off. And I had to drop them off at my mom’s in 15 minutes. Ruthie thought it looked really vogue, as you can see. She had done her eyelids, even. Rose cried and told me I couldn’t take it off because she would no longer be beautiful. Apparently, Wren just stood there while her sisters decorated her.

So I had to drop them off at my mom’s looking like that while my mom laughed and laughed. My mom, being Cuban, is a cleaning expert and I knew if anyone could get all of that permanent marker off, she could. She sent me these pictures while I was waiting for my ultrasound:

She said she tried several things, and makeup remover seemed to do the trick. It’s still all over their nails, but I’ll take what I can get. I’m glad Wrennie is putting Dad’s workout equipment to good use.

Yesterday, I was also caught in the midst of a tornado on my way back to Mom’s from my appointment. Big branches were falling, transformers on the electric lines were exploding, the streets were flooded, my phone was going off with that jarring emergency warning, and on the radio they were telling me to leave my car and go lay face-down in the nearest ditch. That idea did not appeal to me in the least. I decided to risk an alternative. It took me about half an hour, but I finally reached my grandparents’ house (usually five minutes away from the hospital) to wait out the tornado warnings. They had sought refuge in the basement, so I had to call their cell phones to let me in. It was a pretty harrowing experience. While I was there, they took out what they knew was my favorite casserole from a local deli to give me. They had been keeping it in the freezer for me for the next time they saw me. Aren’t grandparents one of the most wonderful things in the world?!!

I defrosted it all today and put it in the oven for dinner. When I tried to pull it out of the oven, the tin foil dish completely collapsed and the whole casserole spilled into the bottom of the oven. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. (I can really relate to Job these days. I know, I am melodramatic.) We had fast food for dinner instead.

On the positive side, we found a nanny and she is a Godsend. She comes twice a week and gives my mom a much-needed break from babysitting during the endless doctors’ appointments. I have been doing crazy things like running errands by myself, eating by myself, and getting stuff done around the house without so much “help” from the toddler. Praise the Lord!

I was thinking about doing a few posts on what it is like to be near the end of a pregnancy with a child with Down syndrome and a heart defect. It will not be boring, that is for sure. There is a higher risk of stillbirth with children with Down syndrome, so I am seeing doctors at least twice weekly to make sure she is still doing well inside the womb. My C section is going to be early per my high risk OB’s advice. We have to make sure the umbilical cord is still working, she is practicing her breathing, she is still growing, and isn’t in any distress. I hope I make it to January, but I have my doubts. I will keep you all posted. Thank you so much for all of the prayers!

And now I will subject you to a picture from Thanksgiving of the kids and all their cousins and Rhea because she is my sunshine.