ER

As you know, planning a wedding is extremely stressful and time consuming. So for anyone that has been guilting me for not blogging enough, know that my wedding is far more important than a blog post and that right there is all I have to tell you.

Jokes aside, there had been a more serious reason for my blog absence this past week.

As a baby, apparently I was pretty healthy. When you factor in that I had two older siblings running around infecting me with their germs, I squeezed by without many major illnesses. I had a horrible proneness to UTIs as a child, so I was always at the doctor for those, but that's because I literally cannot feel my bladder. I don't exaggerate. My sister knows, I only can feel it when it's about to come shooting out of me. Or when a 5 pound mass is sitting right on top of it, but I won't mention any names... Harrison. I also once drank a bottle of liquid cold medicine and my mom had to rush me to the ER only to bribe me with a doll I wanted so that I would take the activated charcoal and vom it up.

As I tend to do, I jinxed myself about two weeks ago when I thought to myself, "Wow, Harrison is an extremely healthy baby! He's only had two tiny little colds and no ear infections!!" Like an idiot.

It started off as a cough on Wednesday. Not even a bad cough. I didn't see any other symptoms popping up so we ventured off to Watertown to go look at wedding venues. Here's a spoiler of that trip: got nothing.

Harrison started getting worse on Thursday but it still wasn't anything I was really worried about- just a runny nose. The runny nose worsened Friday and by then the cough was pretty bad too. I was planning on heading back home Friday anyway, so that Harrison could sleep in his own crib.. because sleeping in your own bed is always a cure.

Saturday morning he woke up and could not breathe. It was hard to watch. Besides the breathing, reasons I knew he was sick:

• He was super cuddly. The kid never cuddles.

I can't figure out how to un-distort this BUT evidence of the cuddling. And the pale-faced baby.

• He would not eat. The kid LOVES to eat.
• He fell asleep on my lap, in my bed with me, and took three naps in his crib before noon. As you all well know, sleeping is his least favorite activity, so the fact that he was asleep for 5 out of the 6 hours that he was awake by the time I called the doctor was pretty indicative. 

Passed out in the middle of the floor

I took him outside a couple times thinking the fresh air would help, and ran the shower super hot so that we could sit in a steamy room, but neither of my little mommy voodoo tricks worked. I finally called the emergency line for my pediatrician's office, and spoke with a doctor who basically was like, yeah this could be treated at the office but its the Saturday of Memorial Weekend so lucky you, you get to go to the ER.

I'd never been to the ER before, like ever, so this had me a little rattled. THANK GOD my mom was off work so she met me and we went together. I also must note that I took the time to document the hospital stay, because I'm such a devoted blogger.

After many drugs, feeling good.

I feel like it's definitely one of those things where the parent needs the child more than the child needs the parent. Or like, even though Harrison was the sick one, I was just as, if not more upset. What I'm trying to say is that it was tough for me to watch him get really sick for the first time, and I'm sure it never gets easier. I mean... the cuddling was nice, SO nice, but obviously I'd take a healthy child that refuses to get anywhere near me, than a sick child who wants to cuddle.

The final diagnosis was an upper respiratory infection + ear infection. Both treatable at the pediatrician's office, normally. Leave it to Harrison to get sick on a Saturday and force us into the hospital. And see, he was fine:

GIVE ME THAT BEAR

This was him today, so you can see that he's fully recovered:

(not so) Fat and Happy

Have you ever been to the ER and if so, for what??

Wedding Woes

I'm too overwhelmed/obsessed with wedding planning to blog. So sorry.

To update you on my progress so far: last night, I went to my bff's sister's house because the two of them are the craftiest, most creative, event-planner people I've ever met. I thought I was in a for a night of amazing ideas and making some serious leeway on the planning front, but oh no. I basically became so overwhelmed with everything, mainly how much this shit is going to cost, that the entire drive home was spent having a nervous breakdown and crying.

My friends and family all knew that I was destined to be a Bride-zilla, but now that I'm learning that essentially, everything I want to have at the wedding is way too freaking expensive, rest assured people- Bride-zilla no longer.

I still know that the night will be perfect and the most fun so I'm not too upset about these realizations, just a bit disappointed. I'm sure the disappointment will pass when I finally start to get things settled, and can look forward to it more. Right now I'm just in limbo so that's what is stressing me out. I have heart palpitations every time I think about the fact that we don't have a venue yet (ok, so maybe a tiny bit of the Bride-zilla lingers).

So, for all of you that are wondering what I'm trying to tell you: don't have a wedding unless you want to have a minimum of 49832 nervous breakdowns about money. Or, don't have a wedding unless you are a millionaire. Or don't have a child before you have a wedding because the child eats all your money leaving you none for anything else.

