Dish. August 13, 2008

Dishwasher:

“Dishwasher”:

5 things that happened today:

1. Out of desperate need for cleanliness, I took the nap-refusing Tink into the shower with me. She played with her tub toys while I cleaned up. It was actually much easier than I’d imagined. Though, as I prize showers as some rare “me time”, I don’t expect to make a habit of it.

2. Spoke with j. on video chat. So far, it seems he really does intend to come visit us next week. Stay tuned.

3. Friend Adam came over to show me some of his scripts. I found the most potential in his “Mock-umentary” about a Harry Potter Musical. I found much of it hilarious- though I warned him it could never make any money because of all the issues with copyrights. First of all, there’s the whole Harry Potter bit, plus all of the (ridiculously funny) songs in the fake musical are to the tune of songs from actual musicals. But still, could be a fun project for a short film for YouTube- if we could cut it down from 30 minutes to like 8. (Again, I rain on his parade. Which he did not appreciate. You artists, why must you be so sensitive?!)

4. In light of the coughing fits haunting my nights, I took Tinka to the doctor. The earliest appointment they could offer was 5:20 pm, and we weren’t seen until 6:45. They tested for strep (negative) and gave me some cough-suppressing meds. I’m generally pretty anti-medicine for a baby, but it wasn’t antibiotics and I was at the end of my rope. We filled the prescription at the pharmacy at 7:30 and couldn’t pick it up until 8:30! It quickly became a very late night for us.

5. Okay, this actually happened yesterday, but is so exciting I have to mention it: Tinka stood by herself for all of 10 seconds. She was leaning on the sofa, then proudly looked over at me and let go! It was totally amazing.

the worst. August 12, 2008

Isabella spent all of last night coughing her lungs out, and tonight is off to the same start. I’ve been laying with her for almost three hours now while she coughs constantly while hanging onto my hair, boobs, shirt and sobs if I try to move her/do anything to help alleviate the coughing.

She finally passed out from sheer tiredness, so I slipped off to the computer to write my friends a quick e-mail to say I don’t think I can meet up tomorrow, but I can hear the coughing starting up again.

I’m in that really shitty place where I’m actually starting to feel angry with her for being sick. I have to deep breathe so I don’t lose it- and remind myself, she feels like crap and is not doing it on purpose. It’s just those moments when she almost drifts off to sleep, only to flail back and forth and send the binky flying into the crevice between the wall and the bed never to be seen from again that total exasperation takes over.

I feel terrible for her. She’s got two top front teeth coming in, so her gums hurt and she’s got a runny nose. I should have taken her to a doctor by now, but the coughing isn’t so bad during the day so I keep thinking “she’s just teething, she’s not sick”. Then the night comes and it’s this ‘oh-my-freaking-what-the-hell-how-can-someone-possibly-cough-this-much?’ unending purgatory of nonsleep.

She’s exhausted, I’m exhausted. I think I need to spend tomorrow trying to get her into the pediatrician before she pulls a muscle in her throat or something. I feel terrible, because I was going to meet up with B. and Artie and Alice one more time before they leave Texas on Wednesday for a many many months. But at this point, I can’t face the rest of this night with a social obligation looming over my head.

I think I hear her crying.

A Day of Snapshots August 11, 2008

Me, Adam, little Alice, Beth, Artie holding the Tink, and Vince. We all studied theatre together at school in San Antonio, and today we had a mini-reunion.

We started off the day with brunch at House of Pies downtown on Kirby. It would be an understatement to say the huevos rancheros were a dissapointment: why do I always order latin cuisine from a divey diner? It burns me every time. Luckily, I was too busy chatting with friends to even have time to eat. (Thank you, B., for baby wrangling through most of the meal!)

B., Artie, and Alice had to leave after we ate, but not before taking this picture with Isa.

Adam took Vince and I over to the Williams Water Wall. It’s a pretty impressive water feature, much more extreme than your average fountain.

After we were all slightly damp from the mist of the water wall, we decided to go over to the Children’s Museum. The boys claimed it was a place they’d always wanted to go, but never felt right going without a, you know, child. Now, I’m not proud to say this- but we “snuck in” for free. It was not our original intention, but as we approached the entrance a group of three casually offered us their admissions stickers. So we re-applied them, entered the museum, and casually slipped off to the exhibits.

(This is why you need a child to go to the children’s museum, otherwise you look a bit odd: )

In the late afternoon, the Tink started to get tired. We drove back to the House of Pies where Adam and Vince had left their cars. By then, Tinka was fast asleep in her carseat so we had a nice, easy drive back to the suburbs. The end.