It's Monday.......

[Deleted]

Vents, Randoms, Chit chat

[Deleted]

I am at work early. Part of my team is gone to DC with the 8th grade, so I am working extra hours this week. Very proud that I got the kids dropped off and myself here on time.

Fortunately two of the class I am subbing for this morning have a movie and two have a test. I have a terrible cold, I seem better today that I was yesterday, so hoping to be good tomorrow when I have to actually be on my game to teach all these classes!

[twinmomma]

We got about 18 inches of snow yesterday. It's still snowing now. And my office didn't give us a snow day, just a delayed opening. So frustrated. Instead of just working from home like last week, I'll now spend my morning digging out and taking forever to drive there for the afternoon. I'm actually really surprised by the delay too. They're usually very cautious about snow.

I'm also spending my morning figuring out my stomach surgery. Doctor confirmed that the hernia needs to be repaired again. Unfortunately, it looks like she is not covered by my new insurance. I'm freaking out, because I really don't have time to find a new surgeon and get them up to speed on the history and then schedule the repair. I'll be out of work for a week and recovering for 4-6 weeks. There's a window of time that would work out pretty well for DH and I with no crazy commitments on our schedule, but I don't think it'll happen if I have to start the process over with someone new. Ugh.

[akafred]

WFH today. DD has an eye appt today and a pedi appt tomorrow. She failed the Lions test they did at school so she may need glasses, which is ironic because she has been wanting glasses a really long time but has never needed them. DH normally does routine appts but I didn't want him to have to deal with the frame buying experience.

Tomorrow is pedi. I am flustered about it because we need to get her meds changed but it makes me nervous. The neurologist she has been seeing for ADHD/anxiety (there is a SEVERE lack of psychiatrists in my area) didn't listen when DH told him the meds weren't working well anymore. Then there have been some antics at school that must stop so we are off to pedi. Not sure what her tactic will be. Will she Rx, send us back to neuro, send us somewhere else? Also nervous because the neuro had said if this med didn't work we were pretty much out of options. I don't think that is true but we may need to do 2 meds which is scary.

[akafred]

twinmomma, ALL of that sucks!

[twinmomma]

akafred, My kids failed that test too! Our appointments are in a couple weeks. I'm sending DH to do it because he's on school break. Totally forgot he might have to help the two of the pick out frames that day too!

[Widget123]

DD, 3.5, has been having severe separation anxiety at home for awhile, as in freaks out when she realizes she is in a room by herself. She also takes it really hard when Daddy isn't around, which is pretty rare outside of trips for work. We told her in advance that he was going to be away this week and it pretty much ruined our weekend. Crying, screaming, clinging. Next time I think it might be better if we don't tell her at all and spring it on her at the last minute? Or would that make it even worse?

[mae0111]

DH and I have been working out a lot, eating healthy, etc. The weight is melting off of DH. He had 30lbs to lose, he's down 12 in the past 6 weeks. We had a very active weekend - 2 good workouts, snow removal, sledding - 15K steps both days, high calories burned. He's down another 3lbs. I'm up 1.5lbs.

On the plus side, I've thus far been able to contain the pukiness to DD1. I bleached all the things, and have isolated her to one bathroom that no one else is allowed to use. My hands are raw and chapped from handwashing and cleaning, but so far, it's working.

The kids are on snow day #3 in a row - they haven't been to school since last Wednesday. I'm pretty annoyed that they canceled again. Both Friday and today could have just been delays. They're going to be in school until July. Plus side, I'm working from home again, and am able to avoid the crazy tension in my office.

[mommyatty]

I got up at 3:00 and did this really long questionnaire for a recruiter. Finished up and emailed it around 5:30 this morning. Was going to try to snooze for an hour, but DS decided he was ready to party. He's normally not a morning person. So no more sleep for me.

I'm calling my gynecologist this morning because my 12 day period stopped for about 18 hours and now is back in full force. I'm scheduled to do a tubal next week without ablation. Thinking we may have to reschedule it for the ablation too since my uterus has apparently lost its mind. Yea me?

Oh, and last but not least, I have a 4 day trip to Seattle this week. So I miss all the Valentines Day fun. Damn it. I love Valentines Day.

[akafred]

Feb 13, 2017 8:38:57 GMT -5 Widget123 said:

DD, 3.5, has been having severe separation anxiety at home for awhile, as in freaks out when she realizes she is in a room by herself. She also takes it really hard when Daddy isn't around, which is pretty rare outside of trips for work. We told her in advance that he was going to be away this week and it pretty much ruined our weekend. Crying, screaming, clinging. Next time I think it might be better if we don't tell her at all and spring it on her at the last minute? Or would that make it even worse?

It makes it worse if DD doesn't know. I usually mention things a week or so out and then drop it until the day before. If she is worried about it she'll bring it up in the meantime but it is still far enough away she usually doesn't. But then she doesn't freak out because she was uninformed.

Do you have a therapist or counselor for her? Might be a good time to dial one in so they can help with this sort of thing. Anxiety sucks.

[librarychica]

akafred, hugs.

