Yesterday was what I will call a trying day. My choice of activity for the gloomy day was not great: I decided to take the boys to the mall to buy four – FOUR – birthday gifts, and while there we stopped by the pet store to look at the various rodents for sale. Much discussion ensued regarding hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs and the sort of pets that the boys would buy when they were grown up and could make their own decisions regarding pets, without the opinion of their mother who is firmly of the belief that ONE DOG IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. Mark was extremely tired and when Mark is extremely tired, his behaviour exhibits a certain clinginess not usually seen. I’m not exactly complaining – it’s not like the house was full of tantrums or tears or fights – but having someone within a two foot radius of me all day long is tiring. Also tiring is answering the constant stream of questions, such as “If you were a waterfall, what waterfall would you be? Would you be Takakkaw Falls or Bow Falls?” or “What hooved animal is your favourite?” or “What body of water do you like best? Do you like lakes? Or oceans?” I strive to be an involved parent but really. By the end of the day I felt like screaming “SHUT UP! JUST STOP TALKING! I DON’T KNOW IF I PREFER GRIZZLY BEARS TO BLACK BEARS! I THINK HAMSTERS ARE EQUALLY AS CUTE AS GUINEA PIGS!” But, despite my own exhaustion, I did not. I did not because I know that this is the way Mark reacts when he is exhausted, and I also did not drink any alcohol, and because of those two things I think that maybe I deserve some sort of prize.
Why were we both so tired, you may ask? It’s because Mark had yet another of his middle-of-the-night two hour coughing fits. It’s gotten to the point where it’s hard for me to remember what life was like before the cough. But I’m optimistic that at some point in the near future, there may be an after the cough, since I have excellent news: I have found a doctor to replace my retiring doctor, we had an appointment today, and he has prescribed an inhaler for Mark! This is momentous indeed. It’s like I won the lottery. I feel incredibly fortunate in a right-place-right-time sort of way, and also a tenacious keep-calling-until-someone-answers sort of way.
So today, in contrast to yesterday, has been a glorious day. We decided to take the train downtown to see my husband at his office building, which brings me to this: public transit is a funny thing. The children think that the train is the greatest mode of transportation ever invented. I, on the other hand, spent the train ride a) wondering just how many viruses were living on the rails and seats, and b) being amused at the conversation between the two young men who were discussing the comic book convention that they had recently attended, and their own ideas for future comic books.
Well, it’s Friday. I’m happily partaking in some Cabernet while my husband watches a television show on golf techniques and my children play what is possibly the loudest game ever, involving Hot Wheels cars and lots of cheerful screaming. Just another Friday night.
Oh I feel your pain. My oldest is devoted to the Life Goal of finding out my favourite EVERYTHING. Just wait a couple of years until you are asked to decide which Lego knight is better, the one with the sword, or the one with the ax? And which Lego spaceship is your favourite? And which Star Wars Lego man is your favourite? WHICH ONE?
In other news, I must put up a big “EVANGELIST” warning here, but when our middle child developed a terrible, terrible night cough – I’m talking hours of coughing without the ability to stop for even a few seconds – we found taking her off milk helped. My mother-in-law always warns us when the kids have a cough that milk makes it worse, so we tried it, and, and it did make a difference. At first we did no milk at dinner/bedtime, then eventually we switched her to soy milk for several months until it cleared up.
Kind of hard core, but in case you are desperate thought I’d throw it out there.
I have two talkers/ponderers(if that is even a word) always talking, always asking questions even now with my oldest at 14. That is why we frequently have ‘radio time’ in the care. It isn’t so they will shut their pie holes, it is so we can listen to the radio 😉
My oldest used to cough and cough and cough. Finally, an inhaler. Worked wonders. I can’t wait to see how it works for you.
I’m so happy to hear you found a new doctor. I hope it continues to go well.
Hi! I loved your comment on the “ain’t nobody here but us chicks” blog! I did not like Eat, Pray, Love” except the Eat part!! I, too am the only girl in a boy house. Great blog!
I totally lose my patience at the end of trips like that. Makes me crazy.
Those questions. We have them too. Would I like to hug a mouse? Would I scream if I saw a spider? Would I like to see a bug puking up another bug? Relentless.