BA's Corner: Enough

How much can a person take? What about 2 big people and one little person?

There are many good reasons why we haven't updated the blog in a week.  Rather than tie them all together in a nice, neat story, how about some data points that help paint the picture of our lives recently?

• We're all sick. And we got Nana sick too. You should hear us all sitting around at night coughing like a bunch of chain smokers (Leah included). We each lost our voice at different times, but have gradually gained them back. It all started with Leah, and she had the worst of it.  She had this virus (the worst I've had in years) on top of a double ear infection.  She had a fever and spent 3 days panting...she was a mess, and it was a little scary.  Poor little girl. 
• Leah's now been to the doctor 7 times in 3.5 weeks.
• She is now on her 5th medication for ear infections; none has worked yet. The 3rd round was a series of 5 shots in her little legs over 3 days. She had 1 ear infection in 10 months in California. She's had infected ears continuously for the past 3 weeks here in Atlanta. We're just not sure if it's the same infection, or different ones.
• Leah's newest medication apparently results in massive diarrhea. In fact, the bottle says "diarrhea may persist for weeks or months after medication is finished." Wonderful. So now we're just sitting around waiting to wear out the diaper genie.  Apologies in advance, Leah. 
• We now have an appointment with an ENT.  Fingers crossed we don't have to get tubes yet.
• We were also "pleasantly surprised" to find some pictures online of Leah's new daycare class. My favorite are the pictures of 2 other kids sucking on Leah's pacifier.  And they wondered why we wanted to bring it home and clean it every night. 
• On top of all this, I just filed a claim for $6,500 with the moving company, if that gives you any indication as to how "smoothly" the move went.  Among other things, our goods were split into 2 shipments without our knowledge, and it took way too long to get into our townhome.  So we've been behind the ball ever since we got here. 

If we have another 2 weeks like these past 2 weeks, AA likely won't pass the bar.  So we had to make some changes. 

• First, we've had some serious help from family.  Nana and Papa came several weekends to watch Leah while AA studied and I got things done around the house.  Unfortunately, I got sick and spent most of that time in bed while Nana and Papa watched Leah AND put together porch furniture, fixed the grill, cooked dinner, etc.  Thank you Nana and Papa!
• Then we were still overwhelmed.  So Gramma drove up to watch Leah this past weekend.  I was feeling better, so I got several things done around the house and even snuck over to get my GA license and a haircut.  I felt spoiled to get my first haircut in several months.  Thank you Gramma!
• We held several conversations last week with Leah's daycare teachers about her drinking bottles in a bouncer chair, which can encourage ear infections.  We were concerned about this from day one here and watched it closely.  But with so many problems lately, we just told them no...every morning and afternoon last week, to each teacher. 
• We're still trying to figure out how to keep other babies from munching on Leah's pacifier.  Can't have that any more either.
• We've pulled the pacifier during the day....only for use in the crib.  We've read that the constant use of pacifiers can encourage ear infections. 
• And now we have pulled Leah out of daycare for at least 2 weeks.  We just can't keep sending her back into the lion's den and dealing with her constantly being sick.  Not right now.  We have to get her well, and we all have to get well too. 
• AA has to get isolated.  There are too many distractions pulling at her right now. 
• So Nana has come to stay with us, at least for a couple of weeks.  She'll be watching Leah, and she's a huge help around the house too.  At this rate, AA is sure to pass the bar.  Thank you Nana!! 
• Unfortunately, this means that Papa will be eating a lot of Long John Silver's in July. 
• Family and friends, we promise things will get back to a state of normalcy at some point in August.  We will make the rounds and spend much more time with everyone.  We just have to survive right now. 

So if you were wondering why the blog hasn't been updated in a week, now you know.  On the flipside, the Peanut has gotten to meet a lot of our loyal blog readers in person, so there's the trade-off. 

In LA, we developed "Exam Mode."  That's when AA focuses on studying and I do virtually everything else that needs to be done.  That means Leah ends up running "Aarons" with me all over town. 

We thought AA's bar prep would force us into 2 months of "Exam Mode."  Instead, we are in "Survival Mode."  We have boxes everywhere, and we have just enough unpacked and set up so that we can survive until AA finishes the bar.  At that point, we can begin to get our lives back in order.

It's really hard to concentrate on work with all of this going on.  But I'm convinced we have the best baby in the world. Given all of this, she is generally just as happy as can be. Whether she's coughing, panting, sweating, or otherwise hurting, she tries so hard to smile through it all.

The rule in our house is that when you're sick, there are no rules.  Whatever makes you feel better, that's what goes.  You can see what makes Leah feel better....and I think it makes AA feel better too!  She's been sad that Leah won't sleep on her anymore.  But Leah has had no trouble curling up on Mommy recently.

Catching a cat nap in between "Aarons."  When she wakes up, she looks around quickly to
figure out where I've taken her this time, and if daycare, new faces, or shots are involved.



We didn't have to worry about her rolling off of our bed...she didn't have the energy.





"Make the pain go away, Mommy."



Pink eye is no match for the baby goldfish I'm about to devour. 
Put down the camera, and hand them over.