[mommyatty]

mae0111, this will sound weird, but do you eat iodized salt? If not, start.

Same thing happened to me. It turned out that as part of my super-healthy eating plan we had moved to using Kosher salt and/or sea salt. When I gave up on dieting because I wasn't losing weight, I started eating potato chips every night and suddenly it was like I had a wasting disease. I went from a size 16 to an 8 in an incredibly short amount of time (like under 6 months). Doc reran my blood work and it was all about iodine. My thyroid levels were normal but apparently my body REALLY needs iodine for me to keep a healthy weight.

[sudokufan]

Bud is on day 3 of explosive diarrhea so I'm home with him watching PJ Masks (which is cute, but we're on our second run through in 3 days). I'm hoping he's on the mend because I really need to save my sick time for when his speech therapy finally starts. H is at work because once again a sick kid happens on a week he has a project going into production

I have a call in to our nurses line, and I'm pushing the BRAT diet - any other tips? He's a little tired and his appetite is a bit off, but he's hydrated and happy and fever free, so I'm not terribly worried, just sorry for him.

[mae0111]

mommyatty, do the ablation. You won't be sorry. I did it 2 years ago because I was regularly having 10 day long periods, and for 3 of those days, I had to carry extra pants with me. I couldn't make it from home to work, or walk 2-3 blocks to grab lunch, etc., without an issue. Now, I might have a 10-day window with some spotting, but it's not every day, and it's a pantyliner. Maybe something else for 1/2 a day. That's much better than my dr was expecting, so totally worth the 2 days of discomfort. I did not have a tubal.

Good luck!!

[mommyatty]

Oh, a celebration! We are pacifier-free! The monkey is off DS's back!

[mae0111]

mommyatty, I will try that. I switch between sea salt and iodized, but it hadn't occurred to me that I could be lacking iodine. Thanks for the tip!

[frozenpeas]

Widget123, that's so tough. With my girls (ages 3 & 4) I mention it about a week out (if I know), then again the night before that I'm going out of town. It's a game now where I tell them "tomorrow I'm going to get on an airplane and fly to . . .", then they guess where I'm going to fly. Then I say "and then I'll come . . .", and they yell "back!". Then we talk about how I'm going to get up very early in the morning and get in a taxicab (mimic driving a cab) to go to the airport, get on an airplane (mimic flying) to the airport in city X, get in a train to go to work, then work, work, work (pretend to work) then get in a cab, go to the hotel (pretend to sleep), blah, blah, blah. Then reverse it to describe how I'll get home and explain they'll be asleep when I get home but I'll tiptoe in and give them a kiss goodnight and see them in the morning.

Then while I'm gone, if they miss me my H will say "I wonder if Mommy is on a train or in a cab now" or whatever & they try to figure it out. And when I talk to them on the phone, they'll try to guess where I am. It makes it more of a game and gets their mind off of me not being there. If they're sad, I remind them of the last time I left and that they know I'll always come . . . "back". With my kids, it's important they're involved in discussing it, and that it comes directly from me (the parent who is traveling).

[mae0111]

sudokufan, no real advice, just hugs and fingers crossed that he feels better soon!

Anecdotal advice... my sisters kids had what you're describing, and the dr told her to give them McDonalds french fries. While they sometimes have the opposite effect, apparently they can work to bind kids up. I HATE McDonalds, so have not tried this trick. But apparently it worked...

[librarychica]

We had a really good weekend, which makes a bit Monday tougher. Also I left my headphones at home.

We have been keeping a diary of DD1's behaviors, meltdowns, etc for a couple months and there is a clear pattern. The more she is home the calmer she is. Days one of us picked her up early (because he sister has been doing the reoccurring ear infection thing) for several days in a row or she's home for several days for the weekend she is like a new person. By Wednesday afternoon of a regular week she is a wreck. I am not sure what to do with this information. Affording a PT nanny to pick them up so she doesn't have 9+ hours away from home would be possible but a lot or technically I don't have to work (but buying insurance and relaying on a small business 100% is enough to give me my own anxiety issues). Ugh. Y'all are getting this data dump because my IRL mom friends mostly don't work or have a PT working or SAHspouse and there was much pearl-clutching when I let the nanny go and put them in daycare for "such long days, Library" and I don't want to hear shit from them right now.

[rere26]

Seems like a common theme.

Dd puked yesterday. She hasn't been sick since, but won't eat, so no school. Unfortunately, I can't stay home because I have a gallbladder test tomorrow and a appointment with a surgeon Wednesday, and will hopefully get my gallbladder removed and feel better within the next couple of weeks. So she is with mom today.

Dh says he is still dizzy, he finished his antibiotics and his ears are still full of fluid and now he thinks he needs to see an eye doctor.

I just want to be knocked out until spring and hopefully all is better and everything is right with the world.