Harrison had his 9 month well visit last week, and everything is a-ok. He is in the 30% percentile for his weight, as to be expected. Least chubby baby his age I've ever seen :(. Please Harrison, chunk up for me, please. His skinniness is due to the fact that he's in the 70% percentile for his height, so there's that. I also learned that he has a huge head.

I think at this point, with no pictures to show, and content that was pretty much only my little panic attack, I will end for the day, because obviously, I still need to fit in some wedding pinning before Harrison wakes up from his nap!

What was your last panic attack about?

The Condensed Proposal and Wisdom Teeth misery

Well, this happened:

It looks a lot bigger in person, I swear

And then the next day, this happened:

Only Champions ice with breastmilk

So I'll rewind. Remember how I said I was a little bummed that I was spending my first Mother's Day as a guest in Dave's family's house, so I couldn't sleep in my own glorious, comfy bed?

Well, things went a little differently than I had expected. I'm not gonna go through the whole mushy gushy proposal story because no one wants to hear how magical and romantic it was, or at least, I don't care to read that shit on other blogs. We get it... you are in love otherwise you would not be engaged. So I'll give you the condensed version.

Up near where Dave lives in Watertown, is the magical land of Sackets Harbor. Really, it's just a little town right on the lake (for those of you not from Upstate New York, I mean Lake Ontario, body of water of dreams). The North Country is not for me- too cold, too snowy, and too damn hick. However, Sackets Harbor is not like that at all. The best bars, the best restaurants, the best little shops. Ok, so you get that I'm obsessed.

I make it a point to go to Sackets at least once a visit. I would go every night if I could. So, I didn't think anything of it when Dave suggested we head up to Sackets Harbor for a couple drinks. Next thing I know, it's freezing, and Dave wants to go for a walk.... um duh. This girl does NOT do the cold.

Long story short, after the question was popped, and I thought about it for a lengthy period, because it really wasn't obvious that I would say yes, he had gotten us a hotel room for the night in this cute little hotel that overlooked the harbor, complete with it's own fireplace and jacuzzi. He also stocked the room with a bottle of champs. I don't know which part was my favorite: the champs, the jacuzzi, the fireplace, or sleeping in until the wonderful hour of 8:45. Probably that last one.

So all in all, the Mother's Day I was complaining about because I wanted to sleep was actually granted to me, and it was even more amazing than I had expected. Good job, Davey.

The following day, I had the absolute joy of getting my wisdom teeth taken out. I now want to bitch slap every person that told me I would be back to normal, feeling fine, after the second day. I am on my 5th day of still experiencing a lot of pain on the left side of my mouth, still pounding the drugs like an addict, and sleeping miserably. This is all good and fun since I am going out tonight for my bff's birthday, and I'm on both a strict Ibuprofen regimine, as well as the amoxicillin to prevent infection. Not to mention the fact that the painkiller I was prescribed, that starts with a V and ends with an icodin, did jack shit. I thought I would be sailing in the land of prescribed medicine dreams, and instead, I'm feinding for meds every 4 hours of the over-the-counter variety (aka. weak).

For those of you bugging me to write this "Engagement" post, I think surgery is an acceptable excuse as to why it's taken me so long (when really, it's because all of my free time has been 100% devoted to pinning wedding things). I'm also glad all four of my wisdom teeth are out so that I never have to go through this nightmare again.

Was your experience with getting your wisdom teeth removed as bad as mine?

Fantasies

In the wake of yesterday's post about really needing a vacation, I realized that I have a shot at one. You probably already know this about me, but just incase you don't, Kelly and Michael are my bff. I watch every day, and if for some reason I miss it, I cannot go on with my day. If you watch, then you know that they have a trivia contest each day to win amazing vacations.

For the current contest they are running, Soar in Summer Travel Trivia, I have been applying each and every single day.

I already have my plan of attack as to what happens when they call me. Since I'll already be on my only phone, I will be frantically emailing my sister, who will call my stepdad for me to wake him up, so that he can start researching the previous day's episode and provide me with answers.

I also have been channelling all of my non-Harrison energy on this contest. I think to key to winning contests/raffles/the Powerball $270 million lottery, is positive-thinking. I obviously know this works from my experience with Wicked.

I swear the contest is rigged, though. For one, they NEVER pick young people. It's always like 60-year old retired people, who obviously do not need free vacations, since they are wealthy enough to retire at the age of 60. Also, it's always people that live in tropical places anyways. Today, a woman from Boca Raton, Florida was chosen (and she won a trip to.. Florida. Of all places. haha lady). To help my chances, I submitted this cute picture of Harrison and I, because really, how can they turn down that face?

