The problem with being a Mom and being sick.

The problem with being a Mom and being sick is that we're now allowed to do both at the same time. Moms are never sick. Right....... You can't tell that a Mom is sick when she has to do everything, as usual, as always.

For instance, yesterday I came home from my volunteer work for the middle school band teacher. -- So far, for the last three weeks, I have been there all day. One of my sons plays for two groups - Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. Not only do I want to help the teacher because she's a sweet lady and needs the help, but because it's the only way I'll ever know what's happening with both bands. Teenagers are not good at communication vital information, at least not in a timely manner. They like to wait until you're walking into the building and then say, "Mom! I needed such-and-such or a get a zero for today." or some other urgently needed item or task. For instance at a fundraiser at the school, I pull into carline to drop Eric off. Hum. All the other kids are carrying lawn chairs. So, I ask "Why do the other kids have lawn chairs?" Reply, "Oh, yeah, I forgot. We're each supposed to bring a lawn chair." Ugh. -- But, I digress. 

So, back to yesterday. I woke up in the morning feeling terrible. But, it felt like allergies. So, I showered, took the boys to school, and went about my volunteering day. By the fourth class, I felt like I couldn't hold up my head up anymore. The teacher gave me orange juice in a desperate attempt to revive me. It helped carry me to the end of the day. It was all I could do to pack up and the boys and c-r-a-w-l home. I collapsed into my bed.

My husband was so kind to bring me dinner in bed, hot tea, and anything else I might need. {Of course, I had to yell with my croaked voice as loudly as I could to get his attention. But, he still helped nonetheless. I even heard him instructing the boys to empty the dishwasher. Oh nice.} Seems like everything's going okay. -- Or, so I forgot. -- When I woke up this morning {because the dogs were being totally obnoxious just because they wanted food and water and apparently I'm the only one who can do that}, I stagger into the kitchen. To my horror, it looked like every single dish and utensil that we've ever owned were piled up in the sink or on the counter, including a broken glass. I open the dishwasher and discover that, yes, it was empty. But, apparently nobody had the thought to fill it up again. I call for two boys to take care of the doggies' food and water and then proceed to load the dishwasher. Miracle of all miracles the amount of dishes along over the kitchen fit perfectly into the dishwasher for just one load. Amazing! 

Now I'm trying to decide whether to collapse back into bed and get whatever limited number of minutes sleeping that I can or taking a shower and going to the grocery store. Heck, I'll take the little bit of sleep. We'll still need groceries when I wake up....... 

Book Review: The Bridge

The hardest part of a book review is not to give too much away. That's how I feel about The Bridge by Kay Pratt. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Fei Fei (a blind, five-year-old orphan boy). I especially enjoyed reading this one after Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage, where we're first introduced to Fei Fei. It was a short story and a quick read, and the book ends on such an uplifting note. 

Here's part of the product description from Amazon: "In present day China, an old woman's house sits opposite an ancient bridge. Not just any bridge--but a special one because it has always been known as The Lucky Bridge. In olden days it was said that to walk over it...would bring the traveler good luck. Because of its reputation, over the years it has also become a popular place for young mothers to their children. .... When no one else will, Jing steps in to prevent the children from frostbite, abuse and hunger, and then she delivers them safely to the orphanage."

It was lovely to read from the perspective of Jing. By painting such a vivid picture of the old woman's life, we can understand how and why Jing's situation with Fei Fei is so compelling, and difficult for her. Of course, the greatest moment is when Jing shares an old Chinese folk tale about a frog living inside a well. I won't share that particular tale now - you should definitely read it yourself - But, I will share the story of the frog with my sons....what a beautiful way to introduce a child to the big world we live in. Thank you, Kay. 

Bloomberg's War on Mothers

I shall never forget May 19, 1997. I gave birth to my first son. After being married for 12 years, I was finally having a child. I was so sick with morning sickness 24/7 thru the entire pregnancy. I was bed-ridden toward the end. I had preeclampsia (high blood pressure or hypertension during pregnancy) and was induced two weeks early. I had to lie on my left side for 14 hours to keep pressure off my son. I'll spare you the details of the actual delivery. But, Steven was born with breathing problems and was taken to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).

I wasn't able to hold Steven for the first three days, and then it would only be for a few minutes at a time. I'd waddle down the hallway, wait outside the NICU for someone to let me in. After checking that I was really a mother who really had a baby in the NICU, I'd finally get inside only to find that the nurses had already fed Steven even though I arrived for feeding time when they told me. I didn't get to truly hold Steven until he was five days old. It had been a long haul, so to speak, but I finally had my baby boy!

Then, came the lactation zealots. Even though Steven was too small, too weak to breast-feed, the "lactation consultants" still came into the room to "advise" me that breast-feeding was the best for my baby. They were relentless. Why, they'd even help me at home with breast-feeding. Yeah, right. I wasn't able to breast-feed my son. In fact, I wasn't be able to breast-feed all three of my sons. But, that never slowed down, or kept away, the lactation zealots. It was unpleasant and upsetting.... Just what a mother needs when she finally gets to hold her baby.

I truly cannot express my rage when I saw news articles that NYC Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to HIDE their baby formula behind locked doors to persuade more new mothers to breast-feed their babies. In fact, starting Sept. 3, the New York City Health Department will monitor the number of formula bottles being given out and demand a medical reason for each one. Outrageous! Supposedly, mothers who want to bottle-feed their babies will not be denied formula, but for each and every bottle they request, they will be given a lecture on why breastfeeding is better by hospital staff. This is atrocious! I've already dealt with the lactation zealots in 1997, 1999 and 2000. I cannot imagine hospital staff being even worse than these women. I was 32 when I had my first child and found their "encouragement" distressing. I cannot imagine even younger mothers having to deal with these women.

NYC Major Bloomberg is insane and needs to be removed from office! (1) He wants to control the amount of soda that people drink. (2) He wants to change the legislation so he can hold a third term in office. (3) Recently, he tells police officers to go on strike. (4) Now, he's telling mothers how to feed their babies!

Breastfeeding is a woman's personal decision, and certainly none of Bloomberg's business. It’s the epitome of hypocrisy for the same people who claim that a woman has the “right to choose” to abort her unborn child has no right to choose whether she breast-feeds a child.