[rere26]

Feb 13, 2017 9:02:58 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

mommyatty, do the ablation. You won't be sorry. I did it 2 years ago because I was regularly having 10 day long periods, and for 3 of those days, I had to carry extra pants with me. I couldn't make it from home to work, or walk 2-3 blocks to grab lunch, etc., without an issue. Now, I might have a 10-day window with some spotting, but it's not every day, and it's a pantyliner. Maybe something else for 1/2 a day. That's much better than my dr was expecting, so totally worth the 2 days of discomfort. I did not have a tubal.

Good luck!!

Second. Exactly the same for me. I did have the tubal with it.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2017 9:03:28 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Oh, a celebration! We are pacifier-free! The monkey is off DS's back!

Teach me your ways please. We just caved yesterday and bought DD another pack.

[supertrooper1]

Last night, I kept hearing a noise on our back deck. We finally figured out it was a opossum in our BBQ grill. He had found the grease trap. We tried scaring him with lights and noise, but he just played dead. I finally pealed him off the side of the grill with a broom, but he just hid underneath the grill instead of running away. DH finally scared him out, but he ran around our house and hid under the front porch. So now we need to figure out how to get rid of him. I feel bad that the snow caused him to seek out shelter and food from our deck, but he was big and had very big teeth, so he could be potentially dangerous.

I have a dentist appointment for a cleaning today which I hate. So I decided to schedule a massage after my appointment since I'll have time to myself between my appointment and when DH would be home from work. But DS has a cold and DH thinks I should pick him up from DC after my dentist appointment. I'll be bummed if I have to cancel my massage.

[2chatter]

Discovered DS had lice Sunday morning. Managed to comb and fumigate him. Got to confirmation class with DD. Took girls to lunch with friends. Got everyone, with cake, to DS' birthday party. Realized I hadn't checked oldest for lice. She had it - fumigated and combed. DS was diagnosed with the flu last night. We took him to get breathing treatments for a cough. Awesome.

DH flies out this afternoon, I have an insane week at work and am currently sporting lice spray and a mask. I logged in to work at 6.

To offset that - DD had a great time with her limo and dance. DH referred to me as alpha female all weekend but at least there was cuteness. DS had a great party.

Poofed.

[CoverGirl82]

We had a pretty good weekend. DD's birthday party (at an indoor trampoline place) went well and all 6 girls got along (miracle!). I actually got to rest on Sunday afternoon, so that was awesome.

DS wrote DH a Valentine's card/letter last night and it was amazing. DS wrote about how much he loves DH for playing with him, taking him to sports, paying for sports, going to Disney, and working hard to pay for the Disney trip. DH let me read it and I had to try really hard to not start sobbing because it was such a touching note.

twinmomma, so sorry to hear about the stress related to your surgery.

Hope everyone with sickness in their house gets healthy soon!

[callmeKD]

In need of a coffee IV this morning. I did both the 1am and 4am feedings and then DD1 was up at 6am. I'm napping today, my H can deal with all 3.

[xctsclrx]

So I guess today was everyone skip their Monday workouts at my gym. It was awesome and weird having the place to myself this morning.

My boss it out sick today and left nothing for me to work on. I will be working on personal stuff then. Looks like it will be a fairly easy Monday.

My DH is flying out tomorrow morning for a work trip. He will be home by Friday. I am a little frustrated ( not with him) that I finally am in a good routine with working out with, work and the kiddo and now I have to shift everything again.

How do you guys get a workout in when your significant other is not home?

[mae0111]

librarychica, no advice, just hugs.

We have a FT nanny, and I've noticed that DD1's meltdowns are more frequent and more severe when it's a long week for DH and I. He's been traveling a ton, and the stress level at my job has been through the roof for the past ~10 months. When it's particularly bad, when we're both a bit more absent (physically or mentally), the meltdowns increase.

I'm not telling you this because I think it's the only answer (I'm not even sure it's the right answer), but these behavioral issues are one of the reasons that I'm leaving my job in a few months. DH and I can't live like this anymore, and it feels like the fastest way to solve it. It's not the only way, but since I hate my job anyway, it feels like the right answer, for now.

I was having a conversation about this with a coworker, and she said the same thing - all of her SAHM friends are telling her to quit. She can't, so she's trying to figure out other little ways to make things work - breakfast out with her DD before work, or an early pick-up now and then when she can get away with it.

You're not alone, and I wish you luck and send you hugs. It's so hard sometimes.

[xctsclrx]

2chatter, I am going to reiterate that your DH is a jerk but your kids are adorable. Did you say that your DS is 4? he looks so grown up. My DS is two and I am excited and sad to see that they grow up so fast.

So glad your DD had such a great time.

twinmomma, Is it not covered because your doctor is not covered by insurance or because the surgery is not? If it is the doctor then your doctor should be able to refer to a surgeon who is covered and it shouldn't take up anymore time. At least in my own experience that is what happened. Good Luck!

[mae0111]

xctsclrx, my DH travels almost every week. I do all of my workouts at home. I need to leave the house by 745, so I'm on the treadmill (or starting another workout) by 545-550. I can usually get in 30-40 mins before I need to get in the shower and get ready. I'm then typically all ready by about 700-710, and can get everyone else ready to go. Even when DH is home, he's gone by 630am, so I'm used to being the only one home for the morning routine.