I obviously spend a lot of my free time thinking/dreaming of this contest but there's no need to judge me. You can't tell me that you dont fantasize about unrealistic occurrences? Like the fantasy of kissing Nick Carter on like half of his mouth. Wait wait that actually happened. <3

Tonight, I am having a wine night with my gfs Melissa and Janelle, and meeting Melissa's new puppy. I can't tell what is worse right now- my puppy fever, or my baby fever, but if nothing else, at least the interactions with the puppy will help me overcome my desire to have another child when I can't even handle the one I have.

This weekend, we are trekking up to the North Country to visit Dave's family. Am I wrong for being a little saddened that my first Mother's Day will not be spent sleeping in in my own bed? Like, that is the ONLY THING I WANT. Especially because Mother's Day is the day before I get my wisdom teeth out, and at 4 days out, I am starting to freak the eff out. The plus side is that I don't have to run around chasing Harrison at all Monday, and I can just lay on the couch and laugh at Dave while he does it.

What are your plans for Mother's Day?

What do you fantasize about?

Please Save Me

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days where I was at my whit's end, and really wishing that my job as a mom was not my job anymore.

Harrison has gotten a lot better in terms of his mood, and he really only fusses for a couple hours before his bedtime. I can handle that, since it's the same every single day, I know it's coming, and the rest of the day he is good, so I haven't lost my shit yet. Yesterday, however, he was testing me. His nighttime sleep has reverted back to waking 3-4 times a night, and also to waking up for the day before 6am. For a child that really needs a solid 12 hours, this is no good. It is the worst cycle in the world- a bad night's sleep leads to waking up too early, which leads to an overtired baby, and an overtired baby has even more of a hard time napping, so he's overtired going to sleep at night, and thus, has another rough night of sleep. I can't deal.

I think I yelled at him five times yesterday, which is five times more than I usually yell at him. I'm already at one this morning, so I think it's safe to say that I am losing my cool.

All of Harrison's moodiness is now coupled with my post-Alumni Weekend depression. I think because I was looking forward to that for so long, and it gave my boring life a glimmer of excitement, I just feel empty now that I don't have anything to look forward to in it's place. I mean, of course there's summer festivals, and long holiday weekends like Memorial Day and the 4th of July, but nothing that gives me a break from the insanity of motherhood.

Am I really that bad?

That probably sounds horrible, that I need a getaway from my child, but with days like yesterday, and probably today, it helps to think that all of my hard work and losing my mind will be rewarded with a break, eventually. Even if it's not for months...

For someone who still doesn't ovulate, I seem to have a lot of symptoms of those that do- aka PMS. Forgive my whininess. I guess that is the one bad part of not getting a period, that I can't blame all of my mood swings and crying on the PMS. In my defense, I probably still have hormone overload and that is something I will blame my craziness on.

On the bright side, I got to go shopping for a baby shower yesterday, and also for my own child. I used to think nothing could be more fun than shopping for myself, but now I realize that truly, nothing is more fun than shopping for babies. I got Harrison this awesome number:

I look like a clown

Also, one of my most favorite moments of Harrison's life happened yesterday. As a little back story- what I'm about to show you is something that I thought my child would NEVER do. I always envisioned it to be something that other babies would do because it is ridiculously cute, but Harrison, who is such a horrible sleeper, would never accomplish, leaving me sad and jealous of other moms. IT HAPPENED:

Bum in the air <3

Tell me that sleeping position is not the cutest.

Alumni Weekend Recap

I hope you all remembered that this past weekend was my Alumni Weekend. I've only been talking about it for approximately three months.

I had been looking forward to this day for so long that leading up to it, I was a hot mess of anxiety and emotions. I couldn't even blog about my excitement for it on Friday, because I was afraid my words would completely fail to convey the epicness that was about to come. I felt that blogging about Harrison's 9 month birthday was a good runner up though. Not the mention the fact that I basically had to pack up every single one of our belongings to bring with us for Harrison's overnight stay with my parents. While this goes without saying, I could not sleep Friday night because my mind was racing.

Saturday morning rolled around and I was ready to go. I wasn't even mad that Harrison woke up at 6:30, completely throwing off my plan/wishfulness that he would wake up at 7 so the timing of everything would work better. Yes, half an hour makes a HUGE difference. I was rushing around, getting the car packed, myself packed, Harrison packed, and even though I woke up 2 hours before I had to leave, still managed to be running late.

I drove like a maniac to my hair appointment, drove like a maniac back home, nursed Harrison real quick, said our goodbyes, and we were on our way! Christmas morning, but better.

