And what I propose for this time next year includes October, November, December, Januaryyyy...May.

 

Oh!

Haii.

It was almost like I took a little blog vacation there, leaving you to read about my Terribly Attractive Moustache Issues for a week solid.  Which, I suppose, is almost as bad as writing another blog entry  about how impossible it is to function after almost six damn months on no sleep.  (She is cute, I'll give her that.)

So okay, I won't do that.

And I promise I'll get all happy and fun again right after I explain to you at which unthinkable level my brains have melted to mush and my ass is permanantly imprinted in our rocking chair because I decided to keep my baby home...a lot...to recover properly from her surgery, and because it's too cold and she and her mountain of blankets are too doggone heavy to lug around in her infant seat anymore.  (Waaaah waaah waaah, yes, I know.)

So after not leaving our hospital room for four days, we came home and there we stayed for another six solid. 

So by last Saturday I was nuts I tell you, and the kids were too.  Kevin and I decided we should load everyone up and head out to the mall and the Olive Garden almost an hour away even though we have those very same places four minutes away from home for a distinct change of scenery.  And because who doesn't mind expressway driving when it's sleeting and snowing?  At night?  On a long bridge over a deep quarry with their kids in the car?  Sounded perfectly responsible to me.

Dinner was great, being out was great.  We closed the mall cause we're crazay like that and as Carson Pirie Scott is making frantic announcements for the damn family of five to just LEAVE ALREADY OR THEY'RE LOCKING US IN, I decided I better change Marin's diaper before we hit the road.   

And it was during that diaper change that I discovered that one of my daughter's previously glued incisions had popped open, and there was a deep, very not healed opening in my baby.  Fantastic. 

Of course it happened this way.  Because I'd spent ten days without a single exodus for her best interest.  Because baby incisions always pop open at 10pm on a Saturday night when there is no way to reach the surgeon, in a mall an hour from home when it's snowing.  And if you've never been through a surgery with your baby, as if that isn't awful enough, try being sure that her insides are going to come spewing out at any moment in the middle of the Juniors Department of a store who really wants you to just goooo hoooome already.

I covered the wound as best I could and dialed the pediatrician on-call as soon as we were in the car.  She was so kind, asking about the depth and the width (if you're cringing I was too) and if it was oozing or bleeding.  No blood or anything, thankfully, so she instructed me on the butterflying technique and then was even nice enough to ask how I was coping with all of this.  By the time we made it home I had almost unclenched both my fists and my teeth from fear, thinking maybe we would be fine after all.

But as I de-layered Marin's clothing once home, I began seeing blood.  I was quite panick-y and butterlflied as best I could, but after I noticed the inside corner of the damn strip poking into her wound, I gave up and re-butterflied with a larger, bright blue SpongeBob bandaid.

I went back and forth for what seemed like forever, now at midnight, wondering whether I should take her to the ER.  But, ughhhh, germs and gross live there too, so I had no idea what we might actually bring home with us.  Instead I decided I should stay up all night checking her side every four minutes to make sure the SpongeBob Dam didn't break.

It didn't, thankfully, and now almost another week later her side is looking infinitely better. 

 

And she is obviously feeling better too, even twisting and turning and re-learning her escape strategy roll.

I suppose now is a good time to say, after the rough weeks and months we've had recently, and as a We Win reward for the ungodly work hours and double house balancing act and the long winter and the general hectic that is raising three young children, Kevin and I are going on vacation in a couple weeks.  Just the two of us, for the first time since our honeymoon.  Ohhhh baby I can't wait! 

...If for no other reason than to sleep?  All the way through the night?  WAHOO!

So whaddya know about San Fransisco/Marin County, California?

Comments

[Parsing Nonsense]

I've never been to San Francisco, but I've hard great things about (and seen luscious pictures of) the Ghiradelli factory and their ice cream sundaes. I highly recommend! I hope you and your hubs have an amazing and relaxing time together!

[BetteJo]

I say you definitely win! Especially for having the supreme Mommy strength to deal with gaping baby wounds in a single bound! You're a much better woman than I. :) Hope you and Kevin have a FABULOUS time!!

[Jen L.]

Oh, my word, if anyone deserves an adults-only vacation, it's the two of you! SO glad you're getting a chance to get away for a bit! Marcus and I are going to a conference next weekend and my parents are keeping Dean. We're so giddy, you'd think we were going to the damn French Riviera for a week instead of the Sheraton in the next city over for 2 nights.

[debi]

I am from Northern Calif. You are going to heaven. Marin County is what you need. San Fran is great but Marin is where you will find what you need.

[Jenny]

MARIN County.
You are "escaping" one to go to another! (What?...No one else has noticed this? ; )

[SJ]

Marin County. Interesting...

I'm so happy for you and Kevin and I hope you have a fantastic time. San Fran is awesome, you are going to love it.

Marin is adorable by the way..glad to hear she's on the mend.

[AJU5's Mom]

We have only driven through San Fran (during a Pacific Coast drive). We didn't see much, but I can say I have ridden over the Golden Gate Bridge now!

Does the county name have anything to do with your daughter's name or is it just a coincidence?

[Mar]

Oh please tell us... All about Marin County and San Fran... I can't wait to hear.

She is so cute I can eat her up...

All my love
Mar

[heels]

San Francisco is always fun, but Marin County is really lovely. Another alternative is to go north from SF into Napa/Sonoma (WINE country!) where it is also lovely and may be warmer, though you won't get the ocean. OR you could go up to Mendocino county, where you WILL get ocean and rates may be a bit lower than Marin. Generally, you can't go too wrong with Central California coastal and foothill regions. Ooh! OR you can come up to the higher foothills where I am and go to Yosemite National Park- lovely even in the winter. There's just SO much to do here!

[Frema]

Your vacation sounds fabulous. And with your new camera, I know you'll have awesome photos to share with us.

Oh, and the offer to take me along still stands. :)

[Cindy]

Can I get a HELL YA for the adult vacations???

I can't wait to hear all about yous! We leave a week from this Tuesday!! I can wait! Sunny Acapulco HERE WE COME! Did I mention NO KIDS!!

[HollowSquirrel]

I'm glad she's doing better. Honey, she is just so beautiful, like her mommy! I'm glad you're getting away -- enjoy the nice weather! Soak up some sunshine for me!

[Kellie]

You? Are my HERO! If it was *me* that had a baby with a wound that was open, I'd have freaked out and lost my ever lovin' mind. Even if I was home. You're awesome.

You and your husband totally deserve this vacation and I hope you have a wonderful time!!

[Erica]

First of all, I am so jealous of your adult only vacay. We haven't had one since our honeymoon, and then I was pregnant, because we do things bassakwards, and didn't really enjoy it as much as I should have. Also, I propose we skip January too. Go from December straight to May. Also that little girl is damn cute. Thanks for the b-day wishes. Ugh. 33. Creeping up there.