Our first stop when we got to Geneseo was obviously our favorite bar, Kelly's. If you think we are the only crazies to go to the bar at 11:30am, you are very wrong. It was so packed with fellow alumni looking to get their day drinking on, that we had to wait at least 15 minutes for a drink. We even managed to restrain ourselves from chugging our drinks to get a picture.

Our Alumni Brunch was next, so we went, ate all the food, and reunited with so many friends. Not sure if it was my lack of judgment in wearing a dress with sleeves, or my the fact that my hormones have clearly not regulated yet, but I was sweating profusely throughout the entire brunch. One of my greatest fears in life is sweating through my clothes in public. It is really embarrassing  This fear comes from a high school reputation of being really sweaty and literally trying every deodorant known to man to solve the issue, and finally having to resort to this prescription stuff that probably burned the sweat glands off of my pits it stung so much. Needless to say, I was really self-conscious of my extreme sweat levels this entire time.

The only acceptable destination to go to next was obviously back to Kelly's, with a quick pitstop at our old college apartment.

IN MY GLORY

Alumni Weekend is not complete unless you Instagram it

This bar is infamously known for pouring drinks that are about 90% liquor, 10% mixer, so here I was, drinking straight vodka pretty much. Being the smart alumni that we are, we decided we needed to chase every drink with a cup of water if we wanted to survive.

Water with a splash of cran or Vodka with a splash of cran? 

And survive we did. By 3pm I was feeling pretty good, and decided that might be a good time to slow down a little bit so that I'd be able to rally for the night portion of drinking.

Got the the hotel, laid in the glorious bed for a little, scarfed down a Wegmans sub, and I was in prime form to get my drink on again. We managed to find rides back down to the bars with like 60yr old frat guy alumni, and went straight to my favorite place on the planet, the IB.

It's just that perfect

The rest of the night was spent mainly in Kelly's, and since at midnight, it was officially Cinco de Mayo, this happened:

Sombrero for the win

Yesterday, my hangover consumed me for the majority of the day, so Dave was nice enough to take Harrison on a walk so that I could nap. You would think a 1.5 hour nap would be enough sleep to rejuvenate me, but I ended up falling asleep for the night at 8pm and not waking up til 6:45am this morning when Harrison was up. I am a professional sleeper, when I get the chance.

All in all, Alumni Weekend was everything I wanted it to be, and now I want to do it again every weekend of my life, minus the hangover.

Did you love college as much I clearly did?

9 for 9

Happy 9 Month Birthday to Harrison!

I realize that balloon says, "Congratulations", but just pretend it says "Happy Birthday"

I can't believe the same amount of time has gone by since he was born, as he was growing in my belly. These past 9 months have flown by, and I can't believe how big he is today, when it feels like just yesterday we were taking him home from the hospital. In honor of his 9 months of life, here are 9 things about him:

1. He has learned to give "kisses". His version of kissing is opening his mouth as wide as it can go, and slobbering all over our faces, reminiscent of someone on bath salts eating off the face of another, and yet, I love it SO MUCH.

2. As if napping wasn't a struggle before, Harrison has learned to pull up to stand in his crib. Now, whenever I go in to check on him, he is standing. It freaks me out every time and at first I think, "aw, how cute", until I realize that he is playing instead of sleeping and get more annoyed at the kid's aversion to naps.

3. His favorite snack are Cheerios. Yesterday, Dave remarked that our kid finally likes something that other children enjoy. It's a miracle.

4. His loves juice. Out of a cup. So when there is juice in there, he will chug it like he's been dying of dehydration in the Sahara, but when there is milk in there, he throws a tantrum because it's not a nip. Well played Harrison, well played.

Why thank you

5. His poops smell like buttered popcorn and that, my friends, is something I can live with.

6. He HATES the grass. Whenever we set him in the grass, he becomes paralyzed, but only until he remembers his vocal chords work and starts crying.

Don't even think about it

7. The new record for number of steps taken before falling is FOUR. My 9 month old has taken 4 of his own, not-holding-onto-anything steps. And this is not me being one of those moms that brag about how great their child is by making up preposterous lies. It is the truth!

8. His favorite book is Where's Spot but I have to hide it from him on the reg because he keeps destroying it by tearing the flaps off. As a mom, you learn to hide your kids' favorite toys and books to whip out for special circumstances when you really need them to behave. You see, when you whip it out and they remember how great the thing is, they are mesmerized for way longer than if they were able to play with it every day. Where's Spot has become my secret weapon.

9. I try SO hard to get him to laugh all day, and maybe get a few chuckles out of him, but the second Dave walks through the door, he starts laughing at the sight of him and continues laughing until bedtime. It angers me. However, I am his favorite person on the planet, so I always have that to fall back on.

And you wonder why I don't find you funny.